OF THE HINDUS. 1^7 



The following is a further illustration of the notions of Radha entertained by 

 this sect. It is the address of Ganesa to her, in the Brahma Vaivertia Fu- 

 rdna, after she had set the example of presenting offerings to him. 



" Mother of die universe, the worsliip thou hast offered affords a lesson to all man- 

 kind. Thou art of one form with Brahme, and abidest on the bosom of Krishna. Thou 

 art the presiding goddess of his life, and more dear than life to him, on the lotus of whose 

 feet meditate the gods Brahma, Siva, Sesha, and the rest, and Sanaka and other mighty 

 munis, and the chiefs of the sages, and holy men, and all the faithful. Radha is the creat- 

 ed left half, and Madiiava the right, and the great LaJcshm^ the mother of the world, was 

 made from thy left side. Thou art the great goddess, the parent of all wealth, and of the 

 Vedas, and of the world. The primceval PraJcriti, and the universal PraJcriti, and all the 

 creations of the will, are but forms of thee. Thou art all cause and all effect. That wise 

 Yogi, who first pronounces thy name, and next that of Krishna, goes to his region ; but he 

 that reverses this order, incurs the sin of Brahminicide.* Thou art the mother of the 

 world. The Paramdtmd Hari is the father. The Guru is more venerable than the father, 

 and the mother more venerable than the Guru. Although he worship any other god, or even 

 Krishna, the cause of all, yet the fool in this holy land who reviles Radhika, shall suffer 

 sorrow and pain in this life, and be condemned to hell, as long as the sun and moon endure. 



cal rites and secret prayers ; 

 th in Krishna and in you. 

 rths, obtains faith in DuR- 



The spiritual preceptor teaches wisdom, and wisdom is from myst! 

 but they alone are the prayers of wisdom, that inculcate fa 

 He who preserves the Mantras of the gods through successive b 

 GA, which is of difficult acquisition. By preserving the Mantra of Durga, he obtains Sam- 

 BHU, who is eternal happiness and wisdom. By preserving the Mantra of Sambhu, the 

 cause of the world, he obtains your lotus feet, that most difficult of attainments. Having 

 found an asylum at your feet, the pious man never relinquishes them for an instant, nor is 

 separated from them by fate. Having with firm faith received, in the holy land of Bliarata^ 

 your Mantra (initiating prayer,) from a Vaishnava, and adding your praises (Stava) or 

 charm, (Kavacha) which cleaves the root of works, he delivers hiinself (from future births) 



* Accordingly the formula used by the Rddhd Valldbhi sect, and the like, is always Radha 

 Krishna, never Krishna Radha. 



