So 



JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. lit 



nymphs of Indira's heaven ; Sura, the goddess of wine ; the 

 Moon, said to be the jewel worn by Krishna ; Sura-turu, or 

 the wish-conferring tree ; Sarabi, the cow of abundance ; 

 Air aw ana, the elephant of Indra ; the bow of Vishnu ; his 

 Sankha or shell poison ; and A mrita, or Ambrosia. 



The origin of the Apsarases, from ap ' water,' and sara 

 i to move,' is thus related in the R&rnayana :— . 



Then from the agitated deep upsprang 



The legion of Apsarasas, so named 



That to the watery element they owed 



Their being- Myriads were they born, and all 



In vesture heavenly clad, and heavenly gems : 



Yet more divine than native semblance, rich 



With all the gifts of grace, and youth, and beauty. 



A train innumerous followed : yet thus fair 



Nor God nor demon sought their wedded love : 



Thus Rdghava they still remain— their charms 



The common treasure of the host of heaven- 



The poison which was generated as above described was 

 swallowed by Siva; and the blueness of his neck has been 

 the consequence. The moon is supposed to be the reposi- 

 tory of the Amrita or " ambrosia." " It is" says the Vishnu 

 Parana, " replenished from the sun during the fortnight of 

 the increase. On the full moon the gods adore that planet 

 for one night, and from the first day, all of them, together with 

 the Pitris -d\id Rishis, drink one kdla or "digit" daily, until the am- 

 brosia is exhausted." In the Hero and the Nymph* the poet says : 



Hail glorious lord of night, whose tempered fires 

 Are gleaned from solar fountains. 



This is in accordance with the Western notion, which is 

 thus described by Milton : 



" The neighbouring moon her monthly round 

 Still ending, still renewing, thro' m d heaven, 

 With borrowed light her countenance triform ; 

 Hence fills and empties to en'ighten the .earth 

 And in her pale dominion checks the night." 



* Hindu Plays, i. p 220. 



