Identifier: hindumythologyve00wilk (find matches)
Title: Hindu mythology, Vedic and Purânic
Year: 1882 (1880s)
Authors: Wilkins, William Joseph, 1843-1902
Subjects: Mythology, Hindu Legends, Hindu
Publisher: Calcutta, Thacker, Spink & co. London, W. Thacker & co. (etc., etc.)
Contributing Library: Princeton Theological Seminary Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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crifice in order thathe might regain hispower. As he pre-sented his offerings tothe sacred fire, he ob-tained from it awondrous car drawnby four white horses,a banner displaying alion, and celestialarmour and weapons.The sacred rites beingfinished, Bali raised alarge army, and in hisnewly-acquiredchariot went and laidsiege to Amravati,the capital of Indrasheaven. The gods interror turned to theirpreceptor for advice ;who told them thattheir enemies hadbeen rendered invin-cible by penance. Onhearing this, they were greatly alarmed, and Indra besoughtVrihaspati to tell them what should be done. His advice wasthat they should forsake Amravati, assume other forms, and finda home elsewhere. The gods obeyed ; Indra became a peacock,Kuvera a lizard, &c, in which disguises they went to the hermitageof Kasyapa, to whom they related their misfortunes. On hearingtheir story, the sage immediately desired his wife Aditi to per-form a severe penance, in order that she might induce Vishnu to K 2
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THE VAMANA AVATAKA. 1 o- The Puranic Deities. become her son, that through him the gods might be restoredto heaven. As the origin of this incarnation is probably found in themetaphorical language of the Vedas, it will be well to considerthe teaching of the Hindu Scriptures as far as possible inchronological order. It seems clear that the legend just quoted from the SkandaPurana was written as an answer to the question why Vishnuhad appeared in this form. In the Rig-Veda * the germ of thestory is found : Vishnu strode over this (universe) ; in threeplaces he planted his step. This passage is interpreted by thecommentators in various ways. One thought that the triplemanifestation of the god in the form of fire on earth, of lightningin the atmosphere, and of the solar light in the sky was intendedin this hymn. Another understands the three steps of Vishnuto represent the different positions of the sun at his rising, hisculmination, and his setting. According to him, therefore,Vishnu is s

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