Mythology and Folklore

Mythology and Folklore
A
Abas Gk. a son of Metaneira; was changed by Demeter into a lizard, because he mocked the goddess; The
twelfth King of Argos. He was the son of Lynceus and Hypermnestra, and grandson of Danaus.
Abeona Rom. protector of children leaving the home
Abhaswaras In. a class of deities; sixty‐four in number of whose nature little is known
Abhidhana In. a dictionary or vocabulary; one of the oldest of them is the abhidhana ratna ‐ mala, of
halayudha bhatta (circa 7th cent.), and one of the best is the abhidhana chinta‐mani of hema‐chandra.
Abhimani In. the eldest son of Brahma by his wife Swaha.
Abhimanyu In. son of Arjuna by his wife Su‐bhadra; known by the metronymic Saubhadra
Abhira, abhira In. a cowherd; according to Manu the offspring of a Brahman by a woman of the ambashtha or
medical tribe.
Abhirama‐mani In. a drama in seven acts on the history of Rama, written by Sundara Misra in 1599 A. D
Abtu Eg. the Greeks called this place Abydos; It was the seat of worship of Osiris; It was also called Busiris,
"the house of Osiris"; Egyptian tradition says that the sun ended his daily journey at Abydos, and
entered into the underworld here, through a gap in the mountains called "peq"; In the 12th dynasty it
was believed that the souls of the dead entered into the afterlife here
Abudantia Rom. goddess of luck, abundance and prosperity; she distributed food and money from a
cornucopia.
Abydus Gk. a town was founded in the seventh century BCE as a colony of Miletus, with permission of a Lydian
king, either Gyges or his son Ardys
Abyla Gk. a mountain, one of the Pillars of Hercules
Acestes Gk. Trpkam who lives in Sicily, who entertained Aenas
Acetes Gk. pilot of the ship whose sailors captured Dionysus. He alone recognized the god.
Achaeans Gk. division of the Greek people, said to be descended from Xuthus, a son of Hellen
Achara In. rule, custom, or usage; the rules of practice of castes, orders, or religion
Acharya In. a spiritual teacher or guide; a title of Drona, the teacher of the Pandavas.
Achates Gk .a close friend of Aeneas, accompanied her throughout his adventures
Acheron Gk. a Thesprotia, in Epirus.
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Achilles Gk. Achilles was the son of Peleus, king of the Myrmidones in Phthiotis, in Thessaly, and of the Nereid
Thetis. Also called Aeacides

Triumphant Achilles
Achyuta In. Unfallen; a name of Vishnu or Krishna
Acis Gk. according to Ovid, is the son of Faunus and Symaethis. He was beloved by the nymph Galatea, and
Polyphemus the Cyclops, jealous of him, crushed him under a huge rock.
Aclis N. Twin gods worshipped by the Teutons, said to be the sons of the Sky God.
Acricius Gk. son of Abas, king of Argos and of Ocaleia. He was grandson of Lynceus and great grandson of
Danaus. His twin‐brother was Proetus.
Acropolis Gk. the Acropolis was the citadel of Athens. According to one version of the myth, it was from the
Acropolis that King Aegeus hurled himself to his death believing that his son Theseus had been killed by
the Minotaur.
Actaeon Gk. son of Aristaeus and Autonoë, a daughter of Cadmus. He was trained in the art of hunting by the
centaur Cheiron, and was afterwards torn to pieces by his own 50 hounds on mount Cithaeron.
Adbiiuta‐brahmana In. the Brahmana of miracles; a Brahmana of the samaveda, which treats of auguries and
marvels.
Adeona Rom. goddess who guides children back home.
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Adharma In. unrighteousness; personified as' son of Brahma called "the destroyer of all beings."
Adhiratha In. a charioteer. The foster‐father of Karna, according to some he was king of Anga, and according
to others the charioteer of king Dhritarashtra; perhaps he was both
Adhwaryu In. a priest whose business it is to recite the prayers of the Yajurveda.
Adhyatma Ramayana In. a very popular work, which is considered to be a part of the Brahmanda Purana. It
has been printed in India.
Adhyatman In. the supreme spirit; the soul of the universe.
Adi‐purana In. the fires purina; a title generally conceded to the Brahma Purana
Aditi In. free, unbounded or infinity; the boundless heaven as compared with the finite earth
Aditya In. one of the names of the sun; in the early vedic times the adityas were six, or more frequently seven,
celestial deities, of whom Varuna was chief, consequently he was the Aditya.
Aditya purana In. one of the eighteen upa‐puranas
Admeta Gk. daughter of Eurystheus; for whom Hercules got thee Amazon’s girdle
Admetus Gk. son of Pheres; the founder and king of Pherae in Thessaly, and of Periclymene or Clymene. He
took part in the Calydonian chase and the expedition of the Argonauts.
Adonis Gk. according to Apollodorus a son of Cinyras and Metharme, according to Hesiod a son of Phoenix and
Alphesiboea, and according to the cyclic poet Panyasis a son of Theias, king of Assyria, who begot him
by his own daughter Smyrna.
Adrastea Gk. Cretan nymph; daughter of Melisseus to whom Rhea entrusted the infant Zeus to be reared in
the Dictaean grotto
Adrastus Gk. son of Talaus, king of Argos and of Lysimache. When Polybus died without heirs, he succeeded
him on the throne of Sicyon, and during his reign he is said to have instituted the Nemean games.
Aeacus Gk. a son of Zeus and Aegina; some traditions related that at the time when Aeacus was born, Aegina
was not yet inhabited, and that Zeus changed the ants of the island into men over whom Aeacus ruled,
or that he made men grow up out of the earth.
Aeaea Gk. a surname of Medeia, derived from Aea, the country where her father Aeëtes ruled
Aeetes Gk. king of Colchis son of the sun‐god Helios and the Oceanid Perseis, brother of Circe and Pasiphae,
and father of Medea, Chalciope and Apsyrtus.
Aegae Gk. place in Euboea near which was Poseidon’s place
Aegaeon Gk. a son of Uranus by Gaea. Aegaeon and his brothers Gyges and Cottus are known under the name
of the Uranids , and are described as huge monsters with a hundred arms and fifty heads.
Aegean Sea Gk. an arm of the Mediterranean Sea between the east coast of Greece and the west coast of Asia
Minor and bounded on the south by the island of Crete.
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Aegeus Gk. according to some accounts a son of Pandion II, king of Athens, and of Pylia, while others call him a
son of Scyrius or Phemius, and state that he was only an adopted son of Pandion.
Aegina Gk. a daughter of the river Asopus abducted by Zeus.
Aegir N. "The Alebrewer". Vana‐God of the Sea, who lived on Hlesey Island; He was skilled in magic. He can be
good or evil. He and Ran have nine wave daughters, or "undines". He represents gold, prosperity,
sailors, sunken treasure, brewing, control of wind and waves. Mistblindi is his father and Logi is his
brother.
Aegis Gk. he goatskin shield or breastplate of Zeus or Athena. Athena's shield carried at its center the head of
Medusa.
Aegisthus Gk. a son of Thyestes, who unwittingly begot him by his own daughter Pelopia. Immediately after
his birth he was exposed by his mother, but was found and saved by shepherds and suckled by a goat.
Aegyptus Gk. a son of Belus and Anchinoe or Achiroe, and twin‐brother of Danaus
Aeneas Gk. a son of Belus and Anchinoe or Achiroe, and twin‐brother of Danaus
Aeolians Gk. a division of the Greek people supposed to have descended from Aeoius; son of Hellen
Aeolus Gk. king of the winds; king of Thessaly son of Hellen, and grandson of Pyrrha and Deucalion; father of
Alcyone
Aepytus Gk. one of the mythical kings of Arcadia; He was the son of Elatus, and originally ruled over Phaesana
on the Alpheius in Arcadia.
Aequitas Rom. god of fair trade and honest merchants
Aera Cura Rom. goddess associated with the underworld.
Aero Gk. also known as Orion; son of Hyrieus, of Hyria, in Boeotia, a very handsome giant and hunter, and said
to have been called by the Boeotians Candaon.
Aerope Gk. wife of Atreus; mother of Agamemnon
Aeschylus Gk. the first of the three ancient Greek tragedians whose work has survived, the others being
Sophocles and Euripides, and is often recognized as the father of tragedy. He was killed when an eagle
dropped a tortoise on him, mistaking his bald head for a rock.
Aesculapius Gk. pupil of Chiro; god of medicine and healing
Aesir, Asynur N. A plural word meaning "pillars"; or "supports"; and is the collective name of the Old Norse
Gods of the family of which Odin was the patriarch. The singular is Ase or Áss. The Gods are strong,
beautiful and bigger than ordinary people. They live longer than humans, but they are not immortal.
Every God has knowledge in different categories. They generally are good, friendly and helpful. The
Vanirs who have lived in Asgard for a long time also counts as Æsir. Æsir are the gods of consciousness
and the sky as opposed to the Vanir who are the gods of the earth and biological life/the subconscious.
One early explanation of their name was that they were "Asia‐men", meaning from Asia. The Gods
identified as Æsir are: Odin, Fjorgyn, Loki, Thorr, Meili, Frigg, Tyr, Hermodr, Baldr, Hodr, Sif, Thrudh,
Nanna, Forseti, Sigyn, Magni, Modi, Vali, Vidar. The Æsir are direct descendants of Odin by way of the
father, or are females who have married Æsir. Aesic Gods are: Frigg's servants: Vor, Hlin, Snotra, Vara,
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Saga, Gna, Syn, Eir, Fulla, Sjofn, Lofn; Thórr's servants: Thjálfi,
Roskva; and Odin's Valkyries. The Gods identified as Vanir are:
Holde, Nerthus, Njord, Freya, Freyr, Odh, Hnoss, Aegir, Ran, Ullr,
Ulla, Gerdh, Skirnir, Heimdallr, Idunna, Bragi, Siofyn, Gefjon,
Skadhi, Erde, the Undines, Svol, Ostara, Gullveig. The Vanir are
direct descendants of Holde by way of the mother, or are males
that have married Vans. Vanic are Mundilfari, Mundilfara, Mani,
Sol; Freyr's servants: Byggvir, Beyla; Freya's Valkyries. The
following are not identified as either Vanir or Æsir: Hoenir, Kvasir,
Jorun, Helja.
Aesir
Aeternitas Rom. personification of eternity
Africus Rom. god of the Southwest wind
Agasti, agastya In. a rishi, the reputed author of several hymns in the rig‐Veda, and a very celebrated
personage in Hindu story.
Agave Gk. a daughter of Cadmus, and wife of the Spartan Echion, by whom she became the mother of
Pentheus, who succeeded his grandfather Cadmus as king of Thebes.
Agenor Gk. son of Poseidon and Libya; he is the king of Phoenicia, and twin‐brother of Belus; married
Telephassa, by whom he became the father of Cadmus, Phoenix, Cylix, Thasus, Phineus, and according
to some of Europa
Aggamemnon Gk. son of Pleisthenes and grandson of Atreus; king of Mycenae, in whose house Agamemnon
and Menelaus were educated after the death of their father; enemy of Achilles
Aghagadishta, Nabhaganedishtha,Nabha‐nedishita In. a son of Manu, who while he was living as a
Brahmachari, was deprived of his inheritance, by his father according to the Yajur‐veda, by his brothers
according to the Aitareya Brahmana; he subsequently acquired wealth by imparting spiritual knowledge
Aghasura In. (agha the asura.) an asura who was Kansa’s general; he assumed the form of a vast serpent, and
Krishna’s companions, the cowherds, entered its mouth, mistaking it for a mountain cavern but Krishna
rescued them.
Aglaia Gk. the goddess of beauty, splendour, glory, magnificence and adornment
Aglauros Gk. a daughter of Cecrops and Agraulos; mother of Alcippe by Ares
Agnar N. Older brother of King Geirrod, son of King Hraudung; He was lost when ten winters old on a fishing
trip with his brother and, after being washed ashore, was looked after for the winter by Odin and
Frigga. When they rowed home his brother leaped out of the boat first, kicked the boat back into the
sea. Thus the younger brother became king many years later after Odin was captured by King Geirrod
and tortured over a spit. In in series of riddles he identified himself as Odin. King Geirrod in fright fell on
his own sword and died. Agnar then ruled as a king for a long time after.
Agnayi In. wife of Agni; she is seldom alluded to in the Veda and is not of any importance.
Agneya In. son of Agni; a name of Karttikeya or mars; an appellation of the muni agastya and others
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Agneyastra In. the weapon of fire given by Bharadwaja to Agnivesa, the son of Agni, and by him to Drona
Ai N. A Dwarf from the race of Lovar
Aidos Gk. the Greek goddess of shame, modesty, and humility. Aidos, as a quality, was that feeling of
reverence or shame which restrains men from wrong.
Ajax Gk. a son of Telamon, king of Salamis, by Periboea or Eriboea, whereas the other Ajax, the son of Oïleus,
is always distinguished from the former by some epithet. According to Homer Ajax joined the
expedition of the Greeks against Troy, with his Salaminians, in twelve ships, and was next to Achilles
the most distinguished and the bravest among the Greeks.
Ajax the Less Gk. A strong, brave Greek warrior in the Trojan War who kills himself when Achilles' armor is

given to Odysseus called Ajax Telamon.
Aker Eg. the double lion god, guardian of the sunrise and sunset; guardian of the peaks that supported the
sky; the western peak was called Manu, while the eastern peak was called Bakhu.
Akh Eg. the akh was the aspect of a person that would join the gods in the underworld being immortal and
unchangeable; it was created after death by the use of funerary text and spells, designed to bring forth
an akh; once this was achieved that individual was assured of not "dying a second time" a death that
would mean the end of one's existence.
Akhet Eg. this was the horizon from which the sun emerged and disappeared; the horizon thus embodied the
idea of both sunrise and sunset; it is similar to the two peaks of the Djew or mountain symbol with a
solar disk in the center; both the beginning and the end of each day was guarded by Aker, a double lion
god; in the New Kingdom, Harmakhet ("Horus in the Horizon") became the god of the rising and setting
sun; he was pictured as a falcon, or as a sphinx with the body of a lion; the Great Sphinx of Giza is an
example of "Horus in the Horizon".
Alaisiagae N. war Goddesses. See Valkyries.
Alcaeus Gk. Greek poet who reputedly invented Alcaic verse
Alcestis Gk. the wife of King Admetus of Thessaly, who agreed to die in place of her husband and was later
rescued from Hades by Hercules.
Alcides Gk. according to some accounts the name which Heracles (Hercules) originally bore, while, according
to Diodorus; his original name was Alcaeus
Alcinous Gk. Alcinous is the happy ruler of the Phaeacians in the island of Scheria, who has by Arete five sons
and one daughter, Nausicaa.
Alcyone Gk. the daughter of Aeolus, either by Enarete or Aegiale; she married Ceyx, son of Eosphorus, the
Morning Star
Aldr N. Vital essence, life‐age
Ale N. literally "ale". Also means "luck" or "magical might".
Ale Runes N. Men used Ale runes to block the magical enchantments of strange women. Ale runes were
written inside the cup from which the woman drank, also on the back of the man's hand. The man
would scratch the Nyd rune upon his fingernail as the final binding power. See also Vardlokkur.
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Alecto Gk. is one of the Erinyes in Greek mythology. According to Hesiod, she was the daughter of Gaea
fertilized by the blood spilled from Uranus when Cronus castrated him.
Alemaeon Gk. son of Amphiaraus, who helped to destroy Thebes
Alemonia Rom. goddess who feeds unborn children
Alexander Gk. a name of Paris was the second son of Priam and Hecabe. Previous to his birth Hecabe dreamed
that she had given birth to a firebrand, the flames of which spread over the whole city.
Alf N. Elf or sometimes male ancestral spirits
Alfar N. The Elves, which are divided into three races Ljosalfar, Dokkalfar, and Svartalfar, or Light Elves, Dark
Elves and Black Elves, the last also called Dwarves. Black Elves are commonly though to be the cause of
sickness. Their arrows cause stroke and paralysis. All of the Alfar are wise magicians. They will
frequently take an interest in individual humans, as shown by such names as Alfred, Aelfgifu, and so
forth The Alfar are also unpredictable, taking pleasure or offense at the slightest things. Your manners
and bearing are exceedingly important in dealing with these wights.
Àlf‐blót N. An offering to the Elves or genius loci of a place
Alfheim, Alvheim N. The world of the Elves, also called Ljøsalfheimr. The hall of Freyr
Alfrik, Algfrig N. An artistic Dwarf, a son of Mimir; With Berling, Dvalin, and Grer, he forged Freya's incredible
Brising necklace. To get the jewelry, she spent one night with each of them.
Alf‐Shot, Elf‐Shot N. A condition that is caused by being "shot" by Alfs and can be the cause of physical
conditions ranging from mild muscle spasms to bone cancer and nervous degeneration, having a part of
your soul complex stolen or eaten as well as other unpleasant effects. The same effects can come from
witch‐shot and Dwarf‐shot. Also, a general malicious harmful magic sent against a particular victim.
Algron Island N. Where Odin stayed for five years
Allfather, Alföder, Alfödr N. One of the titles of Odin, "The Oldest of the Gods"
Allsvinn N. "Very Fast". He is one of Sun's two horses that drag the sun. They are chased by two wolves.
Allsvinn has protection‐runes carved on his hoofs.
Aloadae Gk. are patronymic forms from Aloeus, but are used to designate the two sons of his wife Iphimedeia
by Poseidon: viz. Otus and Ephialtes.
Aloeus Gk. the son of Poseidon and Canace, husband first of Iphimedeia and later of Eriboea; father of
Salmoneus, and the eponym of Otus and Ephialtes, collectively known as the Aloadae.
Alpheus Gk. god of the river Alpheius in Peloponnesus, a son of Oceanus and Thetys; a passionate hunter and
fell in love with the nymph Arethusa, but she fled from him to the island of Ortygia near Syracuse, and
metamorphosed herself into a well, whereupon Alpheius became a river, which flowing from
Peloponnesus under the sea to Ortygia, there united its waters with those of the well Arethusa.
Alsvid N. "Very Strong". The horse that pulls the chariot of the moon, driven by the god Moon; Under the
shoulder‐blades of the horse the gods put two bellows to cool them, and in some poems that is called
"iron‐cold"
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Althea Gk. a daughter of the Aetolian king Thestius and Eurythemis; sister of Leda, Hypermnestra, Iphiclus,
Euippus, &c; she was married to Oeneus, king of Calydon, by whom she became the mother of Toxeus,
Thyreus, Clymenus, and Meleager, and of two daughters, Gorge and Deïaneira.
Althjof N. "Mighty Thief". a soil‐dwelling Dwarf
Alves, Elves N. There are both Light Elves and Dark Elves. The Elves are good and have Freyr as their leader,
but the Black Elves or Dwarves are evil‐minded. They are skillful smiths. Light Elves and Dark Elves are
often beautiful and sensible and have same size and appearance as humans. The Light Elves live in
Alfheim and in the second heaven, Andlang, where the beautiful hall of the light elves, Gimlé is located.
The Dark Elves dwell in mounds, hillocks and rocks. The term "Dark Elves" refers to their abodes, and
not to their appearance or moral character. The Black Elves or Dwarves live in Svartalfheim.
Alvheim, Alfheim N. Alvheim is the world of the Elves, where Freyr and the Light Elves dwell. Lysalfheim,
Freyr's hall, Breidablikk, Balders dwelling, and Heimdal's Himinborg hall are also situated in Alvheim.
Alvis N. "All‐knowing". One of the wisest dwarves; He is known for demanding to marry Thrud, Thor's
daughter. Thor challenged him until the the sun rose and turned him to stone.
Amalthea Gk. the nurse of the infant Zeus after his birth in Crete
Amarna Eg. the name given to the historical time period under the rule of Amenophis IV /Akhenaten; during
this time period there were unprecedented changes in the government, art and religion.
Amaru‐sataka In. a poem consisting of a hundred stanzas written by a king named amaru, but by some
attributed to the philosopher sankara, who assumed the dead form of that king for the purpose of
conversing with his widow.
Amazons Gk. a warlike race of females, who act a prominent part in several of the adventures of Greek
mythology; all accounts of them agree in the statement, that they came from the country about the
Caucasus, and that their principal seats were on the river Thermodon, in the neighbourhood of the
modern Trebizond.
Amba In. mother; a name of Durga, eldest daughter of a king of Kasi
Ambalika In. the younger widow of Vichitra‐virya and mother of Pandu by Vyasa.
Ambarisha In. king of Ayodhya, twenty‐eighth in descent from ikshwaku; an appellation of Siva.
Ambashtha In. a military people inhabiting a country of the same name in the middle of the panjab; medical
tribe in manu
Amber. N. A stone that is sacred to Freya. When she could not find her husband Od, she shed tears of gold.
The tears that hit trees turned into amber. A kenning for amber is "Freya's Tears".
Ambika In. a sister of Rudra, but in later times identified with urns; elder widow of Vichitra‐virya and mother
of Dhritarashtra by Vyasa.
Ambikeya In. a metronymic applicable to Ganesha, Skanda, and Dhrita‐rashtra.
Amenta Eg. the underworld; originally the place where the sun set; this name was later applied to the West
Bank of the Nile where the Egyptians built their tombs.
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Ammon Gk. originally an Aethiopian or Libyan divinity, whose worship subsequently spread all over Egypt, a
part of the northern coast of Africa, and many parts of Greece. Greeks called him Zeus Ammon, the
Romans Jupiter Ammon, and the Hebrews Amon.
Ammut Eg. a female demon, she is found in The Book of the Dead; she plays an important role in the Hall of
Maat.
Amnaya In. sacred tradition; the Vedas in the aggregate
Amphiaraus Gk. Amphiaraus is renowned in ancient story as a brave hero; he is mentioned among the hunters
of the Calydonian boar, which he is said to have deprived of one eye, and also as one of the Argonauts.
Amphion Gk. son of Zeus and Antiope, the daughter of Nycteus of Thebes, and twin‐brother of Zethus.
Amphitrite Gk. a Nereid, though in other places Apollodorus; calls her an Oceanid; she is represented as the
wife of Poseidon and the goddess of the sea (the Mediterranean), and she is therefore a kind of female
Poseidon.
Amphitryon Gk. son of Alcaeus, king of Troezen, by Hipponome, the daughter of Menoeceus. A great Theban
general who was originally from Tiryns in the eastern part of the Peloponnese
Amulet Eg. a charm, often in the form of hieroglyphs, gods or sacred animals; made of precious stones or
faience; they were worn like jewelry during life, and were included within the mummy wrappings for
the afterlife.
Amun Eg. A god who's cult center was the temple of Amun at Karnak; he was considered to be king of all the
gods and the creator of all things.
Amymone Gk. a daughter of Danaus. She was once assaulted by a satyr near a spring, but was saved by
Poseidon. She fell in love with him and became by him the mother of Nauplius.
An‐.a.rya In. Unworthy or vile; people who were not aryans, barbarians of other races and religion.
Anadhrishti In. a son of Ugrasena and general of the Yadavas
Anadyomene Gk. a goddess rising out of the sea, a surname given to Aphrodite, in allusion to the story of her
being born from the foam of the sea
Anaka‐dundubhi In. drums; a name of Vasu‐deva, who was so called because the drums of heaven resounded
at his birth.
Ananda giri In. a follower of sankaracharya, and teacher and expositor of his doctrines. He was the author of a
sankara. Vijaya, and lived about the tenth century.
Ananda In. joy or happiness; an appellation of Siva and of Bala‐rama.
Ananda‐lahari In. the wave of joy; a poem attributed to sankaracharya; it is a hymn of praise addressed to
parvati, consort of Siva, mixed up with mystical doctrine.
Anang In. The bodiless; a name of Kama, god of love.
Ananta In. the infinite; a name of the serpent sesha; the term is also applied to Vishnu and other deities.
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Anargha raghava In. a drama in seven acts by Murari Misra, possibly written in the thirteenth or fourteenth
century.
Anasuya In. charity; wife of the rishi atri
Anaxarete Gk. a maiden of the island of Cyprus, who belonged to the ancient family of Teucer. She remained
unmoved by the professions of love and lamentations of Iphis, who at last, in despair, hung himself at
the door of her residence.
Ancaeus Gk. one of the heroes of the Calydonian Hunt.
Anchises Gk. the owner of six remarkable horses, which he acquired by secretly mating his own mares with
the divinely‐bred stallions of Laomedon.
Andhaka In. a demon; son of Kasyapa and Diti, with a thousand arms and heads, two thousand eyes and feet,
and called Andhaka because he walked like a blind man, although he saw very well.
Andhra, andhra In. name of a country and people in the south of India, the country of Telingana; it was the
seat of a powerful dynasty, and the people were known to Pliny as gens andaoe.
Andhra‐bhritya In. a dynasty of kings that reigned in Magadha somewhere about the beginning of the
Christian era; he name seems to indicate that its founder was a native of Andhra, now Telingana.
Andhrimnir N. “The one with soot in his face”. Andhrimnir is the cook that slaughters the boar Saehrimnir
every night. The meat is given to the hungry warriors in Valhalla.
Andlang N. Second heaven above and to the south of Asgard; Andlang is home of the beautiful hall of the light
elves, Gimlé.
Androgeus Gk. the son of Minos and king of Crete and Pasiphae. When he during a feast in Athens managed
to win every prize, he was killed by Aegeus out of envy. Athens was punished by having to provide a
number of its children for the Minotaur.
Andromache Gk. Andromache was the daughter of Eetion; ruler of the Cilician city of Thebe; she was the wife
of the Trojan hero Hector and the mother of Astyanax.
Andromeda Gk. daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, king and queen of Ethiopia. Cassiopeia boasted that her
daughter was more beautiful than the Nereids, and in revenge Poseidon sent a flood and a sea monster
to plague the land.
Androsphinx Eg. one of three varieties of Egyptian Sphinx, having the head of a man.
Andvaranut N. A magic ring that is a part of the Nibelunggold; When the Dwarf Andvari was forced to leave
the treasure he spelled a deadly curse over it. The ring was forged by Volund.
Andvari N. A Dwarf, a shape‐shifter, who lived as a pike in a pool in Svartalfheim; He had a huge hoard of gold
and a special ring that could make gold. He lost his entire hoard to Loki when Odin and Hoener were
captured. Loki needed ransom money. Andvari pleaded to keep just the ring as it could make him gold
but Loki took it anyway. Andvari cursed the ring and said it would destroy everyone who owned it. The
ransom was paid and they were set free. The cursed gold later caused the deaths of Fafnir, Regin and
Sigurd.
Anemone Gk. the flower that represents Adonis
10
Anga In. the country of Bengal proper about Bhagalpur; its capital was Champa, or Champa‐puri; a supplement
to the Vedas.
Angada In. son of Lakshmana and king of Angadi; capital of a country near the Himalaya; son of Gada (brother
of Krishna) by Vrihati; son of Bali, the monkey king of Kishkindhya.
Angerbode Gk. the mother of Hela, the Fenris wolf and the midguard serpent.
Angerona Rom. goddess of Secrecy and protector of Rome; festival Divalia or Angeronalia December 21
Angiras In. a rishi to whom many hymns of the rig‐Veda are attributed; one of the seven maharshis or great
rishis, and also one of the ten prajapatis or progenitors of mankind
Angirasas In. a class of pitris
Angita Rom. goddess of Healing and Witchcraft
Angrboda, Angr‐boda N. "She who betakes sorrow". A Jotun‐Giantess, the mother, by Loki, of horrible
monster children Hel, Fenrir‐wolf, and Jormungand, the Midgard serpent; She lives in Ironwood and
may be related to Skadi.
Anila In. the wind
Anilas In. a gana or class of deities; forty‐nine in number, connected with Anila, the wind.
Animisha In. who does not wink; a general epithet of all gods
Aniruddha In. uncontrolled; son of Pradyumna and grandson of Krishna
Anjana In. mother of Hanumat by Vayu, god of the wind
Anjana In. the elephant of the west or southwest quarter; a serpent with many heads descended from Kadru.
Ankh Eg. a symbol of life, resembling a looped cross; It was later adapted by Coptic Christians as their cross;
Widely used as an amulet.
Anna Perenna Rom. goddess of the New Year provider of food; her festival is March 15.
Anna‐purna In. full of food; a form of durga, worshipped for her power of giving food

Anna‐purna
11
Annarr N. A by‐name of Odin; Also, the second husband of Night/Natt, with one daughter by her called
Earth/Erda (Nerthus)
Ansumat, ansuman In. son of Asamanjas and grandson of Sagara; he brought back to earth the horse which
had been carried off from Sagara's Aswa‐medha sacrifice and he discovered the remains of that king's
sixty thousand sons, who had been killed by the fire of the wrath of Kapila.
Antaeus Gk. the son of Poseidon and Gaia, whose wife was Tinjis.
Antaka In. the ender; a name of Yama; judge of the dead
Antariksha In. the atmosphere or firmament between heaven and earth; the sphere of the Gandharvas,
Apsarases, and Aakshas
Antarved In. the doab or country between the Ganges and the Jumna
Anteia Gk. a daughter of the Lycian king Iobates and wife of Proetus of Argos, by whom she became the
mother of Maera.
Anteros Gk. the god of requited love and also the punisher of those who scorn love and the advances of
others, or the avenger of unrequited love.
Antevorte Rom. goddess of the future
Anthropoid Eg. a Greek word meaning; Man‐shaped; this term is used for coffins made in the shape of a
human.
Antigone Gk. the daughter of Oedipus, king of Thebes, and Jocasta
Antilochus Gk. the son of Nestor, king of Pylos; brother of Thrasymedes and one of the suitors of Helen.
Antinous Gk. a son of Eupeithes of Ithaca, and one of the suitors of Penelope, who during the absence of
Odysseus even attempted to make himself master of the kingdom and threatened the life of
Telemachus.
Antiope Gk. the daughter of Ares and sister to Melanippe and Hippolyte and possibly Orithyia, queens of the
Amazons. She was the wife of Theseus, and the only Amazon known to have married.
Antler N. Freyr’s deer antler without a name, which was his only weapon after he lost his self‐swinging sword;
With the antler he killed Beli, and in Ragnarok he sticks it into the Fire‐Giants leader Surt's eye before
he dies.
Anu In. Son of king yayati by his wife sarmishtha, a daitya princess; refused to exchange his youthful vigour for
the curse of decrepitude passed upon his father, and in consequence his father cursed him that his
posterity should not possess dominion.
Anubis Eg. a jackal headed god; guardian of the necropolis.
Anukramani, anukramanika In. an index or table of contents, particularly of a Veda; the anukramanis of the
Vedas follow the order of each Sanhita, and assign a poet, a metre, and a deity to each hymn or prayer.
Anumati In. the moon on its fifteenth day, when just short of its full in this stages it is personified and
worshipped as a goddess.
12
Anusara In. a rakshasa or other demon
Anuvinda In. a king of Ujjayini
Aparanta In. on the western border; a country which is named in the Vishnu Purana in association with
countries in the north
Aparna In. according to the Hari‐vansa, the eldest daughter of Himavat and Meni; she and her two sisters, Eka‐
parna and Eka‐patala, gave themselves up to austerity and practised extraordinary abstinence; but
while her sisters lived, as their names denote, upon one leaf or on one patala (bignonia) respectively,
Aparna managed to subsist upon nothing, and even lived without a leaf (a‐parna).
Apastamba In. an ancient writer on ritual and law; author of sutras connected with the black Yajur‐veda and
of a dharma‐sastra; often quoted in law‐books.
Apava In. who sports in the waters; a name of the same import as narayana, and having a similar though not
an identical application; according to the Brahma Purana and the Hari‐vansa, Apava performed the
office of the creator Brahma, and divided himself into two parts, male and female, the former begetting
offspring upon the latter.
Aphrodite Gk. the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and sexuality; her Roman equivalent is the goddess Venus.
Apis bull Eg. the Apis Bull was sacred to Osiris; it was revered from the earliest times, through the Greco‐
Roman period.
Apollo Gk. the son of Zeus and Leto, and has a twin sister, the
chaste huntress Artemis
Apollodrus Gk. an ancient Greek mythology writer
Apollonius of Rhodes Gk. he is best known for his epic poem
the Argonautica, which told the mythological story of Jason
and the Argonauts' quest for the Golden Fleece, and which is
one of the chief works in the history of epic poetry.
Apple N. It is symbol of eternal life. It is the tree of Iduna,
goddess of eternal youth. Apple's rune, Ing, represents fertility
and limitless expansion. Peorth and Cweorth are also runes of
the Apple.
Apples of Hesperides Gk. one of Hercules’ labors, the source
of the golden light of sunset, a phenomena celebrating the
bridal of the heavenly gods Zeus and Hera.
Apsaras In. the Apsarases are the celebrated nymphs of

Indra's heaven; the name, which signifies 'moving in the
water,' has some analogy to that of Aphrodite; not prominent
in the Vedas, but Urvasi and a few others are mentioned.
Apollo
13
Apsytus Gk. the son of Aeëtes and a brother of Medea and Chalciope.
Aptrburdr N. Rebirth. A process whereby the essential powers and characteristics of a person are handed
down to, and inherited by, later generations; This usually happens naturally and along genetic lines.
With this rebirth the next generation also inherits the fate (ørlög) of the progenitor and of the whole
clan or tribe.
Apuleius Gk. latin prose writer. He was a Berber, from Madaurus. He studied Platonist philosophy in Athens
Aquert Eg. a name for the land of the dead
Aquilo Rom. god of the North Wind
Aranyaka In. belonging to the forest; certain religious and philosophical writings, which expound the mystical
sense of the ceremonies, discuss the nature of god; are attached to the Brahmanas, and intended for
study in the forest by Brahmans who have retired from the distractions of the world.
Aranyanl In. in the Rig‐veda; the goddess of woods and forests
Arbuda In. Mount Abu; name of the people living in the vicinity of that mountain
Arbuda. In. a serpent; name of an Asura slain by Indra.
Arcady Gk. a region of ancient Greece in the Peloponnesus; its inhabitants, relatively isolated from the rest of
the known civilized world, proverbially lived a simple, pastoral life.
Arcas Gk. the son of Zeus and Callisto
Arcturus Gk. the brightest star in the constellation Boötes and the third brightest individual star.
Ardha‐nari In. half‐woman; a form in which Siva is represented as half‐male and half‐female, typifying the
male and female energies.
Ares Gk. the god of war; one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera.
Arête Gk. the wife of Alcinous and mother of Nausicaa and Laodamas. She is a descendant of Poseidon.
Arethusa Gk. the daughter of Nereus and later became a fountain on the island of Ortygia in Syracuse, Sicily.
Arges Gk. the son of Uranus and Gaia. Arges was one of three Cyclopes.
Argo Gk. the ship on which Jason and the Argonauts sailed from Iolcos to retrieve the Golden Fleece
Argonauts Gk. the group of heroes who sailed with Jason after the Golden Fleece; their name derived from
their vessel, the Argo.
Argos Gk. city in Greece in the Peloponnse; dog of Odysseus who was the only one to recognize him on his
return to Ithaca; Statue of Hera.
Argus Gk. giant with a hundred eyes, who was also called Panoptes; the man who built the Argo.
Ari N. "Eagle". It is an Eagle‐Giant who frightens the dead outside Nifilhel.
Ariadne Gk. daughter of King Minos of Crete; lover of Theseus of Athens; sister of Phaedra.
14
Aridva N. A rock‐dwelling Dwarf
Arimaspi Gk. one eyed horseman living near a stream which flows with gold; guarded by the Griffine
Arion Gk. famous musician; dwelt at the court of Perander king of Corinth.
Arion Gk. first horse; offspring of Poseidon and Demeter
Arishta In. a daitya; son of Bali; attacked Krishna in the form of a savage bull, and was slain by him.
Aristaeus Gk. pastoral God; particularly keen on Honey and Diary Produce
Aristophanes Gk. Athenian comic dramatist who wrote plays which produce were from 427‐382 BCE.
Arjuna In. son of Krita‐virya; king of the Haihayas; better known under his patronymic Kirta‐virya.
Arjuna In. white; the name of the third Pandu prince
Armsvartnir N. A lake in Lyngvi Island where Fenrir‐wolf was chained
Arne Gk. daughter of Aelus; ancestress of the Boetians.
Arsinoe Gk. mother of Aesculapius
Artemis Gk. daughter of Titaness Leto and

Zeus; goddess of hunting,
wilderness and wild animals;
goddess of childbirth; protectress
of the girl child up to the age of
marriage; twin brother of Apollo.
Artemis

15
Artha‐sastra In. the useful arts; mechanical science
Aruna In. red, rosy; the dawn, personified as the charioteer of the sun
Arundhati In. the morning star; personified as the wife of the Rishi Vasishtha, and a model of conjugal
excellence
Aruns Gk. second son of Demaratus in Corinth
Arusha, arushi In. red; a red horse; in the Rig‐veda the red horses or mares of the sun or of fire; the rising sun
Arvak, Arvaker N. "Early Walker" or 'The Early Bird”. One of Sun's two horses that drag the sun's chariot
chased by the wolves Hati and Skoll. Arvaker has protection‐runes in his ear. Under the shoulder‐blades
of the horses the gods put bellows to cool them.
Arvan, arva In. a horse; one of the horses of the moon; fabulous animal; half‐horse; half‐bird; on which the
daityas are supposed to ride.
Arya siddhanta In. the system of astronomy founded by Arya‐bhatta in his work bearing this name.
Arya, aryan In. loyal, faithful; the name of the immigrant race from which all that is Hindu originated; the
name by which the people of the rig‐veda called men of their own stock and religion, in
contradistinction to the Dasyus (or Dasas); a term by which we either understand hostile demons or the
rude aboriginal tribes of India, who were an‐aryas.
Arya‐bhata In. the earliest known Hindu writer on algebra
Aryaman In. a bosom friend; chief of the Pitris; one of the Adityas; one of the Viswa‐devas
Aryavarta In. the land of the Aryas; the tract between the Himalaya and the Vindhya ranges, from the eastern
to the western sea – manu
Asa, Asa‐Gods N. A God of the Æsir; The Æsir also used to refer to the Æsir and Vanir together.
Asamanjas In. son of Sagara and Kesini; a wild and wicked young man, abandoned by his father, but
succeeded as a king; according to the iiari‐vansa, he was afterwards famous for valour under the name
of Panchajana.
Asanga In. author of some verses in the Rig‐veda; son of Playoga, but was changed into a woman by the curse
of the gods; recovered his male form by repentance and the favour of the rishi medhatithi, to whom he
gave abundant wealth, and addressed the verses preserved in the Veda.
Asara In. a rakshasa or other demon.
Ása‐Thór N. Thor, the thunder god's full name.
Àsatrù N. The religion honoring the ancient Norse Gods; It comes from the words "Ase" which means "of the
gods" and "tru" which means religion or belief.
Ascanius Gk. son of Aeneus and Creusa; founded the city of Alba Longa thirty‐ three years after the arrival of
Trojan refugees in Italy.
Asclepius Gk. god of healing; son of Apollo; god of prophecy and the lake nymph Corinis.
16
Asgard, Asgardhr N. "Ases' Garth". World of the Æsir; The land of the Gods in the very top of the World Tree;
It is surrounded by a magical river that the Gods once set alight to kill Thjazi, the giant. A bridge called
Bifrost connects Asgard to the Underworld.
Åsgardsreia N. A band of supernatural entities, with Odin at the helm, riding across the sky at Yuletide amidst
much noise and rowdiness; See Wild Hunt
Ash tree N. the Ash tree is sacred to Odin. The Ash is considered to be the father of trees. According to Nordic
tradition, the world tree, Yggdrasil, is an Ash. The Ash is the tree of sea power, or of the power resident
in water. The first man, Askr, was made from an Ash tree. Special guardian spirits reside in the Ash. This
makes it excellent for absorbing sickness. The spirally carved druidical wand was made of Ash for this
purpose. Because Ash attracts lightning, it is also a good conductor of önd (magical force). Wood cut at
the Summer Solstice is best, making it a strong protection against ill‐wishers. In former times, the
sacred High Seat Pillars of halls and temples were made of Ash. Ash has its own rune, As.
Ashtavakra In. a Brahman; son of Kahoda, whose story is told in the Maha‐bharata. Kahoda married a
daughter of his preceptor, Uddaiaka, but he was so devoted to study that he neglected his wife.
Asikni In. the vedic name of the chinab, and probably the origin of the classic Akesines.
A‐siras In. headless; spirits or beings without heads
Askr and Embla N. Origin of humanity, the first man and woman; the first man, Askr, was made from an Ash
tree. His wife, Embla, was an Elm. Odin and his two brothers Vilje and Ve found two wooden logs at the
beach. Odin gave them life, Vilje gave knowledge and Ve gave feelings and senses.
Asmaka In. son of Madayanti; the wife of Kalmasha‐pada or Saudasa
Asoka In. a celebrated king of the Maurya dynasty of Magadha; grandson of its founder Chandra‐gupta.
Asopus Gk. god of the river; son of Oceanus and Tethys
Asrama In. there are four stages in the life of a Brahman, which are called by this name.
Astika In. an ancient sage, son of Jarat‐karu by a sister of the great serpent Vasuki; he saved the life of the
serpent Takshaka when Janamejaya made his great sacrifice of serpents, and induced that king to
forego his persecution of the serpent race.
Astraea Gk. daughter of Zeus and Themis
Astyanax Gk. son of Hector; crown prince of Troy and princess Andromache of Cilician Thebe.
Asura In. spiritual, divine; in the oldest parts of the Rig‐Veda this term is used for the supreme spirit, and is the
same as the ahura of the Zoroastrians.
Asurl In. one of the earliest professors of the Sankhya philosophy.
Asvid, Asvido N. A ruler of the Giants.The Giant who carved runes of wisdom on Yggdrasil
Aswalayana In. a celebrated writer of antiquity; he was pupil of Saunaka, and was author of srauta sutras,
grihya‐sutras, and other works upon ritual, as well as founder of a Sakha of the rig‐veda.
Aswa‐medha In. the sacrifice of a horse; this is a sacrifice, which, in Vedic times, was performed by king’s
desirous offspring.
17
Aswa‐pati In. Lord of horses; an appellation of many kings.
Aswattraman In. son of drona and kripa, and one of the generals of the Kauravas; also called by his patronymit
drauniyana.
Aswins, aswinau (dual), aswini kumaras In. horsemen; dioskouroi; two Vedic deities, twin sons of the sun or
the sky.
Asynjor, Asynju N. “The Goddesses”. The feminine version of Æsir; Also female attendants of Frigga in Vingolf;
One of them, a healer, was called Eir. Others were named Fjorgyn, Frimia, Fimila, and Hnossa the
beautiful.
Atalanta Gk. god of the hunt, travel and

adventure; daughter of Lasus and
Arcadia.
Atalanta
Ate Gk. goddess of mischief; author of all rash actions and their results
Atef crown Eg. the atef crown was worn by Osiris; it is made up of the white crown of Upper Egypt and the
red feathers are representative of Busiris; Osiris's cult center in the Delta.
Aten Eg. the god that gained its prominence during the reign of Akhenaten; who abolished the traditional
cults of Egypt and replaced them with the Aten. This created the first monotheistic cult in the world.
Athamas Gk. king of the prehistoric Minyans in the ancient Boetian city of Orchomenus; a cloud goddess
18
Atharva, atharvan In. the fourth Veda.
Atharvan In. name of a priest mentioned in the rig‐veda; represented as having drawn forth fire and to have
offered sacrifice in early times; mythologically represented as the eldest son of Brahma, to whom that
god revealed the Brahma‐vidya (knowledge of god), as a Prajapati, and as the inspired author of the
fourth Veda. At a later period he is identified with Angiras; his descendants are called Atharvanas, and
are often associated with the Angirasas.
Atharvangirasas In. this name belongs to the descendants of Atharvan and Angiras, or to the Angirasas, who
are especially connected with the Atharva‐veda, and these names are probably given to the hymns of
that Veda to confer on them greater authority and holiness.
Athatva‐veda In. the Saunakiya Chaturadhyayika, i.e., Saunaka’s treatise in four chapters. Edited and
translated into English by Whitney. No Pratisakhya of the Sama‐veda has been discovered.
Atheling, Athling N. It means noble.
Athem N. The "breath of life" the vital force of life borne in the breath
Athena Gk. goddess of war and crafts; goddess of wisdom; heroic endeavor; daughter of Zeus

Athena
Athenians Gk. people of Athens
Athens Gk. capital of modern Greece; one of the most famous Greek cities and it has long played vital role in
Greek politics, religion, and culture.
19
Atlas Gk. primordial Titan who

supported the heaven; son
of Iapetus and the
Oceanid Clymene.
Atlas
Atma‐bodha In. knowledge of the soul; a short work attributed to sankaracharya.
Atman, atma In. the soul the principle of life; the supreme soul.
Atreus Gk. king of Mycenal; son of Pelops and Hippodomia.
Atreus Gk. one of the three moirae; goddess of fate and destiny
Atreya In. a patronymic from am; a son or descendant of atri
Atri In. an eater; a rishi, and author of many vedic hymns; a Maharshi or great saint, who in the Vedas occurs
especially in hymns composed for the praise of Agni, Indra, the Aswins, and the Viswa‐devas.
Atrid N. Another name for Odin
Attica Gk. southern poetion of Greek peninsula which is home to Athens.
Attis Rom. god of growth, fertility and vegetation
Aud N. Son of Nagifari and Night
20
Audh‐stafir N. Staves of riches. It is the result of a runecasting.
Audhumala Gk. cow formed from the vapor, whose milk fed the giant Ymir.
Audhumla N. "Nourisher" or "Rich Hornless Cow";

The name of the mythological sacred cow
which was the primeval shaping force of
the Cosmos, created from the moisture
where the heat from Muspelheim collided
with the frosty fog of Niflheim. The great
cow produced Buri by licking on the salty
rocks of Ginnungagap and nourished the
Giant Ymir with her milk.
Audhumla
Augean Stables Gk. extremely nasty and smelly, warehouse of filth, straw and manure
Auja N. Good luck
Aulis Gk. goddees who watched over oaths under the name of Praxidikai; son of Ogygus.
Aurboda N. The mountain Giantess who was Gymir's wife; Together they have the son Beli and the daughter
Gerd, a beautiful Goddess that Freyr married. Freyr had to give away his self‐wielding sword to get his
bride.
Aurgelmir N. The primal being; The Frost Giants' name for Ymir
Aurochs N. The extinct wild ox of Europe, last seen alive in 1627 Symbolized by the rune Uruz
Aurora Rom.g oddess of the dawn
Aurva In. a rishi, son of Urva and grandson of bhrigu; he is described in the Maha‐bharata as bon of the sage
Chyavana by his wife.
Aurvandil N. "Seafarer". The friendly Giant who was the husband of the Sybil Groa; Aurvandil was the foster
father of Thjalfi (Thorr's servant). On their way back from killing the Giant Hrungnir, Thor and his
companions were met by a violent snowstorm and a freezing cold. Thor saved Aurvandil from a certain
death and carried him over the Elivogar straits from Jotunheimur to the citadel of the Elves. During the
trip Thor did not notice that one of Aurvandil's toes was exposed. It froze, so Thor broke it off and cast
it up into the heavens, where it still stands as the star called Aurvandil's Toe.
Aurvangar N. place in Jöruvellir where Svarin's grave‐mound is found, from which the race of Dwarfs called
Lovar come from
21
Auster Rom. god of the South Wind
Austri N. "East". The Dwarf who was put in the sky's east corners by Odin, Vili and Ve; the sky is made out of
the Giant Ymir's head. The other three dwarves were Nordri, Sudri and Vestri.
Autunoe Gk. daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia; wife of Aristae
Avanti, avantika In. a name of Ujjayini; one of the seven sacred cities.
Avatara In. descent; the incarnation of a deity, especially of vishnu.
Avatarana In. an abode of the rakshasas.
Avernus Gk. lake in Campania
Axine Gk. lookup Euxine
Ayodhya In. the modern oude; the capital of Ikshwaku; founder of the solar race, and afterwards the capital of
Rama’ it is one of the seven sacred cities.
Ayur‐veda In. the Veda of life; a work on medicine, attributed to dhanwantari, regarded as a supplement to
the atharva‐veda.
Ayus In. the first‐born son of Pururavas and Urvasi; father of Nahusha, Kshattra‐vriddha, Rambha, Raja, and
Anenas

B
Ba Eg. the ba can best be described as someone's personality; Like a person's body, each ba was an individual;
It entered a person's body with the breath of life and it left at the time of death; The ba is associated
with divinity and power; It had the ability to take on different forms; in this respect the gods had many
bas; The ba of the deceased is able to move freely between the underworld and the physical world; The
ba is similar to the ka.
Babhru‐vahana In. son of Arjuna by his wife Chitrangadi; adopted as the son of his maternal grandfather, and
reigned at Manipura as his successor.
Babylon Gk. most magnificent and richest city of the ancient world.
Bacchantes Gk. female devotee of the god Dionysus.
22
Bacchus Rom. the god of wine
Badarayana In. a name of Veda vyasa especially

used for him as the reputed author of the
Vedanta philosophy; the author of the
Brahma sutras, published in the bibliotheca
Indica.
Badari, badarikasrama In. A place sacred to Vishnu,
near the Ganges in the Himalayas,
particularly in Vishnu’s dual form of nara‐
narayana.
Badava In. a mare, the submarine fire; in mythology
it is a flame with the head of a horse, called
also Haya‐siras, the horse‐head.
Bafur N. A soil‐dwelling Dwarf
Bahikas In. People of the Panjab, so called in Panini
and the Maha‐bharata; the spoken of as
being impure and out of the law. Bacchus
Bahu, bahuka In. a king of the solar race, who was vanquished and driven out of his country by the tribes of
Haihayas and Taiajanghas; father of Sagara.
Bahuka In. the name of Nala when he was transformed into a dwarf.
Bahulas In. the krittikas or Pleiades.
Bahv richa In. a priest or theologian of the Rig‐veda
Bakhu Eg. the mythical mountain from which the sun rose; the region of the eastern horizon; one of two
mountains that held up the sky, the other being Manu; these peaks were guarded by the double lion
god, Aker.
Bala‐gopala In. the boy Krishna.
Bala‐rama In. Deva are other forms of this name; elder brother of Krishna.

