The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-10-25
HiNDOO MYTHOLOGY.
Aoans Of tzs Manifestations of the Co
BrahmA.

siibNoSS tT1SGSSHS
Aoans Of tss Manifestations of the God
Brahma.
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-otf fires so also Brahma has
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-
ishable, 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 BILE,
and the other manifested and perisha-
BILE. The imperishable is the Supreme
Being; the perishable 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
] ANN That ma IT in11nr ma a ion
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-
ciple.
When the world of matter changes
its form and is dissolved into simple
being, the distinctive power of Brahma
is represented by silva, the destroyer.
These three deities, Brahma, Vishnu
and silva, form the Hindoo trinity, all
manifestations of the supreme Brahma.
In the Manabharata, Brahma is said
to have issued from lotus that sprang
from the navel of Vishnu. This idea,
however, is convertible to the idea,
Brahna being the universe, is greater
than Vishnu, the world; consequently,
according to the process of nature, he
gave life to Nishnu, who is his alter
ego, or manifestation for the specific
| work of creating the world.
On the other hand, considering Wish
nu as the special manifestation of
PdrabrahIna as creator of all things,
we behold the god wrapped in a mystic
rious slumber, in which he imagines
! l1 -
with lotus springs from his navel.
In the center of this lotus Bra hma APP
pears. that is, created things, and, says
the Puranas, "Vishnu, beholding the
production of his body, was delighted"
Vishnu is seen floating or brooding
upon the waters, supported by the SER
pent Seisha. Beside him sits his at
tendant queen, Lakshini, the goddess
of love. The panel is framed with pill
lars on either side, supporting an arch
! sculptured with the forms of the vari-
GUS minor deities Each corner of the
composition contains decorations repre-
sentative of four different incarnations
of Vishnu, as worshiped by the Hindoos
in various parts of India.
The Brahmans have legend that the
Buddha is one of the many Avatars or
manifestations of Vishnu, but the teach
ings of the true Buddha are so violent
ly opposed to the teachings of Brah-
manism that it must be conceded that
this reformer was u mortal the son of
the king of Kapilavastu, adjoining
Nepaul. His name was Sakya Guata-
ma, and is known as Buddha Guatama,
to distinguish him from the Brahman-
zeal Buddha. He taught that neither
the doctrines nor the austerities of the
Brahmans were of any avail in deliver
ing men from old age, disease and
death
Pain and pleasure are simply the re-
suit of Karma (works), no notice being
taken of the existence or non-eXistence
of God. He taught the Hindoo doctrine
of the RECONSIDERATION of souls. He as
sumed existence to be misera BILE, and
that the highest conceivable good is to
obtain entire exemption from exist
ence.
He taught the evil Of caste distinc-
tions. and all who embraced his tenets
became members. of great brother
hood. His moral code is one of the
most perfect in the world He became
the founder of a religion which, after a
lapse of two thousand years, is still
protested by four hundred and fifty
five million of human beings.
Sir Edwin Arnold's poem, The
Light of Asia" is a Qualification of
Buddha, one of the divine souls of the
world. Reverence to the jewel on the
lotus;' Honor to the inco mparable
Buddha," cry his myriads of followers s..
In Hindoo art are expressed infinite
weird forces and languors, the perpetual
creation. destruction and recreation of
the world. Fashioned in an age when
the imagination of man was much
more highly developed than at present,
it sought to render in imperishable
forms the energy and immobility of SUI
preme power, clothing the forces OF
the universe with forms the most SPLEEN
did the world has ever beheld.-Dcco-
rator and Furnisher.
A Nutritious Soup.
A..