M2 ESSAY ON THE 



was called Han uma'n'. He is supposed by some to be the son of Va'yu 

 or Ma'ruta : but it is a mistake ; for he is of the seed of Maha -deVa ; 

 and was conveyed into the womb of AnjanI through the assistance of 

 Vayu, the wind, or breath of Vishnu. 



11. On the 11th of Cdrtica, Vishnu arose from his slumbers : on the 

 .' 12th his nuptials with Lacshmi were celebrated, with great pomp, iit 

 the White Island. Old Samudra, or Oceanus, her father, gave her 

 away, and officiated as high priest. The inhabitants of the Tri-Bkuvmia, 

 or the three worlds, were present. Bali, with the other giants, Hred 

 with rage and resentment, waged war against the gods, which lasted 

 three days, namely, the 13th, 14th and 15th, of Cdrtica ; but Vishnu 

 proved victorious, and conquered the three v/orlds. During these three 

 days, the gods, greatly alarmed, remained in the White Island, seated 

 on the White Cliffs, which border on the White SeaS^^ Lacshmi slept 

 in the midst of them: but on the 15th, the giants being entirely routed, 

 she slept apart in the C(2/jj: of a Cainala or Padnia flower. From that 

 time she is known, and worshipped, under the name of Padma', or Ca- 

 MALA-DEvi. In some Purdnas, it is asserted, that Bali took her priso- 

 ner, and many of the gods, whom he confined. The place Vv'here she 

 slept apart in the flower of the Padma or lotos, was of course called 

 Carnal d-st'hdn.am, or the place of the goddess Camala'. This was pro- 

 perly rendered into the western languages by Camalo-dimtim, or Camulo-' 

 dunum. The deity worshipped there, was, it seems, of the mascuhne 

 gender, the god Camulus, with the titles of Sanctus and Fortis, and 

 whom the Romans supposed to be Mars. This difference of sex is not 

 so material, as would appear at first sight. The sexes of several deities 



0). See. Asiatic Researches Vol. III. p. 264. 