Balarama
23
Bala‐ramayana In. a drama by raja‐sekhara.
Balder, Baldr, Baldur N. "The Bright

One"; Æsir son of Odin and Frigga,
who was killed by an arrow made
of mistletoe shot by the blind God
Hodor (who was tricked by Loki)
and resurrected; His wife is
Nanna, his son, Forseti. Known as
the Shining God and the Bleeding
God; Sacred wells sprang from the
hoof marks of his horse. He
represents light, advice,
reconciliation, beauty, gentleness,
reincarnation, wisdom, harmony,
happiness. Balder will return from
Helheim after Ragnarok and will
rule as one of the new Gods.
The death of Balder
Balder's Bane N. A kenning for Mistletoe, which was the the sole entity that did not swear to never harm
Balder; Loki tricked the god Hodor into shooting Balder with an arrow made of Mistletoe, causing
Balder's death.
Bale N. ‐ Poison.
Baleya In. a descendant of Bali; a daitya.
Baleyg N. "Flame‐eyed One"; another name for Odin
Balhi In. a northern country, Balkh; said in the Maha‐bharata to be famous for its horses, as Balkh is to the
present time.
Balhikas, bahlikas In. always associated with the people of the north, west, and ultra‐indian provinces; usually
considered to represent the bactrians or people of Balkh.
Bali In. a good and virtuous Daitya king; son of virochana, son of Prahlada, son of Hiranya‐kasipu.
Bali, balin In. the monkey king of kishkindhya, who was slain by rams, and whose kingdom was given to his
brother sugriva; friend and ally of Rama; supposed to be the son of Indra, and to have been born from
the hair (bala) of his mother.
Bana In. A Daitya, eldest son of Bali, who had a thousand arms; friend of Shiva and enemy of Vishnu; his
daughter Usha fell in love with Aniruddha, the grandson of Krishna, and had him conveyed to her by
magic art.
Bane N. slayer
Bane of branches N. A kenning for fire
Bane of Shields N. A kenning for the sword Tyrfing
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Banga In. Bengal, but not in the modem application; in ancient times banga meant the districts north of the
bhagirathi.
Bara N. “Big Wave” One of Aegir and Ran's nine wave‐daughters who are said to be the mothers of Heimdall,
the guardian of the Bifrost Bridge.
Barbaras In. name of a people; the analogy to ' bar‐barians' is not in sound only, but in all the authorities these
are classed with borderers and foreigners and nations not Hindu.
Barhishads In. a class of pitris, who, when alive, kept up the household flame, and presented offerings with
fire; some authorities identify them with the months; their dwelling is Vaibhraja.
Bari N. A Dwarf that was instrumental in the building of Mengloth's hall, Lyr.
Barque Eg. a boat in which the gods sailed. The barque of Ra carried a host of deities across the sky each day.
Barque shrine Eg. shrines in temples in which model barques were kept; These model barques were used to
carry deities out of the temples in festival processions.
Barri Woods N. "The Leafy" A peaceful place known to Freyr and others where Gerd was to meet Freyr for
marriage.
Barrow‐mound N. Burial mounds where the dead were placed.
Bastet Eg. a cat headed goddess; as a sun goddess she represents the warm, life giving power of the sun.
Battus Gk. a peasant who broke his promise not to tell Apollo; Hermes had stolen his Cattle.
Baucis Gk. married to Philemon in the region of Tyana.
Baudhayana In. a writer on dharma‐sastra or law; author of a sutra work
Baugi N. "The Stooping"; An Etin Giant, Suttung's brother and son of Gilling; Odin, disguised as Bölverk, tried
to get some of the Mead of Poetry by working at Baugi's farm. After Odin had spent all year working for
Baugi, he took him to Suttung, but Suttung denied Odin (as Bölverk) of any Mead. Baugi then took Odin
to the mountain of the mead and bored a small hole, with Rati, his auger. It was just big enough for
Odin, in the shape of a snake, to enter. Having second thoughts, Baugi tried to stab Odin as he slithered
through, but he was too late. Later Bölverk seduced Gunnlöd and stole the Mead of Poetry.
Bearers of Fate N. These are the entities who are attached to an individual and carry that individual's fate
(ørlög), thus influencing his or her life and actions. Entities that belong to this group include the fetch
(fylgja) and the lesser Norns (nornir), as well as in certain instances Valkyries (Valkÿrjur) and Dises
(Disir).
Beli N. "Moaning"; Gymir's and Aurboda's son and brother to Freyr's wife, Gerd; He is the leader of the barking
Giants. Freyr was unarmed when he and Beli fought at Ragnarok, but Freyr killed him with a stag antler.
Beli's Bane N. A kenning for Freyr, who killed the Giant Beli
Bellona Rom. goddess of war and battles; her festivals were celebrated on March 24 (the Dies Sanguinis, the
Day of Blood) and June 3.
Belt of Strength N. The god Thor's magical belt which can double his strength
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Belus Gk. grandfather of Danaids
Benben Eg. a stone resembling a pyramid, representative of a sun ray and associated with the idea of eternal
rebirth; a representation of the primordial mound.
Bennu Eg. an aspect of Ra‐Atum in the form of a phoenix; the patron of the reckoning of time; The carrier of
eternal light from the abode of the gods to the world of men.
Beowulf N. An Anglo‐Saxon hero, noted for fighting the Grendl monster; an epic poem of the same name
Berchta, Perchta N. A Germanic Goddess wanders through the fields during Yuletide bringing them fertility
and also causing harm. She has bulging eyes, wrinkles and tangled hair.
Bergelmir N. The Deluge Giant Bergelmir is Thrudgelmir's son and Ymir's grandson. He and his wife were the
only two Giants to survive the flood of Ymir's blood. In that way he kept the Giant race from dying. He
is called Father of all Giants.
Berling N. She was the one who forged the Love Goddess Freya's Brising necklace together with the Dwarves
Alfrik, Dvalin and Grer. The payment was that she spent one night with each of them. He is a Dwarf son
of Ivaldi.
Berserkers N. "Bear Shirts"; Men who could turn themselves into bears (like werewolves) in battle; They were
seized with an uncontrollable madness for bloodshed.
Bestla N. "The little sauna woman"; The Frost Giantess who married Buri's son, Bor, and gave birth to the
three Gods; Odin, Vili and Ve; She is daughter to Bolthorn and Ymir, and sister to Mimir.
Beyla N. "Bee". Freyr's servant; She is married to Byggvir and they live together with Freyr and Gerd on the
farm Alfheim. Her major task there is to milk the cows.
Bhadra In. wife of Utathya.
Bhadracharu In. a son of Krishna and Rukmini.
Bhadra‐kali In. name of a goddess; in modern times it applies to Durga.
Bhadraswa In. a region lying to the east of meru; a celebrated horse, son of Uchchaih‐sravas
Bhaga In. a deity mentioned in the Vedas, but of very indistinct personality and powers; supposed to bestow
wealth and to preside over marriage, and he is classed among the adityas and viswedevas.
Bhaga‐netra‐ghna (or ‐han) In. destroyer of the eyes of Bhaga; an appellation of Shiva.
Bhagavad‐gita In. the song of the divine one; a celebrated episode of the Maha‐bharata, in the form of a
metrical dialogue, in which the divine Krishna is the chief speaker, and expounds to Arjuna his
philosophical doctrines.
Bhagavata purana In. the Purana "in which ample details of duty are described, and which opens with an
extract from the gayatri; that in which the death of the Asura Vritra is told, and in which the mortals
and immortals of the Saraswata kalpa, with the events that then happened to them in the world.
Bhagirathl In. the ganges; the name is derived from Bhagiratha, a descendant of Sagara, whose austerities
induced siva to allow the sacred river to descend to the earth for the purpose of bathing the ashes of
Sagara's sons, who had been consumed by the wrath of the sage kapila. Bhagiratha named the river
26
Sagara, and after leading it over the earth to the sea, he conducted it to Patala, where the ashes of his
ancestors were laved with its waters and purified.
Bhalrava, bhairavi In. the terrible; names of siva and his wife devi.
Bhamatl In. a gloss on Sankara's commentary upon the Brahma sutras by Vachaspati misra.
Bhanumati In. daughter of Bhanu; a yadava chief, who was abducted from her home in dwaraka, during the
absence of her father, by the demon nikumbha
Bharadwaja In. a rishi to whom many vedic hymns are attributed; son of Brihaspati and father of Drona, the
preceptor of the pandavas.
Bharadwaja In. Drona; any descendant of Bharadwaja or follower of his teaching; name of a grammarian and
author of sutras
Bharata In. a descendant of Bharata; one of the pandu princesses
Bharata In. a hero and king from whom the warlike people called Bharatas, frequently mentioned in the Rig‐
veda, were descended; the name is mixed up with that of Viswamitra. Bharata’s sons were called
Viswamitras and Viswamitra’s sons were called Bharatas.
Bharata‐varsha In. India, as having been the kingdom of bharata; it is divided into nine khandas or parts:
indra‐dwipa, kaserumat, tamra‐varna, gabhastimat, naga‐dwipa, saumya, gandharva, varuna.
Bharati In. a name of saraswati.
Bharatri‐hari In. a celebrated poet and grammarian, who is said to have been the brother of Vikramaditya; he
wrote three satakas or centuries of verses.
Bhargava In. a descendant of Bhrigu, as Chyavana, Saunaka, Jamad‐agni; used for the latter and Parasu Rama.
Bhasha‐parichchheda In. an exposition of the nyaya philosophy
Bhaskaracharya In. a celebrated mathematician and astronomer, who was born early in the eleventh century
a.d.; author of the bija‐ganita on arithmetic, the lilavati on algebra, and the siddhanta siromani on
astronomy
Bhatti‐kavya In. a poem on the actions of Rama by Bhatti; it is of a very artificial character, and is designed to
illustrate the laws of grammar and the figures of poetry and rhetoric.
Bhauma In. son of Bhumi (the earth); metronymic of the Daitya naraka
Bhautya In. the fourteenth manu
Bhava In. a vedic deity often mentioned in connection with Sarva the destroyer; a name of Rudra or Siva; a
manifestation of that god.
Bhava‐bhuti In. a celebrated dramatist, the author of three of the best extent Sanskrit dramas, the maha vira
charita, uttara Rama charita, and malati madhava; known as sri‐kantha, or `throat of eloquence.
Bhavishya puran In. this purana; as its name implies, should be a book of prophecies foretelling what will be.
Bhawani In. one of the names of the wife of Siva
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Bhela In. an ancient sage who wrote upon medicine.
Bhikshu In. a mendicant; the Brahman in the fourth and last stage of his religious life
Bhima In. name of the father of Damayanti; name of Rudra or of one of his personifications.
Bhima sankara, bhimeswara In. name of one of the twelve great lingas
Bhima, bhima‐sena In. the terrible; the second of the five pandu princes; son of Vayu, the god of the wind
Bhima‐sena In. a name of Bhima
Bhishm In. the terrible; son of king Santanu by the holy river goddess Ganga; called Santanava, Gangeya, and
Nadi‐ja, the river‐born.
Bhishmaka In. an appellation of Siva; king of Vidharbha; father of Rukmin and of Rukmini; the chief wife of
Krishna
Bhogavati In. The voluptuous; the subterranean capital of the nagas in the naga‐loka portion of patala
Bhoja In. a name borne by many kings; most conspicuous among them was bhoja or bhoja‐deva, king of Dhar,
who is said to have been a great patron of literature, and probably died before 1082 a.d.; a prince of
the yadava race who reigned at Mrittikavati on the Parnasa river in Malwa; he is called also Maha‐
bhoja; a tribe living in the vindhya mountains; a country; the modern bhojpur, bhagalpur.
Bhoja‐prabandha In. a collection of literary anecdotes relating to king Bhoja of Dhar, written by Ballala.
Bhrigu In. a vedic sage; one of the Prajapatis and great rishis, and is regarded as the founder of the race of the
bhrigus or bhargavas, in which was born jamad‐agni and parasu‐rama.
Bhrigus In. roasters, consumers; a class of mythical beings who belonged to the middle or aerial class of gods;
connected with Agni, and are spoken of as producers and nourishes of fire, and as makers of chariots;
associated with the angirasas, the atharvans, ribhus.
Bhu, bhumi In. the earth.
Bhuri‐sravas In. A prince of the Balhikas and an ally of the kauravas, who was killed in the great battle of the
maha‐bharata
Bhuta bhuta In. a ghost, goblin; malignant spirits which haunt cementeries, lurk in trees, animate dead bodies,
and delude and devour human beings; according to the Vishnu Purana they are fierce beings and eaters
of flesh, who were created by the creator when he was incensed. In the vayu purana their mother is
said to have been krodha, anger. The bhutas are attendants of Siva, and he is held to be their king.
Bhutesa, bhuteswara In. lord of beings or of created things; a name applied to Vishnu, Brahma, and Krishna as
lord of the Bhutas or goblins; also it is applied to Siva.
Bhuvaneswara In. a ruined city in Orissa, sacred to the worship of Siva, and containing the remains of severe
temples; it was formerly called Ekamra‐kanana.
Bia Gk. minor diety; personification of Force
Bibhatsu In. loathing; an appellation of Arjuna
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Biflidd, Biflindi N. "Spear‐shaker". Another name for Odin
Bifrost Gk. Bridge leading from the Earth called midgrad the home of gods.
Bifrost N. The rainbow bridge from earth to heaven, guarded by Heimdall; It is a bridge that only the gods can
cross. It is covered with flames to stop the frost ogres and cliff giants from scaling heaven. It will break
when the sons of Muspell ride out over at Ragnarok.
Bifur N. A soil‐dwelling Dwarf
Bil & Hjuki N. The Moon‐God, Nepur, took these children from Byrgir Well while they carried mead from the
well with Sœg ("Tub") & Simul ("Carrying‐ pole"). They followed the moon on its way until their father,
Ivaldi, battled with Nepur and reclaimed them. Bil later becomes Saga. Idun is their sister.
Bileyg N. "One whose eye deceives him"; another name for Odin
Billing N. "Twin"; Elf of the twilight or west; The Giant Billing is the master of the Vanirs. He is Gilling's brother,
Rind's father and Vali's grandfather. His warriors protect Sol and Mane.
Bilskirnir N. "Lightning". Thor's hall at Thurdvang; It is the biggest building ever built, with six hundred and
forty floors.
Bindusara In. the son and successor of Chandra‐gupta
Birdwood N. Where the red cockerel All‐Knower comes from, perhaps a by‐name of Yggdrasil
Birth house Eg. these were small temples, attached to the main temples of the Late and Greco‐Roman
Periods; these small temples are where the god associated with the main temple were said to have
been born, or if the main temple was dedicated to a goddess it was where she bore her children.
Biton Gk. son of Cydippe; a priestess of Hera at Argos
Bjart N. "Shining One”; One of Freya's eight sisters; The God of storm and fishing; Njord is her father. The
fertility God Freyr is her brother.
Black Sea Gk. shore of the island sea north Asian portion in modern ancient Greek of The Euxine.
Blid N. "The one who is mild”. Another of the Love‐Goddess Freya's eight sisters; The God of storm and fishing,
Njord is her father. The fertility God Freyr is her brother.
Blodighofi N. "The one with blood on the hoofs". Blodighofi is Freyr's horse, which was given to Skirnir, when
he rode to Jotunheim to get Gerd for him. The horse wasn't afraid of either fire or smoke.
Blodughadda N. "With blood in the hair"; One of Aegir and Ran's nine wave‐daughters who are said to be the
mothers of Heimdall; the guardian of the Bifrost bridge
Boar N. An animal sacred to Freyr; His boar, Gullinbursti, has golden bristles.
Bodn N. One of three bowls used by the dwarves Fjalar and Galar when they were making Kvæsir's blood into
the Mead of Poetry.
Boe N. In Saxo's account of the Baldr story, the son of Rind is called Boe instead of Vali.
Boetia Gk. formerly Cadmeis; plays a prominent part of the two great centres of legends Thebes.
29
Bolthorn N. "Evil Thorn". Odin's grandfather. Bolthorn is father to Bestla, Bor's wife and mother of Odin, Vili
and Ve. He is also the father of Mimir.
Bolverk N. The Giant disguise used by Odin to get the Mead of Poetry.
Bombor N. A soil‐dwelling Dwarf
Bona Dea Rom. goddess of fertility, healing, virginity and women; festival May 1
Book of the dead Eg. this is a collection of magic spells and formulas that was illustrated and written, usually
on papyrus; It began to appear in Egyptian tombs around 1600 BC; The text was intended to be spoken
by the deceased during their journey into the Underworld; It enabled the deceased to overcome
obstacles in the afterlife; It did this by teaching passwords that allowed the deceased to turn into
mythical creatures to navigate around hazards, while granting the help and protection of the gods, and
proclaiming the deceased's identity with the gods; The texts continue the tradition of the Pyramid Texts
and Coffin Texts; There are about 200 known spells and the choice of spells can vary from copy to copy.
Bootes Gk. a star just behind the Dipper; also called Arcturus and the Wagoner who drives the Dipper called
the Wain or Wagon.
Bor, Borr N. "The Son". A supernatural man, son of Buri, a Giant who was created when the cow Audhumla
licked at a stone; He is married to the Giantess Bestla and is the father of Odin, Vili and Ve.
Boreas Gk. purple‐winged god of north wind.
Bosphoros Gk. ford of the cow
Bragi, Brage N. God of poetry, eloquence, and boasting. Son of Odin and Gunnlod; married to Idhuna. He
greets new arrivals to Valhalla with songs of their deeds. His virtues are wit, cunning, wisdom, music,
writing, and the arts. He is the patron of skalds and minstrels.

Bragi
30
Brahma In. the first member of the Hindu triad; the supreme spirit manifested as the
active creator of the universe; he sprang from the mundane egg deposited by
the supreme first cause, and is the Prajapati, or lord and father of all creatures,
and in the first place of the Rishis or Prajapatis.
Brahma
Brahma purana In. in all the lists of the Puranas the Brahma stands first, for which reason it is sometimes
entitled the adi or “first” Purana; it was repeated by Brahma to Marichi, and is said to contain 10,000
stanzas, but the actual number is between 7000 and 8000.
Brahma sutras In. aphorisms on the Vedanta philosophy by Badarayana or Vyasa; also called Brahma
Mimamsa sutras.
Brahma vaivarta purana In. that Purana which is related by Savarni to Narada, and contains the account if the
greatness of Krishna, with the occurrences of the Radhantara‐kalpa, where also the story of Brahma
Varaha is repeatedly told, is called the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, and contains 18,000 stanzas.
Brahma, Brahman In. the supreme soul of this universe, self‐existent, absolute, and eternal, from which all
things, emanate, and to which all return; this divine essence is incorporeal, immaterial, invisible,
unborn, uncreated, without beginning and without end, illimitable, and inappreciable by the sense until
the film of mortal blindness is removed.
Brahmachari In. the Brahman student.
Brahmadikas In. the Prajapatis.
Brahma‐gupta In. an astronomer who composed the Brahma‐gupta Siddhanta in a.d. 628.
Brahman In. the first of the four castes; the sacerdotal class, the members of which may be, but are not
necessarily, priests; a Brahman is the chief of all created beings; his person is inviolate; he is entitled to
all honour, and enjoys many rights and privileges.
Brahmana In. belonging to Brahmans; works composed by and for Brahmans; that part of the Veda which was
intended for the use and guidance of Brahmans in the use of the hymns of the mantra, and therefore of
later production; but the Brahmana, equally with the mantra, is held to be sruti or revealed word.
Excepting its claim to revelation, it is a Hindu Talmud.
Brahmanaspati In. a Vedic equivalent of the name Brihaspati.
Brahmanda purana In. that which has declared, in 12,200 verses; the magnificence of the egg of Brahma, and
in which an account of the future kalpas is contained, is called the Brahmanda Purana, and was
revealed by Brahma.
Brahmani In. the female form; daughter of Brahma, also called Sata‐rupa
Brahma‐pura In. the city of Brahma; the heaven of Brahma, on the summit of mount Meru, and enclosed by
the river Ganga.
Brahmarshi‐desa In. Kurukshetra, the matsyas, the panchalas, and the surasenas. This land, which comes to
Brahmavartta, is the land of Brahmarshis.
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Brahmarshis In. Rishis of the Brahman caste, founders of the gotras of Brahmans, and dwell in the sphere of
Brahma.
Brahma‐savarni In. the tenth Manu
Brahmavartta In. between the two divine rivers, Saraswati and Drishadwati, lies the tract of land which the

sages have named Brahmavartta, because it was frequented by the gods.” – Manu. Ii. 17.
Brahma‐veda In. a name given to the Atharvan or fourth vela; the Veda of prayers and charms.
Brahma‐yuga In. the age of Brahmans; he first on Krita‐yuga
Breidablik Gk. Balder’s home
Breidablik N. "Broad Shining"; Baldr's and Nanna's hall in Asgard; a magnificent palace; No unclean thing is
permitted to be there.
Briareus Gk. also called Aegaeon; one of the three 100 armed. 50 headed; son of Uranus and Gaea.
Brihad aranyaka, brihad upanishad In. The brihad aranyaka Upanishad belongs to the satapatha Brahmana,

and is ascribed to the sage yajnawalkya.
Brihad‐devata In. an ancient work in Slokas by the sage saunaka, which enumerates and describes the deity or
deities to which each hymn and verse of the rig‐veda is addressed; it frequently recites legends in
support of its attributions.
Brihad‐ratha In. the tenth and last king of the Maurya dynasty; founded by Chandragupta.
Brihaspati In. In the Rig‐veda the names Brihaspati and Brahmanaspati alternate, and are equivalent to each
other; they are names of a deity in whom the action of the worshipper upon the gods is personified;
the suppliant, the sacrifice, the priest, who intercedes with gods on behalf of men and protects
mankind against the wicked.
Brihat‐katha In. a large collection of tales; the original of the Katha‐sarit‐sagara.
Brihat‐sanhita In. a celebrated work on astronomy by Varaha mihira
Brimer N. is a Giant that owns the island Ókolnir. There he has his feast hall in which the Giants celebrates
when Ragnarok is coming; a hall located in Ókolnir. In it there is plenty of good drink; A refuge to those
finding it after Ragnarok
Brimir Hall at Gimle, Sindri Hall at Nidafioll, Nasatrands, Hvergelmir N. Places the remaining Gods will be sent
to after Ragnarok.
Briseis Gk. Queen of Asia Minor; daughter of Briseus
Brisingamen, Brising N. "Fire‐Jewelry". The Brisingamen necklace belongs to Freya. It was forged by four
dwarves and to get it she had to spend one night with each of them. This ornament can be worn either
as a belt or a necklace depending upon how Freya plans to use it. Loki once stole it.
Brizo Gk. protector of mariners
Broadland N. Another name for Vidar's hall; Also called Landvidi ("Whiteland")
32
Broadview N. Another name for Balder's Hall
Brokk N. A Dwarf; superb smith and jeweler, son of Ivaldi; He was pictured as small and blackened from the
smithy. With his brother Eitri he made Sif's golden hair, the spear Gungnir, the ship Skidbladnir. Loki
wagered his head that Brokk's brother Sindri could not forge greater magical items than these. So, Loki,
in the form of a gadfly, stung him on the hand, neck and eyelids to prevent him from helping with the
forge's bellows and winning the bet, but Loki failed. His brother Sindri created the boar Slidrugtanni for
Freyr and Freya, the ring Draupnir for Odin, and a new hammer for Thor, a hammer which would be
impossible to steal, because it would always return to its owner. Loki ran but was caught by Thor. Loki
said, "You can have my head but not my neck". So Brokk pierced holes in Loki's lips with an awl and
sewed them up as a lesson not to brag.
Bromius Gk. a cyclope
Brynhild, Brynhildr N. "Byrnie of Battle" or "Mail‐coat of Battle". A Valkyrie and servant to Odin; a shape‐
shifter who often used a swan disguise; this beautiful being fell in love with the hero Sigurd; She is
daughter to king Budle and sister to Atle and Bekkhild. She was punished by Odin, but Sigurd Fafnisbari
saved her. She married King Gunnar but really loved Sigurd. When Sigurd was killed, she threw herself
into the fire and burned to death.
Bubona Rom. goddess of horses and cattle
Buddha‐gotama buddha In. the founder of Buddhism. Vishnu’s ninth

incarnation
Buddha In. wise, intelligent; the planet mercury; son of the soma, the moon,
by Rohini, or by Tara, wife of Brihaspati

Buddha
Budli N. father of Atli (Attila the Hun) and Brunhild
Buri, Bure N. "Good‐looking" or "Great and Huge"; Supernatural being licked from the salty rocks of
Ginnungagap by Audhumla, the primal cow. Father of Bor, who is father of Odin, Vili and Ve. Bure died
of old age, as the golden apples of Iduna had yet to appear.
Byggvir N. companion God of Freyr. The God of ale/beer and corn, Byggvir is married to Beyla. He is Freyr's
servant and lives at Freyr's farm Alfheim. His task is to take care of the world‐mill and its grist.
Byleist N. "Lightning". The Storm‐Giant Byleist is Farbauti's and Laufey's son. He has two brothers, the trickster
Loki and the Water‐Giant Helblindi.
Bylgja N. “Big Breaking Wave”. One of Aegir and Ran's nine wave‐daughters who are said to be the mothers of
Heimdall, the guardian of the Bifrost bridge.
Byrgir N. A well found in the kingdom of Ivaldi, probably connected to Mimir's Well, since its water gave the
gift of poetic power and ecstasy. Ivaldi tried to keep this secret, and sent two of his children in the dark
of night to empty out the well and bring back the mead. From this mead he allowed the Gods to drink
as much as they wanted. Nepur, the Moon‐God spied the youngsters on their way back home with a
33
pail full of mead, and abducted them and the mead. But Ivaldi fought Nepur as he passed through the
underworld and reclaimed them.
C
Cabeiri Gk. Were the magical beings that protected the fruit on the island of Lemnos.
Cadmus Gk. was the father of king Athamas’ second wife and the king of Thebes.
Caduceus Gk. was a winged rod with two serpents intertwined about it, belonging to Hermes.
Calais Gk. was one of Boreas’ and Orithyia’s sons.
Calchas Gk. was the soothsayer of the Greek army in the Trojan War.
Calliope Gk. was the eldest of the 9 muses and the mother of Orpheus.
Callisto Gk. was a young nymph associated with Artemis and was raped by Zeus.
Calpe Gk. was one of Hercules’ pillars.
Calydon Gk. was the area in Greece where the Calydonian hunt took place.
Calydonian Hunt Gk. the noblest men in Greece helped get rid of a Great boar that was laying waste in the
country.
Calypso Gk. the nymph that fell madly in love with Odysseus
Camenae Gk. goddesses that cared for springs and wells and cured illnesses
Camenae Rom. goddesses of wells and springs
Camilla Gk. was a young huntress who had been abandoned as a baby to survive lone in the wilderness.
Canace Gk. was said to be the mother of Otus and Ephialtes.
Candelifera Rom. goddess of childbirth
Canopic jar Eg. four jars used to store the preserved internal organs of the deceased; Each jar is
representative of one of the four sons of Horus; the term comes from the Greek , Canopus, a demigod
venerated in the form of a human headed jar.
Capanues Gk. was a man of mighty wealth, but humble and a true friend to all.
Capathos Gk. an island also called Pharos and was the haunt of Proteus.
Capitol Gk. a golden meadow, filled with lowing cattle.
Cardea Rom. goddess of thresholds and door hinges
Carmenta Rom. goddess of childbirth and prophecy; festival Carmentalial January 11 and 15
Carnea Rom. Goddess of the heart and other organs, and door handles; Festival June 1.
34
Carthage Gk. Hera’s pet city
Cartonnage Eg. Papyrus or linen soaked in plaster, shaped around a body; Used for mummy masks and coffins.
Cartouche Eg. a circle with a horizontal bar at the bottom, elongated into an oval within which king's names
are written; it is believed to act as a protector of the kings name; The sign represents a loop of rope
that is never ending.
Cassandra Gk. a prophetess and one of King Priam’s daughters.
Cassiopeia Gk. Andromache’s mother and a queen.
Castalia Gk. a sacred spring in Delphi
Castor Gk. a lesser God that was said to be half mortal
Casus Gk. was a giant that once had stolen some of Hercules’ cattle and was killed for it.
Cecrops Gk. the first king of Attica.
Celaeno Gk. one of the Pleiades.
Celeus Gk. the father of Demophoon whose mother was called Metaneira.
Cenotaph Eg. from the Greek word meaning; "empty tomb"; A tomb built for ceremonial purposes that was
never intended to be used for the interment of the deceased.
Centaurs Gk. Half‐human, half‐horse creatures
Centimanus Gk. were three giants with a hundred arms each. See Hecatonchires.
Cephalus Gk. son of Hermes and Herse and was married to Procris.
Cepheus Gk. Andromeda’s father
Cephissus Gk. a Greek river God and the father of Narcissus
Cerberus Gk. the three‐headed watch dog that

guarded the entrance to the underworld

Cerberus
35
Cercopes Gk. the twin sons of Oceanus and Theia that were turned into monkey’s of Zeus.
Ceres Rom. the goddess of farming and the Earth; Corn
Goddess; Eternal Mother; the Sorrowing
Mother; Grain Mother; Goddess of agriculture,
grain, crops, initiation, civilization, lawgiver and
the love a mother bears for her child.
Ceryntia Gk. the forest where a stag with horns of gold
lived
Cestus Gk. was Aphrodite’s girdle.
Ceyx Gk. was the son of Eosphorus and was married to
the demi‐Goddess Alcyone.
Chair of forgetfulness Gk. a chair in Hades, that

whoever sat on this chair forgot everything from
the past.
Chaitanya‐chandrodaya In. the rise of the moon of

chaitanya; a drama in ten acts by kavi‐karna‐
pura.
Ceres
Chaitra‐ratha In. the grove or forest of kuvera on mandara; one of the spurs of meru; it is so called from its
being cultivated by the gandharva chitra‐ratha.
Chakora In. a kind of partride; a fabulous bird, supposed to live upon the beams of the moon
Chakra‐varti In. a universal emperor, described by the vishnu purana as one who is born with the mark of
vishnu’s discuss visible in his hand.
Chakshusha In. the sixth manu.
Champa In. son of Prithu‐laksha; a descendant of Yayati, through his fourth son, Anu, and founder of the city
of champa
Champa, champavati, champa‐malini, champa‐puri In. the capital city of the country of Anga; traces of it still
remain in the neighbourhood of Bhagalpur; it was also called Malini, from its being surrounded with
Champaka trees as with a garland (mala).
Chamunda In. an emanation of the goddess Durga, sent forth from her forehead to encounter the demons
Chanda and Munda; described in the mMrkandeya Purana.
Chanakya In. a celebrated Brahman, who took a leading part in the destruction of the nandaas, and in the
elevation of Chandra‐gupta to their throne; great master of finesse and artifice, and has been called the
Machiavelli of India.
Chanda, chandi In. the goddess Durga; in the form she assumed for the destruction of the asura called
Mahisha.
36
Chandipat, chandipatha In. a poem of 700 verses, forming an episode of the Markandeya Purana; it celebrates
Durga’s victories over the asuras, and is read daily in the temples of that goddess; the work is also
called Devi‐mahatmya.
Chandra In. the moon, either as a planet or a deity.
Chandra‐hasa In. a prince of the south; lost his parents soon after his birth, and fell into a state of destitution.
Chandra‐ketu In. a son of Lakshmana; king of the city of Chakora; country near the Himalayas.
Chandra‐vansa In. the lunar race; the lineage or race which claims descent from the moon.
Chanra‐kanta In. the moon‐stone; a gem or stone supposed to be formed by the congelation of the rays of the
moon; supposed to exercise a cooling influence.
Chanura In. a wrestler in the service of Kansa; was killed by Krishna.
Chaos Gk. was the vast immeasurable abyss, outrageous, dark and wild.
Charaka In. a writer on medicine who lived in Vedic times; a legend represents him as an incarnation of the
serpent sesha.
Charaka In. one of the chief schools of the Yajur‐veda
Charaka‐brahmana In. a Brahmana of the black Yajur‐veda.
Charamanvati In. the river chambal
Charana In. a Vedic school or society; explained as a number of men who are pledged to the reading of a
certain Sakhi of the Veda, and who have in this manner become one body.
Charanas In. Panegyrists; the panegyrists of the gods
Charites Gk. was the Greek name for the graces.
Charon Gk. the boat man who sailed the boat in Hades.
Charu hasini In. sweet smiler; this epithet is used for rukmini and for Lakshmana, and perhaps for other wives
of Krishna.
Charu, charu‐deha, charu‐deshna, charu‐gupta In. sons of Krishna and Rukmini
Charu‐datta In. the Brahman hero of the drama Mrichchhakati
Charu‐mati In. daughter of Krishna and Rukmini.
Charvaka In. a Rakshasa, and friend of Dur‐yodhana, who disguised himself as a Brahman and reproached
yudhishthira for his crimes, when he entered Hastina‐pura in triumph after the great battle; a sceptical
philosopher who advocated materialistic doctrines.
Chatur‐varna In. the four castes
Chaydbis Gk. a whirlpool where the sea forever spouted and roared.
37
Chedi In. name of a people and of their country; the modern chandail and boglekhand; a son of Dhrishta Ketu,
raja of the kekayas, and an ally of the pandavas
Chera In. a kingdom in the south of the peninsula, which was absorbed by its rival the Chola kingdom.
Chhandas, chhando In. metre; one of the vedangas; the oldest known work on the subject is “the chhandah‐
sastra, ascribed to Pingala, which may be as old as the second century b.c.”
Chhandoga In. a priest or chanter of the Sama‐veda
Chhandogya In. name of a Upanishad of the sama‐veda.
Chhaya In. shade; a handmaid of the sun; Sanjna, wife of the Sun, being unable to bear the fervour of her lord,
put her handmaid Chhaya in her place
Chimaera Gk. a creature with the front of a lion, a back of a serpent and the middle of a goat
Chinta‐mani In. the wish‐gem; a jewel which is suppressed to have the power of granting all desires; the
philosopher’s stone; it is said to have belonged to Brahma, who is himself called by this name; also
called divya‐ratna.
Chios Gk. still remains as a Greek island.
Chira‐jivin In. long‐lived; gods or deified mortals, who live for long periods.
Chiron Gk. was one of the centaurs that died for Prometheus.
Chitra‐gupta In. a scribe in the abodes of the dead; records the virtues and vices of men; recorder of Yama.
Chitra‐kuta In. bright‐peak: the seat of Valmiki’s hermitage, in which Rama and Sita both found refuge at
different times.
Chitra‐lekha In. a picture: name of a nymph who was skilled in painting and in the magic art: a friend and
confidante of usha.
Chitrangada In. daughter of king Chritra‐vahana of Mani‐purap; wife of Arjuna and mother of Babhru Vahana
Chitrangada In. the elder son of king Santanu, and brother of Bhishma: arrogant and proud, and was killed in
early life in a conflict with a Gandharva of the same name.
Chitra‐ratha In. having a fine car; he king of the Gandharvas
Chitra‐sena In. one of the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra; chief of the Yakshas
Chitra‐yajna In. a modern drama in five acts upon the legend of daksha; the work of a pandit named
Vaidyanatha Vachaspati.
Chola In. a country and kingdom of the south of India about tanjore: the country was called Chola Mandala,
whence comes the name Coromandel.
Chrysaor Gk. was a horse that sprang from the blood of Medusa.
Chryseis Gk. daughter of Apollo’s priest
Chrysothemis Gk. was one of Agamemnon’s daughters.
38
Chyavana, chyavana In. asage, son of the Rishi bhrigu; author of some hymns.
Cimmerians Gk. were never found as they lived on land that nobody else could reach.
Cinxia Rom. goddess of marriage
Cinyras Gk. father of Adonis
Circe Gk. a beautiful but dangerous witch that fell in love with Odysseus and kept him a prisoner on her island
Cithaeron Gk. was the Thesbian lion.
Clementia Rom. goddess of mercy and clemency
Cleobis Gk. son of Cydippe and a priestess of Hera on Argos
Clio Gk. the muse of historical poetry
Cloacina Rom. goddess of the Cloaca Maxima, the system of sewers in Rome
Clotho Gk. s daughter of Zeus and Themis and the youngest of the three fates.
Cloud‐gatherer Gk. Zeus was the cloud gatherer.
Clymene Gk. daughter of Oceanus and Tethys and the wife of Iapetus
Clytemnestra Gk. was the daughter of Leda and king Tyndareus and the wife of Agamemnon.
Clytie Gk. was an ocean nymph that fell in love with Apollo.
Cnossus Gk. was the capital of Crete and the city of king Minos.
Cocytus Gk. was one of the five rivers in Hades.
Coelus Rom. god of the sky
Coeus Gk. was a Titan, the father of Leto and the grand‐father of Apollo and Artemis.
Coffin texts Eg. texts written inside coffins of the Middle Kingdom that are intended to direct the souls of the
dead past the dangers and perils encountered on the journey through the afterlife; More than 1,000
spells are known.
Coiler N. A kenning for the Midgard‐Serpent
Colchis Gk. was a country that lay upon the unfriendly sea.
Colonus Gk. was a beautiful area near Athens.
Colossus Eg. A more then life size statue, often of a kings, but also of gods and even private individuals; these
huge statues usually flank the gates or pylons of temples; they are believed to act as intermediaries
between men and the gods.
Concordia Rom. goddess of agreement and understanding
Conditor Rom. god of the harvest
39
Consus Rom. god of grain storage; festivals Consualia August 21 and December 15
Convector Rom. god of bringing in of the crops from the fields
Copia Rom. goddess of wealth and plenty
Corinth Gk. city at the western end of the Isthmus, joining the Peloponnesus to Boeotia; the city was first
named Ephyra or Ephyraea, because, as it is told, the Oceanid Ephyra was the first to dwell in Corinth.
Cornucopia Gk. the horn of the goat Amalthea; the nurse of baby Zeus in Greek mythology; one of her
attendant nymphs gave her Amalthea, a magical goat to nurse the divine child. When Zeus grew up, he
defeated Cronos and frees his divine brothers and sisters from his father’s stomach. They became the
gods of Olympus; Amalthea’s whorn came to be associated with an overflowing horn of plenty or how it
became detached from the goat; The horn of Amalthea overflowing with fruits, honey, and grain is an
extremely ancient symbol of the harvest.
Coronis Gk. daughter of Phlegyas; King of the Lapiths was one of Apollo's lovers; while Apollo was away,
Coronis, already pregnant with Asclepius, fell in love with Ischys, son of Elatus; a white crow which
Apollo had left to guard her informed him of the affair and Apollo, enraged that the bird had not
pecked out Ischys' eyes as soon as he approached Coronis, flung a curse upon it so furious that it
scorched its feathers, which is why all crows are black. Apollo sent his sister, Artemis, to kill Coronis
because he could not bring himself to. Afterward Apollo, feeling dejected, only regained his presence of
mind when Coronis' body was already aflame on a funeral pyre. Upon a sign from Apollo, Hermes cut
the unborn child out of her womb and gave it to the centaur Chiron to rise. Hermes then brought her
soul to Tartarus.
Corus Rom. god of the North West wind
Corybantes Gk. are represented as a kind of inspired people; subject to Bacchic frenzy; inspiring terror at the
celebration of the sacred rites by means of war‐dances, noise, cymbals, drums, and arms; they have
been called attendants of Rhea.
Cottus Gk. was a son of Uranus and Gaea; he was one of the Hekatoncheires; a giant with a hundred hands
and fifty heads.
Cow Gk. a white bull more beautiful than any others; bull that smelled of flowers, and lowed musically; a bull
so obviously gentle that all the maidens rushed to stroke and pet it.
Crab Gk. as simply a family mess; Cancer comes into this ‘beloved’ scene when Hercules is fighting the terrible
water‐serpent, Hydra. During the battle between Heracles and Hydra; Hera sent Cancer, the giant crab,
to aid the serpent. As the violent fight took place; Cancer was nipping at Hercules feet. But Heracles,
being so mighty in strength, killed the crab by smashing its shell with his foot. Hera then placed the
crab's image in the night sky as a reward for its service.
Creon Gk. reluctant king of Thebes lost his son, wife and niece in a tragic cycle of suicides caused by his
inflexible will. His crushing fate was to endure a life of solitary grief and remorse. He was the brother of
Jocasta and a reluctant ruler of Thebes; he was regent during the uncertain period after king
Laius,Jocasta’s husband,had been killed near the city, Creon offered the throne and the hand of Jocasta
to any man who could resolve the riddle of the Sphinx and thus rid Thebes of this bloodthirsty
monster.
40
Cresphontes Gk. a son of Herakles (Heracles); He became king of Messenia and was Murder by another son of
Herakles, Polyphontes; His wife and son, Merope and Aepytus, took their revenge by killing
Polyphontes.
Cretheus Gk. a son of Aeolus and Enarete; was married to Tyro,the daughter of Salmoneus; he became the
father of Aeson, Pheres, Amythaon, and Hippolyte; he is called the founder of the town of Iolcus.
Creusa Gk. was a naiad and daughter of Gaia who bore Hypseus.
Criosphinx Eg. one of three varieties of Egyptian sphinx, having the head of a ram.
Cronus Gk. was the son of Ouranos, the sky god, and Gaia, the earth mother. He emasculated Ouranos and
sized control of the universe. He then married his sister Rhea and followed the example of Ouranos in
disposing of his children by swallowing them, because he had been warned that would be displaced by
one of his sons.
Crossways Gk. a fanlisting devoted to Hecate, Hekate (Hekátē), or Hekat; the Greek goddess of crossroads,
magik (sorcery) and darkness, Hekate
Crow Gk. which Apollo had left to guard her informed him of the affair and Apollo, enraged that the bird had
not pecked out Ischys' eyes as soon as he approached Coronis, flung a curse upon it so furious that it
scorched its feathers, which is why all crows are black.
Cumae Gk. was the first Greek colony on the mainland of Italy (Magna Graecia), there having been earlier
starts on the islands of Ischia and Sicily by colonists from the Euboean cities of Chalcis.
Cunina Rom. goddess of infants
Cupid Rom. he was usually portrayed as a cute, capricious child
with wings and often with a quiver of arrows or a torch to
inflame love I the hearts of gods and men; He was depicted
as a beautiful but wanton boy, armed with a quiver full of
“arrowed desires”; some of his arrows, however, would
turn people away from those who fell in love with them.
According to one myth, Venus was jealous of PSYCHE (“the
soul”) and told Cupid to make her love the ugliest man
alive. But Cupid fell in love with Psyche and, invisible,
visited her every night. He told her not to try to see him,
until the sky god Jupiter granted her immortality so that he
could be Cupid’s constant was named Voluptas
(“pleasure”). The god of love.
Curetes Gk. guarded the infant Zeus, clashing their spears on their
shields in order that Cronos might not hear the child's
voice; they could have been descendants of the DACTYLS;
their life is the tune of pipes, and the noise of beaten
swords; they have been described as flute‐players, and
wearing brazen shields; they have been called the rearers
and protectors of Zeus, having been summoned from
Phrygia to Crete by Rhea Offspring of Gaia. Cupid
41
Cybele Gk. a Phrygian goddess often identified with Rhea; her priests were the Corybantes who workshiped
her with cries and shouts and clashing cymbals and drums; lived in the wild and dangerous regions of
the earth and ruled the fiercest of animals.
Cyclopes Gk. a Giants with only one eye in their forhead; children of the earth Gaea; they ate humans, were
thick and had given Zeus the thunder and lightning as a sign of gratitude when he released them from
the underworld; They worked as Hephaestus helpers under the volcano Etna making Zeus's lightning’s,
but were killed by Apollo as a revenge for Zeus's killing his son Aclepius.
Cycnus Gk. swan; the name of the three young men change into swans; son of Apollo; ally of the Trojan war at
Troy; friend of Phaethon, placed among the stars as a swan.It sometimes said there was a fourth, son of
Aresvz, killed by Hercules.
Cydippe Gk. was the mother of Cleobis and Biton; A priestess of Hera, was on her way to a festival in the
goddess' honor.
Cyllen Gk. mount Cyllene in Arcadia to Maia; where Hermes was born.
Cynosure Gk. name for the constellation Ursa Minor; the Little Bear.
Cynthia Gk. was Goddess of the hunt and the Moon; twin sister of Apollo.
Cyrene Gk. the daughter of Hypseus and Chlidanope; was not the least bit interested in men.
Cythera Gk. where the goddess was said to have first landed, and where she had a celebrated temple; the
goddess Aphrodite was born near this island.
Cytherea Gk. different form of a surname of Aphrodite.

D
Dactyls Gk. they are demons believed to live on Mount Ida in Phrygia (Asia Minor), or on the Isle of Crete; they
were considered to be the first metallurgists; they discovered iron and the art of working metals by fire;
they belonged to the retinue of the goddess Cybele; the Dactyls are sometimes identified with the
Cabiri, Curetes and Corybantes; mostly because of the mystery cults that surrounded those groups;
their name is derived from daktylos ("finger") and is probably based either on their skill with metals or
on their small size.
Dactys Gk. was a fisherman who became king of Seriphos; he was a brother of Polydectes and a son of
Magnes.
Dadhyanch, dadhicha In. a Vedic Rishi, son of Atharvan; name frequently occurs.
Daedalus Gk. he is an Architect and inventor who served at the court of King Minos; was a descendant of king
Erechteus of Athens.
Dain N. A ruler of the Elves
42
Daityas In. Titans; descendants from diti by kasyapa; a race of demons and giants, who warred against the
gods and interfered with sacrifices
Dakini In. a kind of female imp or fiend attendant upon kali and feeding on human flesh; the dakinis are also
called asra‐pas, `blood drinkers.’
Daksha In. able, competent, intelligent; this name generally carried with it the idea of a creative power.
Daksha‐savarna In. the ninth Manu
Dakshayana In. connected with daksha; son or descendant of that sage.
Dakshayani In. a name of Aditi as daughter of Daksha.
Dakshina In. a present made to Brahmans; the honorarium for the performance of a sacrifice; personified as a
goddess, to whom various origins are assigned.
Dakshinachari In. Followers of the right‐hand form of Sakta worship.
Dama In. a son; according to the Vishnu Purana, a grandson of king Marutta of the solar race
Dama‐ghosha In. king of Chedi; father of Sisu‐pala.
Damayanti In. wife of Nala and heroine of the tale of Nala and Damayanti; she is also known by her
patronymic bhaimi.
Dambhodbhava In. a king whose story is related in the Maha‐bharata as an antidote to price. He had an
overweening conceit of his own prowess, and when told by his Brahmans that he was no match for
Nara and Narayana, who were living as ascetics on the Gandha‐madana mountain, he proceeded
thither with his army and challenged them. They endeavoured to dissuade him, but he insisted on
fighting. Nara then took a handful of straws, and using them as missiles, they whitened all the air, and
penetrated the eyes, ears, and noses of the assailants, until Dambhodbhava fell at Nara’s feet and
begged for peace.
Damodara In. a name given to Krishna because his foster‐mother tried to tie him up with a rope (dama) round
his belly (udara).
Damp With Sleet N. Another name of Hel's hall; also called "Eliudnir"
Danaans Gk. were one of the three Nemedian families who survived the Fomorian victory; he brought the
stone of destiny from Falias.
Danae Gk. Daughter of Acrisius, king of Argos; he shut her up in a bronze tower because of a prophecy that
her son would kill his grandfather ‐ thinking that held prisoner she might never receive a lover, and
never bear a child. Zeus became enamoured of her and descended in a shower of gold. As a result of
her union with Zeus she gave birth to the hero Perseus.
Danaids Gk. was the fifty daughters of Danaus; who were forced to marry their fifty male cousins but killed
them on their wedding night (except for Hypermestra who, genuinely loving her husband Lynceus
spared him) with daggers provided by Danaus. The forty‐nine murderers were subsequently
condemned in the underworld to forever carry water in a sieve and try to fill a water jug with the
water.
43
Danaus Gk. was a king of Libya; the father of fifty daughters, the 'Danaides'. His brother Aegyptus, who had
fifty sons, wanted a mass marriage, but Danaus fled with his daughters to Argos where he became king.
Eventually Aegyptus' sons followed and demanded the Danaides.Danaus agreed, but gave each
daughter a weapon with which she slew her husband on their wedding night, all except Hypermestra
who spared her husband Lynceus. Lynceus killed Danaus and became king of Argos. In the underworld
the Danaides we recondemned to carry water in sieves forever.
Danavas In. descendants from Danu by the sage Kasyapa; they were giants who warred against the gods.
Danda‐dhara In. the rod‐bearer; a title of Yama, the god of death
Dandaka In. the Aranya or forest of Dandaka; lying between the Godavari and Narmada; it was of vast extent,
and some passages of the Ramayana represent it as beginning immediately south of the Yamuna; this
forest is the scene of many of Rama and Rita’s adventures, and is described as a wilderness over which
separate hermitage are scattered, while wild beasts and Rakshasas everywhere abound.
Danta‐vaktra In. a Dana king of Karusha and son of Virddha‐sarma; took a side against Krishna, and was
eventually killed by him.
Danu In. a Danava; mother of the Danavas; the demon Kabandha.
Daphne Gk. Daphne was a daughter of Peneus and

nymph of Diana; she was pursued by Apollo
and asked to be turned into a tree to escape
him, which she was, the tree being a laurel
Daphne being the Greek name for the laurel.
Daphnis Gk. a Sicilian shepherded of the golden Age
whose beauty won the hearts of nymphs and
muses; son of Hermes and a nymph; is raised
by Sicillian shepherds when his mother
abandoned him.
Darada In. a country in the Hindu Kush, bordering on
Kashmir.
Darbas In. tearers; Rakshasas and other destructive

demons
Dardanus Gk. was a son of Zeus and Electra; he was
originally a king in Arcadia, he migrated to
Samothrace and from there to Asia where
Teucer gave him the site of his town,
Dardania. He married Bateia.

