indoo belief in a divine incarnation has at least, above many
others, its logical side of conceiving that God manifests himself on
earth whenever the weakness or the errors of humanity render his
presence necessary. We find this idea expressed in one of their sacred
books called the "_Bhagavat Geeta_," wherein it says:

"I (the Supreme One said), I am made evident by my own power,
and as often as there is a decline of virtue, and an
insurrection of vice and injustice in the world, I make myself
evident, _and thus I appear from age to age_, for the
preservation of the just, the destruction of the wicked, and
the establishment of virtue."[114:7]

Crishna is recorded in the "_Bhagavat Geeta_" as saying to his beloved
disciple Arjouna:

"He, O Arjoun, who, from conviction, acknowledgeth my _divine
birth_ (upon quitting his mortal form), entereth into
me."[115:1]

Again, he says:

"The foolish, being _unacquainted with my supreme and divine
nature, as Lord of all things_, despise me in this _human
form_, trusting to the evil, diabolic, and deceitful principle
within them. They are of vain hope, of vain endeavors, of vain
wisdom, and void of reason; whilst men of great minds,
trusting to their divine natures, _discover that I am before
all things and incorruptible_, and serve me with their hearts
undiverted by other gods."[115:2]

The next in importance among the _God-begotten_ and _Virgin-born_
Saviours of India, is _Buddha_[115:3] who was born of the Virgin Maya or
Mary. He in mercy left Paradise, and came down to earth because he was
filled with compassion for the sins and miseries of mankind. He sought
to lead them into better paths, and took their sufferings upon himself,
that he might expiate their crimes, and mitigate the punishment they
must otherwise inevitably undergo.[115:4]

According to the _Fo-pen-hing_,[115:5] when Buddha was about to descend
from heaven, to be born into the world, the angels in heaven, calling to
the inhabitants of the earth, said:

"Ye mortals! adorn your earth! for Bodhisatwa, the great
Mahasatwa, not long hence shall descend from Tusita to be born
amongst you! make ready and prepare! Buddha is about to
descend and be born!"[115:6]

The womb that bears a Buddha is like a casket in which a relic is
placed; no other being can be conceived in the same receptacle; the
usual secre