SACRED ISLES IN THE WEST. 137 



and is the same with the White Islatid. This tree i'S saicj, in the Vrihaf- 

 cM'hd, to be in the western parts of Suvarria-dzvipa, or Juvernia; and 

 Mere the passage into hell is placed under it. JuNo[^or LacshmQ had 

 such a tree; for, when she married Jupiter, she made him a present of 

 golden apples. 



In the Padma-purdna, -se61:ion af Bhu-c'kdnda, it is said, that four 

 damsels were produced through this churning, like so many jewels. 

 They stood as if peeping out of the .caldron, and their names are Su- 

 Lacshmi, Varun'i, 'Sre'shxa' or Jye'shta', and Cu mod a'. Whenpuja 

 is performed, on particular occasions, in honor of Lacshmi, they represent 

 Ijas Cdlas'ddad'hi by a water pot; and, after repeating proper spells, 

 Lacshmi comes peeping out of the pot. She is always present, though 

 seldom visible, as may be supposed. 



In the Brahman da-purdn a, section of Lalitopdchydna, it \s added, that 

 this churning produced also a plant called Vijaya^ ever vi^orious, which 

 BiiAiRAVA pr 'Siva kept for his own use. Then the goddess Ambica' 

 a^ppeared, seated in a flower of the white lotus. It is she, who grants 

 boons to all the world. She is Sri, prosperous : in her hand is a Padtna 

 flower. She sprang from the Cshira-mahdrn'ava, or the great, and 

 famous White ocean; which assuming a human shape, presented her 

 with a chaplet of Padma flowers. Vishva-carma, or Tvvashta', made, 

 her presents of bracelets, and other ornaments, from his owfi^shop. She 

 then went and seated herself on the breast of Vishnu. Bali, and the 

 other Duilyas were enraged at this; and bec;oming outrageous, forcibly 

 took the vase of Ami it out of the hands of Dhanwantari. The gods 

 attempted to recover it from them, but in vain. Vishnu then assumed 



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