Dardura In. name of a mountain in the south; it is associated with the malaya mountain in the Maha bharata.
Darkdale N. The dwelling place of the dwarves, in the north, covered with gold.
Darsana In. demonstration; the shad‐darsanas or six demonstrations; the six schools of Hindu philosophy
44
Daruka In. Krishna’s charioteer; his attendant in his last days
Dasa‐kumara‐charita In. tale of the ten princes; one of the few sanskrit works written in prose; studied and
elaborate that it is classed as a kavya or poem; the tales are stories of common life, and display a low
condition of morals and a corrupt state of society.
Dasanana In. ten faced; a name of ravana.
Dasa‐ratha In. a prince of the solar race; son of aja; a descendant of Ikshwaku, and king of Ayodhya.
Dasarha, dasarha In. prince of the Dasarhas; a title of Krishna; he Dasarhas were a tribe of Yadavas.
Dasa‐rupaka In. an early treatise on dramatic composition; it has been published by hall in the bibliotheca
Indica.
Dasas In. slaves; tribes and people of indie who opposed the progress of the intrusive Aryans
Dasras In. beautiful; the elder of the two aswins, or in the dual (dasrau); the two aswins
Dasyus In. in the Vedas they are evil beings, enemies of the gods and men; represented as being of a dark
colour, and probably were the natives of India who contended with the immigrant aryans.
Dattaka‐chandrika In. a treatise on the law of adoption by Devana Bhatta
Dattaka‐mimansa In. a treatise on the law of adoption by Nanda Pandita
Dattaka‐siromani In. a digest of the principal treatises on the law of adoption
Dattatreya In. son of Atri and Anasuya; Brahman saint in whom a portion of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva, or more
particularly Vishnu, was incarnate; had three sons, Soma, Datta, and Dur‐vasas, to whom also a portion
of the divine essence was transmitted; the patron of Karta‐virya, and gave him a thousand arms.
Daughters of Aegir N. The waves of the sea; the "undines", Aegir's and Ran's nine daughters, born of the
waves
Daulis Gk. was the hometown of Tereus. The city is mentioned by Homer and it is said to be named after a
nymph Daulis; a daughter of the river‐god Cephissus.
Day N. At the creation, the gods sent Day and Night to race across the sky in chariots drawn by swift
horses.;Day is the father of the Light Elves and the personification of the daylight. He is Night's (Nott's)
son in her third marriage, with Delling. He controls the days on his horse Skinfaxi.
Daya‐bhaga In. law of inheritance; this title belongs especially to the treatise of Jimuta Vahana, current in
Bengal.
Daya‐krama‐sangraha In. a treatise on the law of inheritance as current in Bengal
Dea Dia Rom. goddess of growth; Festival in May
Dea Tacita Rom. goddess of the dead; Larentalia festival on December 23.
Dead Man's Shore N. A hall in Hel where no sunlight reaches, covered by serpent skins and dripping venom.
This is the destination after death of murderers, traitors, adulterers; Nidhögg sucks blood from the
bodies of the dead.
45
Decima Rom. Goddess of childbirth; with Nona and Morta she forms the Parcae (the three Fates).
Deianira Gk. a princess from Greek legend; she became the wife of Heracles after he fought for her with
Achelous ; was the daughter of Oeonus and the wife of Hercules.
Deidamia Gk. fell in love with Achilles and bore him Neoptolemus.
Delling N. "Day‐Spring" or "Dawn"; Red Elf of the dawn or east; lover of Nott; Day is their son. Delling is the
guard at Breidablik. His name means 'the one who is light‐complexioned'.
Delos Gk. Place where Apollo and Artimis was born.
Delphi Gk. was the site of the Delphic oracle the most important oracle; a major site for the worship of the
god Apollo; always represented in Greek sculpture and vase‐paintings as a serpent. She presided at the
Delphic oracle, which existed in the cult center for her mother, Gaia, "Earth," Pytho being the place
name that was substituted for the earlier Krisa.
Deluge Gk. a great flood sent by a deity or deities to destroy civilization as an act of divine retribution. It is a
widespread theme among many cultures.
Demeter Gk. was a Greek goddess of earth; she also called Ceres; She was the nourishing mother, bring forth
fruits; She was the daughter of Cronos and Rhea.
Demigod Gk. was a Greek hero; they were men who possessed god‐like strength and courage and who had
performed great tasks in the past.
Deshret Eg. The red crown. This was the crown that represented Lower Egypt (northern).
Deucalion Gk. was the son of Prometheus; Warned by his father of a coming flood; Deucalion and his wife
Pyrrha built an ark. After the waters had subsided, they were instructed by a god to throw stones over
their shoulders which then became men and women.
Deva In. a deity; the gods are spoken of as thirty‐three in number, eleven for each of the three worlds.
Devaka In. father of Devaki; brother of Ugrasena
Devaki In. wife of Vasu‐Deva; mother of Krishna and cousin of Kansa; sometimes called an incarnation of Aditi,
and is said to have been born again as Primi, the wife of king Su‐tapas.
Devala In. a vedic rishi, to whom some hymns are attributed.
Devala In. music, personified as a female.
Deva‐loka In. the world of the gods; Swarga, Indra’s heaven.
Deva‐matri In. mother of the gods; an appellation of Aditi.
Deva‐rata In. a royal Rishi of the solar race; dwelt among the Videhas, and had charge of Siva’s bow, which
descended to Janaka and was broken by Rama; a name given to Sunah‐sephas.
Devarshis In. Rishis or saints of the celestial class; who dwell in the regions of the gods, such as narada; sages
who have attained perfection upon earth and have been exalted as demigods to heaven
46
Devata In. a divine being or god; the name Devatas includes the gods in general, or, as most frequently used,
the whole body of inferior gods.
Devatadhyaya‐brahmana In. the fifth Brahmana of the Sama‐veda
Devayani In. daughter of Sukra, priest of the daityas
Devera Rom. goddess of brooms used for purification.
Deverra Rom. goddess of women in labor and the patron of midwives
Dhuma‐varna In. smoke coloured; a king of the serpents; legend in the Hari‐vansa relates that Yadu, the
founder of the Yadava family, went for a trip of pleasure on the sea, where he was carried off by
Dhuma Varna to the capital of the serpents; Dhuma‐varna married his five daughters to him, and from
them sprang seven distinct families of people.
Dhundhu In. an Asura who harassed the sage uttanka in his devotions; the demon hid himself beneath a sea of
sand, but was dug out and killed by king Kuvalayaswa and his 21,000 sons, who were undeterred by the
flames which checked their progress, and were all killed but three. This legend probably originated
from a volcano or some similar phenomenon. From this exploit kuvalayaswa got the name of
Dhundhumara, slayer of Dhundhu.
Dhur‐jati In. having heavy matted locks; a name of Rudra or Siva.
Dhurta‐nartaka In. the rogue actors; afarce

in two parts by Sama raja Dikshita;
the chief object of this piece is the
ridicule of the saiva ascetics.
Dhurta‐samagama In. assemblage of

rogues; a comedy by Sekhara orJyotir
Iswara; it is somewhat indelicate, but
not devoid of humour.
Dia Gk. was a daughter of Deioneus and the
mother of Peririthous by her
husband, Ixion according to one
legend, or according to another, by
Zeus.Perithous is said to have
received his name from the fact that
Zeus when he attempted to seduce
Diaran around her in the form of a
horse.
Dia Lucri Rom. gods of profit
Diana Rom. the goddess of the moon;

Fertility Goddess; moon Goddess;
Huntress Goddess; Triple Goddess‐
Lunar Virgin, Mother of Creatures,
the Huntress or Destroyer; Goddess
of nature, fertility, childbirth,
47
wildwood, moon, forests, animals, mountains, woods, and women.
Dictynna Gk. was an epithet applied to the Cretan goddess, Britomartis, thought by some to mean 'lady of the
nets', by others to mean ' she of mount Dicte.
Dictys Gk. was a nymph from whom Mount Dicte received its name.
Dido Gk. was the reputed founder of Carthage; she was the daughter of a king of Tyre, called by some Belus,
by others Metten or Matgenus. After her father's death, her brother murdered her husband, Sichaeus.
Dig‐ambara In. clothed with space; a naked mendicant; a title of Siva.
Dig‐gajas In. the elephants who protect the eight points of the compass namely: airavata, pundarika, vamana,
kumuda, anjana, pushpa‐dantasarva‐bhauma and su‐pratika.
Dig‐vijaya In. conquest of the regions (of the world); a part of the Maha‐bharata, which commemorates the
conquests, affected by the four younger Pandava princes, and in virtue of which yudhi‐shthira
maintained his claim to universal sovereignty; a work by Sankaracharya in support of the Vedanta
philosophy, generally distinguished as sankara dig‐vijaya.
Dike Gk. was the attendant of justice to Nemesis.
Dik‐pala In. supporters of the regions; the supporters of the eight points of the compass.
Dilipa In. son of Aansumat and father of Bhagiratha; the solar race and ancestor of Rama; on one occasion he
failed to pay due respect to Surabhi, the cow of fortune, and she passed a curse upon him that he
should have no offspring until he and his wife Su‐dakshina had carefully tended Surabhi’s daughter
Nandini.
Diomedes Gk. was a king of the Bistones; who fed his horses on human flesh, and used to throw all strangers
who entered his territories to those animals to be devoured; was killed by Hercules, who carried off the
horses.
Dione Gk. Was the Titan Goddess of the oracle of Dodona in
Thesprotia, and the mother of Aphrodite by Zeus. Her name is
simply the feminine form of Zeus (Dios).
Dionysus Gk. the son of ZEUS and SEMELE, who was a Theban
princess, in Greek mythology, he is a youthful god of
vegetation, wine and ecstasy, known as the “bull‐horned god”
because he often adopted the form of this powerful beast; In
Roman mythology, he is represented by the god Bacchus.
Originally, he may have had a mythological role somewhat
similar to that of the goddess DEMETER (“mother earth”).; his
cult in later times, however, developed into one of personal
salvation, particularly for women known as maenads.
Dionysus
Dioscuri Gk. the mysterious twin sons of LEDA, queen of Sparta, were known to the Greeks as Castor and
Polydeuces, and to the Romans as Castor and Pollux. They were brothers of HELEN and
CLYTEMNESTRA. Around all these children, except Clytemnestra, there hung a definite sense of divine
parentage, and it may well be that they were ancient deities whose worship had inclined so that their
48
exploits could be told as the mythological actions of mortal rulers. Castor and Polydeuces (“the
heavenly twins whom the cornbearing earth holds’) were regarded as being both dead and alive. In one
story, Polydeuces was the immortal son of Zeus while Castor was the mortal son of King Tyndareos. At
Polydeuces’ request the twins shared the divinity between them, living half the year beneath the earth
with the dead, and the other half on Mount Olympus with the gods. They are shown together in the
constellation of Gemini.
Dirce or (Dirke) Gk. the Naiad nymph of a spring of the town of Thebes in Boiotia (central Greece); her waters
were sacred to the god Dionysus; she was originally the wife of King Lykos of Thebes who, as
punishment for mistreating her niece Antiope, was tied to a wild bull and destroyed. Dionysus then
transformed her into the spring on account of her being one of devoted followers; she was probably
the same as the nymphe Derketis.
Dirgha‐sravas In. son of dirgha‐tamas; a rishi, but as in a time of famine he took to trade for a livelihood, the
rig‐veda calls him the merchant.
Dirgha‐tamas, dirgha‐tapas In. long darkness; a son of kasi‐raja, according to the maha‐bharata; of uchathya,
according to the rig‐veda; and of utathya and mamata in the puranas
Dis N. in Norse mythology, a dís ("lady", plural dísir) A ghost, spirit or deity associated with fate who can be
both benevolent and antagonistic towards mortal people. Dísir may act as protective spirits of Norse
clans. Their original function was possibly that of fertility goddesses who were the object of both
private and official worship called dísablót, and their veneration may derive from the worship of the
spirits of the dead. The dísir, like the valkyries, norns, and vættir, are almost always referred to
collectively. The North Germanic dísir and West Germanic Idisi were previously believed to be related.
The dísir play roles in Norse texts that resemble those of fylgjur, valkyries, and norns, so that some have
suggested dísir is a broad term including the other beings.
Dis, Disir, Desir N. Ancestral female spirits to whom Winter Nights and Disting are holy. They watch over the
family in general but more particularly the person who will carry on the line.The Disirs work under
Freya. The Valkyries are Disir.
Disciplina Rom. goddess of discipline
Discordia Rom. goddess of discord and strife
Disease N. Disease was brought into the world by the birth of Hela, Loki's daughter.
Disting N. One of the Great Blessings between Yuletide and Easter; Local things are often held at this time.
Freya and Vali are often honored during this blessing as well as the Dises and Alfs.
Dithyramb Gk. an ancient Greek hymn sung and danced in honour of Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility;
the term was also used as an epithet of the god.
Diti In. a goddess or personification in the Vedas who is associated with Aditi; intended as an antithesis or as a
complement to her
Dius Fidus Rom. god of oaths
Divine adoratrice Eg. chief priestess of Amun in Thebes, an office known from the New Kingdom through the
Late Period; The office was an important vehicle of political control.
49
Divo‐dasa In. a pious liberal king mentioned in the rig‐veda; a Brahman who was the twin‐brother of ahalya;
represented in the veda as a very liberal sacrificer, and as being delivered by the gods from the
oppressor sambara.
Djed column Eg. it is believed that the Djed is a rendering of a human backbone; It represents stability and
strength; It was originally associated with the creation god Ptah; Himself being called the "Noble Djed";
As the Osiris cults took hold it became known as the backbone of Osiris ; A djed column is often painted
on the bottom of coffins, where the backbone of the deceased would lay, this identified the person
with the king of the underworld, Osiris; It also acts as a sign of stability for the deceased' journey into
the afterlife.
Djew Eg. this means mountain; the Egyptians believed that there was a cosmic mountain range that held up
the heavens; This mountain range had two peaks, the western peak was called Manu, while the eastern
peak was called Bakhu; it was on these peaks that heaven rested; each peak of this mountain chain was
guarded by a Akerlion deity named AKER, whose job it was to protect the sun as it rose and set; The
mountain was also a symbol of the tomb and the afterlife, probably because most Egyptian tombs were
located in the mountainous land bordering the Nile valley; In some texts we find Anubis, the guardian
of the tomb being referred to as "He who is upon his mountain”; Sometimes we find Hathor taking on
the attributes of a deity of the afterlife, at this time she is called "Mistress of the Necropolis."; She is
rendered as the head of a cow protruding from a mountainside.
Dodona Gk. in Epirus in northwestern Greece, was an orarcle devoted in prehistoric times to a Mother
Goddess known as Dione (also identified at other sites with Rhea or Gaia), and later, in historical times,
devoted to the Greek god Zeus. Zeus displaced the Mother goddess in the Bronze Age and assimilated
her as Aphrodite
Dokkalfar N. The Dark Elves, who dwell in mounds, hillocks and rocks; They have much in common with the
Disir, being thought to be in some aspects the masculine counterparts of these beings. They are great
magicians and teachers of magic, and it may have been to their abodes that Odin refers when he says
that he learned his wisdom from the "men, very old men / who dwell in the wood of the home".
Blessings may be made to the Dokkalfar in one's own home, or one may seek out a place where they
dwell if one wishes to ask a favor of them. The best time to approach them is at sunset, for they are not
fond of daylight. Their appearance as very beautiful, though pale, human‐like wights in noble clothes;
The term "Dark Elves" refers to their abodes, and not to their appearance or moral character.
Dolgthvari N. A rock‐dwelling Dwarf
Dori N. A rock‐dwelling Dwarf
Dorians Gk. one of the four major tribes into which the Ancient Greeks of the Classical period divided
themselves.
Doris Gk. An Oceanid, was a sea nymph in Greek mythology, whose name represented the bounty of the sea.
She was the daughter of Oceanus and Tethys and the wife of Nereus. She was also aunt to Atlas, the
titan who was made to carry the sky upon his shoulders, whose mother Clymene was a sister of Doris.
Doris was mother to the fifty Nereids, including Thetis, who was the mother of Achilles, and Amphitrite,
Poseidon's wife, and grandmother of Triton. Doris is a semi‐common female name.
Draugr, Draug, Draugar N. The undead, or animated corpse, also called aptrgangr ("after‐goer"). Draugrs are
extremely strong and as such can be very dangerous. They were said to commonly kill the living by
applying a massively strong slap to the head. Draugr's should never be looked at directly as it is said
50
that they can steel vital önd from a person by gazing at them alone. Runes are carved on gravestones to
prevent the dead from rising and walking again among men.
Draumkonur N. Dream women, able to foresee and interpret through their dreams, a witch or volva
Draupadi In. daughter of draupada, king of panchala; wife of the five pandu princes; draupadi was a amsel of
dark complexion but of great beauty, as radiant and graceful as if she had descended from the city of
the gods.
Draupnir N. "The Dropper". Odin’s gold arm‐ring, forged by Brokk; every ninth night eight new rings, as heavy
as the original, drop from it; Odin gave the ring to Balder, but he gave it back. Odin later laid it on
Balder's funeral pyre. Balder sent it back from Hellheim with Hoenir.
Dravida In. the country in which the tamil language is spoken, extending from madras to cape comorin;
according to many, the people of this country were originally kshatriyas, but sank to the condition of
sudras from the extinction of sacred rites and the absence of brahmans.
Drishadwati In. a common female name; wife of king divo‐dasa;a river forming one of the boundaries of
brahmavarta, perhaps the kagar before its junction with the sarsuti.
Dromi N. "The Real Chain". The second chain the Gods used to tie up the Fenrir wolf. The first was Loding, and
the third was Gleipnir. The chains were forged by the dwarves.
Dromos Eg. a straight, paved avenue flanked by sphinxes.
Drona In. A bucket; a Brahman so named from his having been generated by his father, bharadwaja, in a
bucket.
Drop‐to‐Destruction N. The name of the stone door leading into Hel
Druhyu In. son of Yayati, by Sarmishtha; daughter of the Daitya king of Vrisha‐parvan. He refused to exchange
his youth for the curse of decrepitude passed upon his father, and in consequence yayati cursed him
that his posterity should not possess dominion. His father gave him a part of his kingdom, but his
descendants became princess of the lawless barbarians of the north.
Drupada In. King of panchala and son of prishata; also called yajna‐sena. He was schoolfellow of drona, the
preceptor of the kaurava and pandava princes, and he mortally offended his former friend by
repudiating his acquaintance.
Dryads Gk. tree nymphs in Greek mythology. In Greek drys signifies 'oak,' from an Indo‐European root
*derew(o)‐ 'tree' or 'wood'. Thus Dryads are specifically the nymphs of oak trees, though the term has
come to be used for all tree nymphs in general. "Such deities are very much overshadowed by the

divine figures defined through poetry and cult," Walter Burkert remarked of Greek nature deities. They
were normally considered to be very shy creatures, except around the goddess Artemis, who was
known to be a friend to most nymphs.

Dryope Gk. the daughter of Dryops, king of Oeta ("oak‐man") or of Eurytus (and hence half‐sister to Iole); she
was sometimes thought of as one of the Pleiades (and hence a nymph).
Duat Eg. The land of the dead; It Iies under the earth and is entered through the western horizon.
Duh‐sala In. daughter of dhrita‐rashtra; wife of jayad‐ratha.
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Duh‐sasana In. hard to rule; one of the hundred sons of Dhrita‐rashtra; when the pandavas lost their wife
Draupadi in gambling withDur‐yodhana, Duh‐sasana dragged her forward by the hair and otherwise ill
used her. For this outrage bhima vowed he would drink his blood, a vow which he afterwards
performed on the sixteenth day of the great battle.
Duneyr N. "Rest". a deer which lives in the world tree Yggdrasil together with three other deer; The second
dear is Duratror and the other two are Dwarves in deer shape.
Durathor N. "Slumber". The deer Durathor lives in Yggdrasil with three other deer. The second deer is Duneyr
and the other two are Dwarves in deer shape.
Dur‐ga In. a commentator on the nirukta
Dur‐ga In. inaccessible; the wife of Siva.
Durin N. one of the mighty dwarves, from the start of time; He knows the destiny of the old dwarves. Together
with Dvalin he forged the magic sword, Tyrfing. He is Mimir's first son, the eldest of Dwarves. He helped
his faTher build the World‐Mill to create the fertile soil needed for life on Midgard.
Dur‐mukha In. bad face; a name of one of dhritarashtra’s sons; also of one of Rama’s monkey allies, and of
several others.
Dur‐vasas In. ill‐clothed; a sage, the son of atri and anasuya, but, according to some authorities, he was a son
or emanation of Siva.
Dur‐vasasa purana In. one of the eighteen upa puranas
Dur‐yodhana In. hard to conquer; the eldest son of king Dhrita‐rashtra, and leader of the kaurava princes in
the great war of the Maha‐bharata; his birth was somewhat marvellous.
Dushana In. a rakshasa who fought as one of the generals of ravana; killed by Rama. He was generally
associated with ravana’s brother, khara.
Dushmanta, dushyanta In. a valiant king of the lunar, race, and descended from puru; he was husband of
sakuntala, by whom he had a son, bharata.
Dutangada In. the ambassador angada; a short play founded on the mission of angada to demand from ravana
the restoration of sita; it is attributed to a poet named subhata.
Duva N. "The Hiding". One of Aegir and Ran's nine wavedaughters who are said to be the mothers of Heimdall,
the guardian of the Bifrost bridge
Dvalin N. A ruler of the dwarves; Dvalin is one of the most powerful dwarves. He was also a skilled smith and
able to read runes before any other Dwarf was. He forged the Brising necklace and Tyrfing, the magic
sword.
Dvergar N. Another name for the Svartalfar or Dwarves
Dwapara yuga In. the third age of the world, extending to 864,000, years.
Dwaraka, dwaravati In. the city of gates. Krishna’s capital, in Gujarat; said to have been submerged by the
ocean seven days after his death; one of the seven sacred cities; also called abdhi‐nagari.
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Dwarf's Ship N. A kenning for intoxication, so called because the dwarves Fjalar and Galar ransomed a ship in
exchange for the Mead of Poetry
Dwarves N. were Ivaldi's sons, but the Elves were Mimir's sons. The Dwarves are short and greedy beings that
were magots in the prehistoric Giant Ymir's body. Like goblins they fear the sun. The Dwarves are often
evil‐minded, but they are talented smiths and they have forged mostly of the Æsirs' treasures. They live
in knotholes and caves, some of them in Svartalfheim. Nyi, Nidi, Nordri, Sudri, Austri, Vestri, Althiolf
("Mighty Thief"), Dvalin, Nar, Nain, Niping, Dain, Bifur, Bofur, Nori, Ori, Onar, Oin, Modvitnir ("Mead‐
Wolf"), Vig, Gandalf ("Magic Elf"), Vindalf ("Wind Elf"), Thorin, Fili, Kili, Fundin, Vali, Thror, Throin,
Thekk, Lit, Vitr, Nyr, Nyrad, Rekk, Radsvinn ("Swift in Counsel"), Draupnir, Dolgthvari, Hor, Hugstari,
Hlediolf, Gloin, Dori, Duf, Andvari, Heptifili, Har, Siar, Skirpir, Virpir, Skafinn, Ai, Alf, Ingi, Eikinskialdi
("Oak Shield"), Fal, Frosti, Finn, Ginnar.
Dwipa In. an insular continent; the dwipas stretch out from the mountain meru as their common centre, like
the leaves of a lotus, and are separated from each other by distinct circumambient oceans.
Dwivida In. an asura in the form of a great ape, who was an implacable foe of the gods; stole bala Rama’s
ploughshare weapon and derided him. This was the beginning of a terrific fight, in which dwivida was
felled to the earth, and the crest of the mountain on which he fell was splintered into a hundred pieces
by the weight of his body, as if the thundered had shivered it with his thunderbolt; a monkey ally of
rama.
Dyaus In. the sky, heaven; in the Vedas he is masculine deity, and is called occasionally Dyaus‐pitri, heavenly
father, the earth being regarded as the mother; he is father of Ushas, the dawn.

E
Echidna Gk. half woman half snake, known as the "Mother of All Monsters" because most of the monsters in
Greek myth were mothered by her.
Echo Gk. an Oread (a mountain nymph) who loved her own voice. Zeus loved consorting with beautiful
nymphs and visited them on Earth often. Eventually, Zeus's wife, Hera, became suspicious, and came
from Mt. Olympus in an attempt to catch Zeus with the nymphs.
Edda N. applies to the Old Norse Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, both of which were written down in Iceland
during the 13th century in Icelandic, although they contain material from earlier traditional sources,
reaching into the Viking Age. The books are the main sources of medieval skaldic tradition in Iceland
and Norse mythology.
Edda N. Both the name of a woman and the title of Snorri's Skalding (poetry) primer
Egeria Rm. a nymph attributed a legendary role in the early history of Rome as a divine consort and counselor
of the Sabine second king of Rome, Numa Pompilius, to whom she imparted laws and rituals pertaining
to ancient Roman religion. Her name is used as an eponym for a female advisor or counselor.
Egestes Rom. goddess of poverty
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Eggther N. "Sword Guarder"; the watchman of the Giants, guards of the Giants' world, Jotunheim; Eggther
lives in the forest Galgvid. He is also the the guardian of Volund's sword of revenge. He plays happily on
his harp when he hears the rooster tell that Ragnarok is coming.
Egil N. Father of Thjalfi, Thor's servant, married to a Valkyrie. Brother of Volund the smith, and Slagfin.
Eikinskjaldi N. "Oak Shield". The Dwarf Eikinskjaldi was a skillful artist.
Eikthrynir, Eiktyrnir N. "Oak Thorn". The stag on roof of Valhalla, that feeds on the World Tree; dew drips
from his horns and flows into Hvergelmir and then into the rivers
Einherjar N. "Single Combatants". Army of all men who fall in battle, they are adopted as Odin's sons. He allots
to them the halls Valhalla and Vingólf. There they await Ragnarok, when they will join the Gods in
fighting the Giants. They spend most of their time fighting, eating, and drinking.
Einmyria N. "Ashes". A daughter of Loki ("Fire") and Glut ("Glow"); her sister is Eisa ("Embers")
Eír N. "Mercy". Goddess of healing and medicine; One of Frigga's handmaidens, with Vor and Var; She is one of
Freya's eight sisters and Njord's daughter. She probably lives in the hall Skimmer with the rest of the
sisters.
Eisa N. "Embers". A daughter of Loki ("Fire") and Glut ("Glow"); Her sister is Einmyria ("Ashes").
Eitri N. A Dwarf and metal worker; With Brokk he made the gold boar, Gullinbursti, Odin's arm‐ring and
Thorr's hammer Mjollnir. He was pictured as small and blackened from the smithy.The Dwarf Eitri is son
of Ivaldi and brother of Brokk and Sindri.
Eka‐chakra In. a city in the country of the kichakas; the advice of vyasa, the pandavas dwelt for a time during
their exile.
Eka‐danshtra, eka‐dnata In. having one tusk; aname of Ganesa
Ekalavya In. grandson of Deva‐sravas; the brother of Vasudeva; brother of Satru‐ghna; he was exposed in
infancy, and was brought up among the nishadas, of whom he became king; assisted in a night attack
upon dwaraka, and was eventually killed by Krishna, who hurled a rock at him.
Ekamra, ekamra kanana In. a forest in utkala or orissa, which was the favourite haunt of Siva, and became a
great seat of his worship as the city of bhuvaneswara, where some very fine temples sacred to him still
remain; they have been described by Babu Rajendra lala in his great work on orissa.
Eka‐pada In. one‐footed; a fabulous race of men spoken of in the Puranas
Eka‐pana, eka‐patala In. these, with their sister Aparna, were, according to the Hari‐vansa, daughters of
Himavat and Mena; they performed austerities surpassing the powers of gods and danavas, and
alarmed both worlds.
Ekashtaka In. a deity mentioned in the athar‐veda as having practised austere devotion; daughter of Prajapati;
mother of Indra and Soma.
Eldhrimnir N. "Soot from Fire". The kettle which was used by the cook Andhrimnir to boil the boar Saehrimnir;
the meat is given to the hungry einheriars in Valhalla every night.
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Eldir N. "Fire‐Kindler". Aegir's cock; During one of Aegir's feasts, Eldir tried to prevent Loki from getting in,
because he knew everybody said bad things about him.
Electra Gk. the daughter of AGAMEMNON, king of Mycenae, and CLYTEMNESTRA, and the sister of the
matricide ORESTES; her name (which once may have meant “fire” or “spark”) refers to amber. When
Agamemnon returned from the Trojan War and was murdered by his wife and her lover Aegisthus,
Electra rescued her young brother Orestes and ensured that he escaped Aegisthus’ evil intentions.
Years later, Orestes returned to Mycenae as a grown man. Electra met him at the tomb of their
murdered father and gave him advice and encouragement. In at least one version of the myth Electra is
portrayed as being so consumed that she participates in the act of revenge herself. Later she was
overwhelmed by remorse, while her distraught brother fled before the FURIES, the deities who
wreaked vengeance on murderers.
Electrum Eg. a mixture of gold and silver.
Electryon Gk. the son of Perseus and Andromeda, and king of Tiryns and Mycenae or Medea in Argolis. He
married Anaxo, daughter of his brother Alcaeus and sister of Amphitryon, or Eurydice daughter of
Pelops. His wife bore him a daughter Alcmena and many sons (Stratobates, Gorgophonus, Phylonomus,
Celaeneus, Amphimachus, Lysinomus, Chirimachus, Anactor, and Archelaus). Electryon had an
illegitimate son Licymnius by Midea, a Phrygian woman. The six sons of Pterelaus, King of the Taphians,
descended from Electryon's brother Mestor came to Mycenae to claim a share of kingdom. When
Electryon spurned their request, they drove off his cattle; Electryon's sons battled against them, and all
but Licymnius (on one side) and Evenus (on the other) died. Evenus sold the cattle to Polyxenus of Elis.
Amphitryon, Electryon's nephew and promised in marriage to Alcmena, bought the cattle and returned
them to his uncle, but accidentally killed him as he threw his club at one of the cows. Electryon's
brother Sthenelus seized the throne of Mycenae, charged Amphitryon with murder, and sent him into
exile.
Eleusinian Mysteries Gk. initiation ceremonies held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone based
at Eleusis in ancient Greece.
Eleusis Gk. a place, where the cult of the goddess Demeter existed many centuries and where the most
famous religious festival, called the Eleusinian mysteries where performed in the honour of this deity.
Elf‐Candle N. A kenning for the sun
Elfheim N. the region of Asgard where the elves lived.
Eliudnir N. Hel's Hall; her dish is called Hunger, her knife, Famine, her servant, Ganglati.
Elivagar N. Usually spoken of as a river, it is really a narrow stretch of ocean separating Midgard proper from
Jotunheimur in the north. This arrangement exactly parallels the Underworld geography: Niflhel is
separated from Hel proper by mountains (and perhaps a narrow stretch of underworld ocean as well).
Elli N. A personification of old age who, in the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, defeats Thor in a wrestling
match.
Elli, Elde N. Utgardh‐Loki's grandmother. She was asked, as a part of a friendly game, to wrestle Thor because
she was the weakest of giants in Utgardh‐Loki's. She’d wrestling Thor down to his knees. A trick since
the thin but very strong Giantess Elli represents old age
55
Elves N. usually male and often live in forests, in mountains, or in out‐of‐the‐way places; there are two kinds
of elves: the Dökkalfar, or dark elves, and the Ljosalfar, or light elves. The Dökkalfar dwell in caves or
dark woods. The Ljosalfar live in bright places or in the sky.
Elves, Alves N. are the sons of Mimir.
Elysium Gk. a section of the Underworld (the spelling Elysium is a Latinization of the Greek word Ἠλύσιον
Elysion). The Elysian Fields, or the Elysian Plains, were the final resting places of the souls of the heroic
and the virtuous.
Emathia Gk. an earliest and poetic name of Macedonia (region), but foremost it roughly corresponds to the
district of Bottiaea around Pella.
Embla & Askr N. Origin of humanity, the first man and woman.
Embla N. the name of the first woman
Empanda Rom. Goddess of openess, friendliness and generosity
Emusha In. N the brahmana, a boar which raised up the earth, represented as black and with a hundred arms;
probably the germ of the varaha or boar incarnation.
Endovelicus Rom. the god of health and welfare
Endymion Gk. king of a small city‐state in the Peloponnese, likelihood Elis. According to mythology, he became
Ennead Eg. a group of 9 deities that are associated with a major cult center; The best known is the great
ennead of Heliopolis, It consists of Atum, Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys.
Enyo Gk. an ancient goddess of war, acting as a counterpart and companion to the war god Ares. She is also
identified as his sister, and daughter of Zeus and Hera, in a role closely resembling that of Eris; with
Homer (in particular) representing the two as the same goddess. She is also accredited as the mother of
Enyalius, a minor war god, by Ares. However, the name Enyalius can also be used as a title for Ares
himself.
Epaphus Gk. also called Apis, was the son of Zeus and Io and a king of Egypt; The name/word Epaphus means
"Touch". This refers to the manner in which he was conceived, by the touch of Zeus' hand. He was born
in Euboea (Herodotus, Strabo) or, according to others, in Egypt, on the river Nile, after the long
wanderings of his mother. He was then concealed by the Curetes, by the request of Hera, but Io sought
and afterward found him in Syria; he is regarded in the myths as the founder of Memphis, Egypt. With
his wife, Memphis (or according to others, Cassiopeia), he had one daughter, Libya. Another of his
daughters bore the name of Lysianassa; he is also criticized Phaëton's heraldry, which prompted him to
undertake his fateful journey in his father Phoebus' chariot of the sun. Belus, another mythological king
of Egypt, is a grandson of Epaphus.
Epeus Gk. he was a Greek soldier during the Trojan War. He was the son of Panopeus and had the reputation
for being a coward. In the Iliad he participated in the boxing match at the funeral games for Patrocles
against Euryalus and won. Later during the funeral games for Achilleus he fought Acamas the son of
Theseus to a stalemate. He built the Trojan Horse, commissioned by Odysseus because Athena had told
him in a dream she would be with him to help build it. The horse was hollow and was large enough to
hold 30 Greek soldiers equipped with all their armor. Interestingly, Epeius made the Trojan horse so tall
that it could not fit through any of the gates of Troy. The trap door of the horse was fastened with a
56
special catch that only Epeius could undo. After constructing the massive horse, he chose the other 29
soldiers that would accompany him inside the horse. He also founded Pisa and Metapontum; son of
King Endymion of Elis. He ran a race at Olympia, against his brothers Aetolus and Paeon, winning his
father's kingdom.
Ephialtes Gk. was an ancient Athenian politician and an early leader of the democratic movement there. In
the late 460s BC, he oversaw reforms that diminished the power of the Areopagus, a traditional bastion
of conservatism, and which are considered by many modern historians to mark the beginning of the
"radical democracy" for which Athens would become famous. These powers included the scrutiny and
control of office holders, and the judicial functions in state trials. He introduced pay for public
officeholders, reduced the property qualifications for holding a public office, and created a new
definition of citizenship. Ephialtes, however, would not live to participate in this new form of
government for long. In 461 BC, he was assassinated at the instigation of resentful oligarchs, and the
political leadership of Athens passed to his deputy, Pericles
Ephyre Gk. See Corinth
Epigone Gk. sons of the seven heroes against Thebes
Epimenides Gk. was a semi‐mythical 6th century BC Greek seer and philosopher‐poet. While tending his
father's sheep, he is said to have fallen asleep for fifty‐seven years in a Cretan cave sacred to Zeus, after
which he reportedly awoke with the gift of prophecy. Plutarch writes that Epimenides purified Athens
after the pollution brought by the Alcmeonidae, and that the seer's expertise in sacrifices and reform of
funeral practices were of great help to Solon in his reform of the Athenian state. The only reward he
would accept was a branch of the sacred olive, and a promise of perpetual friendship between Athens
and Cnossus
Epimetheus Gk. ("hindsight", literally "afterthought," but in the manner of a fool looking behind, while
running forward) was the brother of Prometheus ("foresight", literally "fore‐thought"), a pair of Titans
who "acted as representatives of mankind". They were the inseparable sons of Iapetus, who in other
contexts was the father of Atlas. While Prometheus is characterized as ingenious and clever,
Epimetheus is depicted as foolish; was the one who accepted the gift of Pandora from the gods.
Erato Gk. she is one of the Greek Muses. The name would mean "desired" or "lovely", if derived from the
same root as Eros, as Apollonius of Rhodes playfully suggested in the invocation to Erato that begins
Book III of his Argonautica; Erato is the Muse of lyric poetry, especially love and erotic poetry. In the
Orphic hymn to the Muses, it is Erato who charms the sight. Since the Renaissance she is often shown
with a wreath of myrtle and roses, holding a lyre, or a small kithara, a musical instrument that Apollo or
she herself invented. In Simon Vouet's representations, two turtle‐doves are eating seeds at her feet.
Other representations may show her holding a golden arrow, reminding one of the "eros", the feeling
that she inspires in everybody, and at times she is accompanied by the god Eros, holding a torch.
Erda, Earth, Jörd N. “Earth". The Earth‐Goddess and is the mother of Thor, with Odin. Erda is daughter to the
Night‐Disir Natt/Night and her second husband of three, Annar.
Erebus Gk. he was the son of a primordial god, Chaos, and represented the personification of darkness and
shadow, which filled in all the corners and crannies of the world. His name is used interchangeably with
Tartarus and Hades since Erebus is often thought of as part of the underworld. Erebus married his sister
Nyx (goddess of the night) and their children include: Aether (god of sky), Hemera (goddess of day), the
Moirai (Fates).
57
Erechtheus Gk. he was the name of an archaic king of Athens, the re‐founder of the polis and a double at
Athens for Poseidon, as "Poseidon Erechtheus". A mythic Erechtheus and an Erechtheus given a human
genealogy and set in a historicizing context— if they ever were really distinguished by Athenians—
were harmonized as one in Euripides' lost tragedy Erechtheus, (423/22 BCE) . The name Erichthonius is
carried by a son of Erechtheus, but Plutarch conflated the two names in the myth of the begetting of
Erechtheus; Athenians thought of themselves as Erechtheidai, the "sons of Erechtheus"; In Homer's
Iliad he is the son of "grain‐giving Earth", reared by Athena; the earth‐born son was sired by
Hephaestus, whose semen Athena wiped from her thigh with a fillet of wool cast to earth, by which
Gaia was made pregnant; in the contest for patronship of Athens between Poseidon and Athena, the
salt spring on the Acropolis where Poseidon's trident struck was known as the sea of Erechtheus.
Ericthonius Gk. he was a mythological early ruler of ancient Athens, Greece. He was, according to some
legends, autochthonous (born of the soil, or Earth) and raised by the goddess Athena. Early Greek
histories do not distinguish between him and Erectheus, his grandson, but by the fourth century B.C.
during Classical times, they are entirely distinct figures.
Eridanus Gk. one of the rivers of Hades
Erilaz N. A vitki and runemaster who is also a priest (godhi)
Erinyes Gk. literally "the angry ones") or literally "the gracious ones" but also translated as "Kind‐hearted
Ones" or "Kindly Ones") or Furies or Dirae in Roman mythology were female chthonic deities of
vengeance or supernatural personifications of the anger of the dead. A formulaic oath in the Iliad
invokes them as "those who beneath the earth punish whosoever has sworn a false oath"; when the
mighty Titan Cronus castrated his father Uranus and threw his genitalia into the sea, the Erinyes
emerged from the drops of blood, while Aphrodite was born from the crests of seafoam. According to a
variant account, they issued from an even more primordial level—from Nyx, "Night". Their number is
usually left indeterminate. Virgil, probably working from an Alexandrian source, recognized three:
Alecto ("unceasing", who appeared in Virgil's Aeneid), Megaera ("grudging"), and Tisiphone ("avenging
murder"). Dante followed Virgil in depicting the same three‐charactered triptych of Erinyes; in Canto IX
of the Inferno they confront the poets at the gates of the city of Dis. The heads of the Erinyes were
wreathed with serpents (compare Gorgon) and their eyes dripped with blood, rendering their
appearance rather horrific. Other depictions show them with the wings of a bat or bird and the body of
a dog; in Aeschylus's "Eumenides", the Erinyes chase Orestes to avenge Clytemnestra, his mother.
Orestes killed Clytemnestra to avenge the murder of his father, Agamemnon. The Erinyes chase Orestes
to Athens where Athena then intervenes. She and the Athenians judge whether Orestes deserves the
wrath of Erinyes and rule in favor of Orestes. Athena, in order to appease the Erinyes, gives them the
love of Athens and renames them the Eumenides. The Eumenides are given red robes to replace the
black robes they wore for most of the play, drawing an end to the red color scheme that is evident
throughout the play.
Eriphyle Gk. she was daughter of Talaus, was the mother of Alcmaeon and the wife of Amphiaraus. Eriphyle
persuaded Amphiaraus to take part in the raid that initiated the mythic tale of the Seven Against
Thebes, though she knew he would die. She had been persuaded by Polynices, who offered her the
necklace of Harmonia for her assistance; dying Amphiaraus charged his sons Alcmaeon and
Amphilochus with avenging his death, and after Amphiaraus died, fulfilling the prophecy, Alcmaeon
killed his mother. He was pursued by the Erinyes as he fled across Greece, eventually reaching the court
of King Phegeus, who gave him his daughter in marriage. Exhausted, Alcmaeon asked an oracle how to
assuage the Erinyes and was told that he needed to stop where the sun was not shining when he killed
his mother. That was at the mouth of the river Achelous, which had become silted up. Achelous, the
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god of that river, offered him his daughter Callirrhoe in marriage if Alcmaeon would retrieve the
necklace and clothes that Eriphyle had worn when she persuaded Amphiaraus to take part in the battle.
Alcmaeon had given these jewels to Phegeus, who had his sons kill Alcmaeon when he discovered
Alcmaeon's plan: thus lest the curse be transmitted to a next generation it was dedicated to Aphrodite
at Amathus in Cyprus; Eriphyle is seen in Hades in Vergil's Aeneid, still bearing wounds inflicted by her
son. She also plays a role in Statius's Thebaid,[2] in which her desire to attain the necklace of Harmonia
is one of the catalysts for the war between Argos and Thebes. In this version of the myth, however,
Argia, Polynices's wife, persuades her husband to give the necklace to Eriphyle so that Amphiaraus will
join the war effort.
Eris Gk. is the Greek goddess of strife and discord, her name being translated into Latin as Discordia. Her
Greek opposite is Harmonia, whose Latin counterpart is Concordia. Homer equated her with the war‐
goddess Enyo, whose Roman counterpart is Bellona. The dwarf planet Eris is named after the goddess.
Eros Gk. according to some Greek traditions was the son of Erebos and the
Night, while in others he was the son of ARES, god of war. As the
youngest of the gods and companion of APRHODITE, he appeared to
enjoy making as much mischief as he could by firing his arrows of passion
into the hearts of gods and humans alike. His connection with
homosexual love may have derived from his supposed relationship to
Ares, for he was patron divinity of the Sacred Band of Thebes, which was
a group of one hundred and fifty pairs of lovers who were all killed by the
Macedonian army at the battle of Chaeronia in 338 BC. After the battle
King Philip of Macedon granted them a special burial. Eros
Erulian N. Member of the ancient gild of runemasters who formed an inter‐tribal network of initiates in the
Germanic mysteries
Erymanthus Gk. was a River‐God of Arkadia in the Peloponnese, southern Greece; the Erymanthos River was a
tributory of the Alpheios. It flowed south from Mounts Erymanthos and Pholoe, past the town of
Psophis, to merge with the Alpheios near the Eleian border.
Erysichthon Gk. was the son of Triopas. He was an arrogant and impious man who dared to fell timber in the
sacred grove of Demeter. As punishment, Ceres sent Famine to dwell in Erysichthon's entrails, so that
he was continuously tormented by an insatiable hunger. He ate up all the food in sight, and sold all his
possessions to buy more; still he was not satisfied. Finally he sold his own daughter. She appealed to
Poseidon, who had taken her virginity, for assistance, and Poseidon granted her the power to change
into any shape she wished, thus enabling her to escape her new master. Her father discovered her
ability and sold her many times thereafter. Even this was not enough to assuage his raging hunger,
however, and he eventually began to gnaw upon his own limbs, continuing his desperate quest for food
until he had consumed himself entirely.
Erythia Gk. see Hesperides
Erytus Gk. the son of Melaneus and either Stratonice or Oechalia; He married Antiope, daughter of Pylo and
had these children: Iphitus, Clytius, Toxeus, Deioneus, Molion, Didaeon, and a very beautiful daughter,
Iole. A late legend also attributes Eurytus as the father of Dryope, by his first wife; Eurytus' grandfather
was Apollo, the archer‐god, and was also a famed archer. Eurytus has been noted by some as the one
who taught Heracles the art of archery; According to Homer, Eurytus became so proud of his archery
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skills that he challenged Apollo. The god killed Eurytus for his presumption, and Eurytus' bow was
passed to Iphitus, who later gave the bow to his friend Odysseus. It was this bow that Odysseus used to
kill the Suitors who had wanted to take his wife, Penelope; A more familiar version Eurytus' death
involves a feud with Heracles. Eurytus promised the hand of his daughter Iole to whoever who could
defeat him and his sons in an archery contest. Heracles won the archery contest, but Eurytus reneged
on his promise, fearing that Heracles would go mad and kill any children he had with Iole, just as he has
slew the children he had with Megara; Heracles left in anger, and soon after twelve of Eurytus' mares
were stolen. Some have written that Heracles stole the mares himself, while others have said Autolycus
stole the mares and sold them to Heracles; In the search for the mares, Iphitus, who was convinced of
Heracles' innocence, invited Heracles to help and stayed as Heracles' guest at Tiryns. Heracles invited
Iphitus to the top of the palace walls and, in a fit of anger, threw Iphitus to his death. For this crime,
Heracles was forced to serve the Lydian queen Omphale as a slave for either one or three years. After
Heracles had married Deianeira, he returned to Oechalia with an army. Revenge‐driven, Heracles
sacked the city and killed Eurytus and his sons, then took Iole as his concubine. The act eventually led to
Heracles' own death, as Deianeira, fearing that Heracles loved Iole more, gave Heracles a robe smeared
with the blood of the Centaur Nessus, believing it was a love‐charm. The blood was poisoned by the
blood of the hydra (which the arrow that Heracles shot Nessus with had been dipped in). When the
robe goes to Heracles, it eats into Heracles' flesh and causes his death.
Eteocles Gk. he was a king of Thebes, the son of Oedipus and either Jocasta or Euryganeia. Oedipus killed his
father Laius and married his mother without knowing his relationship to ether. When the relationship
was revealed, he was expelled from Thebes. The rule passed to his sons Eteocles and Polynices.
However, because of a curse from their father, the two brothers did not share the rule peacefully.
Eteocles was succeeded by his uncle, Creon.
Eteoclus Gk. he was the son of Iphis. He participated in the attack on Thebes by the Seven Against Thebes; in
Aeschylus' play Seven Against Thebes, Eteoclus is one of the seven champions who attack Thebes'
seven gates. He bears a man scaling a tower with a ladder on his shield, and attacks the Neistan gates;
However, in the Phoenician Women, Eteoclus is not one of the seven who attack Thebes. Instead, he
withdraws after seeing that Zeus is displeased with the attackers, and Adrastus replaces him at the
gate. Other authors, among them Diodorus, Statius, and Hyginus, agree with this list of attacker
Ethiopia Gk. first appears as a geographical term in classical sources, in reference to the Upper Nile region, as
well as all the regions south of the Sahara desert. Its earliest mention is in the works of Homer: twice in
the Iliad, and three times in the Odyssey.[1] The Greek historian Herodotus specifically uses it to
describe Sub‐Saharan Africa[2] including Sudan and modern Ethiopia. The name also features in Greek
mythology, where it is sometimes associated with a kingdom said to be seated at Joppa, or elsewhere
in Asia.
Etin N. Developed from eoten and jötunn; A type of Giant known for its strength; Also a generic name for
Giant, which is a living entity of great age, strength, and often great occult knowledge; Etins are usually
friendly to the Gods, while Jotuns are unfriendly.
Etin‐Home N. The eastern world, home of all giants
Etin‐Wife N. A female Etin taken in magical marriage
Etruria Gk. usually referred to in Greek and Latin source texts as Tyrrhenia — was a region of Central Italy,
located in an area that covered part of what now are Tuscany, Latium, Emilia‐Romagna and Umbria. A
particularly noteworthy work dealing with Etruscan locations is D. H. Lawrence's Sketches of Etruscan
Places and other Italian essays; the ancient people of Etruria are labelled Etruscans, and their complex
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culture was centered on numerous city‐states that rose during the Villanovan period in the ninth
century BC and were very powerful during the Oriental and Archaic periods. The Etruscans were a
dominant culture in Italy by 650 BC, surpassing other ancient Italic peoples such as the Ligures, and
their influence may be seen beyond Etruria's confines in the Po River Valley and Latium, as well as in
Campania and through their contact with the Greek colonies in Southern Italy (including Sicily). Indeed,
at some Etruscan tombs, such as those of the Tumulus di Montefortini at Comeana in Tuscany, physical
evidence of trade has been found in the form of grave goods — fine faience ware cups are particularly
notable examples. Such trade occurred either directly with Egypt, or through intermediaries such as
Greek or Etruscan sailors; Rome, buffered from Etruria by the Silva Ciminia, the Ciminian Forest, was
influenced strongly by the Etruscans, with a series of Etruscan kings ruling at Rome until 509 BC when
the last Etruscan king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was removed from power and the Roman Republic
was established. The Etruscans are credited with influencing Rome's architecture and ritual practice; it
was under the Etruscan kings that important structures such as the Capitolium, Cloaca Maxima and Via
Sacra were realized; the Etruscan civilization was responsible for much of the Greek culture imported
into early Republican Rome, including the twelve Olympian gods, the growing of olives and grapes, the
Latin alphabet (adapted from the Greek alphabet), and architecture like the arch, sewerage and
drainage systems; the classical name Etruria was revived in the early 19th century, applied to the
Kingdom of Etruria, an ephemeral creation of Napoleon I of France in Tuscany which existed from 1801
to 1807; the Etruscans were a diachronically continuous population speaking a distinct language and
practicing a distinctive culture that ranged over the Po Valley and some of its alpine slopes, southward
along the west coast of Italy, most intensely in Etruria, with enclaves as far south as Campania, and
inland into the Appennine mountains, during the period of earliest European writing in the
Mediterranean Iron Age, in the second two quarters of the first millennium BC. Their prehistory can be
traced with certainty to about 1000 BC. During their floruit of about 500 BC they were a significant
maritime power with a presence in Sardinia and the Aegean Sea. At first influential in the formation and
conduct of the Roman monarchy they came to oppose the Romans during the Roman Republic, entered
into military conflict with it, were defeated, politically became part of the republic and integrated into
Roman culture. The Etruscans had both a religion and a supporting mythology. Many Etruscan beliefs,
customs and divinities became part of Roman culture, including the Roman pantheon; the Etruscans
believed that their religion had been revealed to them in early days by seers, the two main ones being
Tages, a child‐like figure born from tilled land and immediately gifted with prescience and Vegoia, a
female figure. A number of canonical works on their teaching were written in Etruscan and survived
until the middle centuries of the 1st millennium AD, when they were destroyed by the ravages of time
and by Christian elements in Roman society. After defeating the Etruscans the Romans, whose original
population had included significant Etruscan elements, did not harbor ill‐will against them but the
Senate voted to adopt the key elements of their revealed religion. It was in practice long after the
general Etruscan population had forgotten the language and was perpetuated by haruspices and
members of the noble families at Rome who knew Etruscan and claimed an Etruscan descent. In the
last years of the Roman Republic the religion began to fall out of favor and was satirized by such
notable public figures as Marcus Tullius Cicero. The Julio‐Claudians, especially Claudius, who claimed a
remote Etruscan descent, perpetuated an obscure knowledge of the language and religion for a short
time longer, and then it was lost.
Eumaeus Gk. he was Odysseus's swineherd and friend before he left for the Trojan War. His father, Ktesios son
of Ormenos, was king of an island called Syria. When he was a young child a Phoenician sailor seduced
his nurse, a Phoenician slave, who agreed to bring the child among other treasures in exchange for
their help in her escape. The nurse was killed by Artemis on the journey by sea, but the sailors
continued to Ithaka where Odysseus' father Laertes bought him as a slave. Thereafter he was brought
up with Odysseus and his sister Ctimene (or Ktimene), and was treated by Anticleia, their mother,
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almost as Ctimene's equal; he is the first mortal that Odysseus meets after his return to Ithaca.
Although he does not recognise his old master — Odysseus is in disguise — and has his misgivings,
Eumaeus treats Odysseus well, offering food and shelter to one whom he thinks is a mere indigent. On
being pushed to explain himself, Odysseus spins a distorted tale, misleading Eumaeus into believing
that he is the son not of Laertes but of Castor.
Eumenides Gk. see Oresteia
Eumolpus Gk. he was the son of Poseidon and Chione. According to Apollodorus,[1] Chione, daughter of
Boreas and Oreithyia, pregnant with Eumolpus by Poseidon, was frightened of her father's reaction so
she threw the baby into the ocean. Poseidon looked after him and brought him to shore in Ethiopia,
where Benthesikyme, a daughter of Poseidon and Amphitrite, raised the child, who then married one of
Benthesikyme's two daughters by her Ethiopian husband. Eumolpus however loved a different
daughter and was banished because of this. He went with his son Ismarus (or Immaradus) to Thrace.
There, he was discovered in a plot to overthrow King Tegyrios and fled to Eleusis; He became one of the
first priests of Demeter and one of the founders of the Eleusinian Mysteries.He initiated Heracles into
the mysteries. When Ismarus died, Tegyrios sent for Eumolpus, they made peace and Eumolpus
inherited the Thracian kingdom.[4] Eumolpus was an excellent musician and singer; he played the aulos
and the lyre. He won a musical contest in the funereal games of Pelias. He taught music to Heracles.
During a war between Athens and Eleusis, Eumolpus sided with Eleusis. His son, Himmarados, was
killed by King Erechtheus. In some sources, Erechtheus also killed Eumolpus and that Poseidon asked
Zeus to avenge his son's death. Zeus killed Erechtheus with a lightning bolt or Poseidon made the earth
open up and swallow Erechtheus. Eleusis lost the battle with Athens but the Eumolpides and Kerykes,
two families of priests to Demeter, continued the Eleusinian mysteries. Eumolpus' youngest son,
Herald‐Keryx founded the lines. According to Diogenes Laertius Eumolpus was the father of Musaeus
Euphrosyne Gk. she was one of the Charites, known in English also as the "Three Graces". Her best
remembered representation in English is in Milton's poem of the active, joyful life, "L'Allegro". She is
also the Goddess of Joy, a daughter of Zeus and Eurynome, and the incarnation of grace and beauty.
Also known as the goddess of Mirth. The other two Charites are Thalia (Good Cheer) and Aglaea
(Beauty or Splendor); She can be seen along with the other two Graces at the left of the painting in
Botticelli's Primavera; the asteroid 31 Euphrosyne is named after the goddess. In Modern Greek, the
name is usually transcribed as Effrosini.
Euripides Gk. he was the last of the three great tragedians of classical Athens (the other two being Aeschylus
and Sophocles). Ancient scholars thought that Euripides had written ninety‐five plays, although four of
those were probably written by Critias. Eighteen or nineteen of Euripides' plays have survived
complete. There has been debate about his authorship of Rhesus, largely on stylistic grounds and
ignoring classical evidence that the play was his. Fragments, some substantial, of most of the other
plays also survive. More of his plays have survived than those of Aeschylus and Sophocles together,
because of the unique nature of the Euripidean manuscript tradition; he is known primarily for having
reshaped the formal structure of Athenian tragedy by portraying strong female characters and
intelligent slaves and by satirizing many heroes of Greek mythology. His plays seem modern by
comparison with those of his contemporaries, focusing on the inner lives and motives of his characters
in a way previously unknown to Greek audiences.
Europa Gk. a princess carried off by Zeus under the guise of a white bull. She was the daughter of the
Phoenician king Agenor of Tyre; sister of Cadmus, founder of Thebes; and the personification of the
continent of Europe; Zeus abducted her while she played on the seashore, and crossed the sea to Crete
where she bore him three sons: Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Sarpedon. She married Asterius, king of
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Crete, who adopted her sons as his heirs; Zeus gave him the bronze giant Talos to guard his realm as
recompense. After her death she was worshipped in Crete as Hellotis. In one tradition she was
transformed into a bull and became the constellation Taurus.

