Amida, a Japanese deity, p. 339, Pl. 37. Amravati, the celestial city of Indra. Amrita, the beverage of immortality drank by the gods, produced at the churning of the ocean. Amrita Sir, or Umrit Suru, the principal place of worship of the Shikhs, founded by Ramdasu. (See Shikhs, p. 227.) Ananda, the god of desire. Ananta (see Sesha.) Anghudu, one of the ten leaders of the Shikhs, p. 229. Anna Purna Devi, a form of Parvati, p. 97. Anugamana, the performance of Suttee by a woman alone, whose husband has died in a distant country: a sandal, or any article of his clothes may then represent him. Aparagiti, a name of Parvati or Durga. Apsaras, celestial dancers celebrated for their beauty. Among them Rembha, the popular Venus of the Hindus, and some others are described to be of inconceivable loveliness. Ardha-nari, p. 101. Argha, the cup or circle from which the Linga rises; its outer edge or rim is the yoni. It is also a boat-shaped vessel (called argha patra), used in religious ceremonies to contain the argha, or offering made of tila or sesamum indicum, cusagrass, perfumes, flowers, durva-grass and water. See fig. 5, plate 32. Arghanat'ha, a name of Siva, in allusion to the Argha's connexion with the Linga. Arjun, one of the five Pandu brethren (see Pandus, p. 248.) Arjunu, one of the ten leaders of the Shikhs, p. 229. Arun, the son of Kasyapa and Vinata, the brother of Garuda, and the charioteer and harbinger of Surya. He is thus described as the dawn; and as a handsome youth without thighs or legs (see Surya), p. 127, Pl. 24. A'sa'purna, the Rajpoot goddess Hope. Asoca, a shrub sacred to Maha Deva; on particular ceremonies the buds of it are steeped in water, which is then drank. The flowers are very beautiful. Asuras (Asurs or Asoors), demons and giants, who, like the Titans, made war against the gods. Sons of Diti. Aswamedha, a sacrifice of a horse. The sanguinary part of this ceremony would, according to Mr. Colebrooke, appear, like that of the parushamedha, or human sacrifice, to be merely nominal, the horse, after certain ceremonies, being let loose. Mr. Ward, however, states that he is liberated only for a twelvemonth, when he is again taken, and being magnificently caparisoned, is, after various preliminary proceedings, slain by the hota or priest. He who offers a hundred sacrifices of a horse is entitled to the throne of Indra. Aswini, a name of Parvati, who took the form of a mare, and was approached by Surya in the form of a horse. On their nostrils touching she was impregnated with sunbeams, and became the mother of the Aswini-Kumara, or twins of the Hindu zodiac. Aswini-Kumara (see the foregoing article.) Atharva or Atharvana Veda, one of the four Vedas. (See p. 137.) Atri, one of the seven Rishis, also called one of the seven Brahmadicas. (See Brahmadicas and Rishis.) Avatara or Avatar, a descent upon earth of a deity in a human or some other shape. (See the ten avatars of Vishnu, p. 14 to 45, and those of others of the gods under their several heads.) Austerities and Punishments, p. 112, 165. B. Badra Bae, a deity worshipped by the Bheels to obtain rain. (See Bheels, p. 270.) Badra Kali. (See Kali.) Bajranga, a name of Bhairava. Bala Rama, p. 48. Baldiva, the Hindu Hercules. (See Pandus, p. 248.) Bali or Maha Bali, an irreligious monarch, destroyed by Vishnu in the fifth avatar, p. 18. Balinese, p. 348. Ballaji, an avatar of Vishnu, in honour of whom the splendid temple at Jejury was erected. For further particulars of this building and of its deity, see Temples, p.158. Banga or Banca Deva, worshipped by the Goands, p. 296. Bataks, p. 362. Bauts, Hindu bards produced, to amuse Parvati, from the drops of sweat on Siva's brow; but they sang the praises of Siva only, which so offended Parvati that she turned them out of heaven, and condemned them to lead a wandering life upon earth, to sing there the martial deeds of heroes and the praises of the gods. Among the Bheels and some of the hill tribes, priests. and bards. Bhyrus, colossal figures seen at the entrances of temples. Bikh Poison. One of the things produced at the churning of the ocean, which Siva