New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-25
INDIA'S DEITIES.
Uany Names GiUen for the Same
IdealiSms.

OF the countless attractions India offers. none
are greater than her rich stores Of myth and
tradition. Oriental scholars have unfoIded for
us that Hindoo religion in dim and shadowy
past contented itself with veneraling some Of
natures more impressive phenomena. Space
the starry armament and the light OF day
under the poetic names of Arditi, -aruna and
Mtra-provided the sacred triad Of this archaic
worship; but with the march of centuries there
came an added roll Of deities, of which Brahma
himself was chief. According TO some writer's
his TWO brothers, Vishnu and SILVA. were
equally powerful the former as preserver OF
Vishnu is famous for his countless meta
morphoses, and appears in the sacred books
under no fewer than one thousand different
names. He remains the most popular deity
among the Hildoos who believe his final meta
morphosis-that of a horse-is Vet to come
While awaiting this last change he is thought 20
be resting in a of milk. with a serpent for his
pillow. The River Gauges IS supposed to issue
from his right foot.
The god SILVA also figures in Hindoo myth
oIOSy under one thousand different names, and is
invariably represented in some repellant form.
Idols snow him AT time with five faces, at
shoNheI with three eyes, while third viii rep
resent him with q necklace of skulls. thick, mat
ted hair and horn projecting from one OF his
temples The great rock cut temple Of the Island
of Elephants is sacred To this god. Around the
ram god lndra have gathered countless tradi-
uons, among which ale those Of his constant
conflicts with his thunderbolt. Vajra Faya, the
wind god; Shushna, the pa-cher, and Ali, the
COniiner. The aim of this last named god is TO
contne and dry up the rivers and seas. Much
homage IS paid 10 Indrd by the other gods, &C
cordtng TO the Rig-Nedas, he being head OF the
heaven Of the gods. He appears to have drunk
freely Of Soma, the nectar of the HindOo deities
Any ideal light that the sacred writings would
wish him To be viewed i'm must fail when one
reads Of the hymns put III his mouth by the
mystic scribes. 1t is a natural outcome Of
midas climate that lndra should enter largely
into her scheme OF legend. Just as Apollo and
Baldur, the Morse sun, provide SO much mythical
charm I'm cooler regions does Indra in the
land of psrchIug plains and scOrChing rays. a
HtSdoO bride is not greeted with pretty wishes
that the sun should light her path, the SHIN
meTing raindrop, Indra's precious gift. is the
blessing invoked on the head of the Indian child
wife.
Among the arts that Iudrs is supposed to de-
light in are those of music and dancing. The
sacred books relate how hosts OF beautiful dam
sells, called Asparaseu IN his heavenly courts
Tradition gives them dwelling place or earth
well in heaven, their Office being 60 test the
virtue OF hermits in their solitude. It was hard
on these lovely beings THAT. should they succeed
I'm their arts. they should Immediately be turned
to pillars OF stone. II IS part OF the BTahnln
creed that Sarasvati BrahrIa's wife, gave the
vina 20 mankind. the god Nareca showing them
how il was played and teaching them the sacred
hymns that called down the thrice blessed rain
and yelled the blazing skies with cloud. To the
god Krishna music has a special conservation,
his traditional companions on earth being the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES who drew gazelles after
them when they sang 10 the vtnas- All sorts Of
pretty traditions gather round this god in con-
ueCtiOu with music. It's soothing virtues, how
ever. did not OyerIie his rUder qualities, for he
g0ried i'm war and was guilty Of many individual
nassacres. His warriors when dying we're al
ways laid arrows. dart upward, in order TO
the last that they should bee gOaded into con-
seriousness and listen to long addresses from
holy men on the transmigratlon OF souls Win
The passing of the ages Buddaa appears on the
scenes of HiudOO belief and myth-LOndOn
Lady.