The Abduction of Europa
Euros Gk. (or Eurus) was the god of the East Wind, one of the four directional Anemoi (Wind‐Gods). He was
associated with the season of autumn and dwelt near the palace of the sun‐god Helios the sun in the
far east.
Euryale Gk. she was one of the Gorgons, three vicious sisters with brass hands, sharp fangs, and hair of living,
venomous snakes. She, like her sisters, was able to turn any creature to stone with her gaze. She and
her sister Stheno were immortal, but Medusa, the last of the sisters, was mortal; They were daughters
of Phorcys and Ceto. In many stories, Euryale is noted for her bellowing cries, particularly in the tale of
Medusa's death at Perseus' hands; Another Euryale, daughter of King Minos of Crete, was the mother
of Orion, in Hesiod and other sources; there are other stories of his birth as well.
Euryalus Gk. refers to four different characters from classical literature; In the Aeneid by Virgil, Nisus and
Euryalus are ideal friends and lovers, who died during a raid on the Rutulians; In Greek mythology,
Euryalus was the son of Mecisteus. He attacked the city of Thebes as one of the Epigoni, who took the
city and avenged the deaths of their fathers, who had also attempted to invade Thebes. In Homer's
Iliad, he fought in the Trojan War, where he was brother‐in‐arms of Diomedes, and one of the Greeks
63
to enter the Trojan Horse. He lost the boxing match to Epeius at the funeral games for Patrocles;
Euryalus was also the name of a son of Euippe and Odysseus, who was mistakenly slain by his father;
Euryalus, son Naubolus, was one of the Phaeacians encountered by Odysseus in the Odyssey.
Eurycleia Gk. is the granddaughter of Peisenor, as well as the wet‐nurse of Odysseus. As a girl she was bought
by Laertes, Odysseus' father. He treated her as his wife, but she was never his consummated lover so as
not to dishonor his real wife, Anticleia. She nursed Odysseus and Telemachus, Odysseus' son;
Eurycleia's name means "broad fame," while Anticleia means "anti‐fame." The tension between the
meanings of Eurycleia's name and Anticleia's name reflects the tension between the two pillars of
Odysseus' life. He was born to Anticleia, a noble woman, but was nursed (and essentially raised) by
Eurycleia, a lower class maid. Odysseus' fame comes from his role as a noble hero paralleled to his role
as an anonymous beggar. His heroism is essential for capturing Troy; his skills as an orator and schemer
as well as his strength and skills on the battle field are instrumental in the success of the Greeks.
However, he takes on the role of a beggar not once, but twice. He first appears as a beggar to sneak
into Troy and kill unsuspecting Trojan soldiers, and again when he returns home to Ithaca and plans to
kill all of Penelope's suitors. In many ways, his role as a beggar, especially when he returns to Ithaca is
far more meaningful. His re‐entry into his own home after twenty years is arguably the most important
moment of his life, perhaps suggesting that his role as a beggar ‐ and his connection with Eurycleia ‐ is
what is most important to him; Thus, it is fitting that in the Odyssey, Eurycleia is the first person to
recognize him after he returns home from the Trojan War. After he enters his own house as a guest of
Penelope disguised as a beggar, Eurycleia bathes him and recognizes him by a scar just above his knee,
which he got from a boar while hunting with his grandfather Autolycus. Odysseus stops her from telling
Penelope or anyone else in the house of his true identity; Eurycleia also informs Odysseus which of his
servant girls had been unfaithful to Penelope during his absence, conspiring with Penelope's suitors and
becoming their lovers. Among them was Melantho. He hangs the twelve that Eurycleia identifies; Later,
Eurycleia informs Penelope that Odysseus has returned, but Penelope does not believe the maid.
Penelope then tests Odysseus to prove that he is indeed her husband and asks him to move the bed
Odysseus built in their marriage‐chamber; Odysseus tells Penelope that this is not possible, as one of
the legs of the bed is built into a live olive tree, a secret that only Penelope and Odysseus would know.
She finally accepts that her husband has returned; In addition, it was Eurycleia who gives provisions and
supplies to Telemachus from the storehouse before he leaves for Pylos to seek news about Odysseus.
She takes an oath not to tell Penelope he had left until 12 days had passed; Telemachus did not want
his mother to worry any more than she already was.
Eurydice Gk. was an oak nymph or one of the daughters of Apollo (the god of light). She was the wife of
Orpheus, who loved her dearly; on their wedding day, he played joyful songs as his bride danced
through the meadow. One day, a satyr saw and pursued Eurydice, who stepped on a venomous snake,
dying instantly. Distraught, Orpheus played and sang so mournfully that all the nymphs and gods wept
and told him to travel to the Underworld and retrieve her, which he gladly did. After his music softened
the hearts of Hades and Persephone, his singing so sweet that even the Erinyes wept, he was allowed
to take her back to the world of the living. In another version, Orpheus played his lyre to put Cerberus,
the guardian of Hades, to sleep, after which Eurydice was allowed to return with Orpheus to the world
of the living. Either way, the condition was attached that he must walk in front of her and not looks
back until both had reached the upper world. However, just as they reached the portals of Hades and
daylight, he could not help but turn around to gaze on her face, and Eurydice vanished again from his
sight, this time forever; the story in this form belongs to the time of Virgil, who first introduces the
name of Aristaeus and the tragic outcome. Other ancient writers, however, speak of Orpheus' visit to
the underworld in a more negative light; according to Phaedrus in Plato's Symposium,[2] the infernal
gods only "presented an apparition" of Eurydice to him. Ovid says that Eurydice's death was not caused
by fleeing from Aristaeus but by dancing with naiads on her wedding day. In fact, Plato's representation
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of Orpheus is that of a coward; instead of choosing to die in order to be with the one he loved, he
instead mocked the gods by trying to go to Hades and get her back alive. Since his love was not "true"
— meaning he was not willing to die for it — he was actually punished by the gods,[citation needed]
first by giving him only the apparition of his former wife in the underworld, and then by being killed by
women; The story of Eurydice may actually be a late addition to the Orpheus myths. In particular, the
name Eurudike ("she whose justice extends widely") recalls cult‐titles attached to Persephone. The
myth may have been derived from another Orpheus legend in which he travels to Tartarus and charms
the goddess Hecate.
Eurynome Gk. was a deity of ancient Greek religion worshipped at a sanctuary near the confluence of rivers
called the Neda and the Lymax in classical Peloponnesus. She was represented by a statue of what we
would call a mermaid. Tradition, as reported by the Greek traveller, Pausanias, identified her with the
Oceanid, or “daughter of Ocean”, of Greek poetry.
Eurystheus Gk. was king of Tiryns, one of three Mycenaean strongholds in the Argolid: Sthenelus was his
father and the "victorious horsewoman" Nicippe his mother, and he was a grandson of the hero
Perseus, as was his opponent Heracles. He was married to Antimache, daughter of Amphidamas. In the
contest of wills between Hera and Zeus over whose candidate would be hero, fated to defeat the
remaining creatures representing an old order and bring about the reign of the Twelve Olympians,
Eurystheus was Hera's candidate and Heracles — though his name implies that at one archaic stage of
myth‐making he had carried "Hera's fame" — was the candidate of Zeus. The arena for the actions that
would bring about this deep change are the Twelve Labors imposed on Heracles by Eurystheus. The
immediate necessity for the Labours of Heracles is as penance for Heracles' murder of his own family,
in a fit of madness, which had been sent by Hera; however, further human rather than mythic
motivation is supplied by mythographers who note that their respective families had been rivals for the
throne of Mycenae. Details of the individual episodes may be found in the article on the Labours of
Heracles, but Hera was connected with all of the opponents Heracles had to overcome; Heracles'
human stepfather Amphitryon was also a grandson of Perseus, and since Amphitryon's father (Alcaeus)
was older than Eurystheus' father (Sthenelus), he might have received the kingdom, but Sthenelus had
banished Amphitryon for accidentally killing (a familiar mytheme) the eldest son in the family
(Electryon). When, shortly before his son Heracles was born, Zeus proclaimed the next‐born
descendant of Perseus should get the kingdom, Hera thwarted his ambitions by delaying Alcmene's
labour and having her candidate Eurystheus born prematurely; Heracles' first task was to slay the
Nemean Lion and bring back its skin, which Heracles decided to wear. Eurystheus was so scared by
Heracles' fearsome guise that he hid in a subterranean bronze winejar, and from that moment forth all
labors were communicated to Heracles through a herald, Copreus; For his second labour, to slay the
Lernaean Hydra, Heracles took with him his nephew, Iolaus, as a charioteer. When Eurystheus found
out that Heracles' nephew had helped him he declared that the labour had not been completed alone
and as a result did not count towards the ten labours set for him; Eurystheus' third task did not involve
killing a beast, but to capture the Cerynian Hind, a golden‐horned stag sacred to Artemis. Heracles
knew that he had to return the hind, as he had promised, to Artemis, so he agreed to hand it over on
the condition that Eurystheus himself come out and take it from him. Eurystheus did come out, but the
moment Heracles let the hind go, she sprinted back to her mistress, and Heracles departed, saying that
Eurystheus had not been quick enough; When Heracles returned with the Erymanthian Boar,
Eurystheus was frightened and hid again in his jar and begged Heracles to get rid of the beast; Heracles
obliged; The fifth labour proposed by Eurystheus was to clear out the numerous stables of Augeias.
Striking a deal with Augeias, Heracles proposed a payment of a tenth of Augeias' cattle if the labour was
completed successfully. Not believing the task feasible, Augeias agreed, asking his son Phyleus to
witness; Heracles rerouted two nearby rivers (Alpheis and Peneios) through the stable, clearing out the
dung rapidly. When Augeias learned of Heracles' bargain for the task, he refused payment. Heracles
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brought the case to court, and Phyleus testified against his father. Enraged, Augeias banished both
Phyleus and Heracles from the land before the court had cast their vote. However, Eurystheus refused
to credit the labour to Heracles, as he had performed it for payment; For his seventh labour Heracles
captured the Cretan Bull. Heracles used a lasso and rode it back to his cousin. Eurystheus wanted to
sacrifice the bull to Hera his patron, who hated Heracles. She refused the sacrifice because it reflected
glory on Heracles. The bull was released and wandered to Marathon, becoming known as the
Marathonian Bull; When Heracles brought back the man‐eating Mares of Diomedes successfully,
Eurystheus dedicated the horses to Hera and allowed them to roam freely in the Argolid. Bucephalus,
Alexander the Great's horse, was said to be descended from these mares; To acquire the belt of
Hippolyte, queen of the Amazons was Heracles's ninth task. This task was at the request of Eurystheus'
daughter, Admete; To extend what may have once been ten Labours to the canonical dozen, it was said
that Eurystheus didn't count the Hydra, as he was assisted, nor the Augean stables, as Heracles
received payment for his work. For the eleventh labour Heracles had to steal the Apples of the
Hesperides; his final labour was to capture Cerberus, the three‐headed hound that guarded the
entrance to Hades; After Heracles died, Eurystheus attempted to destroy his many children (the
Heracleidae, led by Hyllus), who fled to Athens. He attacked the city, but was soundly defeated, and he
and his sons were killed. The stories about the killer of Eurystheus and the fate of his corpse vary, but
the Athenians believed the burial site of Heracles remained on their soil and served to protect the
country against the descendants of Heracles, who traditionally included the Spartans and Argives; After
Eurystheus' death, the brothers Atreus and Thyestes, whom he had left in charge during his absence,
took over the city, the former exiling the latter and assuming the kingship, while Tiryns returned to the
overlordship of Argos.
Euterpe Gk. was one of the Muses, the daughters of Mnemosyne, fathered by Zeus. Called the "Giver of
delight", when later poets assigned roles to each of the Muses, she was the muse of music. In late
Classical times she was named muse of lyric poetry and depicted holding a flute. A few say she invented
the aulos or double‐flute, though most mythographers credit Marsyas with its invention. The river god
Strymon impregnated Euterpe; her son Rhesus led a band of Thracians and was killed by Diomedes at
Troy, according to Homer's Iliad.
Euxine Gk. is a physiographic province of the Black Sea, an abyssal plain in its central parts. Its name comes
from the Ancient Greek name Euxeinos Pontos of the Black Sea.
Evander Gk. or Euander was a deific culture hero from Arcadia, Greece, who brought the Greek pantheon,
laws and alphabet to Italy, where he founded the city of Pallantium on the future site of Rome, sixty
years before the Trojan War. He instituted the Lupercalia; The oldest tradition of its founding ascribes
to Evander the erection of the Great Altar of Hercules in the Forum Boarium. In Virgil's Aeneid, VIII,
where Aeneas and his crew first come upon them, Evander and his people are engaged in venerating
Hercules for having dispatched the giant Cacus. Virgil's listeners recognized the same Great Altar of
Hercules in the Forum Boarium of their own day, one detail among the passages that Virgil has
saturated with references linking a heroic past with the Age of Augustus. As Virgil's backstory goes,
Hercules had been returning from Gades with Geryon's cattle when Evander entertained him and was
the first to raise an altar to this hero. The archaic altar was destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome, AD 64;
Evander was born to Mercury and Carmenta, and his wisdom was beyond that of all Arcadians.
According to Virgil, previous to the Trojan War, he gathered a group of natives to a city he founded in
Italy near the Tiber river, which he named Pallantium. Virgil states that he named the city in honor of
his son, Pallas, although Pausanias as well as Dionysius of Halicarnassus say that Evander's birth city
was Pallantium, thus he named the new city after the one in Arcadia. Since he met Anchises before the
Trojan War, Evander aids Aeneas in his battle against the Rutuli under the autochthonous leader Turnus
and plays a major role in Aeneid Book XII; Evander was deified after his death and had an altar
66
constructed in his name on the Aventine Hill; Pallas apparently died childless, leaving the natives under
Turnus to ravage his kingdom. However, the gens Fabia claimed descent from Evander.
Eventus Bonus Rom. God of success both in commerce and in agriculture.
Everfrost N. Banquet hall of the giant Brimir
F
Fabulinus Rom. God who taught children to speak.
Fafnir N. was a son of the dwarf king Hreidmar and brother of Regin and Ótr. In the Volsunga saga, Fáfnir was
a dwarf gifted with a powerful arm and fearless soul. He guarded his father's house of glittering gold
and flashing gems. He was the strongest and most aggressive of the three brothers; Regin recounts to
Sigurd how Odin, Loki and Hœnir were traveling when they came across Ótr, who had the likeness of an
otter during the day. Loki killed the otter with a stone and the three Æsir skinned their catch. The gods
came to Hreidmar’s dwelling that evening and were pleased to show off the otter's skin. Hreidmar and
his remaining two sons then seized the
gods and held them captive while Loki was
made to gather the ransom, which was to
stuff the otter’s skin with gold and cover its
outside with red gold. Loki fulfilled the task
by gathering the cursed gold of Andvari's as
well as the ring, Andvarinaut, both of which
were told to Loki as items that would bring
about the death of whomever possessed
them. Fáfnir then killed Hreidmar to get
the all the gold for himself. He became very
ill‐natured, so he went out into the
wilderness to keep his fortune to himself,
eventually turning into a serpent or dragon
(symbol of greed) to guard his treasure
Fáfnir also breathed poison into the land
around him so no one would go near him
and his treasure, wreaking terror in the
hearts of the people; Regin plotted revenge
so that he could get the treasure and sent
his foster‐son, Sigurd, to kill the dragon.
Regin instructed Sigurd to dig a pit in which
he could lie in wait under the trail Fáfnir
used to get to a stream and there plunge
his sword, Gram, into Fafnir's heart as he crawls over the pit to the water. Regin then ran away in fear,
leaving Sigurd to the task. While digging the ditch, Odin appeared in the form of an old man with a long
beard, advising Sigurd to dig more trenches for the blood of Fáfnir to run into, presumably so that
Sigurd does not drown in the blood. The earth quake and the ground nearby shook as Fáfnir crawled to
the water. Fáfnir also blew poison into his path as it made his way to the stream. Sigurd, undaunted,
stabbed Fáfnir in the left shoulder as he crawled over the ditch he was lying in and succeeded in
mortally wounding the dragon. As the great serpent lies there dying, he speaks to Sigurd and asks him
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what his name is, what his father's and mother's names are, and who sent him to kill such a terrifying
dragon. Fafnir figures out that his own brother, Regin, plotted the dragon's death, and tells Sigurd that
he is happy that Regin will also cause Sigurd's death. Sigurd tells Fáfnir that he will go back to the
dragon's lair and take all his treasure. Fáfnir warns Sigurd that all who possess the gold will be fated to
die, but Sigurd replies that all men must one day die, and it is the dream of many men to be wealthy
until that dying day, so he will take the gold without fear; Regin then returned to Sigurd after Fáfnir was
slain. Corrupted by greed, Regin planned to kill Sigurd after Sigurd had cooked Fáfnir’s heart for him to
eat and take all the treasure for himself. However, Sigurd, having tasted Fáfnir's blood while cooking
the heart, gained knowledge of the speech of birds and learned of Regin's impending attack from the
Oðinnic (of Odin) birds' discussion and killed Regin by cutting off his head with Gram. Sigurd then ate
some of Fáfnir’s heart and kept the remainder, which would later be given to Gudrun after their
marriage; Some versions are more specific about Fáfnir's treasure hoard, mentioning the swords Ridill
and Hrotti, the helm of terror and a golden coat of chainmail
Fáfnir's Lair N. A kenning for Gold, because of the great hoard of gold found in the lair of this dragon
Faience Eg. a glazed material, with a base of either carved soapstone or moulded clay, with an overlay of
blue/green colored glass.
Fal N. A Dwarf
Falcon Coat N. The magical feathered coat of the goddess Freya; when worn it turned the wearer into a falcon.
Falhofnir N. "Shaggy Forelock". Horse of the Æsir used to ride to Gladsheim, their Court of Justice, each day.
Fallfordarv N. The doorstep in the death Goddess, Hel's stronghold Eljudnir in Nifilhel
False door Eg. a door carved or painted on a wall. The ka would use this door to partake of funerary offerings.
Fama Rom. Goddess of fame and rumor
Famine N. Famine is the Death Goddess Hel's knife.
Farbaute N. is the name of the father of Loke (Loki), in Norse mythology.
Farbauti N. "Cruel Smiter". A Fire Giant; He is married to Laufey and is the father of Loki, Byleist and Helblindi.
Laufey gave birth to Loki while being struck by a bolt of fire from Farbauti.
Faring Forth N. The Seidh practice of leaving the physical body to travel forth in spirit to other realms; Travel
out of the body, astral projection
Farmagud N. "God of Cargoes". Another name for Odin
Fates Rm. from the Roman Fatae, were three goddesses known to the Greeks as the Moerae. Their origins are
uncertain, although some called them daughters of night. It is clear, however, that at a certain period
they ceased to be concerned with death and became instead those powers which decided what must
happen to individuals. The Greeks knew them as Clotho (“the spinner”), Lachesis (“the apportioner”)
and Atropos (“the inevitable”). A late idea was that the Fates spun a length of yarn which represented
the allotted span for each mortal.
Fauna (Bona Dea) Rom. Goddess of the Earth, Mother Goddess.
68
Faunus Rm. the Roman god of the countryside and identified with the Greek Pan, god of the mountainside.
Faunus was said to be the grandson of SATURN and was credited with prophetic powers, whioch on
occasion inspired the Romans to renew efforts on the battlefield in the face of defeat. Perhaps this is
the reason for Faunus sometimes being seen as a descendant of the war god Mars. His mortal son.
Latinus, was the king of the Latin people at the time of AENEAS’ arrival in Italy after the long voyage
from Troy.
Faunus Rom. God of the wilds and fertility; He is the protector of cattle also referred to as Lupercus; Festivals
are Lupercalia on February 15 and Faunalia on December 5.
Faustitas Rom. Goddess protectress of herds of livestock
Favonius Rom. God of the West Wind
Feathercoat N. A feathercoat transforms the user into a bird.
Febris Rom. Goddess who protected people against fevers
Fecundity figure Eg. type of offering bearer rendered at the base of temple walls; They are shown bringing
offerings into the temple; The male figures are often shown with heavy pendulous breasts and bulging
stomachs, this plumpness symbolizing the abundance of the offerings they bring.
Felicitas Rom. Goddess of success.
Fenja N. One of the two Jotun giantesses who are able to produce gold with the giant mill "Grotte"
Fenrir, Fenris, Fenrisulven N.

Monster wolf offspring of
Loki with Giantess
Angrboda, brother of Hel
and the World Serpent. The
Gods raised the wolf in
Asgard but only Tyr had the
courage to feed it. Soon the
gods grew concerned,
seeing how fast it grew
daily. Nothing could bind
him until the Dwarves
manufactured a chain that
was made out of the roots
of a mountain, the noise of
a moving cat, and the
breath of a fish. Fenrir bit
off Tyr's left hand when the
Gods tricked him into being
bound with the fetter,
Gleipnir. They tied the chain to a great boulder (Gjöll) and drove it deep into the earth.
Fensalir N. Frigga's hall in Asgard
Feronia Rom. Goddess of freedom and good harvest; She was often worshipped by slaves to achieve their
freedom; her festival is November 15.
69
Fetch, fylgja N. An independent form, a soul aspect, that is attached to a person though not actually a part of
the person. It appears to the mind's eye in a variety of forms‐ in the form of an animal (fetch‐deer) or of
the opposite sex (fetch‐wife or fetch‐man), even in a purely geometrical shape. Its purpose is to assist
the person it is attached to in other realms.
Fetish Eg. an animal skin hanging from a stick; Was used by the cults of Osiris and Anubis.
Fides Rom. Goddess of faithfulness and good faith
Field of Warriors N. Another name for Freya's hall, also called "Folkvang".
Fili N. Soil‐dwelling Dwarf
Fimbulwinter N. "The Mighty Winter". The three‐year‐long winter that will precede Ragnarok.
Finn N. A Dwarf.
Fire Giants N. The inhabitants of Muspellheim, sworn enemies of the gods
Fjalar N. A mean Dwarf, who with the help of his brother, Galar, kills the Giant Kvæsir. They make the Mead of
Poetry from his blood, but they later are forced to give it away; the cock whose crowing wakes the
Giants for the final struggle of Ragnarok.
Fjölkunnig kona N. A cunning‐woman or witch, but not necessarily in a derogatory sense
Fjölkunnig madhr N. A wise man in ancient Iceland
Fjolnir N. Minor God of wisdom and learning. Possibly another name for Odin
Fjölsvid N. "One Who is Very Wise". A by‐name of Odin
Fjolvar N. Owns the island Allgron, where he and Odin spent five years
seducing seven foolish girls
Fjörgynn N. Weather God, father of Frigga.
Flærdg‐stafir N. deception runes (galdrastafir)
Flagellum Eg. a crop or whip used to ward off evil spirits.
Flame. Eg. this symbol represents a lamp or brazier on a stand from which a
flame emerges; Fire was embodied in the sun and in its symbol the
uraeus which spit fire; Fire also plays a part in the Egyptian concept of
the underworld; There is one terrifying aspect of the underworld which
is similar to the Christians concept of hell. Most Egyptians would like to
avoid this place with its fiery lakes and rivers that are inhabited by fire
demons.
Flora Rom. Goddess of Spring and the blooming flowers; her festival Floralia,
was April 28 ‐ May 1.
Flora
70

Folkvang N. The domicile of Freya; Half of all warriors who die in battle arrive here; the others become eternal
warriors in Valhalla.
Folkvang, Folkvangr N. "Folk‐field". Domain of Freya, which is also called "Field of Warriors"; Half of all
warriors who die in battle arrive here; the others become eternal warriors in Valhalla.
Fölkyngi N. Skilled in the magical arts, literally "much knowledge" Traditional word for "witchcraft"

Fontus Rom. God of wells and springs; Festival October 13
Forfeit‐horn N. Thor could not finish drinking the water in it. It was magically attached to the ocean. Thor's
drinking created the tides.
Formáli N. Formulaic speeches used to load action with magical intent.
Forn Sedh N. In Sweden and some other Northern European counties, Ásatrú is known by this name.
Fornax Rom. Goddess of bread baking and ovens
Forseti N. "The Presiding One". Axe‐God of justice, savior of the devout, winner of just lawsuits; He represents
justice, good laws, arbitration, peace, fairness, good judgment. Son of Balder and Nanna; His hall is
called Glitner.
Fortuna Rom. Goddess of fate or luck
Foster Parents N. Fathers often used to pay to send their sons to be looked after by foster parents. This was
considered the best way to train youngsters.
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Freya
Framsynn N. Far‐sighted; Blessed with the gift of seeing into the
future
Franang's Falls N. A waterfall in Midgard where Loki, who shape‐
shifted as a salmon to hide from the gods, was captured
Freki N. "Ravenous"; One of Odin's two wolves; The other one is
Geri. They get all the meat that is served to Odin in Valhalla
because he himself prefers wine.
Freya, Freyja N. "The Lady". Member of the Vanir who lives with
the Æsir, daughter of Njord, sister‐consort of Freyr; her
emblem is the necklace Brisingamen. Hers is the magic of
reading runes, trancing and casting spells. She is said to
have taught Seidh to Odin. She owns a falcon cloak, takes
dove form, rides in a chariot drawn by two cats, or rides a
boar. As leader of the Valkyries, she takes half those slain in
battle and is traditionally associated with death and
sexuality. She was married to the God Od, perhaps identical
to Odin, who mysteriously disappeared. Freya had two
daughters, Hnoss and Gersimi, with Od.
Freya's Tears N. A kenning for Amber; When she could not find her husband Od, Freya shed tears of gold. The
tears that hit trees turned into amber.
Freyr N. "The Lord"; Vana‐God, brother‐consort of Freya;

son of Njord and Njord's sister, Nerthus; Fertility and
creativity God; God of Yule; God of wealth and peace
and contentment; Blood was not allowed to be
spilled through violence, nor where weapons or
outlaws allowed on or in his holy places. He owns the
boar, Gullinbursti, the ship, Skidbladnir, and a magic
sword, that moves by itself through the air. He ruled
over the land of the light elves, Alfheim. He is also the
ancestor of the royal bloodline of the Yngling family,
early rulers of Norway/Sweden/Denmark.
Friagabis N. "The Free Giver". Saxon goddess of plenty Freyr
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Frid N. "The Good‐Looking". One of the Love‐Goddess Freya's eight sisters; The God of storms and fishing,
Njord is her father. The Fertility God Freyr is her brother.
Frigg, Frigga, Frija N. ”The Loving”. Frigga is the clairvoyant
mistress of Asgard. She knows the fates of all men and
gods, although she does not desire to prophesize.
Daughter of Fjorgynn and Fjordgyn; She is Odin's wife, with
whom she has six sons and one daughter, including Balder
and Hodur.
Frith N. Fruitful peace, happiness; The true Teutonic word
for "peace" which carries with it the implication of
"freedom"
Fro N. "Lord"; By‐name of Freyr
Frodi N. A Vanir god whose name means "The Fruitful

One"
Fródleikr N. wisdom or learning; Magical learning from

which all other abilities come
Frost‐Giants N. Most of the Frost Giants drowned in Ymir's
blood when the gods killed him, and their souls migrated
down into the northernmost part of the Underworld, the
dark and foggy Niflhel. A few of the youngest Frost‐Giants
barely escaped, and crawled onto the beach of the
northernmost part of the Earth, which is called Jotunheimr
Frigg
Frowe N. "Lady". By‐name of Freya
Fulgora Rom. Goddess of lightning
Fulla N. "The Filler". Sister of Frigga also called Volla. She carries the coffer of life and death. Although a virgin,
she represents aspects of sexuality. Fulla was also known as Abundia, or Abundantia in some parts of
Germany, where she was considered the symbol of the fullness of the earth. Nanna sent her a finger
ring from Hel. She is described as an Æsir Goddess with long hair and a golden snood.
Funerary cones Eg. clay cones inserted above a tombs entrance with the name and title of the deceased.
Funerary offerings Eg. bread, beer, wine and other food items provided by mourners or magically, through
inscriptions and pictures in the tomb.
Furies Gk. from the Roman name, Furiae, were the avenging goddesses of Greek mythology and were known
as the Erinyes (“the angry ones”). They were born from the blood of Ouranos that fell into the womb of
GAIA, when CRONOS, his son, castrated him. The Furies were portrayed as ugly women, with snakes
entwined in their hair, and were pitiless to those mortals, who had wrongly shed blood. They
relentlessly pursued ORESTES, who avenged his father AGAMEMNON”s murder by killing
CLYTEMNESTRA, his mother. The Furies were only persuaded to abandon their persecution of Orestes
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after his acquittal by the Areopagus, an ancient Athenian council presided over by the goddess ATHNA.
The verdict calmed the anger of the Furies, whose name was then changed to less‐threatening
Eumenides.
Furies Rom. Goddesses of Vengeance
Furina Rom. Goddess of thieves
Fylgja N. A manifestation of a part of a person's soul that can take on independent action as it can contain

portions of a person’s hughr and minni. The fylgja can also be used by the person in times of need for
such things as travel to one of the nine worlds. Being able to take the form of the fylgja can be
developed over time. The fylgja generally takes on the form of an animal or of the opposite sex of the
person that it is attached to. It can and often is passed along ancestral lines.
G
Gada In. a younger brother of Krishna.
Gadhi, Gathin In. a king of the Kusika race, and father of Viswamitra; was son of Kusamba, or, according to the
Vishnu Purana, he was Indra, who took upon himself that form.
Gagnrad N. “Gain‐counsellor". The name Odin chose to call him when visiting Vafthrudnir.
Galar N. A mean Dwarf and brother of Fjalar; They killed Kvasir and mixed his blood with honey in pot called
Odrerir and then vats called Son and Bodn which created the Mead of Poetry.
Galava In. a pupil of Viswamitra; according to the Hari‐vansa, Galava was son of Viswamitra, and that sage in a
time of great distress tied a cord round his waist and offered him for sale; Prince Satyavrata (q.v.) gave
him liberty and restored him to his father. From his having been bound with a cord (gala) he was called
Galava.
Galdalf N. is told to be the eighteenth of the prehistoric Dwarves. The name means 'magician'.
Galdr, Galdor N. The use of runes for magical purposes, specifically verbal incantations; A ritual to perform
magical song and poetry in a high, shrieking voice; Odin is considered the foremost practitioner.
Galdrakona N. A woman who practices galdor magic, a witch or volva; Magic chant singing done by a woman
Galdramyndur N. Literally this means a "magical sign".
Galdrastafr, Galdor‐stave N. literally "staves of incantations". A magical sign which may or may not have its
origin as a bind‐rune.Originally they were made up of bindrunes which were then stylized for magical
purposes. Used as a focus for complex magical operations.
Gamanrúnar N. joy runes
Gambantein N. "Magic Branch". A magic wand given to Odin by the Giant Hlebard; when Odin had got the
wand, he made Hlebard lose his mind.
Gana‐Devatas In. `troops of deities.’ Deities who generally appear, or are spoken of, in classes. Nine such
classes are mentioned:‐ (1.) Adityas, (2.) Viswas or Viswe‐devas; (3.) Vasus; (4.) Tushitas; (5.)
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Abhaswaras; (6.) Anilas; (7.) Maharajikas; (8.) Sadhyas; (9.) Rudras. These inferior deities are attendant
upon Shiva, and under the command of Ganesha. They dwell on Gana‐parvata, i.e., Kailasa.
Gana‐Pati In. See Ganesa.
Ganapatya In. a small sect who worship Gana‐pati or Ganesa as their chief deity.
Ganas In. See Gana‐devatas.
Gand, Gandr N. A magic wand; projected magical power and the wand, staff, or stave which contains or
expresses it.
Gandaki In. the river Gandak (vulg. Gunduk), in Oude
Gandalf N. "Magic Elf". A Dwarf
Gandha‐Madana In. ìntoxicating with fragrance,’ a mountain and forest in Ilavrita, the central region of the
world, which contains the mountain Meru. The authorities are not agreed as to its relative position with
Meru; a general of the monkey allies of Rama; was killed by Ravana’s son Indra‐jit, but was restored o
life by the medicinal herbs brought by Hanuman from Mount Kailasa.
Gandhara In. a country and city on the west bank of the Indus about Attock. Mahomedan geographers call it
Kandahar, but it must not be confounded with the modern town of that name; It is the Gandaritis of
the ancients, and its people are the Gandarii of Herodotus; the Vayu Purana says it was famous for its
breed of horses.
Gandhari In. Princess of Gandhara; the daughter of Subala, king of Gandhara, wife of Dhrita‐rashtra, and
mother of his hundred sons; her husband was blind, so she always wore a bandage over her eyes to be
like him; her husband and she, in their old age, both perished in a forest fire; she is also called by the
patronymics Saubali and Saubaleyi; she is said to have owed her hundred sons to the blessing of Vyasa,
who, in acknowledgment of her kind hospitability, offered her a boon. She asked for a hundred sons.
Then she became pregnant, and continued so for two years, at the end of which time she was delivered
of a lump of flesh. Vyasa took the shapeless mass and divided it into 101 pieces, which he placed in as
many jars. In due time Dur‐yodhana was produced, but with such accompanying fearful portents that
Dhrita‐rashtra was besought, though in vain, to abandon him. A month afterwards ninety‐nine other
sons came forth, and an only daughter, Duh‐sala.
Gandharva In. the `heavenly Gandharva’ of the Veda was a deity who knew and revealed the secrets of
heaven and divine truths in general. He is thought by Goldstucker to have been a personification of the
fire of the sun; the Gandharvas generally had their dwelling in the sky or atmosphere, and one of their
offices was to prepare the heavenly soma juice for the gods; they had a great partiality for women, and
had a mystic power over them; they were spirits of the air, forests, and mountains; they were the
mates of the Apsaras; they are all male, and had differing descriptions. Sometimes they were seen as
shaggy, damp, and dirty creatures who were part man and part animal; other times they were men
with birds' legs and wings; they could be centaur‐like, half man and half horse; or they sometimes were
seen as fair men who had effeminate features.; they were known for their musical skills, their power to
cast illusions, and their skill with horses; they sometimes were the attendants of the devas, and would
often combat human heroes. If the hero was victorious, the Gandharva would help the hero on his
quest, but if the hero lost, he would be carried away, never to be heard from again; the Gandharvas
were also the protectors of Soma, which they guarded with jealous intent.
Gandharva‐Loka In. See Loka.
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Gandharva‐Veda in. the science of music and song, which is considered to include the drama and dancing; it is
an appendix of the Sama‐veda, and its invention is ascribed to the Muni Bharata.
Gandini In. daughter of Kasi‐raja; she had been twelve years in her mother’s womb when her father desired
her to come forth. The child told her father to present to the Brahmans a cow every day for three years,
and at the end of that time she would be born. This was done, and the child, on being born, received
the name of Gandini, `cow daily.’ She continued the gift as long as she lived. She was wife of Swa‐
phalka and mother of Akrura; the Ganga or Ganges.
Gandiva In. the bow of Arjuna, said to have been given by Soma to Varuna, by Varuna to Agni, and by Agni to
Arjuna.
Ganesha (Gana + Isa), Gana‐Pati In. is one of the most popular deities in the Hindu pantheon; he is closely

