Hindu mythology, Vedic and Purānic . explanation of this strange legend seems to bethe one that is commonly received by Oriental scholars,that the passages in the Epic poems which speak ofRama as an incarnation of Vishnu are interpolationsof a later date than the original poem ; and this inter-view of Parasurama with Rama Chandra was intro-duced for the purpose of giving a quasi-divine sanctionto the teaching of these interpolations. If Parasurama,an admitted incarnation of Vishnu, acknowledged thatRama was superior to himself, what stronger proofcould be given that Rama too was div
Hindu mythology, Vedic and Purānic . explanation of this strange legend seems to bethe one that is commonly received by Oriental scholars,that the passages in the Epic poems which speak ofRama as an incarnation of Vishnu are interpolationsof a later date than the original poem ; and this inter-view of Parasurama with Rama Chandra was intro-duced for the purpose of giving a quasi-divine sanctionto the teaching of these interpolations. If Parasurama,an admitted incarnation of Vishnu, acknowledged thatRama was superior to himself, what stronger proofcould be given that Rama too was divine ? 7. The Rama Chandra Avatara. In Northern India this is perhaps the most popularof all the incarnations of Vishnu, and certainly theRamayana, in which his history is found, contains someof the most beautiful legends in the whole of the sacred THE RAMA CHANDRA AVATARA. *73 writings of the Hindus. The Ra may ana1* [is verylargely occupied with the story of Ramas life, and thepoets have found in its legends subjects for their most. THE KAMA CHANDRA AVATARA. attractive poems. A whole volume might easily bewritten, giving a biography of this most popular hero ;we must, however, content ourselves with the merestoutline of his doings. 174 THE PURANIC DEITIES. Mr. Griffiths, in the preface to his translation of theRamayana, says, The great exploit and main subjectof the Epic is the war which Rama waged with thegiant Ravan, the fierce and mighty King of Lankaor Ceylon, and the dread oppressor of gods and nymphs,and saints and men. • The army, to borrow thewords of Gorresio, which Rama led on this expedi-tion was, as appears from the poem, gathered in greatpart from the region of the Vindhya hills ;* but theraces which he assembled are represented in the poemas monkeys, either out of contempt for their barbar-ism, or because at that time they were little knownto the Sanskrit-speaking Hindus. The poet calls thepeople whom Rama attacked Rakshasas. Raksha-sas, according to the popul
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