BRAMA, the Creator.
VEESHNOO, the Preserver.
SEEVA, the Destroyer.
These form the Trimourtee, or Trinity, as it has been called, of the
Bramins. The allegory is obvious, but it has been made for the
Trimourtee, not the Trimourtee for the allegory; and these Deities are
regarded by the people as three distinct and personal Gods. The two
latter have at this day their hostile sects of worshippers; that of
Seeva is the most numerous; and in this Poem, Seeva is represented as
Supreme among the Gods. This is the same God whose name is variously
written Seeb, Sieven and Siva, Chiven by the French, Xiven by the
Portugueze, and whom European writers sometimes denominate Eswara,
Iswaren, Mahadeo, Mahadeva, Rutren,--according to which of his
thousand and eight names prevailed in the country where they obtained
their Information.
INDRA, God of the Elements.
The SWERGA, his Paradise,--one of the Hindoo heavens.
YAMEN, Lord of Hell, and Judge of the Dead.
PADALON, Hell,--under the Earth, and, like the Earth, of an octagon
shape; its eight gates are guarded by as many Gods.
MARRIATALY, the Goddess who is chiefly worshipped by the lower casts.
POLLEAR, or Ganesa,--the Protector of Travellers. His statues are
placed in the highways, and sometimes in a small lonely sanctuary, in
the streets and in the fields.
CASYAPA, the Father of the Immortals.
DEVETAS, The Inferior Deities.
SURAS, Good Spirits.
ASURAS, Evil Spirits, or Devils.
GLENDOVEERS, the most beautiful of the Good Spirits, the Grindouvers
of Sonnerat.