associated with the daily lives of millions of Hindus even today;
Ganesha is also the god of wisdom and prudence. These qualities
are signified through his two wives: Buddhi (wisdom) and Siddhi
(prudence); Ganesha has a thorough knowledge of the scriptures
and is a superb scribe. This latter quality is manifest through the
fact that he is the scribe to whom Vyas Dev (the narrator of the
Hindu epic Mahabharata) narrated his enormous epic. Ganesha did
this work so thoroughly that the Mahabharata is one of the most
harmonious works in the Hindu scriptures; Ganesha is represented
as a short, pot‐bellied man with yellow skin, four arms and an
elephant's head with only one tusk. In his four hands he customarily
holds a shell, a chakra (discus), a mace and a water‐lily. His unusual steed is a rat. Ganesha is the
second son of Shiva and Parvati. There are many versions of how he was conceived. The most popular
version is narrated hereunder.
Gang N. Olvalde's youngest son and brother to Tjatsi and Ide; When the father had died the brothers rapidly
shared his beer. This was the first time they were all quiet.
Ganga In. the sacred river Ganges; said to be mentioned only twice in the Rig‐veda. The Puranas represent the
Viyad‐ganga, or heavenly Ganges, to flow from the toe of Vishnu, and
to have been brought down from heaven, by the prayers of the saint
Bhagiratha, to purify the ashes of the sixty thousand sons of King
Sagara, who had been burnt by the angry glance of the sage Kapila.
From this earthly parent the river is called Bhagirathi. Ganga was
angry at being brought down from heaven, and Siva, to save the
earth from the shock of her fall, caught the river on his brow, and
checked its course with his matted locks. From this action he is called
Ganga‐dhara, ùpholder of the Ganges.’ The river descended from
Siva’s brow in several streams, four according to some, and ten
according to others, but the number generally accepted is seven, being the Sapta‐sindhava, the seven
sindhus or rivers. The Ganges proper is one of the number. The descent of the Ganges disturbed the
sage Jahnu as he was performing a sacrifice, and in his anger he drank up the waters, but he relented
and allowed the river to flow from his ear, hence the Ganges has the name of Jahnavi. Personified as a
goddess, Ganga is the eldest daughter of Himavat and Mena, and her sister was Uma. She became the
wife of King Santanu and bore a son, Bhishma; who is also known by the metronymic Gangeya. Being
also, in a peculiar way, the mother of Kartikeya (q.v.), she is called Kumara‐su. Gold, according to the
Maha‐bharata, was borne by the goddess Ganga to Agni, by whom she had been impregnated. Other
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names and titles of the Ganges are Bhadra‐soma, Gandini, Kirata, Deva‐bhuti, `produced in heaven;’
Hara‐sekhara, `crest of Siva;’ Khapaga, `flowing from heaven;’ Mandakini, `gently flowing;’ Tri‐patha‐ga
or Tri‐srotah, `triple flowing,’ running in heaven, earth, and hell.
Ganga‐Dhara A name of Siva. See Ganga.
Ganga‐Dwara In. the gate of the Ganges; the opening in the Himalaya mountains through which the river
descends into the plains, now known as Haridwar.
Ganga‐Sagara In. the mouth of the Ganges, a holy bathing‐place sacred to Vishnu
Gangeya In. a name of Bhishma, from his reputed mother, the river goddess Ganga; also of Karttikeya.
Ganglati N. "Tardy". One of the servants of Death‐Goddess Hel and lives with her underground; Ganglati was
so slow that no one ever could tell he was moving.
Gangleri N. Another name for Odin
Ganglot N. Serving maid of Hel
Gap‐tooth N. The name of one of Thor's goats that pulls his divine chariot through the sky
Gardrofa N. "One Who Pulls Fences"; The mare Gardrofa and the horse Hamskerpir are the parents of Gna's
grey horse Hoof‐flourisher.
Garga In. An ancient sage, and one of the oldest writers on astronomy; he was a son of Vitatha. The Vishnu
Purana says, “From Garga sprang Sina (or Sini); from them were descended the Gargyas and Sainyas,
Brahmans of Kshatriya race.” The statement of the Bhagavata is, “From Garga sprang Sina; from them
Gargya, who from a Kshatriya became a Brahman.” There were many Gargas; one was a priest of
Krishna and the Yadavas.
Gargas, Gargyas In. descendants of Garga, who, “although Kshatriyas of birth, became Brahmans and great
Rishis.”
Gargya, Gargya Balaki In. son of Balaki; he was a Brahman, renowned as a teacher and as a grammarian, who
dealt especially with etymology, and was well read in the Veda, but still submitted to receive
instruction from the Kshatriya Ajata‐satru.
Garm N. Hel's monster wolf dog who guards the island where Loki and his wolf‐son, Fenrir, are chained.
Hound of the Underworld, the most evil dog, he is bound with iron chains to guard the entrance
Gnipahellir until Ragnarok. In Ragnarok he and Tyr will kill each other. Also called Mánagarm
Garth N. A yard, enclosure, homestead
Garuda In. garuda is one of the three principal animal deities in the Hindu Mythology that has evolved after
the Vedic Period in Indian history; it is after Garuda that the Indonesian National Airlines is named.
Even today, Garuda is much revered by devout Hindus for his ethics and his strength in applying his
ethics to correct evil‐doers; Garuda is the king of the birds. He mocks the wind with the speed of his
flight. As the appointed charger of Vishnu he is venerated by all, including humans; A mythical bird or
vulture, half‐man, half‐bird, on which Vishnu rides. He is the king of birds, and descended from Kasyapa
and Vinata, one of the daughters of Daksha. He is the great enemy of serpents, having inherited his
hatred from his mother, who had quarrelled with her co‐wife and superior, Kadru, the mother of
serpents; Garuda is the son of Kashyap, a great sage, and Vinata, a daughter of Daksha, a famous king.
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He was hatched from an egg Vinata laid; he has the head, wings,
talons, and beak of an eagle and the body and limbs of a man; he
has a white face, red wings and golden body. When he was born he
was so brilliant that he was mistaken for Agni, the god of fire, and
worshipped; Garuda has many names and epithets. From his
parents he is called Kasyapi and Vainateya. He is the Suparna and
the Garutman, or chief of birds. He is also called Dakahaya,
Salmalin, Tarkshya, and Vinayaka, and among his epithets are the
following:‐ Sitanana, `white faced;’ Rakta‐paksha, `red winged;’
Sweta‐rohits, `the white and red;’ Suvarna‐kaya, `golden bodied;’
Ganganeswara,` lord of the sky;’ Khageswara, `king of birds;’
Nagantaka, and Pannaga‐nasana, `destroyer of serpents;’
Sarparati, ènemy of serpents;’ Taraswin, `the swift;’ Rasayana, `who moves like quicksilver;’ Kama‐
charin, `who goes where he will;’ Kamayus, `who lives at pleasure;’ Chirad, èating long;’ Vishnu‐ratha,
`vehicle of Vishnu;’ Amritaharana and Sudha‐hara, `stealer of the Amrita;’ Surendra‐jit, `vanquisher of
Indra;’ Vajra‐jit, `subduer of the thunderbolt,’ & etc.
Garuda Purana In. the description given of this Purana is, “That which Vishnu recited in the Garuda Kalpa,
relating chiefly to the birth of Garuda from Vinata, is called the Garuda Purana, and in it there are read
19,000 stanzas.” The works bearing this name which were examined by Wilson did not correspond in
any respect with this description, and he considered it doubtful if a genuine Garuda Purana is in
existence.
Gatha In. a song, a verse; a religious verse, but one not taken from the Vedas; verses interspersed in the
Sanskrit Buddhist work called Lalita‐vistara, which are composed in a dialect between the Sanskrit and
the Prakrit, and have given their name to this the Gatha dialect. The Zend hymns of the Zoroastrians
are also called Gathas.
Gatu In. a singer, a Gandharva
Gauda, Gaura In. the ancient name of Central Bengal; also the name of the capital of the country, the ruins of
which city are still visible; the great northern nation of Brahmans. See Brahman.
Gaupayanas In. sons or descendants of Gopa; four Rishis, who were the authors of four remarkable hymns in
the Rig‐veda; One of them, named Su‐bandhu, was killed and miraculously brought to life again. The
hymns have been translated by Max Muller in the Journal R. A. S., vol. ii. 1866.
Gauri In. an epithet of Devi in her mild form as the yellow or brilliant one; she is the good‐hearted mother
goddess; Gauri ("fair", "white") is also known as Parvati and Uma the consort of Lord Shiva; she is
depicted with a bowl of rice and a spoon; it is sometimes an epithet for Varunani, wife of Varuna.
Gaut N. By‐name of Odin
Gautama In. A name of the sage Saradwat as son of Gotama; he was husband of Ahalya, who was seduced by
Indra. This seduction has been explained mythologically as signifying the carrying away of night by the
morning sun, Indra being the sun, and Ahalya being explained as meaning night; author of a Dharma‐
sastra, which has been edited by Stenzler. 3. A name common to many men.
Gautamesa In. `Lord of Gautama’ Name of one of the twelve great Lingas. See Linga.
Gautami In. an epithet of Durga; name of a fierce Rakshasi or female demon
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Gaut's Gate N. A kenning for a shield; This is because Odin's gate, the gate to Asgard, shields Asgard from its
enemies.
Gaya In. a city in Bihar; it is one of the seven sacred cities, and is still a place of pilgrimage, though its glory has
departed.
Gayatri In. a most sacred verse of the Rig‐veda, which it is the duty of every Brahman to repeat mentally in his
morning and evening devotions. It is addressed to the sun as Savitri, the generator, and so it is called
also Savitri. Personified as a goddess, Savitri is the wife of Brahma, mother of the four Vedas, and also
of the twice‐born or three superior castes; Colebrooke’s translation of the Gayatri is “Earth, sky,
heaven. Let us meditate on (these, and on) the most excellent light and power of that generous,
sportive, and resplendent sun, (praying that) it may guide our intellects.” Wilson’s version is, in his
translation of the Rig‐veda, “We meditate on that desirable light of the divine Savitri who influences
our pious rites.” In the Vishnu Purana he had before given a somewhat different version, “We meditate
on that excellent light of the divine sun: may he illuminate our minds.” A later version by Benfey is,
“May we receive the glorious brightness of this, the generator, of the god who shall prosper our
works.”
Geb Eg. a god that is sometimes pictured with the head of a goose; Geb was called 'the Great Cackler', and as
such, was represented as a goose; It was in this form that he was said to have laid the egg from which
the sun was hatched; he was believed to have been the third divine king of earth; the royal throne of
Egypt was known as the 'throne of Geb' in honor of his great reign.
Gefn, Gefjun, Gefjon N. Vanir Goddess of gift‐giving, the All‐Giver; She is associated with sowing of fields, crop
and human fertility, celebrated with wagon rituals and plough rites at the New Year. As an aspect of
fate, she is called in oath taking. Goddess of unmarried women, also one of the maidens in Frigga's
palace; To her were entrusted all those who died unwedded, whom she received and made happy for
ever. She did not remain a virgin herself, but married a Giant, by whom she had four sons. Odin sent
her to Gylfi, king of Sweden to beg for some land which she might call her own. The king, amused at her
request, promised her as much land as she could plough around in one day and night. Gefjon changed
her four sons into oxen, harnessed them to a plough and cut a wide and deep furrow all around a large
piece of land. She forcibly wrenched it away and made her oxen drag it down to the sea, where she
made it fast and called it Seeland. Gefjon then married Skjold, one of Odin's sons, and became the
ancestress of the royal Danish Skioldungs.
Geirahöd N. "Spear of Battle". A Valkyrie who serves ale to the Einheriar in Valhalla
Geirrod N. "The one who bloods the spear". A cunning Giant and ironsmith, he caught Loki, who flew into his
castle as Frigga's falcon had got stuck. He locked Loki in a chest and starved him for three months. He
forced Loki to bring Thorr to his farm. For fun, Geirrod used tongs to pick up a lump of molten iron and
threw it at Thorr. Thorr used iron gauntlets to catch it, then flung it back. It crashed through pillars,
Geirrod, walls, and and into ground outside. Geirrod and his daughters, Gjalp and Greip, were killed.
Gerd, Gerdh N. "Fence". A Frost Giantess who married Freyr. Freyr's servant Skirnir was sent to woo her for
him. It was only after threats of curses death and suffering in Hel that she agreed to marry Freyr. The
beautiful Gerd is Gymir and Aurboda's daughter and Beli's sister. She is known for her shining beauty.
When she raises her arms everything shines.
Geri & Freki N. "Ravenous" & "Greedy". Two of Odin's wolves; He feeds them the food from his table.
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Geri N. "Greedy"; Geri is one of Odin's two wolves. The other one is Freki. They get all the meat that is served
to Odin because he only drinks wine.
Gersimi N. Goddess of beauty, Freya's daughter with Od. The beautiful Hnoss is her sister. The name Gersimi
means 'jewelry'
Gestumblindi N. In the contest of riddles with King Heidrek the Wise, the last riddle about Odin's whisperings
to Balder reveal that Gestumblindi is actually Odin.
Ghata‐Karpara In. a poet who was one of the “nine gems” of the court of Vikramaditya; there is a short
artificial poem, descriptive of the rainy season, bearing this name, which has been translated into
German by Dursch. The words mean `potsherds,’ and form probably an assumed literary name.
Ghatotkacha In. a son of Bhima by the Rakshasi Hidimba. He was killed in the great battle by Karna with the
fatal lance that warrior had obtained from Indra.
Ghosha In. it is said in the Veda that the Aswins “bestowed a husband upon Ghosha growing old,” and the
explanatory legend is that she was a daughter of Kakshivat, but being a leper, was incapable of
marriage. When she was advanced in years the Aswins gave her health, youth, and beauty, so that she
obtained a husband.
Ghritachi In. an Apsaras or celestial nymph; she had many amours with great sages and mortal men. She was
mother of ten sons by Raudraswa of Kusa‐nabha, a descendant of Puru, and the Brahma Vaivartta
Purana attributes the origin of some of the mixed castes to her issue by the sage Viswa‐karman; The
Hari‐vansa asserts that she had ten daughters as well as ten sons by Raudraswa. Another legend
represents her as mother by Kusanabha of a hundred daughters, whom Vayu wished to accompany him
to the sky. They refused, and in his rage he cursed them to become deformed; but they recovered their
natural shape and beauty, and were married to Brahma‐datta, king of Kampila.
Giants & Giantesses N. In Old Norse the word risi meant a true Giant of great size, capable of intermarrying
with humans; they were usually beautiful and good. The jotnar, singular jötunn, had great strength and
age and were also called etins. The thursar, singular Thurs, were antagonistic, destructive, and stupid.
The Giants in Northern mythology (such as the Frost Giants, the Mountain Giants and the Fire Giants)
represent the raw forces of Nature in their primitive form. The Giants are often big, clumsy, magic‐
skilled, and sometimes evil‐minded creatures. The worst enemy of the Giants is Thor, with his powerful
hammer Mjollnir. Most Giants live in Jotunheim. There are also Fire Giants who follow Surt in
Muspelheim and Rimthursar (Frost Giants) who came from the ice‐cold Niflheim. All Giants originally
came from Ymir. It may be that the Giants were the Gods of the Stone Age, the Vanir the Gods of the
Bronze Age and the Æsir the Gods of the Iron Age.
Gilling N. "Huge Cod"; The Giant Gilling is Billing's brother. Gilling and his wife were killed by the evil Dwarves
Galar and Fjalar, who brewed the Mead of Poetry.
Gils N. Horse of the Æsir used to ride to Glasheim, their Court of Justice, each day.
Gimli N. "Hall of the Blessed". Located to the south and above Asgard in another heaven called Andlang, it is a
building with a golden roof. It is the fairest hall of all and brighter than the sun. It will survive Ragnarok,
and will be where good and righteous men go to upon death.
Ginnungagap N. The great void between Muspellheim and Niflheim before the creation; An enormous canyon
that divides red‐hot Muspelheim to the south and icy Niflheim to the north; The creation of the world
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began at Ginnungagap, with Ymir the Giant and the primal cow, Audhumla. The Gods kill Ymir, place
the body such that it fills the gap and finally create the world out of the carcass.
Giri‐ja In. `Mountain born’; a name of Parvati or Devi. See Devi.
Giri‐vraja In. a royal city in Magadha identified with Raja‐griha in Bihar.
Gita‐ Govinda In. a lyrical poem by Jaya‐deva on the early life of Krishna as Govinda the cowherd. It is an erotic
work, and sings the loves of Krishna and Radha, and other of the cowherd damsels, but a mystical
interpretation has been put upon it. The poems are supposed to have been written about the twelfth
or thirteenth century. There are some translations is the Asiatic Researches by Sir W. Jones, and a small
volume of translations has been lately published by Mr. Edwin Arnold. There is also an edition of the
text, with a Latin translation and notes, by Lassen, and there are some others.
Gita In. the Bhagavad‐gita (q.v.)
Gjallarbru N. "Resounding Bridge"; The bridge crossed by Hermod on his way to Hel's realm in search of
Balder.
Gjallarhorn, Gjall, Gyall N. "The Recalling Horn". Heimdall's mighty horn; Its blast can be heard all over the
nine worlds. It shall be blown at Ragnarok.
Gjalp N. "Yelling"; The Giantess Gjalp is Geirod's daughter and Greip's sister. She tries to stop Thor from
passing a lake by flooding it with urine.
Gjoll N. The Hel Bridge; It is thatched with gleaming gold.. From the bridge over the river Gjöll the road to Hel
lies downwards and northwards; the boulder to which the wolf Fenrir was chained. It was fastened with
another boulder called Thviti
Glad, Gyllir, Glœr, Skeidbrimir, Silfrtopp, Sinir, Gils, Falhofnir, and Lettfeti N. The Æsir's horses
Gladsheim N. "Glad‐land". One of the names of Odin's hall, also called "Shining Home", "Hlidskjalt", and "High
Seat". It lies on the plain of Ida.
Glapsvid N. Another name for Odin
Gleaming Bale N. The name of Hel's curtains
Gleipnir N. The fetter (chain) used to bind Fenrir, made by the Svartalfar from the sound of cat's footfall, a
woman's beard, a mountain's roots, a bear's sinews, a fish's breath, a bird's spittle. The other two
chains were Dromi and Loding.
Glen N. "Shine". Glen is the Light‐Disir Sun's husband. Before Ragnarok they gave birth to a daughter who they
named Sunna. She took over her mother's task in the new world.
Glimmering Misfortune N. The Death‐Goddess Hel's bed hangings; It is in her stronghold in Nifilhel.
Glitner N. The silver and gold hall of Forseti, in Asgard
Glódhker N. A fire‐pot or brazier used in ritual workings.
Glut N. "Glow". One of Loki's wives
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Gna N. Frigga's swift messenger, mounted on her steed Hofvarpnir ("Hoof‐Thrower" or "Hoof‐Flourisher”),
would travel through fire and air, over land and sea, and was therefore considered the personification
of the refreshing breeze. She saw all that was happening on earth and told her mistress all she knew.
Gnipahellr N. The cave in front of Niflhel where the monster hounds Garm is chained.
Gnita Heath N. The place where the dragon Fáfnir guarded the hoard of gold stolen from the Dwarf Andvari
Goat N. The animal sacred to Thor; His chariot was drawn by two he‐goats.
Gobhila In. an ancient writer of the Sutra‐period; he was author of some Grihya Sutras, and of some Sutras on
grammar. The Grihya Sutras have been published in the Bibliotheca Indica.
God of the Shield N. By‐name for Ullr
Goin N. One of many serpents who gnaw at the roots of the great tree Yggdrasil
Go‐Karna In. `Cow’s ear’, a place of pilgrimage sacred to Siva, on the west coast, near Mangalore
Go‐Kula In. a pastoral district on the Yamuna, about Mathura, where Krishna passed his boyhood with the
cowherds
Golden apples N. Every year Idunna gives each

god and goddess a golden apple to keep them
young. They are the apples of immortality.
Golden Apples at the Top of the World
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Golden Fleece Gk. is the fleece of the

gold‐haired winged ram. It
figures in the tale of Jason and
his band of Argonauts, who set
out on a quest by order of King
Pelias for the fleece in order to
place Jason rightfully on the
throne of Iolcus in Thessaly.
Hydra and the Golden Fleece
Golden Kingdom N. Another name for Asgard, also called "the White Kingdom".
Goldtooth N. Another name for Heimdall as he had teeth of gold
Göll N. "Loud Cry"or "Battle Cry". A Valkyrie who serves ale to the Einheriar in Valhalla
Gollinkambi, Gullinkambe N. The cockerel in Yggdrasil waits to signal the Gods and the warriors of Valhalla for
the final battle of Ragnarok.
Goloka, Go‐Loka In. "Place of cows," and "heaven," particularly Krishna's heaven; it is a later addition to the
original seven lokas, the Vaishnava concept of a realm of eternal beauty and bliss; it is also the eternal
home of Vishnu.
Go‐manta In. a great mountain in the Western Ghata, according to the Hari‐vansa it was the scene of a defeat
of Jara‐sandha by Krishna.
Go‐mati In. the Gumti river in Oude; but there are others which bore the name. One fell into the Sindhu or
Indus.
Gondlir N. Another name for Odin
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Göndul N. "Magic Wand" or "Enchanted Stave". Gondul with Hildr and Skögul, are the noblest Valkyries in
Asgard. Their task is to choose the men permitted to go to Valhalla. She is often associated with war
magic.
Go‐pala, Go‐vinda In. `Cow‐keeper’ a name of the youthful Krishna, who lived among the cowherds in
Vrindavana
Gopala‐tapani In. an Upanishad in honour of Krishna Printed in the Bibliotheca Indica
Go‐patha Brahmana In. the Brahmana of the Atharva or fourth Veda; It has been published by Rajendra Lala in
the Bibliotheca Indica.
Gopati‐Rishabha In. `Chief of herdsmen.’ A title of Siva; a demon mentioned in the Maha‐bharata as slain by
Krishna.
Gopis In. the cowherd damels and wives with whom Krishna sported in his youth
Gotama In. the founder of the Nyaya school of philosophy; he is called also Satananda, and is author of a
Dharma‐sastra or law‐book, which has been edited by Stenzler; He is frequently called Gautama.
Govardhana Dhara In. Ùpholder of Govardhana’ A title of Krishna
Go‐Vardhana In. a mountain in Vrindavana, which Krishna induced the cowherds and cowherdlesses to
worship instead of Indra, this enraged the god, who sent a deluge of rain to wash away the mountain
and all the people of the country, but Krishna held up the mountain on his little finger for seven days to
shelter the people of Vrindavana. Indra retired baffled, and afterwards did homage to Krishna.
Govinda, Go‐Vinda In. `Cow‐keeper.’ A frequent term of address for Krishna which refers to his role as knower
of the earth and the senses and as protector of cows (go, "cow," but also "earth"); it is also a name for
Vishnu, of whom Krishna is one incarnation.
Grabak N. One of many serpents who gnaw at the roots of the great tree Yggdrasil
Grafrollud N. One of many serpents who gnaw at the roots of the great tree Yggdrasil
Graha In. `Seizing’ the power that seizes and obscures the sun and moon, causing eclipses; the ascending
node, Rahu; evil spirits with which people, especially children, are possessed, and which cause sickness
and death. They are supposed to be amenable to medicine and exorcism.
Gram N. "Grim". A sword, forged by Volund, given by Odin to Sigmund; When it broke, the Dwarf Regin forged
it together and gave it to Sigurdr Fafnisbari who killed the dragon Fafnir with it.
Grane, Grani N. Sigurdr's grey horse, the son of Sleipnir; Grane will not bear any other rider than Sigurdr.
When Sigurdr dies even Grane dies; Grane has runes carved into his chest.
Greip N. "Strong Grip". Daughter of Geirrod who, along with the other daughter Gialp, tried to push Thorr's
seat to the ceiling to crush him; Thorr used Grid's magic pole to push back down and broke their backs.
Grendel N. The monster that was slain by Beowulf
Grer N. Dwarf Grer forged the love Goddess Freya's beautiful Brising necklace, together with Alfrik, Berling
and Dvalin. To get the jewelry she spent one night with each of them
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Grid N. "Greed" or "Peace" The Giantess who warned Thorr against Geirrod and Loki; She gave Thorr his magic
strength‐belt and iron gloves. Grid is a friendly Giantess who had a son, Vidar with Odin.
Gridarvol N. The iron rod Gridarvol belongs to the Giantess Grid. Once when Thor was going to see the Giant
Geirod, unarmed, she lent him Gridarvol and her iron‐gloves.
Griha‐sha In. `Householder’a Brahman in the second stage of his religious life. See Brahman
Grihya Sutras In. Rules for the conduct of domestic rites and the personal sacraments, extending from the
birth to the marriage of a man. (See Sutra.) The Griha Sutras of Aswalayana have been printed in the
Bibliotheca Indica.
Grim N. "The Masked One"; A by‐name of Odin
Grimnir N. A disguise Odin used when visiting a king's court. He appeared wearing a blue cloak and large hat.
The king's dogs would not bark at him.
Gritsa‐mada In. the reputed Rishi of many hymns in the second Mandala of the Rig‐veda, according to the
Vishnu Purana he was a Kshatriya and son of Suna‐hotra, being descended from Pururavas of the Lunar
race. From him sprang Saunaka, the eminent sage versed in the Rig‐veda “who originated the system of
four castes.” The Vayu Purana makes Sunaka to be the son of Gritsa‐mada, and Saunaka the son of
Sunaka: this seems probable. “It is related of him by Sayana that he was first a member of the family of
Angiras, being the son of Suna‐hotra. He was carried off by the Asuras whilst performing a sacrifice, but
was rescued by Indra, under whose authority he was henceforth designated as Gritsa‐mada, the son of
Sunaka or Saunaka of the race of Bhrigu. Thus the Anukramanika says of him: He who was an Angirasa,
the son of Suna‐hotra, became Saunaka of the race of Bhrigu.” According to the Maha‐bharata, he was
son of Vita‐havya, a king of the Haihayas, a Kshatriya, who became of Brahman. (See Vitahavya.) The
Maha‐bharata alludes to a legend of his having assumed the semblance of Indra, and so enabled that
deity to escape from the Asuras, who were lying in wait to destroy him. There are several versions of
the story, but they all agree that after Indra had escaped Gritsa‐mada saved himself by reciting a hymn
in which he showed that Indra was a different person.
Grjotunagardar N. "Stone‐Fence House". The place where the boasting giant Hrungnir arranged to fight the
god Thor
Groa N. The wife of Aurvandil the Bold, a sorceress who chanted spells until Hrungnir's whetstone started to
come loose from Thor's head, but Thor interrupted her with story of Aurvandil's toe getting frozen off
while Thor carried him a basket across Elivagar River. Groa got distracted and couldn't finish the spells,
so the whetstone stayed in Thor's forehead.
Grotte N. The "World Mill" belonging to the Danish kings Frode, a grind‐mill of gold and a controller of the

stars' movements. The millstones are so enormous that they may only be moved by the giant sisters
Fenja and Menja.
Guda‐kesa In. whose hair is in tufts; an epithet of Arjuna
Guha In. a name of the god of war; a king of the Nishadas or Bhils who was a friend of Rama; a people near
Kalinga who possibly got their name from him.
Guhyakas In. `hidden beings’; inferior divinities attendant upon Kuvera and guardians of his hidden treasures.
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Gullfaxi N. "Golden Mane". The horse of the Giant Hrugnir, who raced against Odin riding Sleipnir, and lost;
Thorr obtained him when he killed the Giant, but he gave the horse to his son Magni.
Gullinbursti N. One of two boars that drag Freyr's chariot; The other one is Slidrugtanni. Gullinbursti's golden
bristles light up the dark. It was forged by the Dwarf‐smith Brokk.
Gulltop N. "Gold Fringe". Heimdall's horse with a golden mane; He can fly with great speed. Heimdall only
rides him at formal ceremonies, for example when they were going to burn Balder's dead body.
Gullveig, Gollveig, Heid N. "Gold Might" or "Gold Thirst"; Also called "Golden Branch"; "Gleaming One"; A
member of the Vanir who came to live with the Aesir; She was a handmaiden to Freya and taught her
seidr. The gods considered her to be an abomination that did not deserve to live. Three times she was
thrown into the fire in Odin's hall and emerged whole and shining. The attempts to kill her sparked the
war between the Aesir and Vanir. Because they could not kill her, the Gods banished her to Ironwood,
where she is magically bound until Ragnarok. Gullveig may be the Giantess Agnriboda, who bore with
Loki the monsters Hel, Fenrir and the Midgard Serpent.
Gungne, Gungnir N. "Swings When Riding". Odin's magical spear, forged by the Dwarf Brokk; When Odin
threw the spear over an army, it meant that they were going to die in battle and lose the war.
Gunnlod, Gunnlauth, Gunnloed N. Jotun‐Giantess, daughter of Suttung. She guards the Mead of Poetry in an
underground cavern. After Odin spent three nights with her, she let him taste it. Odin swallowed it all in
three gigantic gulps, jumped into his eagle suit and flew back to Asgard with the angry Suttung on the
chase. Nine months later Gunnlod gave birth to Bragi.
Gunnr N ."Battle". Gunnr and Róta and the youngest Norn, called Skuld, ride to choose who shall be slain and
to govern the killings.
Guptas In. a dynasty of kings who reigned in Magadha; the period of their ascendancy has been a subject of
great contention, and cannot be said to be settled.
Gurjjara In. the country of Gujarat
Gybu auja N Give (bring) good luck
Gylfi N. King of Sweden; He gave a beggar‐woman a plough‐land, the size four oxen could plough in a day and
a night, as a reward for the way she had entertained him. This woman, Gefjon, was of the family of the
Æsir. From the north of Giantland she took four oxen (her sons by a giant), yoked them to a plough. The
plough cut went westwards and cut so deep that it rent the land in two. Gefjon called it it Zealand.
Gyllenkamme Rooster in the top of Yggdrasil; He has a gold crest. His task is to count to sixty; sixty times
twelve and then wake up the Norns sleeping around the Urdawell.
Gymir [guy‐meer] The Mountain Giant Gymir is Aurboda's husband. Together they have the son Beli and the
daughter Gerd, a beautiful Giantess who married Freyr.
H
Haihaya In. this name is supposed to be derived from haya, à horse'; a prince of the Lunar race, and great‐
grandson of Yadu; a race or tribe of people to whom a Seythian origin has been ascribed. The Vishnu
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Purana represents them as descendants of Haihaya of the Yadu race, but they are generally associated
with borderers and outlying tribes. In the Vayu and other Puranas, five great divisions of the tribe are
named: Tala‐janghas, Viti‐hotras, Avantis, Tundikeras, and Jatas, or rather Su‐jatas. They conquered
Bahu or Bahuka, a descendant of King Haris‐chandra, and were in their turn conquered, along with
many other barbarian tribes, by King Sagara, son of Bahu. According to the Maha‐bharata, they were
descended from Saryati, a son of Manu. They made incursions into the Doab, and they took the city of
Kasi (Benares), which had been fortified against them by King Divo‐dasa; but the grandson of this king
Pratardana by name, destroyed the Haihayas, and re‐established the kingdom of Kasi. Arjuna‐
Kartavirya, of a thousand arms, was king of the Haihayas, and he was defeated and had his arms cut off
by Parasu‐rama.
Haimavati In. In Hindu myth an appellation of Devi as born of the Himalaya mountains.
Hair of Gold N. The long golden hair of Sif (Thor's wife) was her pride and joy. Loki, as a joke, cut off her hair.
Thor forced Loki to find a way to replace it. Loki persuaded the Dwarves to spin hair of real gold for her.
The hair grew to her skin as soon as it was put on.
Hala‐Bhrit In. bearing a plough; Bala‐rama
Halayudha In. who has a ploughshare for his weapon, i.e., Bala‐rama
Haliarunos N. Wise women of the Gothic tribe who used runes
Hall of Fate N. A beautiful hall near the spring of Urda under Yggdrasil. From it come three Disir called Norns,
whose names are Urdjr, Verdhandi, and Skuld. These women shape the lives of men.
Hall of Judgment N. The gods gathered in council in here.
Hallinskisdi N. Another name for Heimdall.
Hamfarir N. Hamfarir is shapeshifting, traveling around in an assumed shape or form different from one's
usual natural form. The power to do it is called Hamrammr.
Hamingja N. A part of the soul that is passed on from generation to generation, associated with the fylgja.
Hammer of Thor N. Called "Mjöllnir", it hits every target at which it is thrown and always returns to the
thrower's hand.
Hamr N. a shape the soul may take when it leaves the body. Several of the gods are able to change hamr, i.e.
move their soul into another shape or creature. Its appearance directly affects the appearance of the
lyke, or physical body. The hamr goes with the wode upon death and will assist in forming the lyke in
the next incarnation.
Hamskerpir N. "The Thick‐Skinned". Hamskerpir and the mare Gardrofa are the parents of Gna's grey horse
Hoof‐flourisher.
Hangadrott N. "The Hanging God". One of Odin's many names. He can sit by hanged people to gain knowledge
of the land of the dead. Once he went so far as to hang himself from Yggdrasil for nine days, more dead
than alive, increasing his magical powers and runic knowledge.
Hansa In. Hansa and Dimbhaka were two great warrior‐brothers mentioned in the Maha‐bharata as friends of
Jara‐sandha; a certain king also named Hansa was killed by Bala‐rama hearing that “Hansa was killed,”
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Dimbhaka, unable to live without him, committed suicide, and when Hansa heard of this he drowned
himself in the Yamuna.
Hansa In. this, according to the Bhagavata Purana was the name of the “one caste” when, in olden times,
there was only “one Veda, one God, and one caste,” a name used in the Maha‐bharata for Krishna; a
mountain range north of Meru.
Hanuman, Hanumat In. a celebrated monkey chief; He was son of
Pavana, `the wind,’ by Anjana, wife of a monkey named Kesari. He
was able to fly, and is a conspicuous figure in the Ramayana. He
and the other monkeys who assisted Rama in his war against
Ravana were of divine origin, and their powers were superhuman.
Hanuman jumped from India to Ceylon in one bound; he tore up
trees, carried away the Himalayas, seized the clouds, and
performed many other wonderful exploits. His form is “as vast as
a mountain and as tall as a gigantic tower. His complexion is
yellow and glowing like molten gold. His face is as red as the
brightest ruby while his enormous tail spreads out to an
interminable length. He stands on a lofty rock and roars like
thunder. He leaps into the air, and flies among the clouds with a rushing noise, whilst the ocean waves
are roaring and splashing below.” In one of his fights with Ravana and the Rakshasas, they greased his
tail and set it on fire, but to their own great injury, for with it he burnt down their capital city, Lanka.
This exploit obtained for him the name Lanka‐dahi. His services to Rama were great and many. He
acted as his spy, and fought most valiantly. He flew to the Himalayas, from whence he brought
medicinal herbs with which he restored the wounded, and he killed the monster Kala‐nemi, and
thousands of Gandharvas who assailed him. He accompanied Rama on his return to Ayodhya, and there
he received from him the reward of perpetual life and youth. The exploits of Hanuman are favourite
topics among Hindus from childhood to age, and paintings of them are common. He is called Marut‐
putra, and he has the patronymics Anili, Maruti, &c., and the metronymic Anjaneya. He is also Yoga‐
chara, from his power in magic or in the healing art, and Rajata‐dyuti, `the brilliant.’ Among his other
accomplishments, Hanumat was a grammarian; and the Ramayan says, “The chief of monkeys is
perfect; no one equals him in the sastras, in learning, and in ascertaining the sense of the scriptures [or
in moving at will]. In all sciences, in the rules of austerity, he rivals the preceptor of the gods. It is well
known that Hanumat was the ninth author of grammar” – Muir, iv. 490.
Hanuman‐Nataka In. A long drama by various hands upon the adventures of the monkey chief Hanuman. This
drama is fabled to have been composed by Hanuman, and inscribed by him on rocks. Valmiki, the
author of the Ramayana, saw it and feared that it would throw his own poem into the shade. He
complained to the author, who told him to cast the verses into the sea. He did so, and they remained
concealed there for ages. Portions were discovered and brought to King Bhoja, who directed Damodara
Misra to arrange them and fill up the lacunae. He did so, and the result was this drama. “It is probable,”
says Wilson, “that the fragments of an ancient drama were connected in the manner described. Some
of the ideas are poetical, and the sentiments just and forcible; the language is generally very
harmonious, but the work itself is, after all, a most disjointed and nondescript composition, and the
patchwork is very glaringly and clumsily put together.” It is a work of the tenth or eleventh century. It
has been printed in India.
Hapi Eg. the god of the Nile particularly the inundation; he is pictured as a bearded man colored blue or green,
with female breasts, indicating his powers of nourishment; as god of the Northern Nile he wears
papyrus plants on his head, and as god of the southern Nile he wears lotus plants.
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Haptagud N. "God of the Gods". Another name for Odin
Hara In. a name of Siva
Harbard N. "Grey Beard". Another name for Odin.Ferryman disguise used by Odhinn
Hari In. a name which commonly designates Vishnu, but it is exceptionally used for other gods
Hari‐Dwara In. `the gate of Hari’; the modern Hardwar; the place where the Ganges finally breaks through the
mountains into the plains of Hindusthan; it is a great place of pilgrimage.
Hari‐Hara In. a combination of the names of Vishnu and Siva, and representing the union of the two deities in
one, a combination which is differently accounted for.
Haris‐Chandra In. twenty‐eighth king of the Solar race; son of Tri‐sanku; he was celebrated for his piety and
justice; defender of the distressed.
Harita, Harita In. a son of Yuvanaswa of the Solar race; descended from Ikshwaku. From him descended the
Harita‐Angirasas. In the Linga Purana it is said, “The son of Yuvanaswa was Harita, of whom the Haritas
were sons. They were, on the side of Angiras, twice‐born men (Brahmans) of Kshatriya lineage;” or
according to the Vayu, “they were the sons of Angiras, twice‐born men (Brahmans), of Kshatriya race,”
possibly meaning that they were sons raised up to Harita by Angiras. According to some he was a son of
Chyavana; author of a Dharma‐sastra or law‐book.
Harits, Haritas In. 'green'; in the Rig‐veda the horses or rather mares, of the sun, seven or ten in number, and
typical of his rays. “The prototype of the Grecian Charities.” – Max Muller.
Hari‐Vansa In. the genealogy of Hari or Vishnu; a long poem of 16,374 verses. It purports to be a part of the
Maha‐bharata, but it is of much later date, and “may more accurately be ranked with the Pauranik
compilations of least authenticity and latest date.” It is in three parts; the first is introductory, and gives
particulars of the creation and of the patriarchal and regal dynasties; the second contains the life and
adventures of Krishna: and the last and the third treats of the future of the world and the corruptions
of the Kali age. It contains many indications of its having been written in the south of the India.
Harn N. "Flax". The Goddess of flax‐dressing
Hárr N. "The High‐One". Another name of Odin
Hárr's Hall N. One of Odin's Halls
Harshana In. a deity who presides over the Sraddha offerings
Harts N. Four harts (deer) gnaw the high branches of Yggdrasil: Dáin, Dvalin, Duneyr, and Durathrór.
Haryaswa In. A grandson of the Kuvalayaswa who killed the demon Dhundhu; the country of Panchala is said
to have been named from his five (Pancha) sons. There were several others of this name.
Haryaswas In. Five thousand sons of the patriarch Daksha, begotten by him for the purpose of peopling the
earth. The sage Narada dissuaded them from producing offspring, and they “dispersed themselves
through the regions and have not returned.”
Hastina‐Pura In. The capital city of the Kauravas for which the great war of the Maha‐bharata was waged. It
was founded by Hastin, son of the first Bharata, and hence, as some say, its name; but the Maha‐
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bharata and the Vishnu Purana call it the “elephant city,” from hastin, an elephant. The ruins are
traceable near an old bead of the Ganges, about 57 miles N.E. of Delhi, and local tradition has
preserved the name. It is said to have been washed away by the Ganges.
Hasyarnava In. òcean of laughter’; a modern comic piece in two acts, by a Pandit named Jagadisa. “It is a
severe but grossly indelicate satire upon the licentiousness of Brahmans assuming the character of
religious mendicants.” – Wilson.
Hater of Byrnies N. A kenning for the Tyrfing, a magic sword forged by the Dwarves Durin and Dvalin. The
sword killed most of the people who have owned it.
Hathor Eg. Hathor was the goddess of joy, motherhood, and love; Hathor was originally worshipped in the
form of a cow, sometimes as a cow with stars on her; Later she is represented as a woman with the
head of a cow, and finally with a human head, the face broad and placid, sometimes she is depicted
with the ears or horns of a cow.
Hati & Skoll N. The wolves chasing the sun and moon, sons of Fenrir.
Hati Hrodvitnisson N. "One Who Hates"; A wolf that runs in front of the Lightdisir Sun and her horses over the
sky; Skoll is the wolf that runs behind Sun. They are the Fenrir wolf's sons and live in the Ironforest.
Havir‐Bhuj, Havish‐Mata In. Pitris or Manes of the Kshatriyas; inhabitants of the solar sphere
Hawks N. A kenning for 'warriors'.
Haya‐Griva In. `horse‐necked’; According to one legend, a Daitya who stole the Veda as it slipped out of the
mouth of Brahma while he was sleeping at the end of a kalpa, and was killed by Vishnu in the Fish
Avatara. According to another, Vishnu himself, who assumed this form to recover the Veda, which had
been carried off by two Daityas.
Haya‐Siras, Haya‐Sirsha In. `horse‐head’; In the Maha‐bharata it is recorded that the sage Aurva (q.v.) “cast
the fire of his anger into the sea,” and that it there “became the great Haya‐siras, known to those
acquainted with the Veda, which vomits forth that fire and drinks up the waters.” a form of Vishnu.
Heaven N. According to Snorri there are three heavens. First, mankind's heaven called Asgard. Second, to the
south and above Asgard is another place called Andlang. And third, above Andlang is a place called
Vidbláin.
Hector Gk. son of King Priam of Troy and his wife, Hecuba; Trojan hero and warrior
Hecuba Gk. the second wife of Priam, king of the city of Troy; the mother of Hector, Paris, Polydorus, and
Cassandra
Hedjet Eg. a white crown; this was the crown of Upper Egypt (southern)
Heidh‐rún N. The positive aspects of a given runestave; "bright‐stave".
Heidi N. A witch from the 'Song of the Sybil’ raised from the dead by Odin. A farseeing witch, wise in talismans,
caster of spells, cunning in magic; Odin gave her arm‐rings and necklaces to learn her lore, to see
through all the worlds.
Heidr N. A cunning‐woman or "witch."
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Heidrun N. "Heath‐Run". The goat on roof of Valhalla that feeds from branches of the World Tree; from her
four udders come range beer, old beer, honey mead and wine for the Einheriar.
Heilar N. omens. If confirmations of the results of a divination are needed, omens should be taken. This is a
traditional part of old Germanic (and Indo‐European) divination&emdash; the necessity for
"corroborating evidence" from another medium.
Heimdall, Heimdal N. "Heaven's Mount". He is also called
"the Son of the Waves" because he was born from
the Nine Waves (Aegir's daughters) by Odin's
enchantment. On the first day a boat drifted
towards the shores of mankind, Aurvanga‐land. In
the boat was a little boy, Heimdall, sent by the
Gods. He slept on a sheaf of corn, surrounded by all
manner of treasures and tools. The humans
accepted him gladly, and raised him calling him Rig.
He taught them to kindle the holy fire, instructed
them in runic wisdom, taught them workmanship
and handicraft, organized their society, and
originated and stabilized the three classes of men as
spoken of in the Song of Rig. Heimdall lived long as
a man among men, and the age of his rulership was
a golden age of peace and prosperity. Heimdall
bedded three different females who all bore
children, ancestors to three different classes; earls,
farmers and serfs. When he died, his boat returned
to take him back. The sorrowing humans laid his
corpse in the boat, and surrounded it with his
treasures and weapons. The boat then sailed back
to Vanaheimr, where Heimdall was stripped of his
aged human shape, regained his eternal youth and
was taken into Asgard. Asa‐God of Light and the rainbow; "The White God"; he is the Guardian of
Bifrost bridge. He stands at the gate and is brilliant in white armor. His teeth are gold. He has a great
sword. He is a fierce warrior and very handsome. He has super‐sight and super‐hearing. He sleeps less
than a bird. He can hear the grass grow and see hundreds of miles away. Heimdall carries a sword and
the Gjallar horn. When a God comes to the gate, he blows the horn softly. At Ragnarok, he will blow the
Gjall horn in warning and it will be heard throughout the nine worlds. His horse's name is Golden
Forelock.
Hel Bridge, Gjoll N. Hel is a very immaterial place, so when Hermód came from heaven and stood on it, it
shook more than five troops of dead men crossing it on horseback. It is thatched with gleaming gold
and the maiden who guards it is called Módgud. From the bridge over the river Gjöll the road to Hel lies
downwards and northwards.
Hel, Hela N. Giant Goddess of Death and the Underworld which takes her name; She rules Helheimr
(Gniprhel, Niflhel), the home of the dead who have not died in battle. She was sent into Nifiheim by
Odin, who gave her authority over life in the nine worlds, on the condition that she shared all her
provisions with those who were sent to her, those who die from disease or old age. She has a great
homestead there with extraordinarily high walls and huge gates. She is the daughter of Angrboda and
Loki, sister to Jormungand, Fenrir and Narfi. She is described as half black, half flesh‐covered.
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Hel, Helheim, Helgardh, Niflhel N.

One of the nine worlds, ruled
by Hel. It is the abode of the
dead who are not killed in
battle. Most people end up
here when they die. While cold,
it is not a terrible place. It is not
the same as the Christian
concept of Hell. Realm of the
instincts; Abode of stillness and
inertia – unconsciousness; The
final resting place of the soul of
the non‐Erulian
Helblindi N. "The one who binds to

death". A Water‐Giant; His
parents are Farbauti and
Laufey. The trickster Loki and
the Storm‐Giant Byleist are his
brothers.
Helen Gk. Known as Helen of Troy

(and earlier Helen of Sparta);
the daughter of Zeus and Leda
(or Nemesis); The wife of King
Menelaus of Sparta; the one
who abducted by Paris and
brought about the Trojan War.
Helen and Paris
Helenus Gk. son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy; the twin brother of the prophetess Cassandra; He
was also called Scamandrios.
Helgrind N. "Death Gate". The gate between the land of the living and the land of the dead
Heliades Gk. they were the three sisters in Greek mythology; Aegiale, Aegle, and Aetheria; the brother of
Phaeton and they were daughters of Helios, the sun god. Heliades means "children of the sun".
Helikon (or Helicon) Gk. mountain of Boiotian in central Greece and its god; his peak lay in western of Boiotia
near Phokis, and was famed for its shrine of the Mousai (Muses).
Helle Gk. the goddess of the Hellespont Sea bridging the Aegean and Black Seas; mortal princess, the daughter
of King Athamas of Boiotia by the cloud‐nymphe Nephele
Hellen Gk. the son of Deuchalion and Pyrrha; he became the forefather of the Greeks (Hellenes); his sons were
Aeolus, Dorus and Xuthos: forefathers of the Aeolian, Dorian, Achaean and Ionian peoples.
Hellespont Gk. the ancient Greek name for the Dardanelles Strait which separates European Turkey from
Asian Turkey; a Strait connecting the Black Sea and the Aegean approximately 37 miles (60 kilometers)
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long and up to 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) wide. The name literally means Helle’s sea because it was
named after the maiden, Helle, when she fell from the back of the flying ram with the Golden Fleece
and drowned in the sea below. The ram's fleece was later hung in a grove and guarded by a dragon.
Hellos (or Helius) Gk. the Titan god of the sun; the guardian of oaths and the god of gift of sight; depicted as a
handsome, and usually beardless, man clothed in purple robes and crowned with the shining aureole of
the sun; His sun‐chariot was drawn by four steeds, sometimes winged.
Hema‐Chandra In. author of a good Sanskrit vocabulary printed under the superintendence of Colebrooke
Hemadri In. `the golden mountain,’ i.e., Meru
Hema‐Kuta In. `golden peak’; a chain of mountains represented as lying north of the Himalayas, between
them and Mount Meru.
Hephaestus Gk. was a Greek god whose Roman equivalent was Vulcan; the son of Zeus and Hera, the King and
Queen of the Gods or else (according to some accounts) of Hera alone); the god of technology,
blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes.
Hera Gk. the Olympian queen of the gods and the goddess of women and marriage; the wife and one of three
sisters of Zeus in the Olympian pantheon of classical Greek Mythology; the goddess of the sky and
starry heavens; depicted as a beautiful woman wearing a crown and holding a royal, lotus‐tipped staff.
Heracles Gk. the greatest of

all heroes in Greek
mythology; the
strongest man on
earth; Besides
tremendous physical
strength, he had great
self‐confidence and
considered himself
equal to the gods; son
of Zeus and the
woman Alcmena, who
the god seduced in
the shape of her
husband Amphitryon,
king of Thebes . He
also had a twin
brother, Iphicles, who
was one night
younger and the son
of Amphitryon; more
commonly known by
the Romanized
version of his name,
Hercules Hercules and the Stymphalian birds
Hercules Rom. god of victory and commercial enterprise
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Herfjötur N. "War‐Fetter". A Valkyrie who serves ale to the Einheriar in Valhalla; She often rides down to
Midgard to pick the human warriors that are brave enough to go to Valhalla.
Herjan N. "Raider". Another name for Odin.
Hermes Gk. The great messenger of the gods in Greek mythology and additionally a guide to the Underworld.
Hermes was born on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia; the son of Zeus and the nymph Maia, daughter of Atlas
and one of the Pleiades; the god of shepherds, land travel, merchants, weights and measures, oratory,
literature, athletics and thieves, and known for his cunning and shrewdness; his symbols include the
tortoise, the rooster, the winged sandals, the winged hat, and the caduceus.
Hermione Gk. was the only daughter of Menelaus and Helen; grand‐daughter of Leda, the mother of Helen
Hermod, Hermodh N. "Fast". Asa Messenger of the Gods; The brave Hermod is the son of Odin and Frigga.

