The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1908-03-13
TRADITIONS OF THE ORIENT.
Deities of India known Under Many
Names.


Deities of India known Under Many
Names.
OF the countless attractions India
offers none are greater than her rich
stories of myth and tradition. ORR
entail scholars have unfolded for us
that Hindoo religion in a dim and
shadowy past contented itself with
generating some of natures more Inn
pressive phenomena. Space, the starry
armament and the light of day-under
the poetic names Of Arditi, Varuna and
Mitra-provided the sacred triad Of
this archaic worship; but with the
march of centuries there came an add
ed roll Of deities of which Brahma
himself was chief, says the London
Lady. According to some writers, his
two brothers, yishnu and SILVA, were
equally powerful, the former as pre-
server of Brahmas creations, the lat
ter as destroyer. Vishnu Is famous
for his countless metamorphoses and
appears In the sacred books under no
fewer than 1000 different names. He
remains the most popular deity among
the Hlndoos, who believe his final
metamorphosls- Of a horse-is yet
to come. While awaiting this last
chance he is thought to be resting in
sea Of milk, with serpent for his
pillow. The River Ganges is supposed
to Issue from his right foot.
The god SILVA also figures in Hindoo
mythology under 1000 different names,
and is Invariably represented in some
repellant form. Idols show him at one
time with five faces, at another with
three eyes, while third will represent
him with a necklace Of skulls, thick,
matted 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 rain
god of India have gathered countless
traditions, among which are those Of
his constant conflicts with his thunder
bolt, Vajar; Vaya, the wind god;
Shushna, the parcher, and Ahi, the con-
finer. The aim Of this last named god
is to conine and dry up the rivers and
seas. Much homage is paid to Indra
by the other gods, according to the
Rig-Vedas, he being head Of the heav-
en- Of the gods. He appears to have
drunk freely of soma, the nectar of the
Hindoo deities.
An ideal light that the sacred writ
ings would wish him to be viewed In
must fail when one reads of the hymns
put In his mouth by the mystic scribes.
1t Is a natural outcome of Indias cli-
mate that Indra should enter largely
into her scheme Of legend. Just as
provided so much mythical charm In
cooler regions, 50 does Indra In the
land Of parching plains and scorching
rays. A Hlndoo bride Is not greeted
with pretty wishes that the sun should
light her path the shimmering rain
drop, Indras precious gift, Is the bless
ing invoked on the head of the Indian
child-wife.
Among the arts that Indra is sup
posed to delight in are those of music
and dancing. The sacred books relate
how hosts of beautiful damsels, called
Asparasen, fill his heavenly courts.
Tradition gives them a dwelling place
on earth as well as in heaven, their
Office being to test the virtue Of her
mits in their solitude 1t was hard on
these lovely beings that, should they
succeed In their arts they should Inn
mediately be turned to pillars of stone.
It is part of the Brahman creed that
Sarasvati, Brahma's wife, gave the
vina to mankind, the god Nareda show
them how 1t 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 spe-
cial conservation, his traditional com-
panions on each being the gopis (shep-
herdesses), who drew gazelles after
them when they sang to the vinas. All
sorts Of pretty traditions gather round
this god In connection with music. Its
soothing virtues, however. did not over
rule his ruder qualities, for he gloried
IN war and was guilty of many indl-
vidual massacres. His warriors when
dying were always laid on arrows, dart
upward, in order to the last that they
should be goaded into consciousness
and listen to long addresses from holy
men on the transmigration of souls.
With the passing of the ages Buddha
appears on the scenes of Hindoo belief
and myth.
Winding a Watch.