Brach manes

, Indian philosophers, who derive their name from Brahma, one of the three beings whom God, according to their theology, created, and with whose a istance he formed the world. They devoted themselves totally to the worship of the gods, and were accustomed from their youth to endure labours, and to live with frugality and abstinence. They never ate flesh, and abstained from the use of wine, and all carnal enjoyments. After they had spent 37 years in the greatest trials, they were permitted to marry and indulge themselves in a more free and unbounded manner. According to modern authors, Brahma is the parent of all mankind, and he produced as many worlds as there are parts in the body, which they reckoned 14. They believed that there were seven seas, of water, milk, curds, butter, salt, sugar, and wine, each ble ed with its particular paradise. Strabo , bk. 15 .— Diodorus , bk. 17 .