Odin gave him the task to ride down to Nifilhel to bring Balder home after he had been shot by his
brother Hodur. He rode to Hel on Sleipnir, Odin's eight legged horse, for nine nights down dales so
deep and dark that he saw nothing, until he reached the river Gjöll. He crossed the bridge and soon
reached the gates of Hel over which Sleipner leaped easily. Hel said that if everything in the universe,
dead or alive, wept for Balder then she would release him. Balder gave him Odin's arm‐ring, Draupnir,
to take back to Odin in remembrance of him. The Æsir sent messengers throughout the worlds to ask all
to weep for Balder; but a giantess called Thökk (Loki in disguise) refused to weep, so Balder stayed in
Hel. Hermod represents honor and bravery.
Hero Gk. priestess of Aphrodite in Sestos; her lover, Leander, swam the Hellespont nightly from Abydos to see
her
Herodotus Gk. was an ancient Greek historian who was born in Halicarnassus, Caria and lived in the 5th
century BC.; he has been called the "Father of History" since he was the first historian known to collect
his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange them in a well‐
constructed and vivid narrative.
Herse (or Ersa) Gk. was the goddess of the plant‐nourishing dew; the daughter of the sky‐god Zeus and moon
goddess Selene. Herse may be the same as Pandeia, a daughter of the same gods described in the
Homeric Hymns. Another Herse, described as a daughter of Kekrops, was worshipped by the Athenians.
Herteit N. "Glad of War"; another name for Odin.
Hervor N. She is a Valkryie daughter of Hlovde who took Volund the smith as her lover. She, along with two
other Valkryies, had flown to earth seeking love. The Norns forced each to leave their husbands after
nine years, never to return.
Hesiod Gk. Was a Greek oral poet generally thought by scholars to have been active between 750 and 650 BC.
Since at least Herodotus's time, Hesiod and Homer have generally been considered the earliest Greek
poets whose work has survived, and they are often paired. Hesiod's writings serve as a major source on
Greek mythology, farming techniques, early economic thought (he is sometimes identified as the first
economist), archaic Greek astronomy and ancient time‐keeping.
Hesione Gk. a daughter of Laomedon, and consequently a sister of Priam; she was a Trojan princess, daughter
of King Laomedon of Troy, and second wife of King Telamon of Salamis.
Hesper Gk. the evening star
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Hesperia Gk. a daughter of the river Cebren loved by Aesacus who stepped on a poisonous serpent and died;
one of the Hesperides
Hesperides Gk. the daughter of atlas, who guarded trees with golden leaves, golden branches and golden
apple
Hestia Gk. The virgin goddess of the hearth (both private and municipal) and the home. As the goddess of the
family hearth she also presided over the cooking of bread and the preparation of the family meal;
Hestia was also the goddess of the sacrificial flame and received a share of every sacrifice to
the gods; The cooking of the communal feast of sacrificial meat was naturally a part of her domain; In
myth Hestia was the first born child of Kronos and Rhea who was swallowed by her father at birth.
Hestia was depicted in Athenian vase painting as a modestly veiled woman sometimes holding a
flowered branch (of a chaste tree ?); In classical sculpture she was also veiled, with a kettle as her
attribute.
Hevring N. "Heaving"; One of Aegir and Ran's nine wave daughters who are said to be the mothers of
Heimdall, the guardian of the Bifrost bridge.
Hidge, Hugh or Hugr N. The cognitive part of the soul, the intellect or "mind".
Hidimba (mas.), Hidimba (fem.) In. a powerful Asura who has yellow eyes and a horrible aspect; he was a
cannibal, and dwelt in the forest to which the Pandavas retired after the burning of their house. He had
a sister named Hidimba, whom he sent to lure the Pandavas to him; but on meeting with Bhima, she
fell in love with him, and offered to carry him away to safety on her back. Bhima refused, and while
they were parleying, Hidimba came up, and a terrible fight ensued, in which Bhima killed the monster.
Hidimba was at first much terrified and fled, but she returned and claimed Bhima for her husband. By
his mother’s desire Bhima married her, and by her had a son named Ghatotkacha.
Hieracosphinx Eg. one of three varieties of Egyptian sphinx; having the head of a hawk
Hieratic Eg. from the Greek word meaning "sacred,"; although this form of the written language was used
throughout Egyptian history, its name comes from the later periods when it was used only in religious
texts.
Hieroglyph Eg. the Egyptian picture language; From the Greek word meaning "sacred carving"; The symbols
are individual pictures that do not join together.
High priest Eg. the head of the local priesthood
Hilara Gk. the laughter‐loving; daughter of Apollo; one of the daughters of Leucippus in the story of Castor and
Polux
Hilda, Hildr N. "Battle". A Valkyrie who serves ale to the Einheriar in Valhalla; Göndul, Hildr and Skögul, are the
most noble Valkyries in Asgard. Their task is to choose the men permitted to go to Valhalla. Hildr
personifies the unforgiving war.
Hildeberg "Battle Fortress"; Valkyrie
Hildegun N. "Battle War". A Valkyrie; The Light‐Disir Hildegun was kidnapped when she was young and
married to the emperor of the Dwarves, Ivaldi. Their children are Idun, Hjuki and Bil.
Hildisvin N. "Battle Pig". A great sow belonging to Freya; She travels at great speeds and is sometimes riden by
Freya.
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Hildolf ("Battle Wolf") Mentioned in Hárbarrdsljó, Hildolf lives at Rathsey's sound.
Hildskjalf [hlid‐skyalf] ‐ The throne of Odhinn, located in Valaskjalf, from which he can see all the nine worlds
Himachala, Himadri In. the Himalaya mountains
Himavat In. the personification of the Himalaya mountains; husband of Mena or Menaka, and father of Uma
and Ganga
Himeros (or Himerus) Gk. was the god of sexual desire; one of the young Erotes (winged Love‐Gods); at others
times he appears as one of a triad of love gods, his brothers being Eros and Pothos (Love and Passion).
Himinbjorg N. "Cliffs of Heaven" or "Mountain in the Clouds". Heimdall's hall in Asgard, located at heaven's
end where the bridge Bifröst joins heaven.
Himinglava N. "The sky shines through". One of Aegir and Ran's nine wave‐daughters who are said to be the
mothers of Heimdall, the guardian of the Bifrost bridge
Himinhrjot, Himinhrjotur N. "Heavens Clearer" Giant Hymir's huge breeding bull with half‐moon shaped
horns, the largest of his oxen. Thor used its head as bait while fishing for the Midgard Serpent.
Hindu Mythology In. The Hindus have created a rich, complex mythology which is still very much alive.
Hundreds of millions of people continue to believe in the multitudes of gods which inhabit the Hindu
pantheon. This tapestry of religion is the result of millennia of integration. The Indian sub‐continent has
been a crossroad for several cultures, and the Indian people have incorporated numerous ideas from
different faiths. In early Hindu belief, which still holds true, for nothing in Hinduism is ever discarded,
this Universal whole was called Brahmam. All beings and things, from the gods and demons, through
humans, on to the lowliest pebble on the beach, were and are part of this One. In later times, the
neuter Brahmam became equated with the masculine Brahma, but the original idea is still very much a
part of Hindu thought.
Hippocrene Gk. was the name of a fountain on Mt. Helicon; it was sacred to the Muses and was formed by the
hooves of Pegasus. Its name literally translates as "Horse's Fountain" and the water was supposed to
bring forth poetic inspiration when imbibed.
Hippodamia Gk. was a daughter of King Oenomaus and mother of Agamemnon, Aegisthus, Pittheus and
Menelaus, Alacathous by Pelops.; her name is borne by the asteroid 692 Hippodamia
Hippodamia Gk. was the bride of King Pirithous of the Lapiths; at their wedding, Hippodamia, the other female
guests, and the young boys were almost abducted by the centaurs. Pirithous and his friend, Theseus,
led the Lapiths to victor over the centaurs. With Pirithous, she mothered Polypoetes.
Hippolyta (or Hippolyte) Gk. is the Amazonian queen who possessed a magical girdle given by her father Ares,
the god of war; The girdle was a waist belt that signified her authority as queen of the Amazons.
Hippolytus Gk. was a son of Theseus and either Antiope or Hippolyte; he was identified with the Roman forest
god who had dedicated himself to Artemis; he was a good hunter and charioteer and rejected all
women. He even despised Aphrodite, which made the goddess take revenge by making his stepmother
Phaedra fall desperately for him.

Hippomedon Gk. was one of the Seven against Thebes and father of Polydorus; His father was either Talaus,
the father of Adrastus, or Aristomachus (son of Talaus), or Mnesimachus. If he is the son of
Mnesimachus, then his mother is Metidice, daughter of Talaus, which makes him Adrastus's sister's
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son. He lived either at Mycenae or near the lake Lerna in Peloponessus. Aeschylus describes him as very
large and powerful. He bears a fire‐breathing typhon on his shield and attacks the gate of Athena Onca,
but is killed in the battle by Ismarus; also known as Melanion, the husband of Atalanta.
Hippomenes Gk. was the husband of Atalanta whom he beat in race by dropping golden apples which she
stopped to pick up; a son of Megareus of Onchestus, and a great grandson of Poseidon.
Hippotades Gk. a name given to Aeolus, the son of Hippotes; King of the Winds
Hiranya‐Garbha In. `Golden egg’ or `golden womb’; In the Rig‐veda Hiranya‐garbha “is said to have arisen in
the beginning, the one lord of all beings, who upholds heaven and earth, who gives life and breath,
whose command even the gods obey, who is the god over all gods, and the one animating principle of
their being.” According to Many, Hiranya‐garbha was Brahma, the first male, formed by the
indiscernible eternal First Cause in a golden egg resplendent as the sun. “Having continued a year in the
egg, Brahma divided it into two parts by his mere thought, and with these two shells he formed the
heavens and the earth; and in the middle he placed the sky, the eight regions, and the eternal abode of
the waters.”
Hiranya‐Kasipu In. `Golden dress’; a Daitya who, according to the Maha‐bharata and the Puranas, obtained
from Siva the sovereignty of the three worlds for a million of years, and persecuted his son Prahlada for
worshipping Vishnu. He was slain by Vishnu in the Nara‐sinha, or man‐lion incarnation. He and
Hiranyaksha were twin‐brothers and chiefs of the Daityas.
Hiranyaksha In. `Golden eye’; a Daitya who dragged the earth to the depths of the ocean; he was twin‐brother
of Hiranyakasipu, and was killed by Vishnu in the Boar incarnation.
Hitopadesa In. `Good advice’; the well‐known collection of ethical tales and fables compiled from the larger
and older work called Pancha‐tantra. It has been often printed, and there are several translations;
among them is an edition by Johnson of text, vocabulary, and translation.
Hjámberi N. "The Helmeted One"; a by‐name of Odi
Hjolgaddsringr N. The Wheel‐nail‐rung, the Arctic Circle.
Hjuki N. Hjuki and his sister Bil were sent up to the moon with a bowl full of mead. There they follow the
moon on its way around the earth. Their parents are Ivaldi and the Disir Hildegun.
Hlautar N. Lots, rune‐staves
Hlaut‐tein N. Lot‐twig, or "blood‐twig", i.e. rune lots.
Hlaut‐vidhar N. Lot woods.
Hlebard N. The Giant who gave Odin the magic wand, Gambantein; When Odin got the wand he made
Hlebard lose his mind.
Hler N. Primal water God, also called Aegir.
Hlesey Island N. "Island of the Sea God"; an island near the undersea hall of Aegir and Ran.
Hlidskialf N. Odin's high throne in Valaskjalf from which he sees and understands everybody in the world
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Hlin N. “The one who takes pity. She is a Goddess of compassion and consolation; Frigga's second attendant.
She was sent to kiss away the tears of mourners and pour balm into hearts wrung by grief. She also
listened to the prayers of mortals, carrying them to her mistress, and advising her at times how best to
answer them and give the desired relief. She protects people whom Frigga wishes to "save" from a
danger.
Hlodyn N. Jörd.
Hlokk N. "Noise" or "Din of Battle"; A Valkyrie who serves ale to the Einheriar in Valhalla; Hlokk often rides
down to Midgard to pick the human warriors that are brave enough to go to Valhalla.
Hlutr N. Lot for divination, a talismanic object; A small portable image of a deity
Hnikar, Hnikud N. "Spear Thrower"; one of the personas of Odin
Hnitbjorg N. Hall of the Giant Suttung, where he kept Mead of Poetry, guarded by his daughter, Gunnlöd
Hnitibjörg's Sea N. A kenning for any for intoxicating liquor, Hnitbjorg is where the great Mead of Poetry was
hidden .
Hnoss, Hnossi N. "Treasure". Goddess of beauty, Freya's daughter (see also Gersemi); She is so lovely that
whatever is beautiful and valuable is called "treasure" from her name.
Hod, Hodur N. "War". An immensely strong As, son of Odin and Frigg. Hodur was hunting in Iron‐Wood and
stayed overnight in a cave, where a witch bewitched him with a magical potion so that he was tricked
into swearing an oath to gain the love of Nanna, Baldur's betrothed. The magical potion filled Hodur's
heart with a burning love for his brother's fiancee. When he woke up the next morning he was filled
with shame, but nevertheless he was bound by his oath to betray his brother (a sign of Ragnarok).
When Volund and Aurvandil handed over Freyr to the Giants, Hodur and Baldur, under the direction of
Njord, tracked them down to northernmost wilderness of the world. An attempt at reconciliation
totally failed, and resulted in an archer's duel between Hodur and Aurvandil. Aurvandil proved himself
to be superior, but Hodur was not hurt. After Aurvandil left the Elves' citadel at Elivogar, many Giants
crossed the border. Hodur joined these, and organized them to do battle with the Gods, but was
defeated. Baldur brought his repentant brother (who was then blind from battle) back to Asgard.
Shortly thereafter, Hodur was tricked by Loki into shooting an arrow made of mistletoe at Baldr,
causing his death. Loki knew that Hodur was the only one of the Æsir, who could possibly be suspected
of wishing to harm Baldur. The blood‐revenge for Balder's death was inescapable, even to the Gods,
but no one could be found within Asgard who would slay Hodur, for this would deprive Odin of yet
another of his sons. The Gods were in danger of being unable to fulfill their duty of revenge. Vali was
born to destroy Hodur. Vali was only one day old when he killed Hodur. Hodur will return from the
dead after Ragnarok to rebuild Hropt's Hall, and the brothers will become friends again.
Hoddmimir N. "Treasure of Mimir". Another name for Yggdrasil,
Hoddmimir's Holt or Wood N. Where the humans, Life & Leifthrasir, will hide while the world is being burned
by Surt during Ragnarok. They are the two human survivors of Ragnarok who will repopulate world.
Hoenir, Honir N. An Asa‐God, who displayed aggressiveness and bravery; He was a great warrior but not
clever. After the battle between the Æsir and Vanir, he was exchanged as a hostage (for the Vanir God
Njord) to the Vanirs along with the very wise Mimir. The Vanirs took Hoenir to their leader, but when
he remained silent, Vanir beheaded Mimir and sent his head back to Odin in retaliation. He was one of
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the gods that was present at the creation of man (the other two were Lodur and Odin). He will be one
of the gods who will survive Ragnarok.
Hofvarpnir N. "Hoof‐thrower". Magic horse of the Goddess Gna, who was Frigga's messenger; It travels across
sky and sea, offspring of Hamskerpir and Gardrofa.
Holda, Holle, Holla, Hulda N. "The Dark Grandmother" These are German names for a Goddess who rules the
weather‐‐sunshine, snow, rain. She dwells at the bottom of a well, rides a wagon, and gives the gift of
flax and spinning. She is the goddess to whom children who died as infants go.
Homer Gk. In classical tradition is the ancient Greek epic poet, author of the epic poems the Iliad and the
Odyssey, the Homeric Hymns and other works. Homer's epics stand at the beginning of the western
canon of literature, exerting enormous influence on the history of fiction and literature in general.
Homeric Hymns Gk. Are a collection of thirty‐three poems. They are written in dactylic hexameter, which is a
six part rhythmic writing scheme used frequently in classical mythology. They have long been
misunderstood as shorter poems written by the famous Homer. They were in fact, written by different
anonymous individuals who lived between 500BC to the Hellenistic period, which ended around
100BC. In reality, they are named as such because they have a similar style, language and rhyming
scheme as the Homeric epics. Famous examples of Homer include The Iliad and The Odyssey.
Honos Rom. god of chivalry, honor and military justice
Horg, Haerg N. Altar. Originally this referred to an outdoor altar made of stone.
Hörgr N. Pagan place of worship, an altar covered by a tent or canopy, also known as træf
Horn N. An aspect of Freya as Giver of Flax.
Horn of plenty Gk. a goat's horn filled with grain, flowers, and fruit symbolizing prosperity. In Greek
mythology, Amalthea was a goat who raised Zeus on her breast milk, in a cave, on Mount Ida of Crete.
Her horn was accidentally broken off by Zeus while playing together. The god Zeus, in remorse, gave
her back her horn with supernatural powers, which would give whoever possessed it whatever
they wished for. The original depictions were of the goat's horn filled with fruits and flowers: deities,
especially Fortuna, were depicted with the horn of plenty. The cornucopia was also a symbol for a
woman's fertility
Horse N. The animal that is sacred to Odin.
Horses of the Sea N. A kenning for boats.
Horus Eg. a falcon headed god; Horus was so important to the state religion that Pharaohs were considered
his human manifestation and even took on the name Horus.
Horus name Eg. a king's name; it identifies the king with a form of the god Horus
Hotri In. a priest who recites the prayers from the Rig‐veda
Howe N. A type of burial mound.
Hraesvelg, Hrelsweg, Hrœsvelg N. "Corpse‐Eater". Wind‐Giant.The giant eagle that sits at the top of Yggdrasi;.
From his wings comes the north wind. He is always arguing with the dragon Nidhoggr. Between the
eagle's eyes sits a hawk.
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Hrafn N. Raven, intelligence and knowledge
Hrauthung N. A ruler of the Giants, father of Agnar and Geirröth.
Hreidmar N. The Giant Hreidmar is a farmer‐magician. He has three sons; Fafnir, Otter, and Regin. He captured
Odin, Loki, and Hœnir for accidentally killing his son, Otter, and would not let them go until Loki
brought him enough gold to cover his sons body inside and out. Loki stole the Nibelung gold to turn
over as ransom. Hreidmar died as a result of the cursed gold, killed by his son Fafnir, who then took
dragon form to guard the gold hoard.
Hridvitner N. Another name for Fenrir wolf.
Hrimfaxi N. Nott's horse; drips from his bit create dew all over the world.
Hrimgrimir, Hrimnir N. "Frost Shrouded". A hideous troll who sits by the gate of Hel, a Frost Giant
Hrimthurs N. The name of the disguised Giant who offered to build Valhalla within eighteen months to protect
the Æsir from Cliff‐Giants. As his reward he wanted Freya as his wife along with Sun and Moon. They
gods agreed only if he could do it before summer. Using his horse, Svadilfari, to draw the huge rocks he
almost succeeded. Loki distracted his horse and he never finished. Soon after, he was revealed as an
evil Giant and was killed by Thor.
Hringhorni N. The name of Balder's ship. His funeral pyre was placed on this boat and it was pushed out to sea
while it burned. His wife, Nanna, who had died from grief, and his horse were also placed on the boat.
Hrishikesa In. a name of Krishna or Vishnu
Hrist N. "The Shaker". A Valkyrie assigned to carry the drinks round and look after the table service and ale‐
cups in Valhalla. Hrist and Mist bring an ale horn to Odin. They are his personal servants.
Hronn N. "Wave Suck". Hronn is one of Aegir and Ran's nine wave‐daughters who are said to be the mothers
of Heimdall, the guardian of the Bifrost Bridge.
Hropt, Hroptatyr N. "The Doomer". Another name for Odin in Valhalla
Hropt's Hall N. Valhalla, Odin's Hall.
Hrossthjofur N. Brother to Gullveig & Loki
Hrotte N. The sword Hrotte was a part of the gold treasure guarded by the dragon Fafni. It was taken by
Sigurdr Fafnisbari when he had killed the dragon.
Hrungnir, Rungnir N. The strongest of the Giants, had a stone heart with three points on it. His head and
shield were also made of stone. He wagered with Odin about who had the better horse. Odin won race
to the As‐gates where the Æsir invited Hrungnir in for a drink. Hrungnir got drunk and threatened to
remove Valhalla, bury Asgard, kill the Gods, and take Freyia and Sif with him. He was challenged by
Thor to a battle. When Thorr killed him, a piece of the Giant's whetstone lodged in Thorr's head.
Hrungnir's horse, Gullfaxi, was given by Thorr to his son, Magni.
Hrym N. Leader of the Giants, who will steer the great ship Naglfar at Ragnarok
Hugauga N. The mind's eye used for purposes of magical visualization. Identical with the ajña chakra, or "third
eye" in the forehead.
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Hughr N. The hughr is the conscious part of the soul, the thought process. The hughr is said to go to either
Valhalla, Hel or to some other godly abode upon death.
Hugi, Huge N. Hugi is the personification of the Giant Utgardh‐Loki's thoughts. When the Æsirs visited
Utgardh, Hugi competed with the fast human boy, Tjalfi. Huge won because thought always is faster.
Huginn & Munnin N. "Thought" and "Memory"; Odin's two ravens. These Giant ravens bring news of the nine
worlds to Odin.
Hugrúnar, Hugrunes N. Mind runes, by which one gains intelligence; closely related to Malrunes are the
Hugrunes (or Hog runes); The word is related to the name of one of Odin's two attendant ravens,
Huginn, "Thought". These are the mind‐power runes. Traditionally they should be written upon the
runemaster's chest and 'secret parts'. Their function is to bring mental excellence to the user. As in
former times, Hugrunes are one of the most powerful and effective means of mind‐consciousness.
Huldra, Hulder N. Female wood‐ or mountain –sprites; they are very beautiful and lure men, but may be
revealed by their cowtail; A runic charm, a "smjorhnutter" was carved on top of freshly churned butter
so that the hulder would not steal it. See Huldru‐folk.
Huldru‐folk N. The "hidden folk" are halfway in nature between trolls and landvaettir. They are peoples of the
mound and forest, not slain by sunlight, but who often try to capture mortals by tricks and magic. They
can be both helpful and harmful to humans. They are keepers of magical wisdom, generally related to
the lore of plants and healing, though they also cause sickness at times.
Hunas In. According to Wilson, “the White Huns or Indo‐Scythians, who were established in the Panjab and
along the Indus at the commencement of our era, as we know from Arrian, Strabo, and Ptolemy,
confirmed by recent discoveries of their coins,” and since still further confirmed by inscriptions and
additional coins. Dr. Fitzedward Hall says, “I am not prepared to deny that the ancient Hindus, when
they spoke of the Hunas, intended the Huns. In the Middle Ages, however, it is certain that a race called
Huna was understood by the learned of India to form a division of the `Kshatriyas.”
Hun‐Desa In. the country round Lake Manasarovara
Hunger N. Hunger is the Death Goddess Hel's plate. It is probably in her dark stronghold, Eljudnir in Nifilhel.
Hurler N. A kenning for Thor.
Hushka Huvishka In. a Tushkara or Turki king, whose name is mentioned in the Raja Tarangini as Hushka,
which has been found in inscriptions as Huvishka, and upon the corrupt Greek coins as Oerki. He is
supposed to have reigned just at the commencement of the Christian era.
Hvedrungs N. Another name for Fenrir.
Hvergelmir N. A mountain located in Hel on which is found the world mill. It is the worst place of all, where
the Nidhogg dragon knaws on the evil dead.
Hvergelmir Spring N. "Seething Cauldron"; The Well of Hvergelmir, guarded by the dragon Nidhogg; In
Niflheim, it lies under a root of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. It is the lowest level of the Well of Wyrd, from
which the forces of primal water holding yeast and venom flow.
Hyacinth (or Hyacinthus) Gk. is a divine hero from Greek mythology; the son of Clio and Pierus, King of
Macedonia. Hyacinth was a beautiful youth beloved by the god Apollo. According to myth, the two
attempted to beat each other in discus. They took turns throwing it, until Apollo, to impress his lover,
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threw it with all his might. Hyacinth ran to catch it, to inturn impress Apollo, and was struck by the
discus as it fell to the ground ‐ he died.
Hyades Gk. they are a sisterhood of nymphs that bring rain; the Hyades were daughters of Atlas (by either
Pleione or Aethra, one of the Oceanides) and sisters of Hyas in most tellings, although one version gives
their parents as Hyas and Boe.
Hyde N. Body shape or image; the quasi‐physical part of the soul which gives a person shape and form; It may
be collected and reformed by magical power (hamingja) according to will (hugr).
Hydra Gk. a fabulous nine‐

headed water‐snake
which grew two heads for
every one which was cut
off; Heracles defeated the
beast by applying a
burning brand to the
severed neck stumps.

Hyge N. Thought, intuition.

Hydra
Hygea Gk. goddess of Health, said sometimes to be daughter of
Aesculapius

Hygea
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Hylas Gk. The armor‐bearer of Hercules who was very dear to him. He was drawn under the water by a water
nymph who fell in love with him. As she tried to kiss him, she threw her arms around his neck and drew
him down into the depths and he was seen no more.
Hyllus Gk. (Hyllos) a Lydian giant
Hylonome Gk. A female centaur who killed herself when her

husband the centaur Cyllarus was slain in the battle with
the Lapiths.
Hym, Hymir N. Tyr's foster father; the violent Giant Hymir can
smash massive stone columns with power from his eyes.
His mother had 1,800 heads and his wife has 900 heads.
He owns the kettle Seaboiler which is miles deep. He was
fishing with Thor when Thor caught Jormungand. A
terrible battle ensued. Hymir panicked and cut the line
and let loose the Serpent, so Thorr punched him
overboard.
Hymen Gk. HYMENAIOS (Hymen or Hymenaeus) was the god of
weddings, or more specifically of the wedding hymn which
was sung by the train of the bride as she was led to the
house of the groom. Hymenaios was numbered amongst
the Erotes, the youthful gods of love. As one of the gods of
song, he was usually described as a son of Apollo and a Muse. Hylonome

Hyndla N. Hyndla is a Giantess that rests in death slumber in
a cave. She knows how every God, Giant, Dwarf and Alf is
related to each other. She is great at solving inheritance
disputes. Giantess who keeps the genealogy lists and the
Memory Beer
Hyperboreans Giants Gk. (Gigantes Hyperboreioi) Three

giant sons of the North‐Wind who were the priests of the
fabulous Hyperborean tribe of the far north.
Hyperboreans Gk. (Hyperboreoi) A tribe of blessed men

favoured by Apollo who dwelt in a land of eternal spring far
beyond the wintry moutains of the North‐Wind. They were
happy people who were always banqueting and holding
joyful revelry. They gave Perseus the winged sandals, magic
wallet, and a cap which made the wearer invisible.
Hyperes Gk. (or HYPERENOR) A King of Troizenos in the

Argolis (southern Greece) and founder of the town of
Hypereia. He was a son of Poseidon and the Pleaid Alkyone.
Hyperboreans
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Hyperia Gk. (Hypereia) a Naiad nymph daughter of the river Inachus in southern Greece
Hyperion Gk. the father of the sun, the moon, and the dawn; one of the notable Titans in mythology. One of
the six elder Titans, who represented the light of heaven and the cosmic ordering of days and months.
Hypermnestra Gk. She was the only one of the fifty daughters of Danaus that did not kill her husband, and this
is how it happened: Danaus and his fifty daughters fled in fear of his twin brother Aegyptus. The fifty
sons of Aegyptus followed them, and forced Danaus to make his daughters marry them. Danaus, since
he hated his brother, gave each of his daughters a pin to murder their husbands on their wedding night.
Hypermnestra was the only one who spared her husband, Lynceus. She did this because she fell in love
with him and didn't want to kill him. Because of this, Lynceus made her the ancestress of the kings of
Argives. She was also rewarded by being sent straight to Elysium when she died. Elysium is the land of
Orchards, a wonderful, heavenly place.
Hypnus Gk. (Hypnos) the winged daemon (spirit) of sleep; Hios three sons are Morpheus, Icelus, and
Phantasus
Hypostyle hall Eg. from the Greek word meaning; "bearing pillars"; it is a term used to describe the grand,
outermost halls; they are believed to represent a grove of trees.
Hypsipyle Gk. Daughter of Dionysus’s son Thoas, king of the island of Lemnos. When the women of Lemnos,
furious at their husbands’ betrayal, murdered all the men on the island, Hypsipyle hid her father and
aided his escape. She became queen of the island and welcomed the Argonauts when they landed;
eventually she bore twin sons to the Argonaut Jason.
Hyrieus Gk. the first Lord and Eponym of the town of Hyria in Boiotia (central Greece); he was a son of
Poseidon and the Pleaid Alkyone.
Hyrrokin N. "Fire Smoke". A Jotun‐Giantess with enormous strength, who rides a wolf with a bridle of snakes;
At Balder's wake his ship funeral ship, Ringhorne, had to be shoved, burning, into the sea, but the gods
couldn't even budge the huge ship. Even Thor gave up, and the Gods sent for Hyrrokkin. The formidable
giantess lauched the ship with a mighty shove
Hysminae Gk. (Hysminai) the personifications of fighting, ruthless spirits of the battlefield
I
Iacchus Gk. (Iakkhos) A torch‐bearing deity of the processions of the Eleusinian Mysteries who personified the
ritual cry "iakkhe". He was a demi‐god or daimon attendant of the goddess Demeter and the leader‐in‐
chief of the Eleusinian Mysteries. He personified the ritual cry of joy iakhe of the procession of the
initiates. Iakkhos was depicted as a young man holding the twin torches of the Mysteries, usually in the
company of Demeter, Kore and other Eleusinian gods.
Ialebion Gk. a co‐King of Liguria (in Western Europe) with his brother Derkynos; both were sons of Poseidon
Iapetus Gk. (Iapetos) one of the six elder Titans; the ancestor of mankind, who represented mortality
Iarnvidiur N. The trollwife Giantess of Ironwood Forest in Midgard, who breeds wolves.
Iasion Gk. a springtime consort of the goddess Demeter and patron‐deity of the Samothracian Mysteries
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Iaso Gk. the goddess of recovery, one of the daughters of the divine physician Asclepius
Iasus Gk. father of Atalanta by Clymene; he was the son of King Lycurgus of Arcadia; he is also known as Iasius
Ibu Eg. the tent of purification; this is the place where mummification was preformed
Ibycus Gk. An Ancient Greek lyric poet, a citizen of Rhegium in Magna Graecia, probably active at Samos
during the reign of the tyrant Polycrates and numbered by the scholars of Hellenistic Alexandria in the
canonical list of nine lyric poets.
Icarius Gk. An Attican man who was instructed by the god Dionysos in the making of wine when he first
arrived in the country. Introducing this gift to his fellows, Ikarios was stoned to death by the drunken
peasants, who thought they had been poisoned. Regaining their senses in the morning they secretly
buried him. His daughter Erigone came in search of her missing father with her faithful dog Maira. Upon
discovering the body she hanged herself from a tree and the dog leapt into a well. Dionysos was
angered by their deaths, and after transferring Ikarios, Erigone and Maira to the stars as the
constellations Bootes, Virgo and Canis Major, inflicted the land with drought and drove the Athenians
maidens mad causing them to hang themselves. In accordance with an oracle a festival was instituted
in honour of the dead heroes to appease the god's wrath.
Icelus Gk. (Ikelos) A daemon (spirit) of prophetic dreams who appeared in the sleep of kings as an animal
shaped phantasm. His brothers, Morpheus and Phantasus, assumed the forms of men and inanimate
objects.
Ichthyes Gk. (Ikhthyes) A pair of large fish which rescued the goddess Aphrodite and her son Eros when they
were fleeing the raging monster Typhon.
Ichthyocentaurs Gk. (Ikhthyokentauroi)
Two fish‐tailed marine centaurs,
named Aphros and Bythos, who
carried new‐born goddess
Aphrodite ashore in a cockle‐
shell. They had the upper‐bodies
of men, and the lower‐quarters
of fish‐tailed horses.
Ichthyocentaurs
Ida Gk. a nymph of Mount Ida on the Greek island of Crete; she was one of the nurses of the god Zeus who
nursed him with the milk of the goat Amaltheia.
Ida In. In the Rig‐veda Ida is primarily food, refreshment, or a libation of milk; thence a stream of praise,
personified as the goddess of speech. She is called the instructress of Manu, and frequent passages
ascribe to her the first institution of the rules of performing sacrifices. According to Sayana, she is the
goddess presiding over the earth. A legend in the Satapatha Brahmana represents her as springing from
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a sacrifice, which Manu performed for the purpose of obtaining offspring. She was claimed by Mitra‐
Varuna, but remained faithful to him who had produced her. Manu lived with her, and praying and
fasting to obtain offspring, he begat upon her the race of Manu. In the Puranas she is daughter of the
Manu Vaivaswata, wife of Budha (Mercury), and mother of Pururavas. The Manu Vaivaswata, before he
had sons, instituted a sacrifice to Mitra and Varuna for the purpose of obtaining one; but the officiating
priest mismanaged the performance, and the result was the birth of a daughter, Ida or Ila. Through the
favour of the two deities her sex was changed, and she became a man, Su‐dyumna. Under the
malediction of Siva, Su‐dyumna was again turned into a woman, and, as Ila, married Budha or Mercury.
After she had given birth to Pururavas, she, under the favour of Vishnu, once more became Su‐dyumna,
and was the father of three sons. According to another version of the legend, the Manu’s eldest son
was named Ila. He having trespassed on a grove sacred to Parvati, was changed into a female, Ila. Upon
the supplications and prayers of Ila’s friends, Siva and his consort conceded that the offender should be
a male one month and a female another. There are other variations in the story, which is apparently
ancient.
Idaia Gk. a nymph of Mount Ida in the region of Troy; wife of the River Scamander
Idas Gk. a Prince and Hero of Messenia (in southern Greece) who was, according to some, a son of Poseidon
and Arene (most, however, say his father was King Aphareus).
Idavida In. daughter of Trinabindu and the Apsaras Alambusha; there are different statements in the Puranas
as regards her; she is represented to be the wife of Visravas and mother of Kuvera, or the wife of
Pulastya and mother of Visravas.
Idavoll, Idavollen N. "Field of Tides". The central plain of Asgard near the spring of Urda; Odin's a first task

after the creation was build a hall here in which there were seats for twelve gods, in addition to his own
high‐seat. It will be inhabited again after the Ragnarok, when earth will rise out of the sea and be green
and fair.
Ide N. Giant Ide is Olvalde's middle son. Gang is his little brother and Tjatsi his big brother. When the father
had died the brothers shared the beer. That was the first time they were all quiet.
Idis, Idisi N. In Germanic mythology, Goddesses of fate related to the Norns. In the first Merseburger Magic
Poem they also appear as battle virgins after the manner of Valkyries and as fetter‐ and bonds‐
loosening magic women. See Dis.
Idomeneus Gk. King on Crete who was Deucalion's son and Minos's grandson. He was one of Helen's suitors
and fought bravely with the Greeks in the Trojan War. On his journey back from the war a storm
threatened to sink his fleet, and he promised Poseidon to make the first living thing he met at home a
sacrifice to the god if he would only return safely. Since it was his son who first greeted him, Idomeneus
denied Poseidon his sacrifice, and so Crete was stuck with plague. Idomeneus people then exiled their
king, who ended his days in Calabria in Asia Minor, where he built a temple to Athena.
Idun, Iduna, Idhunna N. "She Who Renews". Goddess of eternal life and youth, keeper of the golden apples of
youth and immortality, wife of Bragi; Every year she gives one apple to every Æsir.
Iduna Nor. Daughter of the dwarf Svald, and wife of Bragi. She kept in a box the golden apples which the gods
tasted as often as they wished to renew their youth. Loki on one occasion stole the box and hid it in a
wood; but the gods compelled him to restore it.
Idyia Gk. (Eidyia) the youngest of the Oceanides and wife of Aeetes king of Colchis
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Ieb Eg. This is the heart; The Egyptians believed the heart was the center of all consciousness, even the center
of life itself; When someone died it was said that their "heart had departed."; It was the only organ that
was not removed from the body during mummification; In the Book of the dead, it was the heart that
was weighed against the feather of Maat to see if an individual was worthy of joining Osiris in the
afterlife.
Ikshwaku In. Son of the Manu Vaivaswat, who was son of Vivaswat, the sun. “He was born from the nostril of
the Manu as he happened to sneeze.” Ikshwaku was founder of the Solar race of kings, and reigned in
Ayodhya at the beginning of the second Yuga or age. He had a hundred sons, of whom the eldest was
Vikukshi. Another son, named Nimi, founded the Mithila dynasty. According to Max Muller the name is
mentioned once, and only once, in the Rig‐veda. Respecting this he adds: “I take it, not as the name of a
king, but as the name of a people, probably the people who inhabited Bhajeratha, the country washed
by the northern Ganga or Bhagirathi.” Others place the Ikshwakus in the northwest.
Ilion Gk. a city known as Troy, which was built by Ilos.
Ilissus Gk. (Ilissos) a river of Athens and its watery spirit; the stream of the Ilissos flowed through the town of
Athens. It flowed into the Saronic Gulf just south of the port of Peiraios. Other Attic rivers personified
by the Athenians were the Eridanos, a small tributory of the Ilissos, and the twin‐streamed Kephisos to
the north.
Ilithyia Gk. the goddess of childbirth and labour pains; according to some there were two Eileithyiai, one who
furthered birth and one who protracted the labour. Her name means "she who comes to aid" or
"relieve" from the Greek word elêluthyia. Her Roman counterpart was Natio ("Birth") or Lucina ("Light
bringer").
Ilium Rm. A new city which was founded on the site in the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus. It flourished
until the establishment of Constantinople and declined gradually during the Byzantine era.
Illyria Gk. was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians, a heterogeneous
coalition of tribes.
Imbrasus Gk. (Imbrasos) a River‐God of the island of Samos in the Greek Aegean; he Imbrasos stream was a
small stream on Samos Island. Other personified Aegean island rivers included the Inopos of Delos, and
Amnisos of Krete.
Imra In. the supreme god of Kafirstan in Hindu Kush (a great mountain system of Central Asia)
Inachus Gk. (Inakhos) A river of Argos in southern Greece and its spirit. When Poseidon and Hera were
contesting for dominion of Argos, he ruled in favour of Hera, causing Poseidon to dry up his stream.
Indivia Rom. goddess of jealousy
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Indra In. The god of the firmament, the personified

atmosphere. In the Vedas he stands in the first rank
among the gods, but he is not uncreate, and is
represented as having a father and mother: “a vigorous
god begot him; a heroic female brought him forth.” He
is described as being of a ruddy or golden colour, and
as having arms of enormous length; “but his forms are
endless, and he can assume any shape at will,” He rides
in a bright golden car, drawn by two tawny or ruddy
horses with flowing manes and tails. His weapon is the
thunderbolt, which he carries in his right hand; he also
uses arrows, a great hook, and a net, in which he is said
to entangle his foes. The soma juice is his especial
delight; he takes enormous draughts of it, and
stimulated by its exhilarating qualities, he goes forth to
war against his foes, and to perform his other duties. As deity of the atmosphere, he governs the
weather and dispenses the rain; he sends forth his lightning’s and thunder, and he is continually at war
with Vritra or Ahi, the demon of drought and inelement weather, whom he overcome with his
thunderbolts, and compels to pour down the rain. Strabo describes the Indians as worshipping Jupiter
Pluvius, no doubt meaning Indra, and he has also been compared to Jupiter Tonans. One myth is that of
his discovering and rescuing the cows of the priests or of the gods, which had been stolen by an Asura
named Pani or Vala, whom he killed, and he is hence called Vala‐bhid. He is frequently represented as
destroying the “stone‐built cities” of the Asuras or atmospheric demons, and of the Dasyus or
aborigines of India. In his warfare he is sometimes represented as escorted by troops of Maruts, and
attended by his comrade Vishnu. More hymns are addressed to Indra than to any other deity in the
Vedas, with the exception of Agni. For he was reverenced in his beneficient character as the bestower
of rain and the cause of fertility, and he was feared as the awful ruler of the storm and director of the
lightning and thunder. In many places of the Rig‐veda the highest divine functions and attributes are
ascribed to him. There was a triad of gods – Agni, Vayu, and Surya – which held a pre‐eminence above
the rest, and Indra frequently took the place of Vayu. In some parts of the Veda, as Dr. Muir remarks,
the ideas expressed of Indra are grand and lofty; at other times he is treated with familiarity, and his
devotion to the soma juice is dilated upon, though nothing debasing is perceived in his sensuality. Indra
is mentioned as having a wife, and the name of Indrani or Aindri is invoked among the goddesses. In
the Satapatha Brahmana she is called Indra’s beloved wife.
In the later mythology Indra has fallen into the second rank. He is inferior to the triad, but he is the
chief of all the other gods. He is the regent of the atmosphere and of the cast quarter of the compass,
and he reigns over Swarga, the heaven of the gods and of beatified spirits, which is a region of great
magnificence and splendour. He retains many of his Vedic characteristics, and some of them are
intensified. He sends the lightning and hurls the thunderbolt, and the rainbow is his bow. He is
frequently at war with the Asuras, of whom he lives in constant dread, and by whom he is often
worsted. But he slew the demon Vrita, who, being regarded as a Brahman, Indra had to conceal himself
and make sacrifice until his guilt was purged away. His continued love for the soma juice is shown by a
legend in the Maha‐bharata, which represents him as being compelled by the sage Chyavana to allow
the Aswins to partake of the soma libations, and his sensuality has now developed into an extreme
lasciviousness. Many instances are recorded of his incontinence and adultery, and his example is
frequently referred to as an excuse in cases of gallantry, as by King Nahusha when he tried to obtain
Indra’s wife while the latter was hiding in Vritra. According to the Maha‐bharata he seduced, or
endeavoured to seduce, Ahalya, the wife of the sage Gautama, and that sage’s curse impressed upon
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him a thousand marks resembling the female organ, so he was called Sa‐yoni; but these marks were
afterwards changed to eyes, and he is hence called Netra‐yoni, and Sahasraksha `the thousand‐eyed.’
In the Ramayana it is related that Ravana, the Rakshasa king of Lanka or Ceylon, warred against Indra in
his own heaven, and that Indra was defeated and carried off to Lanka by Ravana’s son Megha‐nada,
who for this exploit received the title of Indra‐jit (q.v.), `conqueror of Indra.’ Brahma and the gods had
to sue for the release of Indra, and to purchase it with the boon of immortality to the victor. Brahma
then told the humiliated god that his defeat was a punishment for the seduction of Ahalya. The
Taittiriya Brahmana states that the chose Indrani to be his wife in preference to other goddesses
because of her voluptuous attractions, and later authorities say that he ravished her, and slew her
father, the Daitya Puloman, to escape his curse. Mythologically he was father of Arjuna (q.v.), and for
him he cheated Karna of his divine coat of mail, but gave Karna in recompense a javelin of deadly
effect. His libertine character is also shown by his frequently sending celestial nymphs to excite the
passions of holy men, and to beguile them from the potent penances, which he dreaded.
In the Puranas many stories are told of him, and he appears especially in rivalry with Krishna. He
incurred the wrath of the choleric sage Dur‐vasas by slighting a garland of flowers, which that sage
presented to him, and so brought upon himself the curse that his whole dominion should be whelmed
in ruin. He was utterly defeated by the Daityas, or rather by their ally, Raja, son of Ayus, and grandson
of Pururavas, and he was reduced to such a forlorn condition that he, “the god of a hundred sacrifices,”
was compelled to beg for a little sacrificial butter. Puffed up by their victory, his conquerors neglected
their duties, and so they became the easy prey of Indra, who recovered his dominion. The Bhagavata
Purana represents him as having killed a Brahman, and of being haunted by that crime, personified as a
Chandali.
Indra had been an object of worship among the pastoral people of Vraja, but Krishna persuaded
them to cease this worship. Indra was greatly enraged at this, and sent a deluge of rain to overwhelm
them; but Krishna lifted up the mountain Govardhana on his finger to shelter them, and so held it for
seven days, till Indra was baffled and rendered homage to Krishna. Again, when Krishna went to visit
Swarga, and was about to carry off the Parijata tree, Indra resented its removal, and a fierce fight
ensued, in which Indra was worsted, and the tree was carried off. Among the deeds of Indra recorded
in the Puranas is that of the destruction of the offspring of Diti the Puranas is that of the destruction of
the offspring of Diti in her womb, and the production there from of the Maruts and there is a story of
his cutting off the wings of the mountains with his thunderbolts, because they were refractory and
troublesome. Indra is represented as a fair man riding on a white horse or an elephant, and bearing the
vajra or thunderbolt in his hand. His son is named Jayanta. Indra is not the object of direct worship, but
he receives incidental adoration and there is a festival kept in his honour called Sakra‐dhwajot Thana,
`the raising of the standard of Indra.’
Indra’s names are many, as Mahendra, Sakra, Maghavan, Ribhuksha, Vasava, Arha, Datteya. His
epithets or titles also are numerous. He is Vritra‐han, `the destroyer of Vritra;’ Vajra‐pani, òf the
thunderbolt hand;’ Megha‐vahana, `borne upon the clouds;’ Paka‐sasana, `the subduer of Paka;’ Sata‐
kratu, òf a hundred sacrifices;’ Deva‐pati and Suradhipa, `chief of the gods;’ Divas‐pati, `ruler of the
atmosphere;’ Marutwan, `lord of the winds;’ Swarga‐pati, `lord of paradise;’ Jishnu, `leader of the
celestial host;’ Puran‐dara, `destroyer of cities;’ Uluka, `the owl;’ Ugra dhanwan, òf the terrible bow,’
and many others. The heaven of Indra is Swarga; its capital is Amaravati; his palace, Vaijayanta; his
garden, Nandana, Kandasara, or Parushya; his elephant is Airavata; his horse, Uchchaiah‐sravas; his
chariot, Vimana; his charioteer, Matali; his bow, the rainbow, Sakra‐dhanus; and his sword, Paran‐ja.
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Indra‐Dyumna In. son of Su‐mati and grandson of Bharata; there were several of the names, among them a
king of Avanti, by whom the temple of Vishnu was built, and the image of Jagan‐natha was set up in
Orissa.
Indra‐Jit In. Megha‐nada, son of Ravana. When Ravana went against Indra’s forces in Swarga, his son Megha‐
nada accompanied him, and fought most valiantly. Indra himself was obliged to interfere, when Megha‐
nada, availing himself of the magical power of becoming invisible, which he had obtained from Siva,
bound Indra and carried him off to Lanka. The gods, headed by Brahma, went thither to obtain the
release of Indra, and Brahma gave to Megha‐nada the name Indra‐jit, conqueror of Indra.’ Still the
victor refused to release his prisoner for anything less than the boon of immortality. Brahma refused,
but Indra‐jit persisted in his demand and achieved his object. One version of the Ramayana states that
Indra‐jit was killed and had his head cut off by Lakshmana, who surprised him while he was engaged in
a sacrifice.
Indra‐Kila In. the mountain Mandara
Indra‐Loka In. Indra’s heaven; Swarga
Indrani In. Wife of Indra, and mother of Jayanta and Jayanti. She is also called Sachi and Aindri. She is
mentioned a few times in the Rig‐veda, and is said to be the most fortunate of females, “for her
husband shall never die of old age.” The Taittiriya Brahmana states that Indra chose her for his wife
from a number of competing goddesses, because she surpassed them all in voluptuous attractions. In
the Ramayana and Puranas she appears as the daughter of the Daitya Puloman, from whom she has the
patronymic Paulomi. She was ravished by Indra, who killed her father to escape his curse. According to
the Maha‐bharata, King Nahusha became enamoured of her, and she escaped from him with difficulty.
Indrani has never been held in very high esteem as a goddess.
Indra‐Pramati In. an early teacher of the Rig‐veda, who received one Sanhita direct from Paila
Indra‐Prastha In. the capital city of the Pandu princes; the name is still known, and is used for a part of the city
of Delhi
Indra‐Sena (mas.), Indra‐Sena (fem.) In. names of the son and daughter of Nala and Damayanti.
Indu In. the moon
Indu‐Mani In. the moon gem
Indu‐Mati In. sister of Bhoja, king of Vidarbha, who chose Prince Aja for her husband at her swayam‐vara; she
was killed by Narada’s garland falling upon her while asleep in an arbour.
Ing, Ingvi, Ingvi‐Frey N. Fertility God (see also Freyr) ; Patronial deity of England, God of protection. Vana‐God
of Earth and fertility; The Swedish royal line called themselves Ynglings, as did the Anglo‐Saxon line of
Berenicia.
Ingun N. Mother or consort of Freyr; She may have been a face of Nerthus. She is the Progenetrix, Birthgiver
and Devourer.
Innangardhs N. social, ordered space; space inside the enclosure of human culture
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Ino Gk. a woman transformed into a sea‐goddess after she leapt into
the sea to escape her crazed husband; she became a
protectress of sailors who rescued men from drowning.
Io Gk. A Naiad nymph daughter of the river

Inachus in the south of Greece. She was loved by
Zeus who transformed her into a cow to hide her
from the jealous gaze of his wife Hera. But the
goddess was not fooled and sent a maddening
gladfly to torment Io which drove her to wander
all the way to Egypt, where she gave birth to
Epaphus, ancestor of all the Pharaohs.
111
Iobates Gk. he was a Lycian king, father of Antea and Philonoe; the king who sent Bellerophon against the
Chimaera.
Iolaus Gk. He was a Theban divine hero, son of Iphicles,
Heracles's brother, and Automedusa. He was famed for
being Heracles's nephew and for helping with some of
his Labors. Through his daughter Leipephilene he was
considered to have fathered the mythic and historic
line of the kings of Corinth, ending with Telestesi.
Iolaus
Iolco Gk. an ancient city in Thessaly, central‐eastern Greece (near the modern city of Volos)
Iole Gk. the daughter of Eurytus; Eurytus promised Iole
to whoever could beat his sons in an archery contest.
Heracles won but Eurytus abandoned his promise.
Heracles killed him and his sons, and abducted Iole.
Iole and Hercules
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Ion Gk. The illegitimate child of Creüsa, daughter of Erechtheus and wife of Xuthus. Creusa conceived Ion with
Apollo then she abandoned the child. Apollo asked Hermes to take Ion from his cradle. Ion was saved
(and raised) by a priestess of the Delphic Oracle. Later, Xuthus was informed by the oracle that the first
person he met when leaving the oracle would be his son, and this person was Ion. He interpreted it to
mean that he had fathered Ion, when, in fact, Apollo was giving him Ion as an adoptive son. Creusa was
planning on killing Ion due to her jealousy that Xuthus had a son while she was still childless. At the
same time, Ion was planning on doing harm to Creusa. In the end, Creusa found out that Ion was her
child, and only Xuthus' adopted child. His story is told in the tragedy Ion by Euripides.
Ionian Sea Gk. An arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy
including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, and by southwestern Albania, including
Saranda and Himara, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka,
and Lefkas to the east.
Ionians Gk. One of the four major tribes into which the Classical Greeks considered the population of Hellenes
to have been divided (along with the Dorians, Aeolians and Achaeans).
Ionides Gk. Four Naiad nymph daughters of the river Cytherus in the south of Greece whose springs were
reputed to possess healing properties. Their waters were believed to cure aches and pains.They were
similar to another set of healing Eleian Nymphs, the Anigrides.
Iord, Jord, Jorth, Erda N. "Earth". Giantess mother of Thorr by Odin
Iormungand N. See Jormungand; the World Serpent.
Iottun villum, or Jötna villur N. Literally means "the bewilderments of the etins" (giants) and refers to some
unknown formula of murk staves used by the etins to delude and confuse. Human magicians can also
control such things.
Iphicles Gk. he is the half‐brother of Heracles; being the son of
Alcmene and her human husband whereas Heracles was
her son by Zeus. Iphicles was the father of Heracles'
charioteer Iolaus.
Iphicles
113
Iphigenia Gk. Tragic daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra who was sacrificed to Artemis so that the
Greeks would be able to sail off to Troy. Under the pretence that she was to be married to Achilles,
Iphigenia was invited to Aulis, where the army camp was. There she was killed and the Greeks could
leave. The sacrifice of Iphigenia turned Clytemnestras love for her husband turn into hate, and she
revenged her daughter by killing Agamemnon on his return from Troy. According to one version she
was never slain but a deer was put in her place at the altar and Iphigenia was taken by Artemis to
Tauria where she became the goddesses priestess only to be taken back to Mycenae by her brother
Orestes later.

