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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
three gods again came into a state of separate existence. Brahma undertook the work of creation, Vishnu applied himself to the task of protecting, and Siva promised to attend to his work of destroying. Brahma then created Dakshaprajapati and the seven Lokas or regions. One day Brahma, Vishnu, Šiva, and other gods happened to go to Mount Kailasa, where a dispute soon arose between Brahma and Śiva as to superiority, Brahma said he was superior to Śiva, who also set up a like claim to preeminence. A great altercation ensued, and the quarrel ran to such a pitch that Siva was on the point of inflicting a blow on Brahma with his trident, when Vishnu interfered and persuaded Brahma to acknowledge Siva's superiority, telling him. the following story: When I and you did not exist, Siva lay asleep in the ocean, and when he willed to create he first created you. I was then created by you at his bidding. It was due to the grace of Śiva that I assumed the form of a tortoise and protected the whole world. You ought therefore to propitiate Siva.' When Brahma heard this from Vishnu, he prayed to Šiva, who, being thereby graciously pleased with him, bade him ask for a boon. Brahma said, 'My lord, under your grace, I create the universe, and I am thence styled Pitâmaha, or grandfather. Favour me with such a boon that I may be able to create you.' Vishnu approved and recommended this request of Brahma to Šiva. Šiva approved and granted it, and then disappeared. Vishnu also went to his abode. Brahma then brought the three Vedas again into existence, and as soon he had revived the fourth, the Atharva Veda, there came out from his mouth Śiva, having half his body like that of a man, and the other half like that of a woman (Arddhanári). When Brahma saw Śiva, he begged him to resolve himself into separate persons. Śiva did so accordingly, and besides produced from his body eleven other forms. The woman asked Brahma what she was to do. Brahma told her that she should take birth from Dakshaprajapati and be born his daughter. She accordingly did so, and became the daughter of Daksha, who, by the order of Brahma, married her to Śiva. Brahma then begged Śiva that he should undertake the work of creation. Siva said that he would confine himself to his own work of destroying, and that Brahma had better keep the creation in his own hands; and Brahma agreed.'
[AUGUST, 1875.
The story proceeds to relate how Śiva was insulted by his father-in-law Daksha, in that he was not invited to a sacrifice performed by Daksha, and how Śiva caused his destruction.
The following extract relates to the sanctity of the Vastrapatha Kshetra:
There ruled formerly in a certain country a king whose name was Gaja. In the decline of life he entrusted the government of his kingdom to his son, and repaired to the banks of the Ganga with his wife, and dwelt there. After some time there came to the banks of the river a sage named Bhadra, accompanied by a large number of other sages. The sage, having bathed in the waters of the Ganga, sat down on the bank for meditation and devotion. The Râja happened to see him, and was tempted to go near him. The Raja was rejoiced to see him, and requested the sage to honour his house by a visit. The sage consented, and went to the Raja's abode. The Raja and his wife wor shipped him, and, seating themselves before him with joined palms, they entreated Bhadra with great humility to show them the way to salvation. They said: 'O sage, mankind are wandering in a maze of life and death, being deceived by the temptations of the world. Will your holiness oblige the world by pointing out a way by which eternal bliss may be secured ?' The sage replied: "The world abounds with many sacred rivers, such as the Gañiga, and abodes of Vishnu and Siva. But they bestow eternal bliss when people bathe in the rivers and visit the places at particular seasons. But the Vastrâpatha Kshetra grants to the pilgrim everlasting happiness in heaven at whatever time he chooses to go there. I was once on a tour to the sacred places and I happened to see Vishnu. He told me I need not bother myself with visiting all the sacred places,-that I should only pay a visit to Dâ mod ar and bathe in the waters of the Dâmodar Kunda, and that when I had done that, there should be nothing left for me to do. I have accordingly visited that sacred place. When the Râja heard this he said, Reverend sire, it is my desire to know in what country the Vastrâpatha Kshetra is situated, and what rivers, what mountains, and what forests there are in it.' The sage replied: The land which contains the Kshetra is surrounded by the sea. It contains many large towns. There is a mountain named Ujiya ita near
