Page:The Land of the Veda.djvu/92

82 mass of solid matter whose diameter exceeded that of the orbit of Herschel, the most distant planet in our solar system, such a mass would not equal in magnitude the Earth of the Hindoo Mythologists!

“In the midst of this almost immeasurable plain, from the very center of Jamba Dwip, shoots up the loftiest of mountains, Su-Meru, to the height of several hundred thousand miles, in the form of an inverted pyramid, having its summit, which is two hundred times broader than the base, surmounted by three swelling cones—the highest of these cones transpiercing upper vacancy with three golden peaks, on which are situate the favorite residences of the sacred Triad. At its base, like so many giant sentinels, stand four lofty hills, on each of which grows a mango-tree several thousand miles in height, bearing fruit delicious as nectar, and of the enormous size of many hundred cubits. From these mangoes, as they fall, flows a mighty river of perfumed juice, so communicative of its sweetness that those who partake of it exhale the odor from their persons all around to the distance of many leagues. There also grow rose-apple trees, whose fruit is ‘large as elephants,’ and whose juice is so plentiful as to form another mighty river, that converts the earth over which it passes into purest gold!”—Duff's India and India Missions, p. 116.

Such is a brief notice of the Geographical outline, furnished by their sacred writings, of the world on which we dwell. In turning to the superior worlds we obtain a glimpse of some of the revelations of Hindoo Astronomy.

“The second world in the ascending series, or that which immediately over-vaults the earth, is the region of space between us and the sun, which is declared, on divine authority, to be distant only a few hundred thousand miles. The third in the upward ascent is the region of space intermediate between the sun and the pole star. Within this region are all the planetary and stellar mansions. The distances of the principal heavenly luminaries are given with the utmost precision. The moon is placed beyond the sun as far as the sun is from the earth. Next succeed at equal distances from