Pralaya

“ Prakriti the material cause, Purusha — that pervades Prakriti and Kâla or periodicity which causes disturbance in the Gunas — these are three in one and I am that three-fold Brahmâ. The creative process flows on in order of succession without a break. The multifarious creation unfolds itself to serve the purposes of the jivas and it lasts so long as the period of Preservation continues and so long as Íshvara looks at it.
"The order is reversed in Pralaya, and transformations are merged in the principles from which they proceeded. The body merges in to the food grains. ”

“ Such a hero is Prabhása; in him nothing is wonderful." When they heard this from the hermit's son, Súryaprabha and his followers, with Maya and Prabhása, went immediately to that cavern belonging to Prabhása, that led down to Patala, for the purpose of securing the jewels. ”

“ Then the gods took counsel together, and came to him, and said to him: " By all means give us your body for a human sacrifice."* [9] When, he heard that, he gave them his own body, although they were his enemies; noble men do not turn their backs on a suppliant, but bestow on him even their lives. Then that Dánava Prabala was cut to pieces by the gods, and he has been again born in the world of men with the body of Prabhása.
"So Prabhása was first Namuchi, and then he was Prabala, and then he became Prabhása, therefore on account of his merit he is hard for his enemies to conquer. ”

“ In about half an hour we reached a junction of two streams, where the boats composing our flotilla had to part company—the steam-launch to be left behind, the prahu to lead the way, and the cutter to be paddled and punted up after us as far as she could go. This point proved to be only to a small landing-place, at which eight prahus were drawn up near two temporary wooden kajang huts belonging to the bird's-nest takers, members of the Eraan tribe, to whom the caves are let. Birds'-nests, it may be remarked, are a profitable property, yielding a royalty of 15,000 dollars, or over 2,500l. ”

“ The Adhyâtma side is the vritti of Avidyâ. The Adhidaiva side is Íshvara. Life in Trilokî is conditioned by this triangle. The object of Târaka Brahmâ Yoga is to cross the Triptiti, to cross the three letters of Pranava. It is only in the fourth pâda of Pranava that he finds his resting place, that pâda being situated beyond the Trilokî.
The three manifestations of the Third Purusha in Jivas or individuals, may be said to relate to their different stages of evolution. Thus Prâna manifests itself only in the lower life kingdoms, the minerals and vegetables. ”

“ Then the queen Karpúriká, having dismissed the warder, informed her father by the mouth of a slave [401] of her desire to depart. And while the king, on hearing it, was coming thither, Naraváhanadatta thus reflected; “This Práṇadhara is certainly the brother of Rájyadhara, whom he described as having run away from his native land through fear of his king.” While he was thus thinking, the king quickly arrived, and that mechanic Práṇadhara came with the warder, and said—“I have ready-made a very large chariot, which will easily carry at this instant thousands of men.” ”

“ Prawira, C. 445, from Pra, preminent, Wira, a hero. A hero, a warrior, a chief, a person of rank.
Prawu, the name of a range of mountains between Pakalongan on the north coast, and the Residencies of Banyumas and Bagělén to the Southward. The upperpart of these mountains is called Diyěng, which see. Many remains of Hindu temples and other antiquities still exist upon the Prawu, which is probably derived from Prabhu, corrupted into Prawu, and derived from Pra, C. 430, a particle and prefix implying excess, much, very, exceeding, excellence ”

“ To the eastward of Surabáya, and on the range of hills connected with Gúnung Dásar, and lying partly in the district of Pasúruan and partly in that of Probolingo, known by the name of the Teng'ger mountains, we find the remnant of a people still following the Hindu worship, who merit attention, not only on account of their being, (if we except the Bédui of Bantam, who will be hereafter noticed) the sole depositaries of the rites and doctrines of that religion existing at this day on Java, but as exhibiting an interesting singularity and simplicity of character. ”

“ The limit of moral progress was reached by Prahlâda. But the ideal of Prahlâda was based upon the conception of differences and of individualities. It is for this reason that Varna and Ashrama Dharma, or the separate duties of life for separate classes of men, is dealt with in the discourses with Prahlâda.
But though Prahlâda was a son of Hiranyakasipu, he was an exception to the general run of material evolution which was fostered by Hiranyakasipu. Hiranyakasipu hated the development of Sâtvic virtues, he hated Hari, the embodiment of Satva. ”

