9

cifully constructed with texts of the védů. Amongst all the gods none are charged with greater crimes than Indru, who seduced the wife of his spiritual guide; indeed, from a variety of facts it is highly probable, that to the védus we are to attribute the foundation of this whole fabric of superstition. These books contain prayers to procure the destruction of enemies, as well as encourage the burning of widows alive, which is surely a far greater crime than any thing done in the presence of the images of Ramů or Krishnu. The ancient idolatry therefore, seems to have been

as corrupt as any thing practised at present.Is it not probable that the horrid worship of Moloch was really that of the element of âre?

I do not find, however, that the heavenly bodies are worshipped on the tops of houses, as appears to have been the case among those nations from whom the Jews learnt their idolatry. It is said of Manasseb, that he worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them." Josiah, the son of Manasseh, put down all that burnt incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. By the prophet Jeremiah, God threatens, that the people shall bring out the bones of the king of Judah, of the princes, priests, prophets and people, and adds, And they shall spread them before the sun, the moon, and all the host of hea ven, whom they have served; they shall not be gathered nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth. By the prophet Zephaniah, God threatens to cut off them that worship the host of heaven upon the house-tops.' Stephen, in rehearsing the history of the children of Israel before the Jewish council, declares, that God formerly gave up their forefathers to worship the host of heaven, and mentions among other objects of worship the star of the god Remphan.

This worship, which has been so general among heathen nations, seems to have originated in judicial astrology, and in the belief that the heavenly bodies have a great influence upon human events. Hindoos, whose birth under a supposed evil planet has been ascertained, are often filled with melancholy; some abandon them. selves to despair, careless of what becomes of an existence connected with such omens.

" fire, let these women, with bodies anointed with ghee, eyes (coloured) with stibium and void of tears, enter the parent of water, that they may not be separated from their husbands, may be in union with excellent busbands, be sinless, and be jewels among women." Rig-védú.

The reader will perceive, in reading the account of Saturn, to what a degree the Hindoos dread the influence of this planet, especially at the time when it is in a certain sign. Against fears of this kind the prophet Jeremiah warned the Jews: Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the heather are dismayed at them.'

SECTION XIV.

The worship of the Nine Gruhus,* or Planets.

AT the great festivals a small offering is presented to all the planets at once; but except on these occasions they are never worshipped together. They are, however, frequently worshipped separately by the sick or unfortunate, who suppose themselves to be under the baneful influence of some planet. At these times the nine planets are worshipped, one after the other, in regular succession. The ceremonies consist of the common forms of worship before other images, and close with a burnt-offering to each planet.

To Sōōryŭ are offered in the burnt sacrifice small pieces of the shrub ŭrků;† to Chundru, those of the pulashu;‡ to Mars, those of the khudiru ;§ to Mercury, those of the upamargй;|| to Jupiter, those of the ushwätt'hu;* to Venus, those of the ooroomburů; to Saturn, those of the shumee;t to Rahoo, blades of dōōrva grass; and to Kétoo, blades of kooshŭ grass.

In honour of Sōōryŭ boiled rice mixed with molasses is burnt; milk is to be mixed with the rice offered to Chundră; with that to Mars, curds; with that to Mercury, clarified butter; to Jupiter is offered frumenty; to Venus, boiled rice alone; to Saturn, various kinds of food; to Rahoo, goat's flesh or fish; to Kétoo, blood from the car of a goat, mixed with rice.

These stars are called grăhăs, because they make known to people good and evil.

The image of Sōōryŭ is to be a round piece of mixed metal, twelve fingers in diame ter; that of Chundrŭ is to be like a half moon, a cubit from end to end; that of Mars, a triangular piece of metal measured by the thickness of six fingers; that of Mercury, a golden bow measuring the thickness of two fingers from one extremity to the other; that of Jupiter like a flower of the water-lily; that of Venus, a four-square piece of silver; that of Saturn, an iron scymitar; that of Rahoo, an iron mükŭrŭ ; and that of Kétoo, an iron snake.

The fees accompanying the worship of the different planets are various: at that of Sōōryй, a milch cow; of Chundrů, a shell; of Mars, a bull: of Mercury, a morsel of gold; of Jupiter, a piece of cloth; of Venus, a horse; of Saturn, a black cow; of Rahoo, a piece of iron; and of Kétoo, a goat.

