spiritual guide Vrihusputee entered the assembly, and neglected to pay him the usual honours. Vrihůsputee was so incensed at this, that he arose and left the assembly. The gods, perceiving the cause, in the utmost consternation' went to Ipdrů, and made him acquainted with what had passed. The latter intreated the gods to join him in seeking for the enraged Vrihŭspătee; but the spiritual guide had, by the power of yogu, rendered himself invisible. At last they found the angry gooroo in his own house; and the gods, joining their petitions to those of Indru, entreated that the offence might be forgiven. Vrihŭsputee declared that he had for ever rejected Indră, and that his resolution would not be changed. Indru, offended that for so small an offence he should be so harshly treated, declared that he would make no farther concessions, but seek another religious guide. The gods approved of his resolution, and advised him to choose Vishwŭ-rōōpů, a giant with three heads. In process of time, at the suggestion of his mother, Vishwurōōpů began a sacrifice to procure the increase of the power of the giants, the natural enemies of the gods. Indrŭ heard of this, and, hurling his thunders on the head of the faithless priest, destroyed him in an instant. The father of Vishwůrōōpŭ heard of his son's death, and, by the merit of a sacrifice, gave birth to a giant, at the sight of whom Indru fled to Brumha; who informed the king of the gods that this giant could not be destroyed by all his thunders, unless he could persuade Dudheechee, a sage, to renounce life, and give him one of his bones. The sage consented, and by the power of yogŭ renounced life; when Vishwŭ-kurma made this bone into a thunder-bolt, and the giant was destroyed. But immediately on his death, a terrific mon

f A Hindoo considers the anger of his spiritual guide as the greatest possible misfortune.

ster arose from the body, to punish Indrů for his bramhůnicide. Wherever the king of the gods fled, this monster followed him with his mouth open, ready to swallow him up, till Indru took refuge in a place where the monster could not approach him; however he sat down, and watched the trembling culprit. After some time the gods began to be alarmed: there was no king in heaven, and every thing was falling into complete disorder. After consultation, they raised to the throne of heaven, in his bodily state, Nŭhooshŭ, who had performed the sacrifice of a horse one hundred times. When Nuhooshu enquired for Shuchee, the queen of heaven, he found she was in the parijatŭ forest. He sent for her; but she declared she would not come, as he had a human and not a divine body. The messengers remonstrated with her, but she fled to Brůmha; who advised her to send word to the new Indru, that she would live with him, if he would come and fetch her with an equipage superior to whatever had been seen before in heaven. This message was conveyed to the new Indrů; who received it with much joy, but took several days to consider in what way he should go to fetch home the queen. At last, he resolved to be carried to her in the arms of some of the principal sages. As the procession was moving along, the king, in his excessive anxiety to arrive at the parijatŭ forest, kicked the sacred lock of hair on the head of Ŭgustyŭ; who became filled with rage, and, pronouncing a dreadful curse on the new Indru, threw him down, and he fell, in the form of a snake, upon a mountain on the earth.-Vishnoo, perceiving that one Indru was kept a prisoner, and that another had been cursed and sent down to the earth, resolved to find a remedy for this evil, and, cursing the monster who had imprisoned the former king of the gods, restored him to his throne and kingdom.

Another scene in Indru's heaven, from the Muhabharŭtu.→→ Narudu one day called at Krishnu's, having with him a parijatŭ flower from the heaven of Indrů. The fragrance of this flower filled the whole place with its odours. Narůdů first called on Rookminēe, one of Krishnu's wives, and offered the flower to her. She recommended him to give it to Krishnŭ, that he might dispose of it as he chose. He next went to Krishnu, who received him with great respect: Well, Narŭdů, you are come after a long absence: what flower is that?' 'Can't you tell by its fragrance?' said Narŭdů, it is the parijatů: I brought it from Indru's garden, and I now present it to you.' Krishnů received it with pleasure, and, after some further conversation, Narůdů retired into another part of the house and watched Krishnů, to see to which of his wives he would give this flower; that he might excite a quarrel in Krishnu's family, and ultimately a war betwixt Krishnŭ and Indră. Krishnu, after Narŭdů had retired, went to Rookminēē, and gave the flower to her, warning her to keep it secret, lest Sutyŭ-bhama (another of Krishnu's wives) should hear of it. As soon as Narŭdů saw to whom Krishnŭ had given the flower, he paid a visit to Sutyŭ-bhama, who received him with great attention. After the first compliments were over, Narŭdů fetched a deep sigh, which Sutyubhama noticing, enquired the cause. He seemed to answer with reluctance, which made Sutyŭ-bhama still more inquisitive. He then acknowledged that his sorrow was on her account. Her anxiety was now inflamed to the highest degree, and she begged him to tell her without delay what he meant. I have always considered you,' says Narŭdů, as the most beloved wife of Krishnŭ; the fame of your happiness has reached heaven itself: but from what I have seen to-day, I suspect that this is all mistake,' Why? Why?' asked Sutyŭ-bhama most anxiously. Narudŭ then

