The Hindoo celestial goddesses, it will be seen, are very few. There are no more indeed than three which can be considered as really distinct, and as holding a distinguished place among this class of Hindoo deities: these are Doorga, Sŭrŭswŭtēē, and Lŭkshmēē. Many of the others are different forms of Doorga; and Mŭnŭsa, Shŭshtēē, and Shēētŭla, would have been placed among the terrestrial goddesses, but they do not seem to have had an earthly origin.—I now proceed to give an account of the terrestrial gods, some of whom are worshipped with more shew than any of the celestial deities.

SECT. I.—Krishnŭ

According to the Shrēē-Bhagŭvŭtŭ, Mŭhabharŭtŭ, and other works, this god, a form of Vishnoo, was incarnate to destroy kings Shishoo-palŭ and Kŭngsŭ, and a number of giants.

Krishnŭ was born at Mŭt'hoora; his father's name was Vŭsoo-dévŭ, a kshŭtriyŭ, and his mother's Dévŭkēē; but Kŭngsŭ seeking to destroy him when an infant, his father fled to Vŭnda-vŭnŭ, and concealed him in the house of Nŭndŭ, a voishyŭ: hence he is sometimes called the son of Nŭndŭ.