Nir Narrain, p. 244.

Nishaputi, a name of Chandra.

Parasha, a club. (See Gadha.) Parashu Rama, p. 20.

Lanka.

Numuchisadunee, a name of Indra, &c.,

who slew the giant Numuchi. Nycul, or Nakla, one of the Pandus.

Pandus).

Nymphaea, or Lotus. (See Lotus).

O.

O'm, or AUM, p. 136.

Ochisrava, the white eight-headed horse of Indra, produced at the churning of the

ocean.

Orus, p. 255.

Osiris, p. 255.

P.

Padma, or Pedma. The lotus.

Pakriti, a name of Parvati, or Bhavani. Pakriti Pralaya. (See Maya Pralaya. Pakushasanu, he who governs the gods with justice; a name of Indra.

Panchanum, or Pauncha Mucktee Siva, a form of Siva with five faces; much worshipped in Bengal: Naga Panchamucktee, is five heads surmounted by a snake. (See fig. 2, pl. 14.)

Pandu, the father of the Pandus. (See Pandus.)

Pandus, p. 248.

Pan Patra, a cup for receiving the blood of victims.

Paramest'hi, or Prajapati, names of the supreme deity.

Parameswara, a name of Brahm, the supreme being, sometimes applied as Iswara. (See Iswara.)

Parushamed' ha, human sacrificess. Certain forms for this sacrifice are prescribed in the Puranas; but the ceremony would appear to be emblematic, and not real. Mr. Ward affirms, that it is generally reported that human sacrifices actually exist in Bengal. I think the statements of his informants to be questionable: at all events, the measure is in direct defiance of the law.

Pas, Pash, or Pashu, a cord or rope, seen in the hands of some of the deities to strangle sinners with. Whoever is caught by it cannot get away.

Patala, the infernal regions. (See Yama).

Patala devi, a name of Parvati in her avenging character.

Paulastya, a name of Kuvera.

Phansagars, a set of murderers, found principally in the Deccan, who either for the sake of plunder or private revenge, adopt peculiar methods to ensnare their victims, one of the most common of which is to place a woman in a secluded spot, who, by a tale of pity and helplessness, induces the traveller to offer her his protection, often to receive her on horseback behind him, and while thus journeying, the murderer flings a noose round her benefactor's neck, throws herself on the ground, and drags him with her. Concealed accomplices rush out, and the un

fortunate traveller is immediately dispatched. They choose lonely spots, and often follow their victims for weeks before an opportunity offers to effect their savage and demoniacal object. All castes are found in this gang.

Pinda, round balls made of rice; seen in the hands of Devi, and some of the other deities.

Pindaries, (The) p. 293.

Pitris, or Patriarchs, descendants of the
Rishis.

Pitamaha, a name of Brahma.
Poita, or Zennaar, p. 154.
Pollyar, a name of Ganesha.
Polyandry, p. 305.

Pooja, or Puja, Hindu worship, or the fes-
tival of the Hindus, as Durga Puja, or the
worship of the goddess Durga. It assumes
various forms, and is attended by a variety
of ceremonies according to the deities
worshipped, and the circumstances under
which the worship is performed. (See
Durga Puja, p. 84, and pl. 18.)
Powlamya, a name of Indrani.
Pradha, or Brightness, the consort of Surya;
also called Chaya, from having changed
herself into shade to avoid the intensity of
his beams. The glory round the heads of
the gods is also called Pradha or Prad-
haval.

Pradham, or Pakriti.

Pralhaud, a virtuous prince, the son of the demon Hiranyacasipa, who was destroyed for his wickedness by Vishnu. Pralhaud remonstrated with his father on his infidelity to the gods, and on his death succeeded to his throne.

Priests (Hindu). Every Brahman who professes a knowledge of the formula of his religion may become a priest. They are distinguished by the appellation of the Purushita, the Acharya, the Sudushya, the Brahma, and the Hota. The first appears to be the principal ceremonial, the last the sacrificial priest. According to Mr. Ward the first mentioned is the most advantageous order, as the rich who are unwilling to fast, bathe in cold water and perform further ablutions and sacrifices, bestow fees upon the Purushita to perform their ceremonies for them. Some of the lower castes have priests of their own, and not Brahmans. Priests have no official garments, but always appear in their usual dress. (See Brahmans, p. 142.) Prithivi, p. 102.

