Indian Myth and Legend

314

Oudh.

315

The moon is masculine, and the marriage occurs at a certain phase. In Egypt the moon is male, but was identified with imported female deities. In Norse mythology Mani is moon god; there was, however, an earlier moon goddess, Nana. In Ireland and Scotland the moon was not individualized—that is, not in the Gaelic language. The words for moon in A. Saxon and German are masculine; in Gaelic they are feminine.

316

The Gaelic Diarmid had similarly a beauty spot on his forehead. Women who saw it immediately fell in love with him.

317

Dasarna, “Ten Forts”, in the south-eastern part of Central Hindustan.

318

A Bráhman village settlement.

319

Ten twists or “eddies” of hair called A-vartas—one on forehead, two on breast, one on each flank hollow, &c.

320

This recalls: “He came even unto them.... The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.”—2 Kings, ix, 20.

321

The Indian peacock is sensitive to rain, and goes round “dancing” when it is coming on.

322

The powers given Nala by the gods as marriage gifts are here illustrated.

323

A part of the ceremony of purification. The mouth was washed after eating, drinking, expectorating, slumbering, &c.

324

According to the laws of Manu, second marriages were unlawful. Apparently, however, they were permissible at the early period of the poem, at least in some districts.

325

Heaven, the earth, and the underworld.

326

A sign of divine approval and favour.

327

Pron. val-mee´kee.

328

The kingdoms of Oudh and North Behar.

329

Pron. a-yõd´hya.

330

Easter full moon.

331

As we have seen, Arjuna and an army accompanied the white horse which was sacrificed in the Mahábhárata.

332

The spirits of ancestors.

333

The Vedic deities.

334

Pron. rah´va-na.

335

He is called a Rakshasa king in the Ramayana. Ravana appears to be the Brahmanical conception of Vritra, the ruler of the Danavas or Asuras. Lanká is Ceylon.

336

Father and mother.

337

The fighting Rakshasas of the Mahábhárata are all males. Here the female—the mother of demons—is prominent, as in Beowulf and typical Scottish stories.

338

A Gaelic axiom says, “Every weapon has its demon”.

339

“The remains of the capital founded by Janaka, and thence termed Janakpur, are still to be seen, according to Buchanan, on the northern frontier at the Janeckpoor of the maps.”—Note to Professor H. H. Wilson's translation of the Uttara Rama Charita.

340

Pron. ky-kay-yee´.

341

Nasik. About 100 miles from Bombay.

342

Names of the wives of Vishnu and Shiva.

343

Pron. Jata´yus.

344

Among the Nilgiri mountains.

345

These apes are the incarnations of the Vedic deities who sojourned on earth according to Vishnu's command.

346

Also “Adam's Bridge”. The green Celtic fairies are similarly credited with making island chains and long jutting promontories which stretch out from opposite shores of arms of the sea.

347

Like Hydra against which Hercules fought.