OF THE HINDUS. 89 



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Crude matter, and the five elements, are also made to issue from Krishna, 

 and then all the divine beings. Narayana, or Vishnu proceeds from his right 

 side, Mahadeva from his left, BrahmX from his hand, Dharma from his 

 breath, Saraswati from his mouth, LAKSHMf from his mind, Durga from his 

 understanding, Radha from his left side. Three hundred millions of Gopis, or 

 female companions of Hadha, exude from the pores of her skin, and a like 

 number of Gopas^ or companions of Krishna, from the pores of his skin : the 

 very cows and their calves, properly the tenants of Goloka, but destined to in- 

 habit the Groves of Vrindava?i, are produced from the same exalted source. 



In this description of creation, however, the deity is still spoken of as 

 a young man, and the Pur ana therefore affords only indirect authority in the 

 marvels it narrates of his infancy, for the worship of tlie child. Consider- 

 ing, however, that in this, or in any other capacity, the acts of the divinity 

 are hisiz/i, or sport, there is no essential difference between those who worship 

 him either as a boy or as a man, and any of his forms may be adored 

 by this class of Vaishnavas, and all his principal shrines are to them equally 

 objects of pilgrimage. As the elements and chief agents of creation are 

 thus said to proceed from the person of Krishna, it may be inferred that the 

 followers of this creed adopt the principles of the Veddnta philosophy, and 

 consider the material world as one in substance, although in an illusory man- 

 ner with the supreme. Life is also identified with spirit, according to the 

 authority of a popular work.* None of the philosophical writings of the chief 

 teachers of this system have been met with. 



* According to the Vdrttd, Vallabha advocated this doctrine with some reluctance, by 

 the especial injunction of the juvenile Krishna. 



" Then Achdrj J% said, you know the nature of Life, it is full of defects, how can it be 



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