Prityungira, a vindictive form of Parvati, worshipped with sanguinary sacrifices, and propitiated to obtain the destruction of, or injury to another. She is consequently

invoked in a similar manner to Kali. Pudmawuttee, a Jaina Devi.

Pulaha, one of the seven Brahmadicas. Pulastya, one of the seven Brahmadicas. Puniakirti, a form of Garuda, assumed to propagate the delusive doctrines of Vishnu, as Budda, at Kashi, to deceive the virtuous king Divodasa. Puram-hungru. Hindu religious mendicants, who go naked, observe perpetual silence, and appear regardless of all visible objects. Puranas. Sacred writings of two kinds: one treats of the creation of the universe, the progress and renovation of worlds, &c.; and the other of chronology and the geneology and achievements of the gods, demigods, and heros of the Hindus.

;

Purashu or Purushu, the principal male, the first manifestation of the Supreme Being, the term like that of Viraj is variously applied, in honour of their especial deity, by the different sects. Pushan, a name of Surya.

Pushpaka, the car of Kuvera; also, according to legends, the name of a favourite parrot of Indra, who, on the appearance of Yama, flew away, alleging that he could not face the destroyer of mankind. The gods entreated Yama to spare it, who referred them to Kal (time); Kal again referred them to death, who, on the approach of the bird, cut short the argument and the parrot's life at the same time. On being reproached by the gods, Yama said that fate had decided the parrot's life, and that no care on their parts could have saved it.

R.

Radha, the mistress of Krishna, p. 45, pl. 12.

Raghuva, a name of Rama Chandra.

Rahu, the planet of the ascending node, p. 134, pl. 26.

Rajarshis, holy sages or saints.

Raja Vansas, Raj Kumars, and Rajpoots, independent warlike tribes of Hindustan, among whom female infanticide extensively prevails. (See Infanticide, p. 177, and Rajpoots 275.)

Raju Rajeswaree, a form of Durga, represented sitting on a stool of three legs, which rests on the heads of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva,

Raivata, one of the seven Menus.

Rakshasas, demons who assume at will the

Rath-Yatra, the celebrated festival of Juggan-na'th.

Ravana, or Ravan, a powerful Asura, the sovereign of Lanka, destroyed by Rama Chandra. He is described with numerous heads and arms, and is said to have become so potent, in consequence of an ill-judged promise (according to some of Siva, and according to others of Brahma) obtained in the usual manner by marvellous religious austerities and devotion, as to have brought all the gods under his subjection. As the promise of the deity could not be revoked, Vishnu found the means of evading the performance of it by becoming incarnate as Rama Chandra to effect the destruction of the tyrant. (See Rama Chandra, p. 22, and fig. 2, pl. 9.)

Ravi, one of the Adityas, a

sun.

Rawels (Bhauts).

Rawets, hill gods of the Bheels.

name of the

Rembha, a name of Lakshmi, the sea-born Venus of the Hindus, and the Venus Aphrodites of the Greeks; one of the gems

Lakshmi, p. 60.)

Reti, affection; the consort of Kamadeva, the god of love.

Revutee, the wife of Bala Ram, who was

3,888,000 years old at the time of her marriage. (See p. 48.)

Sactas, the worshippers of the Sactis. (See Sactis.) This sect, though numerous, is, from the profligacy of a large portion of its members, held in general disesteem. Sactis (The), p. 120.

Saka, or Sakya, a name of Buddha.

(See Vedas).

Rishis (The), p. 9.

Rivers. Numerous rivers are held sacred by the Hindus, viz. the Gunga or Ganges; (see Gunga); the Yamuna or Jumna; the Suraswati; the Godaveri ; the Sindhu; the Krishna; the Brahmaputra, &c. &c. &c. The three first mentioned are called the Triveni, and form a junction at Allahabad, where multitudes of pilgrims annually resort in consequence to bathe. (See Triveni.)

Rohillas (The), p. 306.

Rohini, one of the daughters of Daksha, and the favourite wife of Soma, or Chandra.

Rosheniah Sect (The), 308.

Rudra, a name of Siva in his destroying character.