is. said to have drank. The Saivas allege that he did so to save the gods, and that, in con sequence, his throat was turned blue hence his name of Nilakantha (or bluethroated); but the Vishnaivas assert that it was from jealousy in consequence of Vishnu possessing Lakshmi. Bilva, a flower sacred to Siva. Chaplets of them are worn by him, and are also used in sacrifices. Binlang. Stones found in the Narmada, which are worshipped as emblems of Siva. Birth, second (or twice born). These are terms frequently met with in works on the Hindu religion, and indicate that the party to whom it is applied has received the Zennaar or sacrificial cord. (See Poita or Zennaar, p. 154.) Bohras, a religious sect found in the Rajpoot states, who represent themselves to be the descendants of the followers of the Seikh al Jabal, or the celebrated old man of the mountains. They acknowledge an Archamandrite or religious chief: they principally follow mercantile pursuits. Bragwan, a name of Vishnu. Brahma, p. 5. Brahmans (The), p. 140. Brahmadicas, p. 8. Brahmini, a name of Suraswati. Brehm or Brahm, the Creator, p. 1. Brigu, p. 7. Brishput-Brihuspati. (See Vrihuspati), p. 133. Brahmacharees or Bruhmacharees, an order of religious medicants. : Brahminicide. The sin of killing a Brahman. The Datyas were Brahmans, and were slain by the gods but were resuscitated by Sukra, their guru, and attacked the gods in Swerga, from which the latter fled in various disguises; Indra as a peacock, Yamunu as a crow, Kuvera a lizard, Agni a pigeon, Nairat a parrot, Varuna a partridge, Vayu a dove, &c. Indra thus lost his heaven: but he afterwards slew the Datya Vitra, and committed the crime of Brahminicide, on which account he withdrew from heaven and performed penance. Budh, p. 133. Buddha, p. 184 to 219. Bugis and Macassars, p. 343. Byragees. Hindu devotees. Some of these people find employment in conveying, for purposes of worship, the holy water of the Ganges to many of the most distant parts of Hindustan, in pitchers slung on bamboos. For an account of a family of Byragees at Ramisseram, see p. 191. C Calpi, an astronomical term of 4,320,000,000 years. Calya, or Calinaga, a serpent slain by Krishna. Camdenu. (See Kamdenu.) Camdeo, or Kamadeva, p. 46. Canon, a Japanese deity, p. 341, pl. 38. Cashi, or Kashi, a name of the holy city of quoit, a sort of missile weapon, imagined to have been whirled round the middle finger, and used as an instrument of war. The Chakra is mythologically described as a circular mass of fire, darting flame in all directions, which, thrown by the gods, slays the wicked, and then returns to the hand from which it issued. Chamara, or Chawrie, a kind of whisk, made sometimes of peacock's feathers, sometimes of the shavings of sandal-wood, and commonly of a description of grass; used for the purpose of driving away flies, musquitoes, and other insects. They are usually seen in the hands of the attendants of the gods, Chamconda Mata, the goddess of harvest, worshipped by the Bheels. The first of every grain is sacred to her. Chandica, one of the Sactis, sprung from the body of Devi. (See Sactis, p. 121.) Chandra, or Soma, p. 131. Chandra Hasa, a kind of axe used in sacrifice. Chank, the buccinum or wreathed shell, one of the emblems of Vishnu. It is much prized throughout India. When the convolutions are many, it is highly estimated. In fig. 2, pl. 5, an animal resembling a fox is issuing from one; and in fig. 7, pl. 38, illustrative of one of the Japanese idols, the form of a youth appears rising from a shell; this is probably the shell-king of the Siamese. Charga, an axe used in sacrifice. Charons, Rajpoot priests, p. 277. Chaya (shade), the consort of Surya. (See Chila, or Chela, a pupil or disciple of a saint or guru. Chinnu Mustuka, p. 94. Chundee, a vindictive form of Durga or Parvati. (See Parvati.) Cinnaras, forms half human, half equine, having the latter sometimes the upper, and sometimes the lower part of the figure. Cochin Chinese, p. 369. Coolies, p. 262. Cow (The). (See Kamdenu.) Creation (The), p. 4. Crerasaga, the sea of milk; the ocean churned by the gods and