^165:* "Vishnu Purana," note p. 401; and Muir, O. S. T., i. 447.

^166:* A Brahman saint in whom a portion of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva was incarnate.

^168:* The reason why Parasurama had to perform his work so many times was this:--Some Kshattriya children were hidden from his rage amongst the other castes, and in time grew up to be warriors. It was when his work was effectually accomplished, and there was not a single Kshattriya man left, that their widows resorted to the Brahmans, as noticed above.

^168:+ Muir, O. S. T., iv. 175.

7. THE RAMA CHANDRA AVATARA.

In Northern India this is perhaps the most popular of all the incarnations of Vishnu, and certainly the Ramayana, in which his history is found, contains some of the most beautiful legends in the whole of the sacred writings of the Hindus. The Ramayana is very largely occupied with the story of Rama's life, and the poets have found in its legends subjects for their most attractive poems. A whole volume might easily be written, giving a biography of this most popular hero; we must, however, content ourselves with the merest outline of his doings.

Mr. Griffiths, in the preface to his translation of the Ramayana, says, "The great exploit and main subject of the Epic is the war which Rama waged with the giant Ravan, the fierce and mighty King of Lanka or Ceylon, and the dread oppressor of gods and nymphs, and saints and men." "The army," to borrow the words of Gorresio, "which Rama led on this expedition was, as appears from the poem, gathered in great part from the region of the Vindhya hills; [**] but the races which he

assembled are represented in the poem as monkeys, either out of contempt for their barbarism, or because at that time they were little known to the Sanskrit-speaking Hindus. The poet calls the people whom

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THE RAMA CHANDRA AVATARA.

[paragraph continues] Rama attacked Rakshasas. Rakshasas, according to the popular Indian belief, are malignant beings, demons of

many shapes, terrible and cruel, who disturb the sacrifices and religious rites of the Brahmans. It appears indubitable that the poet of the Ramayana applied the hated name of Rakshasas to an abhorred and hostile people, and that this denomination is here rather an expression of hatred and horror than a real historical name." The account of Rama which follows is taken from the translation of the Ramayana in verse by Mr. Griffiths.