unfolded to her, in the most cautious manner, the story of the flower: I brought from heaven,' says he,' a parijatŭ flower, (a flower which is not to be obtained on earth,) and gave it to Krishnŭ. I made no doubt but he would present it to you to whom else should he present it? But instead of that he went secretly to the apartments of Rookminēē, and gave the flower to her. Where then is his love to you?'-Sutyŭ-bhama asked what kind of flower this Narudů declared that it was not in his power to describe it. Do you not perceive,' said he,' its odours ?? 'I perceived,' said Sŭtyŭ-bhama, 'the most delightful fragrance, but I thought it was from your body.' Narŭdů declared that his body was offensive, and that it was the parijatŭ that diffused its odours all around.

was.

But,' says he, when you see Krishnů, ask him to let you look at it.' 'And do you think then,' said Sutyŭ-bhama, that I shall speak to Krishnů, or see his face any more! You are right,' said Narŭdů: he did not even let you see so precious a jewel; but secretly gave it to another.'-The enraged Sutyŭ-bhama made the most solemn protestations that she had done with Krishnŭ for ever. Narŭdů praised her for her resolution, but hinted, that if she ever did make up the matter with Krishnu, she should insist upon his fetching one of the trees from heaven, and giving it to her. Narudu, having thus laid the foundation of a dreadful quarrel betwixt Krishnu and his wife, and of a war with Indru, withdrew, and Sutyŭ-bhama retired to the house of anger. Some days after this, Krishnŭ went to see Sŭtyŭ-bhama, but could not find her on asking the servants, they told him that she had on some account retired to the house of anger. Not being able to discover the cause, he went to her, and made use of every soothing

* A house set apart for an angry wife, where she retires till her husband reconciles himself to her,

expression; but in vain. At last he threw himself at her feet, when, after many entreaties, she consented to be reconciled, on condition that he should fetch one of the trees from heaven, and plant it in her garden. This he engaged to do, and sent Gŭroorů to Indrŭ with his respects: but commissioned Gŭroorů in case of refusal to threaten him with war; and if this did not avail, to add, that Krishnu would come and trample on the body of his queen, overturn his throne, and take the tree from him by force. Neither the entreaties nor threats of Krishnŭ moved Indrů; who, on the contrary, sent him a defiance. Krishnů, on the return of Gŭroorů, collected his forces, and invaded heaven. Dreadful havock was made on both sides. All the heavens were in a state of frightful uproar; and the gods, full of alarm, advised Indrů to submit, as he would certainly be overcome. At length Krishnŭ let fly a weapon called Soodŭrshůnů, which pursued the foe wherever he went. The gods again exhorted Indrů to sue for peace, to prevent his immediate destruction: he at length took this advice, and submitted to the enraged Krishnu, who carried off the tree in triumph, and appeased his jealous wife Sŭtyŭ-bhama.

The following are some of the names of this god: Indră, or, the glorious.-Mŭrootwan, he who is surrounded by the winds. Pakushasŭnů, he who governs the gods with justice. -Pooroohōōtů, he who is invited to a sacrifice performed by king Pooroo. Poorăndără, he who destroys the dwellings of his enemies.-Jishnoo, the conqueror.-Shukrů, he who is equal to every thing.-Shůtůmŭnyoo, he who performed · a hundred sacrifices.-Divůsputee, the god of the heavens. -Gotrŭbhid, he who clipt the wings of the mountains.

It is said, that formerly the mountains had wings, and that they flew into all parts of the earth, and crushed to atoms towns, cities, &c.