“ So far as Hindu mythology is concerned, we find ample and interesting evidence respecting the origin of Phallic worship in the East, in the form of the adoration of the lingam. Thus in the Vamana Purana we are enlightened as follows:—“Then Hara, wounded by the arrows of Kama, wandered into a deep forest, named Daruvanam, where holy sages and their wives resided. The sages on beholding Shiva, saluted him with bended heads, and he, wearied, said to them,—‘Give me alms.’ Thus he went begging round the different hermitages ”

“ The pargana is crossed from west to east by a smaller and unnavigable river the Ketha. Both streams are bridged where the road crosses them. On the whole this is a good pargana for agriculture; the percentage of first-class crops is as much as 39, the largest in the tahsil. There are no marked features in the landscape, no lakes, or even large jhíls; no forest, hills, or valleys. In some parts water is found within 8 feet of the surface; in others not until a depth of 50 feet has been dug. ”

“ Their warfare is carried on more by treachery and stratagem than open fighting—they [81] are all warriors, and seldom at peace. The powerful tribes which reside on the banks of the river generally possess several war prahus, capable of holding from twenty to thirty men, and mounting a brass gun (leila) on her bows, carrying a ball of one to two pounds weight. These prahus, when an expedition is to be made against a neighbouring tribe, are manned by the warriors, one or two of the most consequential men being stationed in each prahu. ”

“ My proposal is that we make the prahu very fast, so that we may be sure that she will be here on our return. Then we will take to the river-boat and the paddles, and will row into the river, getting as far up-stream as possible before the day dawns. It is already much lighter, though I think that we can count upon a good hour longer. By that time, with the tide to help us, we should be some distance up, and shall, perhaps, have gained a position from which we can set a watch upon our enemies. After that all depends upon the pirates and upon circumstances. ”

“ The three first were lords of hosts of lords of hosts of transcendent warriors, but the fourth was a great hero surpassing the rest in valour. And those haughty chiefs attacked Prabhása with heavenly weapons. Prabhása repelled their weapons with the weapon of Náráyana, and easily cut asunder the bow of each eight times; then he repelled the arrows and clubs which they hurled, and slaying their horses and charioteers, deprived them all of their chariots. ”

“ Lelha’s brothers as they sailed along came to a certain ghat at which a raja was bathing. He was raja of the country through which they were passing. He demanded from Lelha’s brothers to know what they had in their boat. They replied, “We have hiras and manis with us.” Then the raja said, “Shew them to me. You may be thieves.” They replied, “No, they are inside these Sinjo fruits.” The raja said, “Break one, I wish to see what they are like.” So the brothers broke one, but nothing was found in it. Then the raja called his soldiers, and ordered them to bind the four brothers. ”

“ I have before mentioned that Allahabad, the ancient city of Prayaga, is doubly sanctified because it is at the junction of the Jumna and the Gauges, and these two streams are affluents of its sanctity as well as of its trade. The great plain of white sand which is enclosed between the blue lake-like expanses of the two meeting rivers is the Plain of Alms. In truth, there are three rivers which unite here—the Ganges, the Jumna and the Saravasti—and this thrice-hallowed spot is known in the Hindu mythologic system as the Triveni. ”

“ MÁNIKPUR Pargana—Tahsil KUNDA— District PARTABGARH.---This, small but celebrated pargana lies along the bank of the Ganges, between Bihár and Salon. It was formerly much larger, but the Kanhpurias and the Bisens seizing some of the villages managed, for greater security, to include them in their parganas. Its area only 36 square miles, or 22,796 acres, of which 10,300 are cultivated, and 8,152 barren. The population MAN 459 is 50,849, being at the rate of 1,412 per square mile, or five per cultivated acre; except the Lucknow pargana, its population is the densest in Oudh. ”

