and mace. His sakti, Lakshmi, the bringer of prosperity, seems to be identical with the Dawn Maiden Ushas, who, clad in robes of saffron and rose-colour, like the Brahmā lotus flower, flings open the doors of the sky. To her many of the songs of the Rig-Veda are addressed, especially the immortal inspired hymn I. 113, which invokes her thus:
The heaven-born Ushas in days gone by continually hath dawned. Giver of wealth, may she shine forth to-day; thus may she give light hereafter, undiminished and undying continuing in her glory.
Ushas, child of heaven, illumineth with her beams the whole expanse of sky. Throwing off the robes of night and awakening the world, she cometh in her car by ruddy horses drawn.
Arise! the breath of our life hath come back to us! The darkness hath gone, the light approacheth! She leaveth a pathway for the sun to travel, so that now our days will be lengthened.
Chanting the praises of the brightening Dawn, the singer invoking thee stretcheth the web of his hymn. Bounteous Ushas! Shine upon him who praiseth thee! Grant us the blessing of food and offspring. ····· Mother of the Devas! Aditi's[1] rival, Banner of Sacrifice, magnificent Ushas, arise! Beloved of all, shine upon us, bless our prayers and make us chief among the people.
The famous monolithic granite sculptures at Māmallapuram include two fine reliefs, given in Pl. LX, which show Vishnu in his active and passive aspects. In Fig. A he is an eight-armed warrior-king upholding the heavens with one hand and holding his discus, mace, sword, and shield, and his war-trumpet, the conch, in others.[2] The ascent of the sun towards its zenith is symbolised by the image of Brahma on his right hand seated on his lotus throne and carried up by the sun's disc personified. The descent is shown on the
