A History of the Mahrattas v1.c7.97

v1.c7.97

There is but one temple dedicated to Brahma ¹ in India, which is at Pooshkur, near Ajimere. Vishnoo, Mahdeo, and their wives, are worshipped under the names of their various outars, in numerous temples, where their images are preserved. There are a multitude of incarnations from all of them ; but there are eleven principal outars of Mahdeo, and ten of Vishnoo : those of Mahdeo were chiefly for the purpose of assisting Indra, in his wars with the Dyts : those of Vishnoo are the most celebrated ; but as they are well known, it may be sufficient to remark, that his wars for the destruction of evil genii and oppressive Rajas, and the shapes he assumed for the preservation of the world on various occasions, are recorded in the Poorans or sacred histories, forming the subject of their great popular poems, the Ramayun, the Mahabharut, and the Bhagwut. These poems have in later times been imitated in Mahratta, and have afforded a never failing fund of amusement, in supplying ideas and allusions for all Kuthas, a sort of recitative, intermixed with music and song ; in which tales, achievements, acts, and penances of the gods are related, anecdotes and allusions to passing occurrences often wittily introduced, and good moral lessons frequently conveyed. The Kuthas ² are a popular amusement in Maharashtra with all ranks and casts.