find, in stripping Christianity of its robes of Paganism, that
these miraculous events must be put on the same level with those we have
already examined.

_Crishna_, the crucified Hindoo Saviour, _rose from the dead_,[215:5]
and _ascended bodily into heaven_.[215:6] At that time a great light
enveloped the earth and illuminated the whole expanse of heaven.
Attended by celestial spirits, and luminous as on that night when he was
born in the house of Vasudeva, _Crishna_ pursued, by his own light, the
journey between earth and heaven, to the bright paradise from whence he
had descended. All men saw him, and exclaimed, "_Lo, Crishna's soul
ascends its native skies!_"[215:7]

Samuel Johnson, in his "Oriental Religions," tells us that _Rama_--an
incarnation of Vishnu--after his manifestations on earth, "_at last
ascended to heaven_," "resuming his divine essence."

"By the blessings of Rama's name, and through previous faith in him, all
sins are remitted, and every one who shall at death pronounce his name
with sincere worship shall be forgiven."[216:1]

The mythological account of _Buddha_, the son of the Virgin Maya, who,
as the God of Love, is named _Cam-deo_, _Cam_, and _Cama_, is of the
same character as that of other virgin-born gods. When he died there
were tears and lamentations. Heaven and earth are said equally to have
lamented the loss of "_Divine Love_," insomuch that _Maha-deo_ (the
supreme god) was moved to pity, and exclaimed, "_Rise, holy love!_" on
which _Cama_ was restored and the lamentations changed into the most
enthusiastic joy. The heavens are said to have echoed back the exulting
sound; then the deity, supposed to be lost (_dead_), was restored,
"_hell's great dread and heaven's eternal admiration_."[216:2]

The coverings of the body unrolled themselves, and the lid of his coffin
was opened by supernatural powers.[216:3]

_Buddha_ also ascended bodily to the celestial regions when his mission
on earth was fulfilled, and marks on the rocks of a high mountain are
shown, and believed to be the last impression of his footsteps on this
earth. By prayers in his name his followers expect to receive the
rewards of paradise, and finally to become one with him, as he became
one with the Source of Life.[216:4]

_Lao-Kiun_, the virgin-born, he who had existed from all eternity, when
his mission of benevolence was completed on earth, _ascended bodily into
the paradise above_. Since this time he has been wor