horseback, with four arms, holding in three of his hands a trident, a banner, and a bead-roll. (See fig. 3, pl. 16, from a compartment in the Temple of Rama.) Kansa or Cansa, king of Mathura, who ordered the children of his sister to be put to death immediately they were born, in consequence of a prediction that he would be, dethroned and slain by one of them. Krishna escaped and afterwards slew him. (See Krishna, p. 35.) Kapila, an incarnation of Vishnu. Kapuli, a form assumed by Siva, as a religious mendicant. A human skull was his alms-dish; his necklace and ornaments were of the bones, and his dwelling-place was amongst the ashes of the dead. From skulls a Kapulika eats and drinks, and his sacrificial fires are fed with the brains and lungs of men, mixed up with their flesh; and human victims covered with the fresh blood gushing from the horrible wounds in the throats, are the offerings by which they appease this terrible god. Dr. J. Taylor.

Karmala, the servant of Dhermarajah, the benevolent form of Yama, who conveys the righteous to him for judgment. Chitra Guptu, according to Mr. Ward, is the attendant of Yama in his terrific character. Kartikeya, p. 74.

Kashi, the sacred city (the modern Benares). No city in the world, say the Hindus, is equal to Kashi.

Benares is said to contain, at the present time, a million of inhabitants; 400,000 of whom are Mahomedans, the rest Hindus: two-thirds of this population are females. Benares is five miles long, and

four broad; and it has been calculated that 25,000 pilgrims, merchants, travellers, &c., enter and depart daily from it. It has 1,000 temples, half of which are dedicated to Mahadeo and the gods of his family. The number of Brahmans, Fakirs, Sanyasis, and other beggars in this town is immense. One of its greatest annoyances arises from the Bramany or sacred bulls (which are also numerous) throwing themselves across, and, at times, rendering almost impassable its narrow streets and lanes; from which strong coercive measures must not be used to remove them.

The principal temple in Benares is that of Beseshur, built A.D. 1681." It is very handsome, but is too much confined by surrounding houses. The only entrance to it is by a narrow lane not five feet wide, and blocked up with dirt, Brahmany bulls, &c.; the temple stands on the north. On entering, it is at first impossible to distinguish any thing, the eye being blinded by the sudden change from glare to darkness: a few lamps glimmer here and there; but the ear is saluted by the buz of prayers, and the harsh tinkling of a large copper bell, which is suspended from the roof of the centrical apartment, and is sounded by each worshipper on his departure. On each side are a few small rooms, each feebly lighted by a single lamp placed in a niche over the object of adoration (the linga). Many people of both sexes were on their knees, scattering on the linga rice, water, and leaves, which were soon devoured by the Brahmany bulls, who were roaming about the temple, quite at their ease; the crowd was incessantly entering and departing. The Brahmans were very annoying in their

Lingaets worshippers of the Linga, who wear the mark of it on their breasts. Lotus, the water-lily. This plant is held sacred throughout the East, and the deities of the various sects in that quarter of the world are almost invariably represented as either decorated with its flowers, seated or standing on a lotus throne or pedestal, or holding a sceptre formed from its flower, sometimes expanded, and at others closed. These flowers are said to be found in some parts of India blue, and in the southern parts white or red. It is fabled that they obtained the last-mentioned colour by being dyed with the blood of Siva, when Kamadeva wounded him with the love-shaft arrow, as related under the articles Siva and Kamadeva. Lakshmi is called the Lotus-born, from having ascended from the ocean on its flower in the Kurmavatara. Its expanding and closing

powers, and its beautifully brilliant colours, afford an infinite variety of metaphors to the Hindu poets. Thus the lotus is with them as the lovely varying rose among the Persians. The lotus floating on the water is the emblem of the world. It is also the type of the mountain Meru, the residence of the gods (see Meru, p, 253), and the emblem of female beauty. No wonder therefore it is the poetic flower of the Hindus.

M.

Macassers (The), p. 343.

Maha Bali, an irreligious monarch, whose power was destroyed by Vishnu in the fifth Avatar. (See fifth avatar, p. 18.) Mahadeva, or Mahadeo, a name of Siva. Mahadevi, Parvati.

Maha Pralaya, or grand consummation of

all things, represents Siva as Kal, or Time, trodden under foot by Maha Kali, or Eternity. (See Kali, p. 91, and pl. 19.) Pakriti Pralaya is another name for the same event, namely, the complete destruction of the universe. When this awful event shall take place, rain will fall on the earth for one hundred (the Buddas say 100,000) years. Men and animals will be famished. The sun will dry up the seas, and all the waters and the universe will be burnt up like a ball of cow-dung. Various other destructive operations will then take place till the universe is again finally absorbed in the supreme essence. This description corresponds in substance with the opinions of the Burmans respecting the future destruction of the world, which the reader will find under the article Buddha, p. 198.

