Cox, George - Aryan Mythology Vol 2.pdf

MYTHOLOGY OF THE ARYAN NATIONS.
BOOK
II.
still more vehemently excited. But the fatal hour draws-
nigh, and in a cave, like Zeus and Mithras, Krishna, as the
incarnation of Vishnu, is born with four arms and all the
attributes of that god.
' On the day of his birth the quarters
of the horizon were irradiate with joy, as if more light were
diffused over the whole earth. The virtuous experienced
new delight ; the strong winds were hushed, and the rivers
glided tranquilly when Janarddana was about to be born.
The seas with their melodious murmurings made the music,
while the spirits and the nymphs of heaven danced and
sang.' l For a moment he takes away from the eyes of his
earthly parents the veil which prevents them from seeing
things as they are, and they behold the deity in all his
majesty. But the mists are again suffered to fall upon them,,
and they see only the helpless babe in his cradle. Then the
voice of an angel sounds in the father's ears, bidding him take
the child and go into Gokala, the land of cows, to the house
of Nanda, where he should find a new-born maiden. This
child he must bring back, leaving Krishna in her place.
This he is at once enabled to do, for the fetters fall from his
hands and the prison doors open of their own accord ; and
guided by a dragon or snake, who here plays the part of the
dragons or snakes in the myths of Iamos or Medeia, he
reaches the house of ISTanda. Nanda himself is in pro-
found sleep, and his wife prostrate from pain when Krishna
was left under their roof. As the husband of Devaki re-
enters the prison, the doors close again and the chains
fasten themselves on his wrists, while the cry of the infant
rouses the warders, who in their turn carry the tidings to
the object of all apprehension ; whose Milton was led into the same strain of
real form, nature, names, and dimen- thought as he wrote his Christmas
sions are not within human appre- Hymn:
hension,— are now with that Vishnu
in thee. Thou art Swaha; thou art peaceful was the night
Swadha: thou art wisdom, ambrosia. Wherein the Pnnce of Light
light, and heaven. Thou hast de-
HiS reiS n of Peace uPon the oartIx
scended upon earth for the prcservabegan:
tion of the world.'— Vishnu Purana, The winds with wonder whist
H. H. Wilson, p. 501. The same idea Smoothly the waters kissed,
animates much of the devotion ad-
W hispenng new joys to the mild
dressed to the Virgin Mary, as in the
Ocean,
, TT1
Litanv of Loretto and in many among JJJo
now hath quite forgot to rave,
'
the authorised hymns of the Breviary. * hlle bmls of calm slt brooding on the
1
Vishnu Purana, H. II. Wilson, charmed wave.'
503.