VISHNU PURANA
BOOK I.
CHAPTER I.
Invocation. Maitreya inquires of his teacher, Parasara, the origin and nature of the universe. Parasara performs a rite to destroy the demons: reproved by Vasishtha, he desists: Pulastya appears, and bestows upon him divine knowledge: he repeats the Vishnu Purana. Vishnu the origin, existence, and end of all things.
OM! glory to Vasudeva.1 — Victory be to thee, Pundarikaksha; adoration be to thee, Viswabhavana;
' ^5F^ I «fif^ •^flBl^^Tq' I An address of this kind, to one or other Hindu divinity, usually introduces Sanskrit compositions, especially those considered sacred. The first term of this Mantra or brief prayer, Om or Oiiikara, is well known as a combination of letters invested by Hindu mysticism with peculiar sanctity. In the Vedas, it is said to comprehend all the gods; and, in the Puraiias, it is directed to be prefixed to all such formulae as that of the text. Thus, in the Uttara Khaiida" of the Padma Purana: 'The syllable Om, the mysterious name, or Brahma, is the leader of all prayers: let it, therefore., O lovely -faced, (Siva addresses Durga,) be employed in the beginning of all prayers ' : W^ W^-^ ^^fT ^Wmi "^ ^^T^% II
- Chapter XXXII.
I. h
