VISHNU

One of the three principal deities of the Hindoo mythology, the other two being Brama and Siva, He is commonly called the Preserver, the other two being respectively the Creator and the Destroyer. The great objects of his providence are brought about by his succe ive incarnations or avatars, in which he appears and acts on earth. Nine of these have taken place. The last is said to have been the appearance of Buddha, which is supposed by some learned orientalists to have taken place about a. d. 1014; and hence the Buddhists reject the Vcdas, which were compiled before that event. (See Vkdas.) The tenth avatar of Vishnu is yet to take place, when he will appear on a white horse, with a blazing scimitar, for the everlasting punishment of the wicked. One of the incarnations oi Vishnu is the celebrated Juggernaut, whose temple and worship hold such a prominent place in Indian superstition. On the great annual festival in his honour, all distinctions of castes and cla es are forgotten, and even on that occn. sion the Brahmin i cal Hindoos and the followers of Buddha cease their religious hostilities. The word Juggernaut signifies literally Lord of the Universe; and it is said that on the day he expired, Buddha a umed this appellation, ex claiming, " O Universe, I am thy Lord." [s. 1328]