"Crishna is the very _Supreme Brahma_, though it be a _mystery_[114:5] how the Supreme _should assume the form of a man_."[114:6]
The Hindoo 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 "_Bhágavat 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 "_Bhágavat 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]
"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 Bôdhisatwa, the great Mahâsatwa, 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]