The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-10-26
HINpoo MYTHOLOGY.

From the De orator and r uFI sheF.
In Hindoo mythology, Brahma. that
is, Parabrahma (the Great Braham), is
regarded as the Supreme Being. the
Soul of the World, an eternal essence,
of no sex, in which are inherent all
things. The name is derived from the
root birth, Ito expand" denoting the
universally expanding essence of an in
finite, imperishable existence. just as
the sun radiates light and heat. both
| of which essences are manifestations Of
his far-off fires, so also Brahma has a
thousand manifestations.
The thousand gods and demi-gods of
the Hindoo Pantheon are all mani
festations of Brahma. The superior
deities are supposed to be immortal,
but as compared with Brahma are per-
isha BILE. for it is conceivable that diff
ferent interpretations of the subordi-
nate duties would alter their charac-
teristics so much as to completely
change their functions and nature, an
occurrence very largely INDUCED in in
Hindoo mythology.
Brahma exists in two states, there
fore. the one unseen and imperisha bic,
and the other manifested and perisha-
BILE. The imperishable is the Supreme
Being; the perisha Ole is the universe, or
Brahma. the first incarnation of the
deity. whose name is distinguished by
having the final vowel long. Brahma
is also addressed by the sacred word
Aum. That particular manifestation
of the multiform Brahma which we
call the world-compOsed of earth. sky
and heavens call Vishnu, who repre-
sents the unbuilding, or creative prin-
r;ple.
When the world of matter changes
its form and is dissolved into simple
being. the distinctive power Of Brahma
IS represented bv silva. the destroyer.
These three deities Brahm1, Vishnu
and silva. form the Hindoo trinity. all
manifestations Of the supreme Brahma-
In the Mana bharata, Brahma j. said
70 have issued from lotus that spTang
from the navel Of Vishnu. This idea,
however, Is convertible to the idea,
Brahma being the universe. - greater
than Nishnu- the world; consequently,
according TO the process OF nature. he
gave life 20 Vishnu. who j. MS alter
ego. or manifestation for the specific
work Of creating the world.
On the other hand. considering Wish
~ as the special manifestation Of
Para abrahrna as creator OF ali things
we behold the god wrapped IN a nyste-
-ious slam ber. IN which he imagines
the production Of worlds and forth, /,
with lotus springs from ms navel 4
II the center Of this lotus Brahma ap-l
pears. that iscreated things, and says,
ne Puranas "Vishnu. beholding the
production Of his body, was delighted
Nishnu i seen floating OF oroodlnZ.
7pon the waters. supported by the ser-
pent SeisAs. Beside him sits hIs a.
tendant queen. Laxshini the goddess
q love Sle pane! IS framed with Pil-
isrs on either SIDE. supporting sn area
bUlptnred with the forms % the vari-
9us minor deities. Each corner Of the
.omposition contains decorations repre-
sentative Of four different inesrnstion-
of Vishnu. as w0rshi ped by The HIHdoos
= various parts Of India
The Brahzzns have EsgsDc that The
Bu6dbe i one OF the many AvstzTs or
manifestations % Tishnu. but ;te teach
tngs o3 tie t-1e BU3dha are 20 violent
t. ouD0sec . the teachings q Pa y
rlzniszn thar :: 1ausf be co.cecsd tAa;
this ret0-mer wac mortal -he son %
tae king q kapilavsstu- adjoining
NeparL r. name was ~zzys Grst<-
r7a s-d - sDeNn = Bnds5hz snstazzz-
- = Hgrsish hz from tse BEShnGr-