Note 188 — Chapter VII

The goddess Adidi, or Didi, is the mother of the wicked dæmons, who in the Samscred are called Asuri, and who are exceedingly spiteful. See, on this subject, Father Hanxleden’s dictionary, under the articles Adidi and Asuri. Bali, who of all these Asuri was the most wicked, and possessed the most insupportable pride, made it his continual business to torment the gods and men. Vishnu therefore assumed the form of a dwarf, overcame him, and punished him as he deserved. Other writers consider the above apparitions as an allegory respecting the history of the first king of the Assyrians called Bel or Belus, who reigned at Babylon 1322 years before the birth of Christ, and caused himself to be worshipped as a deity. According to this opinion the Assyrians are to be here understood under the appellation Asuri. The author of the Masabhàràda, already often mentioned, relates, that Báli, or Mahàbàli, that is, Bali the Great, had a hundred sons, the first-born of which was Bánnen. A.