Asuras. Critu, one of the seven Brahmadicas. Curus. (See Pandus, p. 248.) Cusa, grass used in Pujah, or worship. D Dae-Boots-den, p. 335. Daghopes, mounds of earth found in most parts of India, under which bones and relics are discovered, supposed to have been thrown up over deceased persons. Dahl, a small shield. Daiboth (quere Dae-boots-den), a Japanese deity, p. 338, fig. 1, pl. 37. Daityas, Asuras, demons or giants, sons of Diti, who made war on the gods, by whom they were finally overcome. Daksha, p. 6. Damara, or Damru, a small hand-drum, or rattle, usually seen in the hands of Siva or his avatars. This definition of the emblem is doubtful, as it has more the appearance of an hour-glass. One will be seen in one of the hands of fig. 3, pl. 14; fig. 6, pl. 15; and fig. 1, pl. 20. Danava, evil spirits. Danusha, or Danook, the unerring bow produced at the churning of the ocean. Daruka, a female Asura, who was, according to Colonel Vans Kennedy, the leader of a host of Amazonian Asuras, with whom the gods were afraid to engage in battle, from an apprehension of incurring the sin of feminicide. They in consequence applied to Siva, on whose solicitation Parvati produced from herself the form of Kali, bearing in her hands a trident and a skull, On beholding her, the affrighted gods ran away: Kali alone attacked Daruka and her hosts, and destroyed them. Dasharata, king of Ayodhya, the father of Rama Chandra. Day (A), of the gods or celestial beings is three hundred and sixty of the days of mortals; and a day of the Petris or Patriarch's, inhabiting the moon, is a month of earthly beings. Daya (The), of Borneo, p. 346. Deeruj, a tyrant destroyed by Parasu Rama, in the sixth avatar, p. 20. Dev-Deo, or Deu, synonymous with Deva. Deva, a title of a god, as Devi is of a goddess. Maha Deva, a name given to Siva by the Saivas, is the great or supreme god, as Maha Devi, a name of Bhavani or Parvati, is the supreme goddess. Deva Dasi, women, or dancing girls, in attendance at the temples of the Hindu deities, who call themselves the servants or slaves of the gods. Next to the sacrificers, the most important persons about the temples, says the Abbé Dubois, are the dancing girls, who are known to the public by a much coarser name. "Their profession, indeed, requires of them to be open to the embraces of all castes; and, although originally they appear to have been intended for the gratification of the Brahmans only, they are now obliged to more. extend their favours to all who solicit them. Such are the loose females who are consecrated in a special manner to the worship of the gods of India. Every temple, according to its size, entertains a band of them, to the number of eight, twelve, or The service they perform consists of dancing and singing. The first they execute with grace, though with lascivious attitudes and motions. Their chaunting is generally confined to the obscene songs which relate to some circumstance or other of the licentious lives of their gods. They perform their religious duties at the temple to which they belong twice a day-morning and evening. They are also obliged to assist at all the public ceremonies, which they enliven with their dance and merry song. As soon as their public business is over, they open their cells of infamy, and convert the temple of worship into a den of licentiousness. "They are bred to this profligate life from their infancy. They are taken from any caste, and are frequently of respectable birth. It is nothing uncommon to hear of pregnant women, in the belief that it will tend to their happy delivery, making a vow, with the consent of their husband, to devote the child then in the womb, if it should turn out a girl, to the service of the Pagoda. And in doing so, they imagine they are performing a meritorious duty. The infamous life to which the daughter is destined brings no disgrace on the family. These women are the only females in India who may learn to read, to sing, and to dance. Such accomplishments belong to them exclusively, and are, for that reason, held by the rest of the sex in such abhorrence, that every virtuous woman would |