Rudrani. Parvati, as the sacti of Rudra. Rukmini, the wife of Krishna; an incarnation of Lakshmi. (See Krishna.)

Runeka, the mother of Parashu Rama. Rutna Soor, one of the Datyas; from his blood shed on the ground in battle fresh demons sprung up.

S.

Sacambhari Bhavani, the guardian goddess of the Rajpoots, p. 284.

Sama, or Saman Veda, one of the Vedas. (See Vedas.)

Sambhu, a name of Siva: (See Siva.)
Sami Tree, used in Puja, or worship.

Samput, a vulture, by which Rama Chandra was directed to seek for Sita in Ceylon. This bird, with his brother Jutaee, in early life made an attempt to gain the realms of celestial light; Jutaee relinquished the undertaking, but Samput persevered, and had his wings and plumage scorched for his pains, and fell to the ground. So keen was his sight, even in old age, that although Sita must have been at least one thousand miles distant, he beheld her, and directed Rama accordingly. Sanchanága, an enormous giant, in the form of a serpent, killed by Krishna. He is described by Colonel Wilford as having two countenances, one that of a man, and the other of a snake; and to have fixed his abode in a shell. His breath was believed to have been a fiery, poisonous wind, which burnt and destroyed all the animals and vegetables near it. This the Hindus, who imagine that his descendants still exist, consider as the hot winds of the African Deserts. The sage Agastya, who for his piety and learning was translated to the heavens, reduced this monster, and carried him about in an earthen pot.

Sani, or Shunee, the planet Saturn.

Sankara, a form of Siva, assumed by him to overthrow the Buddhas.

Sanyasis, religious mendicants of the sect of Siva.

Sasin, a roe, a fawn, or antelope; the va

han of Chandra.

Satkara, a deity worshipped by the Sauds.

(See Sauds, p. 241.)

Satyavama, one of the wives of Vishnu ; also in his avatar of Krishna.

Satyavrata, one of the seven Menus; and the holy king to whom Vishnu appeared in the first or Matsya Avatar, p. 14. Sauds (The), p. 241.

Savitri, a name of Surya; also of Suraswati, the Sacti of Brahma. Some singular stories are related of the curse of Savitri on the gods, in consequence of Brahma being united to Gayitri, which caused the worship of Brahma but once in a year; the distresses and wanderings of Indra; the avatars of Vishnu; the loss of Siva's virility; the destructive power of Agni or fire, which devours every thing, clean or unclean, that it touches; the inconstancy of Lakshmi or fortune; and, above all, the dreaded Hindu curse of barrenness upon all the goddesses. Gayitri, however, although she could not avert, rendered innocuous the curses of Savitri by countervailing boons; thus, those who did worship Brahma obtained the blessings of this world, and beatitude hereafter. Indra, although often oppressed and driven from his heaven, was restored to enjoy it in peace and security. Vishnu gave, by his avatars, tranquillity, happiness, and vir

tue to mankind; the Linga became of extensive worship; and Lakshmi, although inconstant, was always received, wherever she appeared, with smiles and welcome. Sectarial Marks, p. 162, pl. 2. Sects. These I have noticed and referred to under their respective heads in my account of Brahm (p. 1). In addition, however, to the six sects there described, it is to be observed, that the Vishnaivas are divided into two branches, the Goculast'has, and the Ramanuz: the first the worshippers of Krishna, the latter of Rama Chandra. These again are subdivided, one part of the Goculast has worshipping Krishna alone; a second worshipping him in conjunction with his mistress Radha; and a third (called Radhaballabhi) who adore Radha only, considering her as the active power of Vishnu in the eighth avatar. The followers of the last-mentioned sects have adopted the singular practice of presenting to their own wives the oblations intended for the goddess; and those among them who follow the left-handed path (there being in most sects a right-handed or decent path, and a left-handed or indecent mode of worship), require their wives to be naked when attending them at their devotions. Among the Ramanuz some wor ́ship Rama only; others Rama and Sita.

The Saivas worship Siva and Bhavani conjointly, and adore the Linga or compound type of their god and goddess. (See Linga and Yoni.) The exclusive worshippers of Siva are the Lingis or Gymnosophists. Those of Bhavani, or any other of the female energies, are the Sactas, whose emblem is the Yoni. Seeloochuna, the affectionate wife of Megh