And this is not to be supposed to be unprecedented, for the adherents of the doctrine of Vishṇu-svámin maintain the eternity of the body of Vishṇu half-man and half-lion. Thus it is said in the Sákára-siddhi-- "I glorify the man-lion set forth by Vishṇu-svámin, "Whose only body is existence, intelligence, and eternal and inconceivably perfect beatitude." If the objection be raised that the body of the man-lion, which appears as composite and as coloured, is incompatible with real existence, it may be replied: How can the body of the man-lion be otherwise than really existent, proved as it is by three kinds of proof: (1.) by the intuition of Śanaka and others; (2.) by Vedic texts such as, A thousand heads has Purusha; and (3.) by Puráṇic texts such as, That wondrous child, lotus-eyed, four-armed, armed with the conch-shell, the club, and other weapons? Real existence and other like predicates are affirmed also by Śríkánta-miśra, the devoted adherent of Vishṇu-svámin. Let, then, those who aspire to the highest end of personal souls be assured that the eternity of the body which we are setting forth is by no means a mere innovation. It has thus been said-- "What higher beatitude is there than a body undecaying, immortal, "The repository of sciences, the root of merit, riches, pleasure, liberation?" It is mercury alone that can make the body undecaying and immortal, as it is said-- "Only this supreme medicament can make the body undecaying and imperishable." Why describe the efficacy of this metal? Its value is proved even by seeing it, and by touching it, as it is said in the Rasárṇava-- "From seeing it, from touching it, from eating it, from merely remembering it, "From worshipping it, from tasting it, from imparting it, appear its six virtues. "Equal merit accrues from seeing mercury as accrues from seeing all the phallic emblems "On earth, those at Kedára, and all others whatsoever." In another place we read-- "The adoration of the sacred quicksilver is more beatific than the worship of all the phallic emblems at Káśi and elsewhere, "Inasmuch as there is attained thereby enjoyment, health, exemption from decay, and immortality." The sin of disparaging mercury is also set out-- "The adept on hearing quicksilver heedlessly disparaged should recall quicksilver to mind. "He should at once shun the blasphemer, who is by his blasphemy for ever filled with sin." The attainment, then, of the highest end of the personal soul takes place by an intuition of the highest principle by means of the practice of union (ἕνωσις) after the acquisition of a divine body in the manner we have described. Thereafter-- "The light of pure intelligence shines forth unto certain men of holy vision, "Which, seated between the two eyebrows, illumines the universe, like fire, or lightning, or the sun: