Identifier: indianmythlegend00inmack Title: Indian myth and legend Year: 1913 (1910s) Authors: Mackenzie, Donald Alexander, 1873-1936 Subjects: Hindu mythology Publisher: London, Gresham Contributing Library: Indiana University Digitizing Sponsor: Indiana University

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Text Appearing Before Image: as. Many were also in-corporated in the great epics, the Mahdbhdrata and theRamdyana, which existed in part, at least, before the riseof Buddhism and Jainism. When Vishnu, the god of mercy and goodness,received recognition as Narayana in the BrahmanicalAge, he was worshipped as the unconquerable pre-server who at the dawn of each Yuga (Age) awoke asthe child of the primordial waters. In one myth herises from a lotus bloom; in another he is supposed tosleep, as Brahma, on the coils of the world-serpentShesha, which is a part of a part of Vishnu. Thisserpent rests on the tortoise, Kurma, another form ofVishnu. When the tortoise moves its limbs, Shesha isroused to yawn; thus are earthquakes caused. A crea-tion myth which teaches the absolute supremacy ofVishnu tells that at the beginning Brahma sprang froma lotus issuing from the navel of the Preserver, whileShiva came from his forehead. Vishnu is a dark god with four arms; in one of hisright hands he holds a warshell, and in the other a

Text Appearing After Image: ww >z D w h OZ Q o X DZ CO «, NEW FAITHS 125 flaming discus, which destroys enemies and returns afterit is flung; in one left hand he holds a mace, and in theother a lotus bloom. The belief that the Supreme Being from time to timeassumes a human form . . . for the preservation ofrectitude and morality is an outstanding feature ofVishnuite religion, which teaches that Vishnu was bornamong men as Ramachandra, Krishna, Balarama, andBuddha. These are the Avataras of the Preserver.Avatara means literally a descent, but is used in thesense of an Incarnation . Rama Chandra is the hero of the Ramayana epic,which is summarized in our closing chapters; he is thehuman ideal of devotion, righteousness, and manliness,the slayer of the demon Ravana, who oppressed andpersecuted mankind. Krishna and his brother Balarama figure as princesof Dwaraka in the Mahdbhdrata. Krishna is representedas the teacher of the Vishnuite faith, the devotional re-ligion which displaced the Vedic ceremonies and link

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