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RIŞABHA DEVA The Ahamindras take food once in thirtythree thousand years, and breathe after thirtythree fortnights. They pass no excrements, and are not liable to perspire. The amount of the food taken is much less than in the lower heavens. The size of an Ahamindra is only one cubit. But his body is resplendent, and symmetrical; and ugli. ness of feature and form is unknown. All the Ahamindras are gentle, dispassionate, and unusually wise.
The term ahamindra is a compound one, signifying “I am Indra." Each Alamindra knows .and realizes that he is an Indra (Lord) himself, and has no lords above him. They treat one another as absolute equals.
The relation between the need for food and breathing in the heavens seems to be a definite one. One O.Y. (Ocean of Years) of life requires feeding once every thousand years and breathing once a fortnight; and the proportion-one meal after 24,000 breaths-holds good throughout in .all the different grades of the dera-life. The same proportion, it would appear, was intended by nature for the mortal man : we breathe twentyfour thousand times in 24 hours, and, therefore, should need only one meal a day. Perhaps we have evolved' out too rapidly to remain in touch with beneficent nature! The sādhus (saints) take
