Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-12-26
THE DELUGE.


According to Brahminicnl traditions.
Here We have but an embarras de
choiK. There Is not record of ancient
india, treAtise or theology, or poem that
iAils to give its special version Of the
great cataolytm OF which all peoples re-
TAIN The tradition. An abridged vedic YER
zion Of the event narrates that, according
TO the Lords prediction, the earth became
peopled and the sons OF Adima and
Heva grew 80 numerous and 30 wicked
That they could no longer agree among
themselves. They forgot God aud His
promises, and ended by wearyiag Him
with he elamor Of their bloody quarrels.
One day King DaYtha had even the
audaclly to launch his imptecatiuns
against heavens thunder, Commanding
silence and threatening In defa ult to con.
quor heaven at the head OF his wan ors,
The Lord then resolved TO inhict upon
HIS creatures terrible chasiisemept
winch should serve as q warning to sur
vlyors and to their descendants. Brahma
having caet his eyes over the world 90
discover the man who, Of all others, de-
served TO he ssved for the continuance OF
tho human race, close Naiwasyata be
cause Of his virtues, aud we here learn
how LIE made known lis will and the re.
suits. Naiwasyata had reached that
period of life when ardent servants OF
God should withdraw from family and
friends and retire into forests and deserts
to end their day6 in the midst of aus
terities and perp'tusl contemplation OF
the pure divine essence.
One day as he came to perform hi,
ablutiOn ON tho sacred banks OF tn,
Wiring, little fish Of most brilliant
colors came and threw itself upon the
sand, crying 10 the holy man, "Save me
| II you do not listen to my prayer, [ shall
Inevitably be devoured by the large
fish that inhabit the river. Moved witt
pity Vaiw sva'a placed 1t In the brazcr
vase. which served him to dip water from
the river, and carried 1t home, where /
grew 40 fast that, larger vessel beln.
insufficient to contain 1t, Vaiwasvat;
was Obliged TO transport It TO tack
where, It's growth continuing with tn,
same rapdity, 1t besoueh t Its preserver I,
convey ii 10 The Gangos "That,
answered the holy hermit, SIS beyond NJ
strength. One should be Brahmas sci
now TO withdraw you from where yot
are" "At least try" replied the fish
the greatest facility, raised AMI conveyed
II TO the sacred river, and not only wa
this enormous iibh as light as a straw, blu
1t also etlused about Itself The sweetes
| perfumes. NaiwasvatA perceived tina
he was accomplishing the will of til,
Lord, and was In expectation OF wonder
full events. The fish soon recalled him
and this time demanded to be trausporte,
| IN ha Ill
with the same promptness. II then salt
10 lie preserver:
| Listen! o wise and beneficent man
the globe is about to be submerged, ant
all that iuhabit 1t shall perish, Tor beholt
the wrath Of the Lord shall breathe upoi
the clouds and the seas, to charge then
with the chaslisement OF this corrup
aud wicked race, who forget their origil
and the law OF God. Your fellow crea
lures can no longer contain their pride
and even dare to defy their Creator. Blu
their offences have reached the foot O
BrAhma's throne. and Drahma is abou
to make known his power. Hasten, then
TO construct vessel In which you sh "a |
embark yourself with all your family
You will take also seeds of every plan
AID a couple OF every species of animals
leaving all such as are begotten of vapor
and rotienness, for their principle OF lif
does not emauate from the great soul
and you will wait with confidence.
Vaiwasvata hastened to obey these In
structious, and, having constructed tn
ship, shut himself up with his iamil,
therein. with the seeds Of plants and
couple OF all animate, as had been said
When the rain began to fall and tn
seas 10 overflow, monstrous fish, armei
with a gigantic horD, came aud place,
itself al the head OF the ship, and Via
wasvGta, having attached cable to til
horn, the FISH darted forth to conduc
and guide the ship In the midst OF all III
unclaimed elements. And these In tn
ship SAW the hand of God protected them
Tor the fury OF the tempest or the yiolenc
oil the WAVES harmed them not. Thl
Ia ted for days and months and years
until the work oil destruction was on
tirely completed. The elements beini
Gained, the uavisators, always Rulde'
by their mysterious conductor, wer
able to land on the summit oil the Hilna
laya. 1T is Visehnou that has save
YOU from death," said the fish on leavlni
them; at Is at bis prayer that Brshm
has pardOucd humanity. Go, now, re
people the earth, and accomplish th
VOID OF God" According to tradition
1t was 10y reminding Brahma that he ha
promised to send him upon earth TO lea
back men TO the primitive 'aith, and t
redeem their traBsEressiUns, that Niscf
nou obtained the preservation OF ViawsF
vata, that the promises OF God migl
thereafter be fulfilled.
JAMES b. WEIGH.