12^ .T^:3. ;, ESSAY ON THE 



mad'henu or Surdbhi appeared after another year's labour. Aecording 

 to the Brahman da-pur an ay she was worshipped by the gods, and both 

 gods and giants were highly pleased, when they saw her. One year af- 

 ter, the elephant Air dv at a made his appearance ; and the next year a 

 horse with seven heads. Three months after, the Apsaras with Ram* 

 bha-deVi at their head. Chandra, or Lunus, came one year after: then, 

 after three years more, was produced Cald-cuta, a most subtile poison, 

 flowing in large quantities ; and then Vishnu became black. It was of a 

 fiery colour, and began to set fire to the three worlds. Mankind, being 

 alarmed, began to call out, Ah! Ah! The earth, in great distress, with 

 Vishnu, v/aited on 'Siva, craving his assistance. 'Siva swallowed up the 

 poison, which stuck in his throat, and caused a most intolerable heat, 

 which parche4 his throat and body. His throat turned blue ; from which 

 , circumstance he is worshipped under the name of Ni'la-cante'swara, 

 or the lord with the blue throat He called for the Ganges y and 

 placed the moon on his forehead, and snakes round his neck, whose 

 irefrigerative powers are well known. One year after, Codanda appeared, 

 or the unerring bow and arrow. The next month a conch was produced, 

 Jind the next year the famous Pdrijata tree. One month after, a jewel of 

 an azure colour, called Caustubha, and Jyeshta', or poverty, the eldest 

 sister of Lacshmi, or wealth. Her dress was black, her hair yellow, 

 her eyes red ; and her teeth were like the Cushmanda, a sort of gourd. 

 She looked very old, wanted many teeth, with her tongue lolling out 

 €f her mouth, 3he was pot-bellied; and the gods and Daily as were 

 amazed at the sight of such a strange figure. Then Lacshmi appeared 

 with a most beautiful countenance : her complexion was like gold, and 

 she had large swelling breasts. Her cloaths were of the foam of the 

 White Seat in her fends she held a chaplet of Camala flowers, or red lotpg. 