Iphigenia
Iphimedea Gk. the consort of Aloeus and the mother of the Giants: Otos and Ephialtes
Iphis Gk. A daughter of Ligdus and Telethusa, of Phaestus in Crete. She was brought up as a boy, because,
previous to her birth, her father had ordered the child to be killed, if it should be a girl. When Iphis had
grown up, and was to be betrothed to Ianthe, the difficulty thus arising was removed by the favour of
Isis, who had before advised the mother to treat Iphis as a boy, and now metamorphosed her into a
youth.
Iravat In. a son of Arjuna by his Naga wife Ulupi
Iravati In. the river Ravi or Hydraotes
Irene Gk. (Eirene) the goddess of peace and the season of spring, one of the three Horae (Seasons)
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Iris Gk. the golden‐winged goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods

Irminsul N. The world column, i.e. Yggdrasil.
Iron‐gloves N. Thor has a pair of heavy iron‐gloves that he uses when he swings his great hammer Mjollnir.
Iron‐Wood N. A forest to the north and east of Midgard where witches and Troll women live. Here one Jotun‐
Giantess had given birth too many giant sons, all of them wolves. Her sons include: Mánagarm (or
Garm), Hati Hróvitnisson and Skoll.
Isa In. `Lord’; a title of Siva; name of a Upanishad (q.v.), which has been translated by Dr. Roer in the
Bibliotheca Indica
Isana In. a name of Siva or Rudra, or of one of his manifestations; he is guardian of the northeast quarter
Isarnkol N. Isarnkol is a kind of cooling system on the horses Allsvinn and Arvaker's shoulders. They need
protection from the sun they are dragging.
115
Isha In. The Hindu protector of the north‐eastern hemisphere (as successor of Soma). He is one of the Maruts,
as well as the fifth manifestation of Shiva. Isha has five heads, ten arms and rides on a ram or a bull. His
attributes are a book, a drum, an axe and a noose.
Ishti‐Pasas In. `Stealers of offerings’ Rakshasas and other enemies of the gods, who steal the oblations
Isis Eg. Isis was a great enchantress, the goddess of magic; she is often represented as a woman wearing on
her head the hieroglyphic symbol of her name, which represents a throne or seat.
Ismene Gk. a Naiad nymph

daughter of the River
Asopus in the south of
Greece and wife of King
Argus, the ancient
patronym of the Argive
region.
Ismene and Antigone
116
Ismenis Gk. a Naiad daughter of the River Ismenos of Boeotia in central Greece loved by the god Faunus
Ismenus Gk. (Ismenos) a river of Boeotia in the heart of Greece and its deity
Istrus Gk. (Istros) a deity of the Scythian river Danube
Iswara In. `Lord’ a title given to Siva
Iswara Krishna In. author of the philosophical treatise called Sankhya Karika
Ithaca Gk. an island located in the Ionian Sea, in Greece; the home of Odysseus, whose delayed return to the
island is one of the elements of the Odyssey's plot.

Ithaca
Ithax Gk. the messenger of the Titans
Ithyphallic Eg. from the Greek word meaning "with erect penis"; various gods are represented in this form;
most notably Min and Amun
Itihasas In. legendary poems; Heroic history; “Stories like those of Urvasi and Pururavas.” The term is
especially applied to the Maha‐bharata
Itys Gk. was the son of Procne and Tereus. Tereus loved his wife's sister, Philomela. He raped her, cut her
tongue out and held her captive so she could never tell anyone. Philomela wove a tapestry that told her
story and gave it to Procne. In revenge, Procne killed her son by Tereus, Itys, and fed him to Tereus
unknowingly. Tereus tried to kill the sisters but all three were changed by the Olympic Gods into birds:
Tereus was a hoopoe; Philomela was a swallow; Procne was a nightingale whose song is a song of
mourning for her son Itys.
Iulus Gk. the name of the son of the troianischen Prince Aeneas
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Ivaldi, Ivalde N. Also called Vidfinner and Svigdar ("Champion Drinker"). Ivaldi is the emperor of the Dwarves
and father to Brokk, Eitri and Sindri. He has the children Idun, Bil and Hjuki with his wife Hildegun. His
name means 'the one who has power'. The progenitor of all craftsmen Dwarves
Ixion Gk. The son of Antion and Perimela. He was a king in Thessaly and a thoroughly bad hombre. His sins
began when he married Dia the daughter of Eioneus but, failed to bring the agreed bride price. Eioneus
held his mares as security on the dept. Ixion then lured Eioneus to his kingdom with the promise of
payment. Once there he murdered Eioneus by throwing him into a flaming pit.
Iynx Gk. the goddess‐nymph of a magical love‐charm known as the iynx; the iynx was a spinning wheel with a
wryneck bird attached
J
Jabali, Javali In. A Brahman who was priest of King Dasa‐ratha, and held sceptical philosophical opinions. He is
represented in the Ramayana as enforcing his views upon Rama, who decidedly repudiated them.
Thereupon he asserted that his atheistical arguments had been used only for a purpose, and that he
was really imbued with sentiments of piety and religion. He is said to have been a logician, so probably
he belonged to the Nyaya school.
Jacchus Gk. (Iakkhos) the torch‐bearing daemon who led the procession of the Eleusinian Mysteries
Jagad‐Dhatri (Dhata) In. `Sustainer of the world.’ An epithet given to both Saraswati and Durga
Jagan‐Matri (Mata) In. `Mother of the world.’ One of the names of Siva’s wife
Jagan‐Natha In. `Lord of the world.’ A particular form of Vishnu, or rather of Krishna. He is worshipped in
Bengal and other parts of India, but Puri, near the town of Cuttack, in Orissa, is the great seat of his
worship, and multitudes of pilgrims resort thither from all parts, especially to the two great festivals of
the Snana‐yatra and Ratha‐yatra, in the months of Jyaishtha and Ashadha. The first of these is when the
image is bathed, and in the second, or car festival, the image is brought out upon a car with the images
of his brother Bala‐rama and sister Su‐bhadra, and is drawn by the devotees. The legend of the origin of
Jagan‐natha is peculiar. Krishna was killed by a hunter, and his body was left to rot under a tree, but
some pious persons found the bones and placed them in a box. A devout king named Indra‐dyumna
was directed by Vishnu to form an image of Jagan‐natha and to place the bones of Krishna inside it.
Viswa‐karma, the architect of the gods, undertook to make the image, on condition of being left quite
undisturbed till the work was complete. After fifteen days the king was impatient and went to Viswa‐
karma, who was angry, and left off work before he had made either hands or feet, so that the image
has only stumps. Indra‐dyumna prayed to Brahma, who promised to make the image famous, and he
did so by giving to it eyes and a soul, and by acting as high priest at its consecration.
Jahnavi In. the Ganges
Jahnu In. a sage descended from Pururavas; he was disturbed in his devotions by the passage of the river
Ganga, and consequently drank up its waters. He afterwards relented, and allowed the stream to issue
from his ear, hence Ganga is called Jahnavi, daughter of Jahnu.
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Jaimini In. a celebrated sage; a disciple of Vyasa; he is said to have received the Sama‐veda from his master,
and to have been its publisher or teacher. He was also the founder of the Purva‐mimansa philosophy.
The text of Jaimini is printed in the Bibliotheca Indica.
Jaiminiya‐Nyaya‐Mala‐Vistara In. a work on philosophy by Madhava; it has been edited by Goldstucker and
Cowell.
Jajali In. A Brahman mentioned in the Maha‐bharata as having by ascetism acquired a supernatural power of
locomotion, of which he was so proud that he deemed himself perfect in virtue and superior to all men.
A voice from the sky told him that he was inferior to Tuladhara, a Vaisya and a trader. He went to this
Tuladhara and learnt wisdom from him.
Jalambhara In. Was one of the asuras. At one point he attained so much power that he was able to conquer
the world. He was the son of Ganga and the sea. His birth was at the urging of Shiva. It seemed that one
day, the gods went to visit Shiva at his home on Mount Kailasa. They entertained him with songs and
dancing, and he was so pleased with their display, that he offered to grant them any wish. Indra asked
that he be made as great a warrior as Shiva himself was. Shiva granted the request, and the gods
departed. Shiva wondered what Indra planned to do with this new power; as he was pondering, his
Anger at Indra's wish became manifest, a black shape who appeared before the god. It asked that Shiva
make it look like the god. Shiva did so, then ordered his Anger to go to the river Ganges and have her
mate with the sea. Their union produced a son; when he was born, the earth trembled and wept, and
the universe shook with thunder. Brahma perceived the power of the child, and named him
Jalamdhara. He could fly on the winds, float over the oceans, and tame the most savage of lions. He
was to be the instrument of Shiva's uncontrolled Anger to seek revenge on the gods.
Jala‐Rupa In. the fish or the Makara on the banner of Kama
Jala‐Sayin In. `Sleeping on the waters.’ An appellation of Vishnu, as he is supposed to sleep upon his serpent
couch on the waters during the rainy season, or during the submersion of the world.
Jalg, Jalk N. "Gelding". Another name for Odin
Jamad‐Agni In. A Brahman and a descendant of Bhrigu. He was the son of Richika and Satya‐vati, and was the
father of five sons, the youngest and most renowned of whom was Parasu‐rama. Jamad‐agni’s mother,
Satya‐vati, was daughter of King Gadhi, a Kshatriya. The Vishnu Purana relates that when Satya‐vati was
pregnant, her Brahman husband, Richika prepared a mess for her to eat for the purpose of securing
that her son should be born with the qualities of a Brahman. He also gave another mess to her mother
that she might bear a son with the character of a warrior. The women changed the messes, and so
Jamad‐agni, the son of Richika, was born as a warrior‐Brahman, and Viswamitra, son of the Kshatriya
Gadhi, was born as a priest. The Maha‐bharata relates that Jamad‐agni engaged deeply in study and
“obtained entire possession of the Vedas.” He went to King Renu or Prasena‐jit of the Solar race and
demanded of him his daughter Renuka. The king gave her to him, and he retired with her to his
hermitage, where the princess shared in his ascetic life. She bore him five sons, Rumanwat, Sushena,
Vasu, Viswavasu, and Parasu‐rama, and she was exact in the performance of all her duties. One day she
went out to bathe and beheld a loving pair sporting and dallying in the water. Their pleasure made her
feel envious so she was “defiled by unworthy thoughts, and returned wetted but not purified by the
stream.” Her husband beheld her “fallen from perfection and shorn of the lustre of her sanctity.” So he
reproved her and was exceeding wroth. His sons came into the hermitage in the order of their birth,
and he commanded each of them in succession to kill his mother. Influenced by natural affection, four
of them held their peace and did nothing. Their father cursed them and they became idiots bereft of all
understanding. When Parasu‐rama entered, he obeyed his father’s order and struck off his mother’s
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head with his axe. The deed assuaged the father’s anger, and he desired his son to make a request.
Parasu‐rama begged that his mother might be restored to life in purity, and that his brothers might
regain their natural condition. All this the father granted.
The mighty Karta‐virya, king of the Haihayas, who had a thousand arms, paid a visit to the
hermitage of Jamad‐agni. The sage and his sons were out, but his wife treated her guest with all proper
respect. Unmindful of the hospitality he had received; Karta‐virya threw down the trees round the
hermitage, and carried of the calf of the sacred cow, Surabhi, which Jamad‐agni had acquired by
penance. Parasu‐rama returned and discovered what had happened, he then pursued Karta‐virya, cut
off his thousand arms with arrows, and killed him. The sons of Karta‐virya went in revenge to the
hermitage of Jamad‐agni, and in the absence of Parasu‐rama slew the pious sage without pity. When
Parasu‐rama found the lifeless body of his father, he laid it on a funeral pile and vowed that he would
extirpate the whole Kshatriya race. He slew all the sons of Karta‐virya, and “thrice seven times” he
cleared the earth of the Kshatriya caste.
Jamadagnya In. the patronymic of Parasu‐rama
Jambavat In. King of the bears. A celebrated gem called Syamantaka had been given by the Sun to Satra‐jit.
He, fearing that Krishna would take it from him, gave it to his brother, Prasena. One property of this
jewel was to protect its wearer when good, to ruin him when bad. Prasena was wicked and was killed
by a lion, which was carrying off the gem in its mouth, when he was encountered and slain by
Jambavat. After sena’s disappearance, Krishna was suspected of having killed him for the sake of the
jewel. Krishna with a large party tracked the steps of Prasena, till it was ascertained that he had been
killed by a lion, and that the lion had been killed by a bear. Krishna then tracked the bear, Jambavat,
into his cavern, and a great fight ensued between them. After waiting outside seven or eight days,
Krishna’s followers went home and performed his funeral ceremonies. On the twenty‐first day of the
fight, Jambavat submitted to his adversary, gave up the gem, and presented to him his daughter,
Jambavati, as an offering suitable to a guest. Jambavat with his army of bears aided Rama in his
invasion of Lanka, and always acted the part of a sage counsellor.
Jambavati In. daughter of Jambavat; king of the bears; wife of Krishna and mother of Samba
Jambha In. name of several demons; of one who fought against the gods and was slain by Indra, who for this
deed was called Jambha‐bhedin. Also of one who fought against Arjuna and was killed by Krishna.
Jambu‐Dwipa In. "Rose‐apple island" One of the seven islands or continents of which the world is made up.
The great mountain, Meru, stands in its centre, and Bharata‐varsha or India is its best part. Its varshas
or divisions are nine in number:‐ (1.) Bharata, south of the Himalayas and southernmost of all. (2.) Kim‐
purusha (3.) Hari‐varsha. (4.) Ila‐vrita, containing Meru. (5.) Ramyaka. (6.) Hiran‐maya. (7.) Uttara‐Kuru,
each to the north of the preceding one. (8.) Bhadraswa and (9.) Ketu‐mala lies respectively to the east
and west of Ila‐vrita, the central region.
Jambu‐Mali In. a Rakshasa general of Ravana. He was killed by Hanuman
Janaka In. King of Mithila, of the Solar race. When Nimi, his predecessor, died without leaving a successor, the
sages subjected the body of Nimi to attrition, and produced from it a prince “who was called Janaka,
from being born without a progenitor.” He was the first Janaka, and twenty generations earlier than
Janaka the father of Sita; king of Videha and father of Sita, remarkable for his great knowledge and
good works and sanctity. He is called Sira‐dhwaja, `he of the plough banner,’ because his daughter Sita
sprang up ready formed from the furrow when he was ploughing the ground and preparing for a
sacrifice to obtain offspring. The sage Yajnawalkya was his priest and adviser. The Brahmanas relate
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that he “refused to submit to the hier‐archical pretensions of the Brahmans, and asserted his right of
performing sacrifices without the intervention of priests.” He succeeded in his contention, for it is said
that through his pure and righteous life he became a Brahman and one of the Rajarshis. He and his
priest Yajnawalkya are thought to have prepared the way for Buddha.
Janaki In. a patronymic of Sita
Janamejaya In. a great king who was son of Parikshit; great‐grandson of Arjuna. It was to this king that the

Maha‐bharata was recited by Vaisampayana, and the king listened to it in expiation of the sin of killing
a Brahman. His father, Parikshit, died from the bite of a serpent, and Janemajaya is said to have
performed a great sacrifice of serpents (Nagas) and to have conquered the Naga people of Taksha‐sila.
Hence he is called Sarpa‐sattrin, `serpent‐sacrificer.’ There were several others of the same name.
Janarddana In. `The adored of mankind’ A name of Krishna, but other derivations are offered, a èxtirpator of
the wicked,’ by Sankaracharya
Jana‐Sthana In. a place in the Dandaka forest where Rama sojourned for a while in his exile
Janus Rom. the god of gates and
doors

Japetus Gk. (Iapetos) one of the six‐Titan brothers imprisoned by
Zeus in the pit of Tartarus
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Jaras In. Òld age’; The hunter who unwittingly killed Krishna.
Jara‐Sandha In. Son of Brihad‐ratha, and king of Magadha. Brihad‐ratha had two wives, who after being long
barren brought forth two halves of a boy. These abortions were regarded with horror and thrown
away. A female man‐eating demon named Jara picked them up and put them together to carry them
off. On their coming in contact a boy was formed, who cried out so lustily that he brought out the king
and his two queens. The Rakshasi explained what had happened, resigned the child, and entired. The
father gave the boy the name of Jara‐sandha, because he had been put together by Jara. Future
greatness was prophesied for the boy, and he became an ardent worshipper of Siva. Through the
favour of this god he prevailed over many kings, and he especially fought against Krishna, who had
killed Kansa the husband of two of Jarasandha’s daughters. He besieged Mathura, and attacked Krishna
eighteen times, and was as often defeated; but Krishna was so weakened that he retired to Dwaraka.
Jara‐sandha had many kings in captivity, and when Krishna returned from Dwaraka, he, with Bhima and
Arjuna, went to Jara‐sandha’s capital for the purpose of slaying their enemy and liberating the kings.
Jara‐sandha refused to release the kings, and accepted the alternative of a combat, in which he was
killed by Bhima.
Jarat‐Karu In. an ancient sage who married a sister of the great serpent Vasuki; father of the sage Astika
Jarita In. A certain female bird of the species called Sarngika, whose story is told in the Maha‐bharata. The
saint Manda‐pala, who returned from the shades because he had no son, assumed the form of a male
bird, and by her had four sons. He then abandoned her. In the conflagration of the Khandava forest she
showed great devotion in the protection of her children, and they were eventually saved through the
influence of Manda‐pala over the god of fire. Their names were Jaritari, Sarisrikta, Stamba‐mitra, and
Drona. They were “interpreters of the Vedas;” and there are hymns of the Rig‐veda bearing the names
of the second and third.
Jarnsaxa N. "Iron Sword". Giantess lover of Thorr and

mother of his sons Magni and Modi; May have
been one of the Asynjor
Jarnvidur N. A forest to the north‐east of Midgard where
witches and Troll women live. See Iron‐Wood.
Jasion Gk. (Iasion) aspring‐time consort of the goddess

Demeter
Jason Gk. (Iason) a great Thessalian hero who led the

Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece
Jatasura In. a Rakshasa who disguised himself as a

Brahman and carried off Yudhi‐shthira, Saha‐deva,
Nakula, and Draupadi; he was overtaken and killed
by Bhima
Jason with the Golden Fleece
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Jata‐Vedas In. a Vedic epithet for fire; “The meaning is explained in five ways: ‐ (1.) Knowing all created
beings; (2.) Possessing all creatures or everything existent; (3.) Known by created beings; (4.) Possessing
vedas, riches; (5.) Possessing vedas, wisdom. Other derivations and explanations are found in the
Brahmanas, but the exact sense of the word seems to have been very early lost, and of the five
explanations given, only the first two would seem to be admissible for the Vedic texts. In one passage a
form, Jata‐veda, seems to occur.” – Williams. This form of the term, and the statement of Manu that
the Vedas were milked out from fire, air, and the sun, may perhaps justify the explanation, `producer of
the Vedas.’
Jatayu, Jatayus In. According to the Ramayana, a bird who has son of Vishnu’s bird Garuda, and king of the
vultures. Others say he was a son of Aruna. He became an ally of Rama’s and he fought furiously
against Ravana to prevent the carrying away of Sita. Ravana overpowered him and left him mortally
wounded. Rama found him in time to hear his dying words, and to learn what had become to Sita.
Rama and Lakshmana performed his funeral rites to “secure his soul in the enjoyments of heaven,”
whither he ascended in a chariot of fire. In the Puranas he is the friend of Dasa‐ratha. When that king
went to the ecliptic to recover Sita from Sani (Saturn), his carriage was consumed by a glance from the
eye of the latter, but Jatayu caught the falling king and saved him. The Padma Purana says Dasa‐ratha
assailed Saturn because of a dearth, and when he and his car were hurled from heaven, Jatayu caught
him.
Jatila In. a daughter of Gotama, who is mentioned in the Maha‐bharata as a virtuous woman and the wife of
seven husbands
Jaya‐Deva In. a poet; author of the Gita‐govinda
Jayad‐Ratha In. A prince of the Lunar race, son of Brihanmanas. He was king of Sindhu, and was “indifferently
termed Raja of the Sindhus or Saindhavas, and Raja of the Sauviras, or sometimes in concert Sindhu‐
sauviras,” the Saindhavas and Sauviras both being tribes living along the Indus. Jayad‐ratha married
Duh‐sala, daughter of Dhrita‐rashtra, and was an ally of the Kauravas. When the Pandavas were in exile
he called at their forest abode while they were out hunting and Draupadi was at home alone. He had
with him six brothers and a large retinue, but the resources of the Pandavas were equal to the
occasion, and Draupadi was able to supply five hundred deer with accompaniments for breakfast. This
is explained by the statement that Yudhi‐shthira, having worshipped the sun, obtained from that
luminary an inexhaustible cauldron, which was to supply all and every viand that might be required by
the Pandavas in their exile. Jayad‐ratha was captivated by the charms of Draupadi, and tried to induce
her to elope with him. When he was indignantly repulsed he carried her off by force. On the return of
the Pandavas they pursued the ravisher, defeated his forces, and made him prisoner. His life was
spared by command of Yudhi‐shthira, but Bhima kicked and beat him, terribly, cut off his hair, and
made him go before the assembled Pandavas and acknowledge himself to be their slave. At the
intercession of Draupadi he was allowed to depart. He was killed, after a desperate conflict, by Arjuna
on the fourteenth day of the great battle.
Jayanta In. son of Indra also called Jaya
Jayanti In. daughter of Indra; she is called also Jayanti, Deva‐sena, and Tavishi
Jimuta In. a great wrestler, who was overcome and killer by Bhima at the court of Virata
Jimuta‐Vahana In. `Whose vehicle is the clouds’ A title of Indra. A name borne by several persons, and among
them by the author of the Daya‐bhaga
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Jinx Gk. (Iynx) the nymph of the magical love‐charm known as the iynx
Jishnu In. name of Arjuna
Jocasta Gk. a daughter of Menocenes; she was the wife of Laius and, by him, mother (and wife) of Oedipus,
and mother (by Oedipus) of Antigone, Eteocles, Polynices and Ismene
Jocasta
Jord, Jorth, Erda N. "Earth"; Giantess mother of Thorr by Odhinn
Jormungand, Iormungandr, Midgardsormr N. The World Serpent, who is extremely formidable but an
essential part of the world's structure, and cannot be removed. It is the offspring of Loki and the Giant
Angr‐Boda, along with Hela, Narfi, and Fenris‐wolf. The name Jormungand means 'Huge Pole'. Odin,
fearing evil intent, flung the serpent into the sea, where it grew so large that it surrounded the earth
biting its own tail.
Jormungrund N. "Giant Land"; The underworld was the first created world, the home of Mimir and the good
giants and evil frost giants.
Joruvellir N. Place where the race of Dwarves called Lovar comes from.
Jötun, Jotunn N. A race of Giants. The Jotuns come in many shapes and colours, from gastly monsters to
creatures so beautiful that they outshine both humans and Gods. The Thursar, singular Thurs, were
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antagonistic, destructive, and stupid. A number of the Jotuns were welcomed as members of the Æsir.
Loki is of Jotun heritage but was adopted as Odin's blood‐brother. There are also May stories of Æsir
having affairs with fair Jotun maidens. The Jotuns represent nature's forces of Chaos, compared to the
Gods who constantly try to keep the world at staus quo. Ragnarok will be the final battle of these
forces. Trolls, giants and goblins, known from folk tales, are more recent variants of Jotuns.
Jotunheim, Jotunheimr N. The world of the Giants. The realm of the Jotuns, outside both Asgard and Midgard;
the realm's borders are constantly moved eastward, as Ginnungagap is constantly edging westward.
Judgment of Paris Gk. A contest between the three most beautiful goddesses of Olympos‐‐Aphrodite, Hera
and Athena‐‐for the prize of a golden apple addressed to "the fairest".

The Judgment of Paris
Juno Rom. the queen of the gods; Jupiters wife and sister, sister to Neptune
and Pluto, daughter of Saturn, mother of Juventas, Mars, and Vulcan;
Protectress of the Roman state; She was the guardian of the Empire's
finances and considered the Matron Goddess of all Rome.
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Jupiter Rom. the king of the gods; He is the god of
Sky, Lightning and Thunder; He is the son of
Saturn and brother of Neptune, Pluto and
Juno, who is also his wife; His attribute is the
lightning bolt and his symbol the eagle, who is
also his messenger; He was also considered
the Patron god of Rome, and his temple was
the official place of state business and
sacrifices.
Jupiter
Juravale's Marsh N. The place where the Dwarves of the line of Dvalin made their dwelling, their stone hall,
Joruvellir.
Jushka In. a Turushka or Turki king, who ruled in Kashmir and in Northern India
Juturna Rom. goddess of lakes, wells and springs; her festivals are January 11 and August 23.
Juventas Rom. Goddess of youth
Jwala‐Mukhi In. `Mouth of fire’ a volcano; a celebrated place of pilgrimage in the Lower Himalayas, north of
the Panjab, where fire issues from the ground. According to the legend, it is the fire which Sati, the wife
of Siva, created, and in which she burnt herself.
Jyamagha In. A king of the Lunar race, proverbial “most eminent among husbands submissive to their wives.”
Saibya, his wife, was barren, but he was afraid to take another wife till, having overcome an enemy and
driven him from his country, the daughter of the vanquished king became his captive. She was
beautiful, and Jyamagha desired to marry her. He took her in his chariot and carried her to his palace to
ask the assent of his queen. When Saibya saw the maiden, she was filled with jealousy, and angrily
demanded who the “light‐hearted damsel.” was. The king was disconcerted, and humbly replied, “She
is the young bride of the future son whom thou shalt bring forth.” It had ceased to be with Saibya after
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the manner of women, but still she bore a son who was named Vidarbha, and married the captive
princess.
Jyotisha In. astronomy; one of the Vedangas; the object of this Vedanga is to fix the most auspicious days and
seasons for the performance of sacrifices. There has been little discovered that is ancient on this
subject; only one “short track, consisting of thirty‐six verses, in a comparatively modern style, to which
scholars cannot assign an earlier date than 300 years B.C.”
K
Ka Eg. The ka is usually translated as "double", it represents a person's double; It is what we would call a spirit
or a soul; The ka was created at the same time as the physical body; It was believed that the ram‐
headed god Khnum crafted the ka on his potter's wheel at the time of a person’s birth; A persons ka
would live on after their body had died; It was thought that when someone died they "met their ka";
The ka existed in the physical world and resided in the tomb (House of the Ka); It had the same needs
that the person had in life, which was to eat, drink, etc; The Egyptians left offerings of food, drink, and
worldly possessions in tombs for the ka to use.
Kabandha In. Disciple of Su‐mantu, the earliest teacher of the Atharva‐veda; a monstrous Rakshasa slain by
Rama; said to have been a son of the goddess Sri; described as “covered with hair, vast as a mountain,
without head or neck, having a mouth armed with immense teeth in the middle of his belly, arms a
league long, and one enormous eye in his breast.
Kacha In. son of Brihaspati; became a disciple of Sukra or Usanas; the priest of the Asuras; wife of a Kshatriya
Kadambari In. a Gandharva princess; daughter of Chitra‐ratha and Madira
Kadru In. daughter of Daksha; one of the thirteen that were married to Kasyapa; mother of “a thousand
powerful many‐headed serpents
Kahoda In. a learned Brahman, father of Ashtavakra; had an argument at the court of Janaka by a Buddhist

sage, and as a penalty was thrown into the river and was recovered by his son, who overcame the
supposed Buddhist sage, and thus brought about a restoration.
Kaikasi In. daughter of the Rakshasa Su‐mali and his wife Ketu‐mati; wife of Visravas; and mother of Ravana
Kaikeya In. name of a country and of its king; father‐in‐law of Krishna; his five sons were allies of the pandavas
Kaikeyas, Kekayas In. the people of Kaikeya, one of the chief nations in the war of the Maha‐bharata
Kaikeye In. princess of Kaikeya; wife of King Dasa‐ratha; mother of Bharata, his third son
Kailasa. In. mountain in the Himalayas, north of the Manasa lake; Siva’s paradise is said to be on Mount
Kailasa, so also in Kuvera’s abode; also called Gana‐parvata and Rajatadri, `silver mountain.’
Kaitabha In. a horrible demon; sprang from the ear of Vishnu while he was asleep at the end of a kalpa, and
were about to kill Brahma, who was lying on the lotus springing from Vishnu’s navel.
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Kakshivat, Kakshivan In. a Vedic sage particularly connected with the worship of the Aswins; son of Dirgha‐

tamas and Usij; author of several hymns in the Rig‐veda; was also called Pajriya, because he was of the
race of Pajra.
Kakudmin In. a name of Raivata
Kala In. `Time’; a name of Yama, the judge of the dead; addressed as the source and ruler of all things
Kalaka In. wife of Kasyapa; was a daughter of Daksha, but the Vishnu Purana states that she and her sister
Puloma were daughters of the Dana Vaiswanara, who were both married to Kasyapa, and bore him
60,000 distinguished Danavas, called Paulomas and Kalakanjas, who were powerful, ferocious, and
cruel.
Kala‐mukhas In.`Black faces'; people who sprang from men and Rakshasa females
Kalanas In. a Brahman who yielded to the inducements of Alexander the Great and left his native country to
accompany the court of the conqueror; He afterwards repented of what he had done and burnt himself
at Pasargada.
Kala‐yavana In. (Lit. `Black Yavana,’ Yavana meaning a Greek or foreigner.); a foreign king who led an army of
barbarians to Mathura against Krishna; who being disturbed from sleep by a kick from Kala yavana, cast
a fiery glance upon him and reduced him to ashes. This legend appears to indicate an invasion from the
Himalayas; son of a Brahman named Garga who had an especial spite against the Yadavas, and was
begotten by him on the wife of a childless Yavana king.
Kalha Pandit In. author of the Raja Tarangini, a history of Kashmir
Kali yuga In. the fourth or present age of the world, which is to endure for 432,000 years. It commenced in
3102 B.C.
Kali In. the spirit of evil; in playing dice Kali is the ace, and so is a
personification of ill luck; had seven flickering tongues of
flame for devouring oblations of butter
Kali‐dasa In. The greatest poet and dramatist of India; was one of
“the nine gems” that adorned the court of King
Vikramaditya at Ujjayini.
Kalika. In. the goddess Kali
Kalindi In. a name of the river Yamuna, as daughter of Kalinda (the
sun)
Kalinga In. country along the Coromandel coast, north of Madras Kali
Kaliya In. a serpent king who had five heads, and dwelt in a deep pool of the Yamuna, with numerous
attendant serpents; his mouths vomited fire and smoke
Kalki, Kalkin In. the white horse; Vishnu’s tenth incarnation, which is yet to come
Kalliope Gk. one of the Muses, who was appointed by Zeus to decide the fate of Adonis. When she declared
that he must divide his time between Persephone and Aphrodite, the goddess, inflamed, caused the
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Thrakian Bakkantes to slay Kalliope's son Orpheus (some say also to punish him for scorning women
and only consorting in love with boys).
Kalmasha‐pada In. a king of the Solar race; son of Su‐dasa (hence he is called Saudasa); and a descendant of
Ikshwaku.
Kalpa, Kalpa sutras In. one of the Vedangas; a ceremonial directory or rubric expressed in the form of Sutras;
short technical rules
Kama, Kama‐deva In. the god of love
Kama‐dhenu In. the cow which grants desires, belonging to the sage Vasishtha; was produced at the churning
of the ocean; was also called Kama‐duh, Savala, and Surabhi
Kamakshi In. A form of Devi worshipped at Kamarupa‐tirtha in Assam
Kamandaki In. author of a work known by his name on “The Elements of Polity”
Kamapura In. the north‐eastern part of Bengal and the western portion of Assam; the name still survives as
Kamarup
Kambojas In. a race or tribe always associated with the tribes living to the northwest; and famous for their
horses; they were among the races conquered by King Sagara
Kampilya In. The city of King Drupada in the country of the Panchalas, where the swayam‐vara of Draupadi
was held; corresponds with the Kampila of modern times, situated in the Doab on the old Ganges,
between Badaun and Farrukhabad.
Kamyaka In. the forest in which the Pandavas passed their exile on the banks of the Saraswati
Kanada In. the sage who founded the Vaiseshika school of philosophy
Kanchi In. one of the seven sacred cities, hodie Conjeveram
Kandarpa In. the Hindu Cupid
Kandarshi In. a Rishi who teaches one particular Kanda or part of the Vedas
Kandu In. a sage who was beguiled from long and severe austerities by Pramlocha, a nymph sent from heaven
by Indra for this purpose.
Kanishka In. a name recorded in the Raja Tarangini of three great Turushka
Kansa In. a tyrannical king of Mathura; son of Ugra‐sons; cousin of Devaki the mother of Krishna
Kansa‐Baha In. a drama in seven acts upon the destruction of Kansa by Krishna; the author is called Krishna
Kavi, and the play was probably written about two centuries ago
Kanwa In. name of a Rishi to whom some hymns of the Rig‐veda are ascribed; he is sometimes counted as one
of the seven great Rishis; the sage who brought up Sakuntala as his daughter
Kanwas In. the descendants or followers of Kanwa
Kanya‐Kubha In. The modern form of the name is Kanauj or Kinnauj; an ancient city of Hindustan on the Kali‐
nadi, an affluent of the Ganges, and lying a little to the west of the latter; was once the capital of
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powerful dynasty; was known to classical geographers as “Canogyza.”; a great national division of the
Brahman caste.
Kanya‐kumari In. `The virgin‐damsel.’; a name of Durga; her worship extended to the southernmost extremity
of India in the days of Pliny, and `Kumari’ still appears in the name Cape Comorin.
Kapardin In. a peculiar braid or knot of hair; this epithet is applied to Siva, to one of the Rudras, and some
others
Kapi‐Dhwaja In. an epithet of Arjuna, because he bore an ape
Kapila In. a celebrated sage; the founder of the Sankhya philosophy; the Hari‐vansa makes him the son of
Vitatha; he is sometimes identified with Vishnu and sometimes with Agni; said to have destroyed the
hundred thousand sons of King Sagara with a glance.
Kapila, Kapila‐Vastu In. a town on the river Rohini, an affluent of the Rapti, which was the capital of
Suddhodana, the father of Gotama Buddha
Kapisa In. mother of the Pisachas, who bear the metronymic Kapiseya
Kára N. A Valkyrie, one of the Disir.
Karali In. one of the seven tongues of Agni (fire), but in later days a name of the terrible consort of Siva
Kardama In. one of the Prajapatis who sprang from Brahma; was a son of Daksha or a son of Pulaha
Kari N. Primal air deity;
Karl N. One of Rig's (Heimdall's) sons after his journey to Midgard to father a new people.
Karma‐mimansa In. the Purva‐mimansa
Karma‐Mimansa‐Sutra In. a work on the Vedanta philosophy, ascribed to Jaimini
Karna In. son of Pritha or Kunti by Surya, the sun, before her marriage to Pandu; was thus half‐brother of the
Pandavas, but this relationship was not known to them till after his death.
Karna‐Pravaranas In. men whose ears served them for coverings; they are mentioned in the Maha bharata,
Ramayana, and other works
Karnata, Karnataka In. the country where the Canarese language is spoken, in the central districts of the
Peninsula, including Mysore; the name “Carnatic” is derived from this.
Karta‐virya In. son of Krita‐virya, king of the Haihayas; sprung from the race of Atri, he sought and obtained
these boons, viz., a thousand arms and a golden chariot that went wheresoever he willed it to go; the
power of restraining wrong by justice; the conquest of the earth and the disposition to rule it
righteously; invincibility by enemies, and death at the hands of a man renowned over the whole world.
Karttikeya In. the god of war and the planet Mars; also called Skanda; son of Siva or Rudra, and to have been
produced without the intervention of a woman
Karushas In. people of Malwa, inhabiting the back of the Vindhya mountains; said to be descended from
Karusha, one of the sons of the Manu Vaivaswata
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Kasi Khanda In. a long poem; forming a part of the Skanda Purana; gives a very minute description of the
temples of Siva in and around Benares, and is presumably anterior to the Mahomedan conquest.
Ka‐tantra In. a Sanskrit grammar by Sarva‐varman; edited by Eggeling for the Bibliotheca Indica
Kata‐pru In. a class of beings similar to or identical with the Vidya‐dharas
Kathaka In. a school or recension of the Yajur‐veda, occupying a position between the Black and the White; is
supported to be lost
Katharnava In. compilation of miscellaneous stories in four books; the first two are the originals of the Hindi
Baital Pachisi and Singhasan Battisi
Katha‐sarit‐sagara In. a collection of popular stories by Soma‐deva‐bhatta of Kashmir; made about the
beginning of the twelfth century; drown from a larger work called Brihat‐katha
Katyayani In. a name of Durga
Kaukon Gk. a Prince of Olenos or Messenia (in southern Greece); a son of Poseidon and Astydameia; the
daughter of Phorbas
Kaumara In. the creation of the Kumaras
Kaumodaki In. the mace of Krishna; presented to him by Agni when engaged with him in fighting against Indra
and burning the Khandava forest
Kaundinya In. an ancient sage and grammarian; offended Siva, but was saved from that god’s wrath by Vishnu
Kaunteya In. son of Kunti; a metronymic applicable to Yudhi‐shthira, Bhima, and Arjuna, but commonly
applied to Arjuna
Kauravas In. descendants of Kuru; a patronymic especially supplied to the sons of Dhrita‐rashtra
Kausambi In. the capital of Vatsa, near the junction of the Ganges and Jumna; an inscription found at Karra on
the Ganges mentions that place as being situated in Kausambi‐mandala, the circle of Kausambi; but
General Cunningham identifies the place with the village of Kosam, said to be still called Kosambi nagar
on the Jumna, about thirty miles above Allahabad; it is the scene of the drama Ratnavali.
Kausika In. A devotee mentioned in the Maha‐bharata as having gone to a hell of torment for having pointed
out to robbers a road by which they pursued and killed some persons who fled from them.
Kausikas In. descendants of Kusika; in one of the hymns of the Rig the epithet is given to Indra
Kausiki In. the river Kosi in Bihar, but there were more rivers than one bearing this name; Satyavati, mother of
Jamadagni is said to have been changed into a river of this name
Kaustubha In. a celebrated jewel obtained at the churning of the ocean, and worn by Vishnu or Krishna on his
bosom
Kautilya In. another name of Chanakya, the minister of Chandra‐gupta
Kauts In. a rationalistic philosopher; who lived before the days of Yaska the author of the Nirukta
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Kautuka‐sarvaswa In. a modern farce, in two acts, by a Pandit named Gopi‐natha; it is a satire upon princes
who addict themselves to idleness and sensuality, and fail to patronise the Brahmans
Kavasha, Kavasha‐Ailusha In. son of Ilusha by a slave girl; was the author of several hymns in the tenth book
of the Rig‐veda
Kavavya In. The son of a Kshatriya by a Nishada female, who is related in the Maha‐bharata to have risen by
virtue, knowledge, and devotion from the state of a Dasyu to perfection.
Kavi‐raja In. author of a poem of studied ambiguity called Raghava‐Pandaviyam
Kavya‐prakasa In. a work on poetry and rhetoric by Mammata Bhatta of Kashmir; has been printed at Calcutta
Kavyas, Kavyas In. a class of Pitris; according to some they are the Manes of men of the third caste
Kedaresa, Kedara‐Natha In. a name of Siva; name of one of the twelve great Lingas; it is a shapeless mass of
stone at Kedara‐natha in the Himalayas
Kelainos Gk. the eponymous Lord of the Phrygian city of Kelainos (in Asia Minor); was a son of Poseidon and
the Danais Kelaino
Keli‐Kila In. a demigod attendant upon Siva
Kena, Kenopanishad In. name of a Upanishad translated by Dr. Roer for the Bibliotheca Indica
Kenkhrias Gk. a Lord of Korinthos (southern Greece) and Eponym of its harbour Kenkhrai; he was a son of
Poseidon and the Nymphe Peirene
Kerakas In. one‐footed men who live in forests, according to the Maha‐bharata
Kerala In. the country of Malabar proper on the western coast
Keres Gk. The monstrous female daemons of violent death which swooped over the battlefield in the
thousands, ripping the souls of the dying from their bodies and casting them down into Hades.
Kerkyon Gk. A barbaric King of Eleusis (in Attika) who, according to some, was a son of Poseidon and the
daughter of Amphiktyon (but others claimed he was a son of Hephaistos or a mortal named Brankhos).
Kesava In. `Having much or fine hair’; a name of Vishnu or Krishna
Kesi,Kesin In. a demon who fought with and was defeated by Indra; a Daitya who took the form of a horse and
attacked Krishna, but was killed by that hero’s thrusting his arm into his jaws and rending him asunder.
Kesi‐Dhwaja In. son of Krita‐dhwaja Kesi‐dhwaja; was endowed with spiritual knowledge; had a cousin,
Khandikya, who was diligent in the way of works and was renowned for religious rites.
Kesini In. wife of Visravas and mother of Ravana; also called Kaikasi
Ketu In. the descending node in astronomy; represented by a dragon’s tail; also a comet or meteor, and the
ninth of the planets; said to be a Danava, and son of Viprachitti and Sinhika; also called A‐kacha
Khandava, Khandava‐Prastha In. a forest and country on the banks of the Yamuna, which the Pandavas
received as their moiety when Dhrita‐rashtra divided his kingdom; in it they built the city of Indra‐
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prastha and made it their capital; the forest was consumed with fire by the god Agni assisted by Krishna
and Arjuna.
Khara In. a man‐eating Rakshasa; wife of Kasyapa; mother of Yakshas and Rakshasas, called after her
Khasutmajas
Kharybdis Gk. an immortal she‐Giant who was chained beneath the Straits of Messina where her inhalations
formed a massive whirlpool; Kharybdis was a daughter of Poseidon and Gaia
Khasas, Khasakas, Khasikas In. an outlying or border people classed with the Sakas and other northern tribes;
traces of them might be sought among the barbarous tribes on the north‐east of Bengal, the Khasiyas.
Khatwanga In. also called Dilipa; a prince of the Solar race; in a battle between the gods and the demons he
rendered great assistance to the former, who desired him to ask a boon. He begged that he might know
the duration of his life, and the answer was, “Only an hour.” He hastened to the world of mortals, and
by earnest prayer he became united with the supreme being, Vishnu.
Khepresh Eg. the blue crown was a ceremonial crown
Khepri Eg. a scarab headed god; the Egyptians believed that Khepri pushed the sun across the sky in much the
same fashion that a dung beetle (scarab) pushed a ball of dung across the ground.
Khet Eg. this is a flame or fire; fire was embodied in the sun and in its symbol the uraeus which spit fire; Fire
also plays a part in the Egyptian concept of the underworld; There is one terrifying aspect of the
underworld which is similar to the Christians concept of hell; Most Egyptians would like to avoid this
place with its fiery lakes and rivers that are inhabited by fire demons.
Khios Gk. a King and Eponym of the island of Khios (in the Greek Aegean). He was a son of Poseidon and a
Khian Nymphe.
Khnum Eg. a ram headed god; his name means to create; he was the creator of all things that are and all
things that shall be; he created the gods and he fashioned mankind on a potter’s wheel
Khrysaor Gk. a Giant King of the island of Erytheia (in the Atlantic Ocean) and / or Iberia (Spain); he was a son
of Poseidon and Medousa
Khryses Gk. a King of Orkhomenos (in central Greece); he was a son of Poseidon and Khrysogeneia
Khu Eg. a spiritual entity often mentioned in association with the ba; it was viewed as an entirely spiritual and
absolutely immortal being
Kichaka In. Brother‐in‐law of the king of Virata, who was commander of the forces and general director of the
affairs of the kingdom; made love to Draupadi, and was slain by Bhima, who rolled his bones and flesh
into a ball, so that no one could tell how he was killed.
Kikata In. a country inhabited by people who were not Aryans; it is identified with Magadha or South Bihar
Kilatakuli In. (Kilata + Akuli.) two priests of the Asuras, who, according to the Satapatha Brahmana, exercised a
special influence between Manu and an “Asura‐slaying voice.”
Kim‐purusha In. an indescribable man; one of a low type; partaking of the nature and appearance of animals
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Kinfylgja N. Personification of inherited traits and might; usually dwells with the head of family, or else the
most suitable member.
Kin‐naras In. mythical beings with the form of a man and the head of a horse; celestial choristers and
musicians, dwelling in the paradise of Kuvera on Kailasa; they sprang from the toe of Brahma with the
Yakshas, but according to others, they are sons of Kasyapa; also called Aswa‐mukhas Turanga‐vaktras,
`horse‐faced,’ and Mayus.
Kiratarjuniya In. A poem descriptive of the combat between Siva in the guise of a Kirata or mountaineer and
the Pandu prince Arjuna; the story is first told in the Maha‐bharata, and has been worked up in this
artificial poem of eighteen cantos by Bharavi; part of it has been translated into German by Schutz.
Kiratas In. foresters and mountaineers living in the mountains east of Hindustan; described in the Ramayana
as “islanders, who eat raw fish, live in the waters, and are men‐tigers; their females are described as
“gold‐coloured and pleasant to behold,” and as having “sharp‐pointed hair‐knots.”; they are perhaps
the Cirrhadae placed on the Coromandel Coast by classic writers.
Kirmira In. a monster Rakshasa; brother of Vaka; He opposed the entrance of the Pandavas into the Kamyaka
forest, and threatened that he would eat Bhima. A furious combat ensued, in which Bhima and he
hurled large trees at each other, but the demon was at length strangled and had all his bones broken by
Bhima.
Kishkindhya In. a country in the peninsula; thought to be in the Mysore, which was taken by Rama from the
monkey king Bali, and given back to his brother Su‐griva, the friend and ally of Rama. The capital city
was Kishkindhya.
Kjalar N. Another name for Odin.
Kleio Gk. One of the nine Mousai, Goddesses of Music and Song who was cursed by Aphrodite to fall in love
with a mortal man, Pieros, as punishment for criticising the goddess' love of Adonis
Kobold N. Saxon: a house‐sprite. Small human‐shaped beings that live in or near barns and stables; If treated
kindly, they are friendly.
Kohala In. an ancient sage to whom the invention of the drama is attributed; also a writer on music
Kolga N. “Cool". Kolga is one of Aegir and Ran's nine wave daughters who are said to be the mothers of
Heimdall, the guardian of the Bifrost Bridge.
Kona, konur N. designates female (seidhkona, Spåkone, draumkona, etc.)
Kora Gk. a name of Persephone
Kosala In. a country on the Sarayu river; having Ayodhya for its capital; the name is variously applied to other
countries in the east, and in the south, and in the Vindhya mountains; it probably widened with the
dominions of its rulers, and part of Birar is called Dakshina‐Kosala, the Southern Kosala.
Kotavi, Kotari, Kottavi In. a mystical goddess, the tutelary deity of the Daityas, and mother of Bana the
demon; the name is sometimes applied to Durga
Kratu In. one of the Prajapatis, and sometimes reckoned among the great Rishis and mind‐born sons of
Brahma; the Vishnu Purana says that his wife Samnati brought forth the 60,000 Valikhilyas, pigmy sages
no bigger than a joint of the thumb.
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Krauncha In. A pass situated somewhere in the Himalayas, said to have been opened by Parasu‐rama with his
arrows to make a passage from Kailasa to the southwards.
Kravyad In. Rakshasa or any carnivorous animal; the Veda, Agni is in one place called a Kravyad of terrible
power. Fire is also a Kravyad in consuming bodies on the funeral pile.
Kripa In. Son of the sage Saradwat, and the adopted son of King Santanu; became one of the Privy Council at
Hastinapura, and was one of the three surviving Kuru warriors who made the murderous night attack
upon the camp of the Pandavas; was also called Gautama and Saradwata.
Kripa, Kripi In. wife of Drona and mother of Aswatthaman
Krishna In. Means 'black’; the son of Devaki, is in the Chhandogya
Upanishad, where he appears as a scholar. There was a Rishi of
the name who was a son of Viswaka; there was also a great
Asura so named, who with 10,000 followers committed fearful
devastation, until he was defeated and skinned by Indra. In
another Vedic hymn, 50,000 Krishnas are said to have been slain,
and it is added in another that his pregnant wives were slain with
him that he might leave no posterity. This is supposed to have
reference to the Rakshasas or to the dark‐coloured aborigines of
India.
Krishna
Kritanta In. a name of Yama; the god of death
Krita‐varman In. a Kuru warrior; one of the last surviving three who made the murderous night attack upon
the camp of the Pandavas
Krita‐Virya In. Son of Dhanaka and father of the Arjuna who is better know by his patronymic Karta‐virya Krita‐
virya was a great patron of the Bhrigus, and according to the Puranas, “he ruled over the whole earth
with might and justice, and offered 10,000 sacrifices. Of him this verse is still recited, ‘The kings of the
earth will assuredly never pursue his steps in sacrifice in munificence, in devotion, in courtesy, and in
self‐control'.
Krita‐yuga In. the first age of the world, a period of 1,728,000 years
Krittikas In. the Pleiades; the six nurses of Karttikeya, the god of war; they were daughters of a king according
to one legend; wives of Rishis according to another
Kriya‐Yoga‐Sara In. portion of the Padma Purana treating of rites and ceremonies
Krodha, Krodha‐Vasa In. One of the many daughters of Daksha and sister‐wives of Kasyapa; wwas the mother
“of all sharp‐toothed monsters, whether on the earth, amongst the birds, or in the waters, that were
devourers of flesh.”
Kromos Gk. the eponymous Lord of Krommyon in Korinthos (in southern Greece)'; he was a son of Poseidon
Kshanada‐Chara In. ‘Night walkers’; Ghosts of evil character, goblins, Rakshasas
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Kshapanaka In. an author who was one of “the nine gems” at the court of Vikramaditya
Kshatriya In. the second or regal and warrior caste
Kshattri In. a name by which Vidura was familiarly called; the term, as explained in Manu, means the son of a
Sudra father and Brahman mother, but Vidura’s father was a Brahman and his mother a slave girl.
Kshemaka In. son of Nira‐mitra or Nimi; the last prince of the Lunar race. There is a memorial verse quoted in
the Vishnu Purana which say, “The race which gave origin to Brahmans and Kshatriyas, and which was
purified by regal sages, terminated with Kshemaka in the Kali age.”
Kshema‐Vriddhi In. a general of the Salwas who had a command in the army which attacked Dwaraka; was
defeated by Krishna’s son, Samba.
Kteatos Gk. one of the Molionidai; saimese twins and Princes of Olenos in Akhaia (Southern Greece). They
were sons of Molione and Poseidon (or her husband Aktor).
Kula‐Parvatas In. ‘Family mountains.’ a series or system of seven chains of mountains in Southern India. They
are Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Suktimat, Riksha (for which Gandha‐madana is sometimes substituted),
Vindhya and Paripatra. Mahendra is the Orissa chain; Malaya, the hills of Malabar proper, the south
part of the Western Ghats; Sahya, the northern parts of the Western Ghats; Suktimat is doubtful;
Riksha, the mountains of Gondwana; Vindhya is here applied to the eastern division of the Vindhya
mountains; and Paripatra, or Pariyatra as it is frequently written, applies to the northern and western
portions of the same range. The classification seems to have been known to Ptolemy, for he specifies
seven ranges of mountains, but his names are not in accord.
Kulika In. one of the eight serpents kings; described as of a dusky brown colour and having a half‐moon on his
head
Kulindas In. a people living in the north‐west
Kulluka‐Bhatta In. the famous commentator on Manu, whose gloss was used by Sir W. Jones in making the
translation of Manu.
Kumara‐Sambhava In. ‘The birth of the war god (Kumara).’ A poem by Kali‐dasa. The complete work consists
of sixteen cantos, but only seven are usually given, and these have been translated into Latin by
Stenzler. Parts have been rendered into English verse by Griffiths. There are several editions of the text.
Kumari In. ‘The damsel.’ An epithet of Sita, also of Durga. Cape Comorin.
Kumarila‐bhatta, Kumarila‐swami In. A celebrated teacher of the Mimansa philosophy and opponent of the
Buddhists, whom he is said to have extirpated by argument and by force. He was prior to
Sankaracharya, in whose presence he is recorded to have burnt himself.
Kumbha‐Karna In. Son of Visravas by his Rakshasa wife Kesini, and full brother of Ravana. A monster who,
under the curse of Brahma (or, as otherwise represented, as a boon), slept for six months at a time and
remained awake for only a single day. When Ravana was hard pressed by Rama he sent to arouse
Kumbha‐karna. This was effected with great difficulty. After drinking 2000 jars of liquor he went to
consult with his brother, and then took the field against the monkey army. He beat down Su‐griva, the
monkey chief, with a large stone, and carried him a prisoner into the city of Lanka. When he returned
to the battle he encountered Rama, and after a stout fight he was defeated, and Rama cut off his head.
Kumuda In. ‘A lotus’; Naga or serpent king whose sister, Kumudvati, married Kusa, son of Rama
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Kumura In. a name of Skanda; god of war. In the Brahmanas the term is applied to Agni
Kumuras In. Ming‐born sons of Brahma, who, declining to create progeny, remained ever boys and ever pure
and innocent. There were four of them, Sanat‐kumara, Sananda, Sanaka, and Sanatana; a fifth, Ribhu, is
sometimes added.
Kundina‐Pura In. the capital of Vidarbha; it survives as the modern Kundapur, situated about 40 miles east of
Amaravati, in Birar
Kuntala In. a country in the Dakhin, about Adoni; the Dakhin
Kunti In. (also called Pritha and Parshni); daughter of the Yadava prince Sura, king of the Surasenas, whose
capital was Mathura on the Yamuna. She was sister of Vasu‐deva, and was given by her father to his
childless cousin Kunti‐bhoja, by whom she was brought up.
Kunti‐Bhoja In. king of the people called Kuntis; the adoptive father of Kunti
Kurma‐Avatar In. the tortoise incarnation
Kuru In. a prince of the Lunar race; son of Samvarana by Tapati; a daughter of the sun. He ruled in the north‐
west of India over the country about Delhi. A people called Kurus, and dwelling about Kuru‐kshetra in
that part of India, are connected with him. He was ancestor both of Dhrita‐rashtra and Pandu, but the
patronymic Kaurava is generally applied to the sons of the former.
Kuru‐Jangala In. a forest country in the upper part of the Doab
Kuru‐Kshetra In. ‘The field of the Kurus.’ A plain near Delhi where the great battle the Kauravas and Pandavas
was fought. It lies south‐east of Thanesar, not far from Panipat, the scene of many battles in later days.
Kusa In. One of the twin sons of Rama and Sita. After the death of Rama, his two sons Kusa and Lava became
kings of the Southern and Northern Kosalas, and Kusa built Kusa‐sthali or Kusavati in the Vindhyas, and
made it his capital.
Kusa‐Dhwaja In. a brother of Janaka; king of Mithila; consequently uncle of Sita. His two daughters, Mandavi
and Sruta‐kirtti, were married to Bharata and Satru‐ghna, the sons of Janaka. Some make him king of
Sankasya, and others king of Kasi, and there are differences also as to his genealogy.
Kusamda In. son of Kusa and a descendant of Pururavas; he engaged in devout penance to obtain a son equal
to Indra, and that god was so alarmed at his austerities, that he himself became incarnate as Gadhi, son
of Kusamba.
Kusa‐Sthali In. A city identical with or standing on the same spot as Dwaraka. It was built by Raivata, and was
the capital of his kingdom called Anarta. When Raivata went on a visit to the region of Brahma, his city
was destroyed by Punya‐janas, i.e., Yakshas or Rakshasas.
Kusa‐Vati In. the capital of Southern Kosala; built upon the Vindhyas by Kusa; son of Rama
Kushmandas In. ‘Gourds’; a class of demigods or demons in the service of Siva
Kusika In. King who, according to some, was the father of Viswamitra, or, according to others, the first of the
race of Kusikas from whom Gadhi, the father of Viswamitra descended.
Kusuma‐pura In. ‘The city of flowers’; Patali‐putra or Patra
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Kusumayudha In. a name of Kama, or Cupid as the bearer of the bow (ayudha) of flowers (Kusuma)
Kutsa In. a Vedic Rishi and author of hymns; he is represented as being persecuted by Indra, but on one
occasion he was defended by that god against the demon Sushna. It is said that Indra took him to his
palace, and that they were so much alike that Sachi or Pushpotkata, Indra’s wife, did not know which
was her husband.
Kuvalaswa, Kuvalasyawa In. A prince of the Solar race, who, according to the Vishnu Purana, had 21,000 sons,
but the Hari‐vansa numbers them only as 100. Attended by his sons he attacked the great Asura,
Dhundhu, who lived in a sea of sand, and harassed the devotions of the pious sage Uttanka. They
unearthed the demon and slew him, from which exploit Kuvalaswa got the title of Dhundhu‐mara,
slayer of Dhundhu; but all his sons except three perished by the fiery breath of the monster.
Kuvalayapida In. an immense elephant, or a demon in elephantine form, belonging to Kansa; employed by
him to trample the boys Krishna and Bala‐rama to death. The attempt failed and the elephant was
killed.
Kuvera In. in the Vedas; a chief of the evil beings or spirits living in the shades: a sort of Pluto, and called by his
patronymic Vaisravana. Later he is Pluto in another sense, as god of wealth, and chief of the Yakshas
and Guhyakas. He was son of Visravas by Idavida, but he is sometimes called son of Pulastya, who was
father of Visravas.
Kvaesir, Kvasir N. A wise human created by the Gods with spit in a truce between the Æsir and Vanir. He knew
the answer to any question asked of him. He traveled far and wide over the world to teach his wisdom.
On one visit to some Dwarves was killed by two of them, Fjalar and Galar, who brewed his blood with
honey and made the Mead of Poetry. This mead eventually became the property of the giant Suttung
and drunk by Odin.
Kvasir's Blood N. A kenning for poetry, because the Mead of Poetry was made from Kvasir's blood.
Kykhreus Gk. a King of the island of Salamis (in southern Greece); he as a son of Poseidon and the Naias
Salamis
Kyknos Gk. a King of Kolonai in the Troad (Asia Minor) and ally of the Trojans in their war with the Greeks; he
was a son of Poseidon and Kalyke whom his father made invulnerable to weapons.
L