“ It is a healthy place, the soil is good, and the camping ground is all that can be desired, well shaded, and overlooking a river. JÁIS ROKHA Pargana* -Tahsil SALON.—District RAE BARELI. This pargana is bounded on the north by pargana Mohanganj, on the east by Amethi, on the south by Parshádepur and Ateha, and on the west by Rae Bareli. The surface of the pargana is level; the soil on the south-west is very fertile ; on the east and north there are extensive úsar plains, with low- lying lands of much extent annually under water. ”

“ All that is old becomes new, all that is new becomes old, and that one word, Parganya, seems, like a charm, to open before our eyes the cave or cottage in which the fathers of the Aryan race, our own fathers—whether we live on the Baltic or on the Indian Ocean—are seen gathered together, taking refuge from the buckets of Parganya, and saying, "Stop now, Parganya; thou hast sent rain; thou hast made the deserts passable, and hast made the plants to grow; and thou hast obtained praise from man." ”

“ The population consists of almost all classes of Hindus and Muhammadans; the former belong for the most part to the Shaivi, and the latter to the Sunni sects. Ametbia Chhattris are the principal high caste Hindus in the pargana. The law of primogeniture prevails with them. The population amounts to 65,765,* of which there are 61,573 Hindus and 4,192 Muhammadang. The river Gumti waters the western part of this pargana and flows east- ward into the Sultanpur district. The villages through which this river passes are Jaurás, Bhilwal, Dhaurabra, Ehaseri, Jaskápur, and Robi. ”

“ Prajnáḍhya again said to her—“Why do you enter in this sudden way when a man is sleeping at his ease? Besides, my lord sleeps alone to-night on account of a vow.” Then the daughter of Prahláda, being ashamed, said, “So be it, enter,” and Prajnáḍhya went inside. Seeing that Kalávatí was asleep, he woke up Súryaprabha and himself told him that Mahalliká had arrived. And Súryaprabha, hearing of it, gently rose up, and went out, and beholding Mahalliká with two others, he said—“This person has been supremely blessed by your arrival, let this place be blessed also, take a seat.” ”

“ Next morning ten stalwart young men strike the people with branches, which have been previously dipped in an earthen pot of water. As soon as they have done so, they run down to the beach, put the branches on board the prao, launch another prao in great haste, and tow the disease-burdened prao far out to sea. ”

“ The raja also had his attention attracted daily by the sparrows. One day, very suddenly, the hen-sparrow took ill, and died. The next day the cock-sparrow appeared with another mate, and sat in front of the nest with her, as he had done with the other. But the new mother took no notice of the young ones in the nest, but left them to die of hunger. The rani, who was greatly grieved to see such want of compassion, said to the raja, “This is how it is, one has no pity for those who belong to another. ”

“ Vishnŭ then fixed Pralhaud on the throne, and his reign was a mild and virtuous one. I have a Hindoo painting commemorative of this avatar, in which the man-lion is represented seated in the centre of a pillar that has been burst open, while, with his hands, he is tearing out the bowels of the impious king, who lies howling and kicking across the knees of Nara-singha. On the right of the picture a Hindūstanī woman stands, with the palms of her hands pressed together; and to the left, is a man, apparently a dwarf, standing in the same attitude. ”

“ Itaunja is chiefly known as the seat of the Panwar Rája, Jagmohan Singh, son of Rája Ratan Singh, who holds one of the largest taluqas in the district, The tenure in this pargana is in great part taluqdari, the two chief taluqdars being Rája Jagmohan Singh and Bábu Pirthipál Singh of the Panwar tribe of Rajputs, and near of kin. These are the only two taluq- dars indigenous to the pargana, The remaining chief families are the 412 MAH Chauháns of Bhauli and of Magat, consisting of eight and twelve villages respectively, and the Chauhans of Kathwára of thirty-two villages. ”

“ Crossing the pleasing Sarayu, and seeing the whole of the eastern Koçaladesa, they marched through Mithila and Malla and crossed the Charmanvati river; then crossing the Ganges and the Sona, these three brave men of unwearied courage, clothed in cloth of the Kusa grass, turning eastwards, arrived at the boundary of the Magadha kingdom. ”