the male children, born at that period, to be slain; but Creeshna was preserved by biting the breast, instead of sucking the poisoned nipple, of the nurse commissioned to destroy him. From fear of this tyrant, he was fostered in MATHURA by an honest herdsman, and passed his innocent hours in rural diversions at his foster-father's farm. Repeated miracles, however, soon discovered his celestial origin. He preached to the Brahmins the doctrines of meekness and benevolence; he even condescended to wash their feet as a proof of his own meekness; and he raised the dead by descending for that purpose to the lowest region. He acted not always, indeed, in the capacity of a prince or herald of peace, for he was a mighty warrior; but his amazing powers were principally exerted to save and to defend. Even the great war of the Mahabbarat, which he fomented, was a JUST WAR, undertaken against invaders and tyrants, whom he triumphantly overthrew, and then returned to his seat in VAICONTHA, the heavenly region. The pagoda sacred to this Indian deity, is not less stupendous than his history and his actions. According to Tavernier, it is one of the most sumptuous edifices in all India, constructed of the same beautiful red stone, or marble, with, which, I before observed, the castle of Agra and the walls of Delhi are built,* and standing upon a vast octagonal platform, overlaid with hewn stone. Extensive, however, as is this temple, it does not occupy above half the platform the remaining half serves as a grand piazza in front of it. The platform itself is ascended by two flights of stone steps, sixteen in number, of which, the principal leads up to the grand portal of the pagoda, supported by pillars richly decorated with the usual sculptures. The pagoda is constructed likewise in the form of a cross, of which each wing is equal in extent, and a similar dome to that at Benares rises to a vast height in the centre, with an addition of two others, somewhat smaller, on each side. The elevation and grandeur of the whole fabric may easily be conceived from the assertion of the same traveller, that, though situated in a bottom, it is distinctly visible at the distance of five or six leagues. In this pagoda, the SANCTUARY is partitioned off by a close balustrade of pillars, within which none but the Brahmins are allowed to enter. A bribe to those Brahmins, however, introduced our curious traveller into this recess, and who there * See the description of Agra in the Geographical Dissertation, vol. i. p. 72. " beheld a great square altar, sixteen feet in height, covered with gold and silver brocade, on which stood the great idol, which, he says, they call RAM RAM. RAM, however, he mentions in another place as the general appellation for an idol deity; and the idol, here worshipped, is, doubtless, Veeshnu, under the form of Creeshna. It should not be forgotten, however, that RAMA was the elder brother of Creeshna. The head of the idol, which appeared to be of black marble, was alone visible, with two great rubies in the place of eyes. All the rest of the body, from the shoulder to the feet, was concealed beneath a robe of purple velvet. He noticed also two small idols, one on each side of the greater, and the superb carriage in which, on high festivals, the god is carried about in procession. Long before the period of Tavernier's visit to Mattra, the veneration of the Hindoos for this august pagoda had declined, and the devotion, so fervently paid at its hallowed shrine in ancient time, was almost totally neglected. The reason which he assigns for this general neglect of the rites, due to the benevolent CREESHNA, is, that the Jumnah, which formerly flowed close by its foot, had retired to the distance of half a league from it, and that distance was inconvenient for the ablution of the numerous pilgrims who formerly flocked to it; so inconvenient, that, before they could reach the pagoda, some fresh defilement had taken place, and it became necessary to repeat the ablution. The pagoda of TRIPETTY is situated upon the top of a high mountain in the dominions of the nabob of ARCÓT, about forty miles northeast of that capital; and, as well for its extent as for the various accommodations of lodgings for the numerous Brahmins who officiate in it, has the appearance of a city rather than of a temple. To this hill, Tavernier says, there is a circular ascent every way of hewn stone; the least of the stones, forming that ascent, being ten feet long and three broad; and the hill itself, Mr. Cambridge adds, is considered in so sacred a light, that none but Hindoos are ever suffered to ascend it. According to this latter gentleman's information, which I presume to be authentic, Tripetti is holden by the Hindoos of the Peninsula in the same veneration as Mecca is by the Mohammedans, and there is annually, in September, a festival celebrated at this place, to which an immense crowd of pilgrims, loaded with presents for the idol, resort, to the great emolument of the priests and the great increase of the revenues of the nabob. |