SACKED ISLES IN THU WEST, m 



regularly once every year at Hinglaj, at Cape Mud' an ^ Moran or Malana, 

 to the west of the jiver Hi^ft, the Arbis of the ancients. 





Of the Churning of the White S^a» 



I. JL HE gods, after the creation, soon perceived that there were still 

 ynany things v^ranting for the good of mankind, and more particularly on 

 account of themselves. In their numerous wars with the giants, maii)!^ 

 ^f the gods being killed, they were informed by Vishnu, that it was 

 possible to procure a certain beverage, which would render them immor«* 

 taL The task, however, was immense ; for it consisted in throwing 

 all the plants, and trees of the universe, according to some; but, accor«# 

 ding to others, only those that grew on the sides of the White rnoun-* 

 tain or island, into the White sea; which was to be churned for a long 

 time in order to obtain the butter of immortality, or Amrity the ambrosia 

 of the western mythologists : and the old moon, which was already of 

 Amrity would serve as a leaven to predispose the whole mixture. The 

 old moon, as we observed before, was inert, and of little use; they wanted, 

 also, intoxicating liquors to exhilarate themselves, and celestial nymphs 

 for their own amusement. This churning took place in the Dwdpar, or 

 third age of the Mdnwdnta^-a of Cha'cshusk, which immediately preceded 

 that of Noah. It lasted exa(5lly 29 years and five months, or 10,748- 

 days, 12 hours and 18 minutes. This is obvioiisly tlie revolution • of Sa-' 