Maharshis, holy sages or saints.
Mahedasa, one of the minor avatars of
Vishnu, assumed to inculcate the doctrines
of the Vedas.

Mahesa, a name of Siva.

Mahisha, Muhisha, a giant destroyed by
Durga, p. 86.

Mahmunee, the Buddha of Bengal.
Mahrattas, or Maharattas (The), p. 285.
Mala, a rosary, or necklace.

Malsara, a name of Parvati in the avatar of Siva, as Kandeh Rao. (See Kandeh Rao.)

Mana, devotion that proceeds from the heart in profound silence.

Manasa, the goddess of snakes. She is worshipped as a preservative against the bite of these reptiles, and is represented sitting on a water-lily environed with snakes. If a Hindu has been bitten by one, incantations are pronounced to propitiate the favour of Manasa. Mandhara, or Mandha, a mountain used by the gods in churning the ocean. (See second avatar of Vishnu, p. 15.) Manovate, a name for the heaven of Brah

ma.

Mantras, prayers. (See Vedas, p. 139.) Maruts, the genii of the winds, of whom Pavana was the chief, and is thus called Marut.

Maruty, a name of Hanuman, as the son of Pavana, or Marut.

Mata, one of the martial names of Durga. Maya, or illusion. Brahma says, in this life man, as in a dream, finds delight in eating, drinking, and other enjoyments, but

as soon as he awakes they yield no longer pleasure; for the joys and pleasures of this life are as unreal as dreams. By devout abstraction (that is, by meditating on God) man awakes to a knowledge of di vine truths, and finds his former enjoyments nothing but illusion. Thus, a supreme eternal Spirit, the creator of all, pervades all, preserves all, and will finally destroy all; in fine, all things are Maya which do not proceed from the light of divine knowledge. By the Vishnaivas Laksmi is called Maya, or Ada Maya.

Medhra, the same as Yoni, p. 174. Meghnaud, a son of Ravan, who was celebrated in the war of Lanka. He was overthrown by the bear Jumont, and afterwards killed by Lakshman.

Mehrawun, a brother of Ravan, who, in the war of Lanka, took, by a surprise, Rama and Lakshman prisoners, and carried them to Patala (or hell), from whence they were released (as they were about to be sacrificed) by Hanuman.

Mendicants (religious). These people are very numerous, and consist of the Voiragees, or Vishnaivas; Sanyasis, or Saivas; Ramanayas, or worshippers of Rama; Nanock Punthees, followers of Nanock; and various others, viz. Kuveer Punt'hées; Sukhee Bhuvus; Khelanta Yogees; Kanu-pala Yogees; Shurevurees; Ughoru Punt'hées; Brumhacharees, &c. &c. They have their various forms of austerities, which it would afford no satisfaction to the reader to recapitulate; a few of them are noticed in pp. 67 and 165, and pl. 28. Menus, p. 8.

Meru (The Mountain), p. 253.

Mhairs (The), p. 299.

Migranku, a name of Chandra.
Mitra, a name of Surya (the sun), one of the
Adityas.

Moinee, an order of Hindu devotees, who vow perpetual silence. They go almost naked, and smear their bodies with cowdung.

Mooktee Kestree, a form of Parvati, or

Durga. She is of a blue complexion, like Kali, and appears to be merely a variety of that terrible goddess.

Mrigu, the antelope. (See Chandra and Siva.

Mughs, or Mugs, a people inhabiting the border countries of Chittagong and Arracan; thus called, according to Colonel Symes, from a corruption of the word Mog, a term of religious import and high sanctity, formerly applied only to the priesthood and the king. (See Kookies, p. 321.)

Mughut, a head-dress.

Muhishu Murdinee, a form of Durga or Parvati: she is represented sitting on a lion, having six, eight, or ten arms, and holding in her hands a shell, a club, a shield, a water-lily, a discus, &c. &c. Mundaris, a Mahomedan sect, founded by Mudan, a Soofi. "They admit the divine mission of Mahomed, but disclaim his title to particular veneration. The Mudans go nearly naked, braiding the hair and smearing the body with ashes, and wearing iron chains round their waists and necks.

Mund Mala, the necklace of human heads,

which is suspended from the necks of Siva and some of his avatars, and Parvati, as Kal and Kali.

Mungala, p. 132.