When the officiating bramhun performs the worship of separate planets, he must put on vestments of divers colors, and offer different kinds of flowers.

THIS god, the son of Kushyйpř, the sage, is painted red. He holds a water-lily in each hand, and rides in a chariot drawn by seven yellow+ horses.

The Jyo

Ruvee as one of the planets is worshipped only at the great festivals. tish-tutwu says, that if a person be born under the planet Ruvee, he will possess an anxious mind, be subject to disease and other sufferings, be an exile, a prisoner, and endure much sorrow from the loss of his wife, children, and property.

This god has been already noticed under the name of Storyй; but in that ac

Hence Rivee-vară, or Sunday.

Not green, as mentioned by Mr. Maurice.

count several particulars were omitted by mistake; and which I insert here, though they properly belong to another form of this idol: While bathing, the Hindoos repeat certain incantations, in order to bring the waters of all the holy places in the heaven of this god into the spot where they are standing, and thus obtain the merit of bathing not only in Gunga, but in all the sacred rivers, &c. in the heaven of Sōōryŭ. After bathing too the Hindoos make their obeisance to this god in a standing posture; the more devout draw up their joined hands to the forehead, gaze at the sun, make prostration to him, and then turn round seven times, repeating certain forms of petition and praise. On these occasions they hold up water in their joined hands, and then pour out a drink-offering' to the sun,

When the terrific being which sprung out of Shivu's bunch of hair went with all the bhōōtus, &c. to destroy Dikshi's sacrifice, all the gods being present, this monster seized on Sōōryŭ and knocked out his teeth: in consequence, at the time of worship, only soft things, as flour, &c. are now offered to this god, such as a toothless old man might eat.

Sōōryй is charged in the Muhabharůtů with ravishing Koontee, a virgin, from whence Kŭrnnů, a giant, was born,

SECTION XVI.

Somů, or Chundră, the moon.

THE image of Somŭ is that of a white man, drawn by ten horses, or sitting on the water-lily. With his right hand he is giving a blessing, and in the other he holds a club.

In the work called Ŭdhikürünŭ-mala, a sacrifice is ordered to be performed to Somů, and the worshipper is promised a place in the heaven of this god.

Hence Somů-vară, or Monday.

All the Hindoo ceremonies are regulated by the rising or setting, the waxing or waning of the moon. The Jyotish-tutwů says, If a person be born under the planet Somu, he will have many friends; will possess elephants, horses, and palanqueens; be honourable and powerful; will live upon excellent food; rest on superb couches,

&c.

*

A race of Hindoo kings are said to have descended from Somů by Rohinee, and are called the children of the moon. The first of these was Bcodhu, and the forty

sixth Yoodhist’hiru.

This god on a certain occasion was forcibly carried away by Gŭroorũ, the bird on which Vishnoo rides, and delivered up to the giants. The giants, anxious to become immortal, as well as the gods, promised Gŭroorů that if he would bring the moon by force, so that they might drink the nectar, supposed to exist in the bright parts of that planet, they would deliver his mother from the curse pronounced against her by her son Ŭroon, by which she had been doomed to become the slave of her sister. Gŭroorů soon seized the god, and placed him trembling among the assembled giants; but while the latter were gone to bathe, and prepare for partaking of the waters of immortality, Indru arrived and delivered the captive, and thus disappointed these implacable enemies of the gods.

Somů is charged with seducing the wife of Vrihuspütce, his preceptor. See the next page.

The chief names of this god are: Somů, or, he from whom the water of immortality springs.-Himangshoo, he whose beams are cooling.-Chundrů, he at whose rising people rejoice.-Indoo, the great.-Koomoodu-bandŭvů, the friend of the flower Koomoodů.t-Vidhoo, he who causes the gods to drink the water of life.-Soodhangshoo, he whose rays are as the water of life.-Oshudheeshů, the lord of medicinal plants.—Nishapătce, the lord of night.—Ĕbjů, he who was born from the waters.

The Hyades.

1 Nymphalotus. After the rising of the moon this flower is said by the Ilindoes to expand.

J