Labdacus Gk. the only son of Polydorus and a king of Thebes; Labdacus was a grandson of Thebes' founder,
Cadmus. His mother was Nycteis, daughter of Nycteus. Polydorus died while Labdacus was a young
child, leaving Nycteus as his regent, although Lycus soon replaced him in that office. When Labdacus
had grown, he ruled Thebes for a short time. He died while he was still young, after he lost a war with
the king of Athens, Pandion, over their borders.
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Labyrinth Gk. An elaborate structure designed

and built by the legendary artificer
Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at
Knossos. Its function was to hold the
Minotaur, a creature that was half man
and half bull and was eventually killed by
the Athenian hero Theseus. Daedalus had
made the Labyrinth so cunningly that he
himself could barely escape it after he built
it. Theseus was aided by Ariadne, who
provided him with a skein of thread,
literally the "clew", or "clue", so he could
find his way out again.
Labyrinth
Lacedaemon Gk. A son of Zeus by Taygete, was married to Sparta, the daughter of Eurotas, by whom he
became the father of Amyclas, Eurydice, and Asine. He was
king of the country which he called after his own name,
Lacedaemon, while he gave to his capital the name of his
wife, Sparta. He was believed to have built the sanctuary of
the Charites, which stood between Sparta and Amyclae,
and to have given to those divinities the names of Cleta
and Phaënna. An heroum was erected to him in the
neighbourhood of Therapne. His name was the other name
of Sparta.
Lachesis Gk. (Lakhesis) One of the three Fates
Lactans Rom. God of agriculture
Ladon (1) Gk. a hundred‐headed dragon which guarded the
golden apples of the Hesperides; it was slain by Heracles.
Ladon (2) Gk. a river of Arcadia and its god
Lady of Wild Things Gk. Artemis was goddess of chastity,
virginity, the hunt, the moon, and the natural environment.
Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto. Her twin brother
is Apollo. She is the lady of the wild things.
Ladon
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Laelaps Gk. (Lailaps) a magical dog that was destined always to catch is prey; it was turned to stone by Zeus
when it was set to chase the Teumessian Fox ‐ a beast was fated never to be caught.
Laerad N. A famous tree in Valhalla on which the goat Heidrún and the Hart (deer) Eikthyrnir feeds.
Laertes. Gk. the son of Arcesius and Chalcomedusa; he was the father of Odysseus (who was thus called
Laertiades, Λαερτιάδης) and Ctimene by his wife Anticlea, daughter of the thief Autolycus. Laërtes was
an Argonaut and participated in the hunt for the Calydonian Boar. Laërtes's title was King of the
Cephallenians, which he presumably inherited from his father Arcesius and grandfather Cephalus. His
realm included Ithaca and surrounding islands, and perhaps even the neighboring part of the mainland
of other Greek city‐states.
Laestrygones Gk (Laistrygones) a tribe of man‐eating giants encountered by Odysseus on his travels
Laevatein N. The magic‐wand Laevatein was forged by Loki and is kept by Sinmara in a bowl made of tough
iron that has nine locks. Laevatein means "Lie Stick" or "Wand of Destruction". At Ragnarok Loki intends
to use it to kill the cock Vithofnir to prevent it from crowing and warning of their approach into battle.
To possess the shining feather found in front of Vithofnir's gaze is the only bribe Sinmara would take to
give up this weapon. Laevatein is also used as a kenning for "sword".
Laghu‐Kaumudi In. a modern and very much simplified edition of Panini’s Grammar by Varada Raja; it has
been edited and translated by Dr. Ballantyne
Laistrygon Gk. the first King of the Laistrygones, a tribe of man‐eating Giants; he was a son of Poseidon
Laius Gk. Laios of Thebes was a divine hero and key personage in the Theban founding myth. Son of Labdacus,
he was raised by the regent Lycus after the death of his father. He was the father of Oedipus, husband
of Queen Jocasta. His own son killed him.
Lakshmana In. son of King Dasa‐ratha by his wife Sumitra; he was the twin brother of Satru‐ghna, and the half‐
brother and especial friend of Rama‐chandra. Under the peculiar circumstances of his birth, one eighth
part of the divinity of Vishnu became manifest in him.
Lakshmi In. The word occurs in the Rig‐veda with the sense of good
fortune, and in the Atharva‐veda the idea becomes personified in
females both of a lucky and unlucky character. The Taittiriya
Sanhita, as explained by the commentator, makes Lakshmi and Sri
to be two wives of Aditya, and the Satapatha. Lakshmi is said to
have four arms, but she is the type of beauty, and is generally
depicted as having only two. In one hand she holds a lotus. “She
has no temples, but being goddess of abundance and fortune, she
continues to be assiduously courted, and is not likely to fall into
neglect.” Other names of Lakshmi are Hira, Indira, Jaladhi‐ja,
‘ocean‐born;’ Chanchala or Lola, ‘the fickle,’ as goddess of fortune;
Loka‐mata, ‘mother of the world.’ Lakshmi
Lalita‐Vistara In. a work in Sanskrit verse on the life and doctrines of Buddha; it has been printed in the
Bibliotheca Indica
Lamia (1) Gk. (Lamia Libys) a terrifying phantom who preyed on children. She had the ability to remove her
eyes
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Lamia (2) Gk. (Lamia Korinthia) A vampiress who seduced a young Corinthian man in order to drink his blood.
Her illusions were exposed by a sage and she was driven away.
Lamiae Gk. (Lamiai) Vampiric monsters who appeared as ghostly, handsome women. They lured young men to
their beds to drank their blood and fed on their flesh.
Lamides Gk. Naiad nymphs of the river Lamos who nursed the infant Dionysus

Lamides
Lamos Gk. a river of Cilicia or Mount Helicon in Boeotia and its god; he and his sons and daughters were
nurses of the god Dionysus
Lampades Gk. the torch‐bearing nymphs of Hades; they formed part of the retinue of Hecate in her night‐time
jaunts.
Lampetia Gk. a nymph daughter of Helios who cared for her father's sheep‐flocks on the island of Thrinacie
Land of Morning N. The light to the east of Jormungrund.
Landvaettir N. Guardian earth sprites; In this group can be classed all the beings who guard certain places,
those who are bound to rocks, streams, or trees, and the lesser nature spirits in general. The
landvaettir are visible to the sensitive and to those faring forth from their bodies. They also appear in
dreams. They do not change shape, but an individual landvaettr may appear as almost anything.
Langia Gk. the Naiad nymph of a Nemean spring
Lanka In. The island of Ceylon or its capital city. The city is described in the Ramayana as of vast extent and of
great magnificence, with seven broad moats and seven stupendous walls of stone and metal. It is said
to have been built of gold by Viswa‐karma for the residence of Kuvara, from whom it was taken by
Ravana. The Bhagavata Purana represents that the island was originally the summit of Mount Meru,
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which was broken off by the god of the wind and hurled into the sea; name of one of the Sakinis or evil
spirits attendant on Siva and Devi.
Laocoon Gk. Priest of Apollo in Troy who told his fellow Trojans to destroy the wooden horse the Greeks had
given them. By thrusting his spear into the side of the horse, he wanted them to hear the noise of the
weapons in there, but the sound was silenced by the gods. To stop him to further convince the Trojans,
Poseidon sent two snakes that killed Laocoon and his two sons.
Laodamia Gk. the mother of Sarpedon by Zeus; a daughter of Bellerophon; killed by Artemis one day when
she was weaving
Laomedon Gk. a Trojan king; son of Ilus; brother of Ganymedes and father of Priam, Astyoche, Lampus,
Hicetaon, Clytius, Cilla, Proclia, Aethilla, Medesicaste, Clytodora, and Hesione; Tithonus is also
described by most sources as Laomedon's eldest legitimate son and most sources omit Ganymedes
from the list of Laomedon's children, but indicate him as his uncle instead; Laomedon's possible wives
are Placia, Strymo (or Rhoeo) and Leucippe.
Lapithae Gk. a mythical race, whose home was in Thessaly in the valley of the Peneus; The genealogies make
them a kindred race with the Centaurs, their king Peirithoiis being the son, and the Centaurs the
grandchildren (or sons) of Ixion.
Lares Rom. Guardian spirits of the house and fields
Larissa Gk. a city and the capital of the Thessaly periphery of Greece and capital of the Larissa Prefecture
Lata In. a country comprising Kandesh and part of Guzerat about the Mhye river
Latmus Gk. A ridge of many spurs running in an east‐west direction along the north shore of the former
Latmian Gulf on the coast of Caria, which became part of Hellenised Ionia.
Latyayana In. author of a Sutra work; it has been printed in the Bibliotheca Indica
Laufey N. "Wooded Isle". Fire Giantess Laufey is Farbauti's wife and mother of Loki, Byleist and Helblindi.
Laufey gave birth to Loki after she had been struck by a bolt of fire from Farbauti. She is also called Nál.
Lausus Gk. The son of the ousted Etruscan king Mezentius, and fought with him against Aeneas and the
Trojans in Italy
Lava In. one of the twin sons of Rama and Sita; he reigned at Sravasti
Lavanya In. a Rakshasa; son of Madhu by Kumbhinasi; the sister of Ravana and daughter of Visravas. He
inherited from his father an invincible trident which had been presented to him by Siva. He was
surprised without his weapon and killed by Satru‐ghna. Lavana was king of Mathura and Satru‐ghna
succeeded him.
Laverna Rom. Goddess of unlawful gain and trickery
Lector priest Eg. translates as "One who bears the ritual book"; this priests function was to recite from the
ritual texts
Leda Gk. daughter of the Aetolian king Thestius; wife of the king Tyndareus, of Sparta; Her myth gave rise to
the popular motif in Renaissance and later art of Leda and the Swan; she was the mother of Helen of
Troy, Clytemnestra and Castor and Pollux spelled Kastor and Polydeuces.
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Leikin N. Also called Hela or Hel.
Leirbrimir N. A Clay‐Giant.
Lemnos Gk. an island in the northern part of the Aegean Sea, it is part of the Greek prefecture of Lesbos
Leod‐runa N. Old High German: song‐rune.
Lerna Gk. a region of springs and a former lake near the east coast of the Peloponnesus, south of Argos
Lethe Gk. one of the five rivers of Hades; also known as the Ameles potamos (river of unmindfulness); the
Lethe flowed around the cave of Hypnos and through the Underworld, where all those who drank from
it experienced complete forgetfulness; was also the name of the Greek spirit of forgetfulness and
oblivion, with whom the river was often identified.
Leto Gk. a daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe; Kos claimed her birthplace; In the Olympian scheme,
Zeus is the father of her twins, Apollo and Artemis, the Letoides, which Leto conceived after her hidden
beauty accidentally, caught the eyes of Zeus.
Leucippus Gk. (Leukippos), the son of Oenomaüs; king of Pisa and he was in love with Daphne and approached
her in the disguise of a maiden and thus hunted with her, but Apollo's jealousy caused his discovery
during the bath, and he was killed by the nymphs.
Leucothea Gk. A sea goddess first mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey, in which she rescued the Greek hero
Odysseus from drowning. She was customarily identified with Ino, daughter of the Phoenician Cadmus;
because she cared for the infant god Dionysus, the goddess Hera drove Ino (or her husband, Athamas)
mad so that she and her son, Melicertes, leaped terrified into the sea. Both were changed into marine
deities—Ino as Leucothea, Melicertes as Palaemon.
Liber Rom. God of fertility and nature; Festival March 17
Libera Rom. fertility Goddess
Liberalitas Rom. God of generosity
Libertas Rom. Goddess of freedom
Libethra Gk. or Leibethra was a city close to Olympus where Orpheus was buried by the Muses. His tomb was
later destroyed by a flood of the river Sys where orpheus body was buried.
Libitina Rom. Goddess of funerals
Lich, Lik N. The physical part of the soul‐body (psycho‐physical) complex. also called lyke
Lich, Lik, Lyke N. The physical body.
Lidskjalv N. Odin's high seat in Valhalla from which he has a grand view of all the worlds; Freyr was sitting on
the high seat when he discovered Gerd, with whom he fell in love
Lif & Leifthrasir, Liv & Livtrase N. Two human survivors of Ragnarok who will repopulate world. Mimir had
already seen the future of Ragnarok, and read the signs, which proved that a terrible fate was in store
for the world. He did not want the clan of Men descended from Askur and Embla to become
irretrievably spoilt from distress and sin, so he sought out two children, pure and unspoiled, in order to
preserve them. In Midgard he found Lif and Leifthrasir, and ordered his sons to build for them a
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magnificent palace in the land of morning‐light to the east of Jormungrund, a palace called Breidablik
surrounded by the greenest of woods. The palace was also built for Baldur, whose fate Mimir had also
foreseen.
Likhita In. author of a Dharma‐sastra or code of law
Líkn‐stafir N. Health staves (runes).
Lilavati In. ‘Charming.’ The fanciful title of that chapter of Bhaskara’s Siddhanta‐siromani which treats of
arithmetic and geometry. It has been translated by Colebrooke and Dr. Taylor, and the text has been
printed.
Lima Rom. Goddess of thresholds
Limrúnar, Limrunes N. Runes used for healing. To get the best results from Limrunes, they should be carved
on the south‐facing bark or leaves of the corresponding tree. The rune Ul is a Limrune of great power,
invoking Waldh. See also Biargrunes.
Lina N. Flax, fertility, the sacred plant of the goddess Frigg.
Lindorm N. Snake‐like ribbon pattern containing runes
Linga, Lingam In. the male organ; the phallus; the symbol under which Siva is universally worshipped. It is of
comparatively modern introduction and is unknown to the Vedas, but it receives distinct notice in the
Maha‐bharata.
Linus Gk. son of Apollo and Psamathe of Argos; He was deserted by his mother on a hillside and devoured by
dogs; When Psamathe's father learned what his daughter had done, he had her killed.
Lit N. Lit is a small Dwarf who was running around as Balder's funeral boat was being pushed in the sea. Thor
was in a bad mood so when Lit got in the way, Thor kicked the Dwarf into the fire.
Lityerses Gk. A natural son of Midas; lived at Celaenae in Phrygia; engaged in rural pursuits, and hospitably
received all strangers that passed his house, but he then compelled them to assist him in the harvest,
and whenever they allowed themselves to be surpassed by him in their work, he cut off their heads in
the evening, and concealed their bodies in the sheaves, accompanying his deed with songs.
Ljøsalfar N. The Light Elves are wights of light, air and thought who dwell in the upper reaches of Midgardhr's
atmosphere, which is ruled by Freyr. They are often, though not always, personified as feminine, in
contrast to the Svartalfar, who are almost always masculine. The Ljøsalfar are the keepers and teachers
of wisdom and they are the source of earthly inspiration.
Ljóssalfheimr N. Home of the Light Elves
Ljothatal N. The list of charms in the Havamal.
Loading formáli N. As a final way of setting the purpose of each lot, to speak its ørlög, a poetic formáli should
be spoken over it. This could be one of the old traditional verses from one of the rune poems, or a
special verse of your own making. This or some other similar formula, can also act as a mnemonic in
actual rune readings.
Loading N. The part of a ritual in which the sacred power that has been called upon is channeled into the holy
drink or object (such as a runestave or bindrune).
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Loddfafnir N. The wandering skald who recites the Runatál, the verses which he claims to have received from
Odin.
Lodur N. Lodur gave appearance and speech to the first humans. He is identified with Vé by some and Loki by
others.
Loeding, Leyding N. Loding is the second strong chain the Gods used to tie up the Fenrir wolf. The first chain
was Dromi, and the third, that worked, was Gleipnir. All three chains were forged by the Dwarves.
Loegr N. Invasive sorcery commanding spirits, operative magic
Lofar N. The descendants of which were: Draupnir and Dólgthrasir, Hár, Haugspori, Hlévangur, Glói, Dori, Ori,
Dufur, Andvari, Skirfir, Virfir, Skáfidur, Ái, Álf and Yngvi, Eikinskjaldi, Fjalar and Frosti, Finn and Ginnar:
Lofn N. Goddess of forbidden love and of passionate love affairs, an attendant to Frigga; Her duty was to
remove all obstacles from the path of lovers. Her name means "Praise" or "Love".
Logi, Loge N. "Flame". A Fire‐Giant who served Utgardh‐Loki; He competed and won against Loki in eating the
most meat. It was a trick. Logi is actually "flame", which burns more quickly than one can eat. Logi's
father is Mistblindi and Aegir is his brother.
Loha‐mukhas In. ‘Iron‐faced men’; described in the Maha‐bharata as swift, one‐footed, undecaying, strong
men‐eaters.
Loka In. a world; a division of the universe. In general the tri‐loka or three worlds are heaven, earth, and hell.
Another classification enumerates seven, exclusive of the infernal regions, also seven in number which
are classed under Patala. The upper worlds are:‐ (1.) Bhur‐loka, the earth. (2.) Bhuvar‐loka, the space
between the earth and the sun, the region of the Munis, Siddhas, &c. (3.) Swar‐loka, the heaven of
Indra, between the sun and the polar star. (4.) Mahar‐loka, the usual abode of Bhrigu and other saints,
who are supposed to be co‐existent with Brahma. During the conflagration of these lower worlds the
saints ascend to the next, or (5.) Jana‐loka, which is described as the abode of Brahma’s sons, Sanaka,
Sananda, and Sanat‐kumara. Above this is the (6.) Tapar‐loka, where the deities called Vairagis reside.
(7.) Satya‐loka or Brahma‐loka, is the abode of Brahma, and translation to this world exempts beings
from further birth.
Lokaloka In. ‘A world and no world,’ A fabulous belt of mountains bounding the outermost of the seven seas
and dividing the visible world from the regions of darkness. It is “ten thousand yojanas in breadth, and
as many in height, and beyond it perpetual darkness invests the mountains all around, which darkness
is again encompassed by the shell of an egg.” It is called also Chakra‐vada or Chakra‐vala.
Loki, Loki Laufeyiarson N. A Giant who become the blood‐brother of Odin. Son of the Giant Farbauti (Cruel

Smiter) and Giantess Laufrey; Pleasing and handsome, evil in character, capricious in behavior, cunning,
he is known as the Trickster God, called "Father of Lies", Shape‐changer, Sky‐Traveler. Originally, he
was the God of Fire. He has fiery red hair and is extremely funny and witty. He would do anything to
make people laugh. Eventually, his pranks devolved into practical jokes with a streak of viciousness.
Loki ("Fire") first married Glut ("Glow"), who bore him two daughters, Eisa ("Embers") and Einmyria
("Ashes"). Besides this wife, Loki is also said to have wedded the Giantess Angr‐boda ("Anguish‐
Boding") [possibly Gullveig], who dwelt in Jötunheim, and who bore him the three monsters Hel,
Goddess of death, the Midgard snake Iörmungandr, and the wolf Fenris. Loki also bore (as a female)
Sleipnir, the eight legged horse, after a mating with a Giant stallion called Svadilfari. His last wife was
Sigyn, with whom he had sons Vali and Narfi. Loki admitted to Frigg that it was his fault Balder was
killed and could not return from Hel. The Æsir pursued him, so he ran away and hid in a mountain cabin
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with four doors so that he could see out of it in all directions. Often during the day, he changed himself
into a salmon to hide in the waterfall of Fránang. While sitting indoors over a fire one day, Loki took
linen twine and invented the fishing net. Odin saw him from Hlidskjálf. Throwing the net on to the fire,
Loki jumped up and out into the river. When
the Æsir arrived, Kvasir saw the ashes and
understood it was made for catching fish. The
Aesir made a net and tried to catch him with it.
Loki leaped away but was caught by the tail by
Thor. Loki was captured and put into a cave.
Taking three flat stones, the gods set them up
on end and bored a hole through each. Then
Loki's sons, Vali and Narfi, were captured. The
Æsir changed Vali into a wolf and he tore apart
his brother Narfi. The Æsir took Narfi's entrails
and with them bound Loki over the edges of
the three stones ‐ one under his shoulder, the
second under his loins, the third under his
knee‐joints ‐ and these bonds became iron.
Then Skadi took a poisonous snake and
fastened it up over him so that the venom from
it should drop on to his face. His wife Sigyn,
however, sits by him holding a basin under the
poison drops. When the basin becomes full she
goes away to empty it, but in the meantime the
venom drips on to his face and then he
shudders so violently that the whole earth shakes causing earthquakes. There he will lie in bonds until
Ragnarök. All his fetters will break at Ragnarok. Then Loki and all the Frost Giants and the whole family
of Hel will board the boat Nagifar and join the Sons of Muspell to battle the Æsir.
Loma‐Harshana In. (or Roma‐harshana); a bard or pane‐gyrist who first gave forth the Puranas
Loma‐pada In. (or Roma‐pada); a king of Anga, chiefly remarkable for his connection with Rishya‐sringa
Long‐Beard N. By‐name of Odin
Lopamudra In. A girl whom the sage Agastya formed from the most graceful parts of different animals and
secretly introduced into the palace of the king of Vidarbha, where the child was believed to be the
daughter of the king. Agastya had made this girl with the object of having a wife after his own heart,
and when she was marriageable he demanded her hand. The king was loath to consent, but was
obliged to yield, and she became the wife of Agastya. Her name is explained as signifying that the
animals suffered loss (lopa) by her engrossing their distinctive beauties (mudra), as the eyes of the
deer, &c. She is also called Kaushitaki and Vara‐prada. A hymn is the Rig‐veda is attributed to her.
Lopt N. Another name for Loki.
Lot N. A runic talisman (rune‐tine) used for divinatory purposes.
Lotis Gk. a nymph, who in her escape from the embraces of Priapus was metamorphosed into a tree, called
after her Lotis.
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Lotus Eg. a symbol of birth and dawn; it was thought to have been the cradle of the sun on the first morning of
creation, rising from the primeval waters; the lotus was a common architectural motif, particularly used
on capitals
Lotus‐eater Gk. One of a tribe encountered by the Greek hero Odysseus during his return from Troy, after a
north wind had driven him and his men from Cape Malea (Homer, Odyssey, Book IX).
Lovar N. Race of Dwarves from Svarin's grave‐mound to Aurvangar in Jöruvellir
Lucifer Rom. God of the morning star
Lucina Rom. Goddess of childbirth and midwifery
Luna Gk. also known as Selene in greek mythology, was the Titan goddess of the moon; was depicted as a
woman either riding side saddle on a horse or in a chariot drawn by a pair of winged steeds.
Luna Rom. Goddess of the moon
Lyaeus Gk. the god who frees men from care and anxiety, a surname of Bacchus
Lycaon Gk. was the cruel king of Arcadia, son of Pelasgus and Meliboea, who tested Zeus by serving him a dish
of a slaughtered and dismembered child in order to see whether Zeus was truly omniscient.
Lycia Gk. an ancient kingdom in Asia Minor (the Asian portion of modern Turkey; Mythologically, Lycia was
beleaguered by the Chimaera, a fire‐breathing monster that was part lion, part goat and part snake.
Lycomedes Gk. a king of the Dolopians in the island of Scyros, near Euboea; father of Deidameia; grandfather
of Pyrrhus or Neoptolemus
Lycurgus Gk. An impious king of the Edonians of Thrake who attacked Dionysos when the god was traveling
through his land instructing men in the art of winemaking or, in another version of the tale, while the
god was still a child in the care of the Nymphs of Mount Nysa; As the troupe fled, Lykourgos struck
down the god's nurse Ambrosia with his axe The rest dived into the sea where they were given refuge
by the goddess Thetis.
Lycus Gk. a ruler of the ancient city of Ancient Thebes (Boeotia); his rule was preceded by the regency of
Nycteus, and he was succeeded by the twins Amphion and Zethus
Lydia Gk. a region ruled in ancient times by King Croesus; centrally located in what is today Turkey
Lyfja N. The mountain on which Mengloth's hall, Lyr, is found, called the "Mountain of Healing".
Lyke, Lich, Lik N. The physical body. See also Hamr.
Lynceus Gk. a king of Argos, succeeding Danaus; he is named as a descendant of Belus through his father
Aegyptus, who was the twin brother of Danaus. Danaus had fifty daughters, the Danaides, while
Aegyptus had fifty sons including Lynceus, whose name when translated means 'wolf'.
Lyngvi Island N. Fenrir is bound on this island on Armsvartnir Lake.
Lyr N. Mengloth's hall, built on Lyfja, the "Mountain of Healing".It is protected by a moat of "flickering flame".
It has a golden floor built by the Dwarves.
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M
Maat Eg. the concept of order, truth, regularity and justice which was all important to the ancient Egyptians; it
was the duty of the pharaohs to uphold maat
Machaon Gk. a son of Asclepius; with Podalirius, his brother, he led an army from Thessaly (or possibly
Messenia) in the Trojan War on the side of the Greeks; He, along with his brother, were highly valued
surgeons and medics. In the Iliad he was wounded and put out of action by Paris.
Mada In. described in the Maha‐bharata as “a fearful open‐mouthed monster, created by the sage Chyavana,
having teeth and grinders of portentous length, and jaws one of which enclosed the earth and the
other the sky,” who got Indra and the other gods into his jaws “like fishes in the mouth of a sea
monster.”
Madayanti In. wife of King Saudasa or Kalmasha‐pada; she was allowed to consort with the sage Vasishtha.
According to some this was a meritorious act on the king’s part and a favour to Vasishtha; according to
others it was for the sake of obtaining progeny.
Madhava In. a name of Krishna or Vishnu
Madhava, Madhavacharya In. A celebrated scholar and religious teacher. He was a native of Tuluva, and
became prime minister of Vira Bukka Raya, king of the great Hindu state of Vijaya‐nagara, who lived in
the fourteenth century. He was brother of Sayana, the author of the great commentary on the Veda, in
which work Madhava himself is believed to have shared.
Madhavi In. a name of Lakshmi
Madhu In. a demon slain by Krishna; Another, or the same demon, said to have been killed by Satru ghna
Madhu‐Chhandas In. a son of Viswamitra, who had fifty sons older and fifty younger than this one; but they
are spoken of as “a hundred sons.” He is the reputed author of some hymns of the Rig‐veda
Madhu‐kasa In. described in the Atharva‐veda as “the brilliant grand‐daughter of the Maruts; mother of the
Adityas, the daughter of the Vasus, the life of creatures, and the centre of immortality
Madhuraniruddha In. a drama in eight acts by Sayani Chandra Sekhara; it is quite a modern work
Madhu‐sudana In. ‘Slayer of Madhu’ a name of Krishna
Madhya‐desa In. the middle country, described by manu as “the tract situated between the Himavat and the
Vindhya ranges to the east of Vinasana and to the west of Prayaga (Allahabad).” Another authority
makes it the doab.
Madhyandina In. a Vedic school; a subdivision of the Vajasaneyi school, and connected with the Satapatha
Brahmana. It had also its own system of astronomy, and obtained its name from making noon
(Madhya‐dina) the starting‐point of the planetary movements
Madira In. a name of Varuni; wife of Varuna; goddess of wine
Madra In. name of a country and people to the north‐west of Hindustan; its capital was Sakala, and the
territory extended from the Biyas to the Chinab, or, according to others, as far as the Jhilam.
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Madri In. a sister of the king of the Madras; second wife of Pandu, to whom she bore twin‐sons, Nakula and
Sahadeva; but the Aswins are alleged to have been their real father; she became a sati on the funeral
pile of her husband.
Maenad Gk. the female followers of Bacchus (Dionysus); the most significant members of the Thiasus, the
god's retinue. Their name literally translates as "raving ones"; often the maenads were portrayed as
inspired by him into a state of ecstatic frenzy, through a combination of dancing and drunken
intoxication.
Magadha In. the country of South Bihar, where the Pali language was spoken
Magha In. a poet, son of Dattaka; author of one of the great artificial poems called, from its subject, Sisupala‐
badha, or, from its author, Magha‐kavya
Maghavat, Maghavan In. a name of Indra
Magic N. The magic used by our northern ancestors covered an amazing range of subjects and possibilities:
Shapeshifting, incantations, runic divination, "sitting‐out", weather and element magic, evil eye, image
magic, necromancy, counter‐magic, charms, prophecy and second‐sight, herbalism, healing and
poisons, "platform magic", mind control, death magic and curses, sexual magic, ghost lore, battle
magic. Many of these overlap one another, with shamanic techniques complementing herbalism and
healing, as an example. Also see Galdor and Seid.
Magni N. "The Powerful"; son of Thorr and Jarnsaxa; extremely strong at birth; Magni kills Nidhogg in
Ragnarok which he survives with his brother Modi. The brothers inherit Mjollnir.
Maha‐Bali In. a title of the dwarf Bali, whose city is called Maha‐bali‐pura,” or Seven Pagodas near Madras
Maha‐Bharata In. ‘The great (war of the) Bharatas’; the great epic poem of the Hindus, probably the longest in
the world. It is divided into eighteen parvas or books, and contains about 220,000 lines. The poem has
been subjected to much modification and has received numerous comparatively modern additions, but
many of its legends and stories are of Vedic character and of great antiquity. They seem to have long
existed in a scattered state, and to have been founded many of the poems and dramas of later days,
and among them is the story of Rama, upon which the Ramayana itself may have been based.
According to Hindu authorities, they were finally arranged and reduced to writing by a Brahman or
Brahmans. There is a good deal of mystery about this, for the poem is attributed to a divine source.
Maha‐Devi In. ‘The great goddess’; a name of Devi, the wife of Siva
Maha‐kala In. ‘Great Time’; a name of Siva in his destructive character. One of the twelve great Lingas. In the
caves of Elephanta this form of Siva is represented with eight arms. In one hand he holds a human
figure; in another, a sword or sacrificial axe; in a third, a basin of blood; in a fourth, the sacrificial bell;
with two he is drawing behind him the veil, which extinguishes the sun; and two are broken off. Chief of
the Ganas or attendants on Siva.
Maha‐Kavyas In. ‘Great poems’ six are classified under this title: ‐ (1.) Raghu‐vansa; (2.) Kumara sambhava;
(3.) Megha‐duta; (4.) Kiratarjuniya; (5.) Sisupala‐badha; (6.) Naishadha‐charitra.
Maha‐Padma Nanda In. the last of the Nanda dynasty
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Maha‐Pralaya In. a total dissolution of the universe at the end of a kalpa, when the seven lokas and their
inhabitants, men, saints, gods, and Brahma himself, are annihilated. Called also Jahanaka, Kshiti, and
Sanhara
Maha‐Puranas In. ‘The great Puranas’ The Vishnu and the Bhagavata, the two great Puranas of the Vaishnavas
Maha‐Purusha In. ‘The great or supreme male’; the supreme spirit. A name of Vishnu
Maharajikas In. a Gana or class of inferior deities, 236 or 220 in number
Maha‐Rashtra In. the land of the Mahrattas
Maha‐sena In. ‘The great captain’ a name of Kastikeya, god of war
Mahat In. the great intellect produced at the creation
Mahatmya In. ‘Magnanimity’ a legend of a shrine or other holy place
Maha‐vira Charita In. ‘The exploits of the great hero (Rama).’ A drama by Bhava‐bhuti, translated into English
by Pickford. There are several editions of the text
Maha‐yogi In. ‘The great ascetic’ A name of Siva
Maha‐yuga In. a great Yuga or age, consisting of 4,320,000 years
Mahendra In. a name of Indra; one of the seven mountain ranges of India; the hills, which run from Gondwans
to Orissa and the Northern Circars
Maheswara In. a name of Siva
Mahisha, Mahishasura In. the great Asura or demon killed by Skanda in the Maha‐bharata; also a demon
killed by Chanda or Durga.
Mahismati In. the capital of Karta‐virya; king of the Talajanghas, who had a thousand arms. It has been
identified by Colonel Tod with the village of Chuli Mahesar, which, according to him, is still called “the
village of the thousand armed.”
Mahodaya In. a name of the city of Kanauj
Mahoraga In. (Maha + uraga) ‘Great serpent’ The serpent Sesha, or any other great serpent
Maia Gk. the eldest of the Pleiades; the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione; She and her sisters, born on
Mount Cyllene in Arcadia, are sometimes called mountain goddesses, oreads, for Simonides of Ceos
sang of "mountain Maia" (Maiaoureias) "of the lively black eyes"; Maia was the oldest, most beautiful
and shyest. Aeschylus repeatedly identified her with Gaia.
Maia Rom. Goddess of fertility and Spring
Maiesta Rom. Goddess of honor and reverence
Mainaka In. A mountain stated in the Maha‐bharata to be north of Kailasa; so called as being the son of
Himavat and Menaka. When, as the poets sing, Indra clipped the wings of the mountains, this is said to
have been the only one, which escaped. This mountain, according to some, stands in Central India, and,
according to others, near the extremity of the Peninsula.
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Maitreya In. a Rishi; son of Kusarava; disciple of Parasara. He is one of the interlocutors in the Vishnu and
Bhagavata Puranas.
Maitreyi In. wife of the Rishi Yajnawalkya, who was indoctrinated by her husband in the mysteries of religion
and philosophy
Maitri, Maitrayani In. an Upanishad of the Black Yajur‐veda; it has been edited and translated by Professor
Cowell for the Bibliotheca Indica
Makandi In. a city of the Ganges, the capital of Southern Panchala
Makara In. A huge sea animal, which has been taken to be the crocodile, the shark, the dolphin, &c., but is
probably a fabulous animal. It represents the sign Capricornus in the Hindu zodiac, and is depicted with
the head and forelegs of an antelope and the body and tail of a fish. It is the vehicle of Varuna, the god
of the ocean, and its figure is borne on the banner of Kama‐deva, god of love. It is also called Kantaka,
Asita‐danshtra, ‘black teeth,’ and Jala‐rupa, ‘water form.’
Makhavat In. a name of Indra
Malava In. the country of Malwa
Malavikagnimitra In. (Malavika and Agnimitra); a drama ascribed to Kali‐dasa, and although inferior to his
other productions, it is probably his work. The text, with a translation, has been published by Tullberg.
There is a German translation by Weber, an English one by Tawney, and a French one by Foucaux. The
text has been printed at Bombay and Calcutta.
Malaya In. the country of Malabar proper; the mountains bordering Malabar
Malina‐Mukha In. ‘Black faced’ Rakshasas and other demons, represented as having black faces
Malini In. ‘Surrounded with a garland (mala)’ of Champa trees; a name of the city of Champa
Mallikarjuna In. a name of Siva; one of the twelve great Lingas
Mallinatha In. a poet; author of commentaries of great repute on several of the great poems, as the Raghu‐
vansa, Megha‐duta, Sisupala‐budha
Málrúnar, Malrunes N. Speech runes, by which one gains eloquence; generally, the Malrunes are used in
magic that brings advantage to the rune user by means of speech; A Malrune is a runic formula that is
spoken, called, or sung to achieve the desired magical result. Malrunes are effective in areas of life
where words are important. They can be used to gain compensation against injuries, especially in legal
actions. When they are used for this purpose, they should be written upon the walls, pillars and seats of
the place where the case is being tried. Malrunes are also used in the word magic of poetry and
invocation.
Mana N. The Finnish Death Goddess of the Kalevala. Her realm is called Manala; A vital essence that is the
pure energy of Love and Harmony.
Manasa In. ‘The intellectual’ a name of the Supreme Being Thus defined in the Maha‐bharata: “The primeval
god, without beginning or dissolution, indivisible, undecaying, and immortal, who is known and called
by great Rishis Manasa.”
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Manasa, Manasa‐Devi In. sister of the serpent king Sesha; wife of the sage Jarat‐karu. She is also called Jagad‐
gauri, Nitya (eternal), and Padmavati. She had special power in counteracting the venom of serpents,
and was hence called Visha‐hara.
Manasa, Manasa‐Sarovara In. The lake Manasa in the Himalayas. In the Vayu Purana it is stated that when the
ocean fell from heaven upon Mount Meru, it ran four times round the mountain, then it divided into
four rivers which ran down the mountain and formed four great lakes, Arunoda on the east, Sitoda on
the west, Maha‐bhadra on the north, and Manasa on the south. According to the mythological account,
the river Ganges flows out of it, but in reality no river issues from this lake, though the river Satlej flows
from another and larger lake called Ravana‐hrada, which lies close to the west of Manasa.
Manasa‐Putras In. ‘Mind (born) sons’ the seven or ten mind‐born sons of Brahma
Manas‐Tala In. the lion on which Devi rides
Manavi In. the wife of Manu; also called Manayi
Manda‐Karni In. A sage who dwelt in the Dandaka forest, and is said in the Ramayana to have formed a lake,
which was known by his name. His austerities alarmed the gods, and Indra sent five Apsarases to
beguile him from his penance of “standing in a pool and feeding on nothing but air for 10,000 years.”
They succeeded, and became his wives, and inhabited a house concealed in the lake, which, from them,
was called Panchapsaras.
Mandakini In. the heavenly Ganges; the Ganges; an arm of the Ganges, which flows through Kedara natha. A
river near the mountain Chitra‐kuta (q.v.) in Bundelkhand. It was near the abode of Rama and Sita, and
is mentioned both in the Ramayana and Maha‐bharata. It would seem to be the modern Pisuni.
Mandala In. ‘A circle, orb’ a circuit or territorial division, as Chola‐mandala, i.e., Coromandel. According to one
arrangement, the Sanhita of the Rig‐veda is divided into ten Mandalas
Mandala‐Nritya In. a circular dance; the dance of the Gopis round Krishna and Radha
Manda‐Paa In. A childless saint, who, according to the Maha‐bharata, after long perseverance in devotion and
asceticism, died and went to the abode of Yama. His desires being still unsatisfied, he inquired the
cause, and was told that all his devotions had failed because he had no son, no putra (put, ‘hell,’ tra,
‘drawer’), to save him from hell. He then assumed the form of a species of bird called Sarngika, and by a
female of that species, who was called Jarita, he had four sons.
Mandara In. the great mountain, which the gods used for the churning of the ocean; it is supposed to be the
mountain so named in Bhagalpur, which is held sacred
Mandavi In. daughter of Kusa‐dhwaja; cousin of Sita; wife of Rama’s brother Bharata
Mandehas In. a class of terrific Rakshasas, who were hostile to the sun and endeavored to devour him
Mandhatri In. a king; son of Yuvanaswa, of the race of Ikshwaku, and author of a hymn in the Rig‐veda. The
Hari‐vansa and some of the Puranas make Mandhatri to have been born in a natural way from his
mother Gauri, but the Vishnu and Bhagavata Puranas tell an extraordinary story about his birth, which
is probably based upon a forced derivation of his name.
Mandodari In. Ravana’s favourite wife and the mother of Indra‐jit
Mandukeya In. a teacher of the Rig‐veda, who derived his knowledge from his father, Indra‐pramati
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Mandukya In. name of an Upanishad translated by Dr. Roer in the Bibliotheca Indica
Manegarm, Moongarm N. The mighty wolf ever bred, Manegarm chases the Moon every night. In the battle
of Ragnarok he finally catches the Moon. He eats corpses and spatter heavens with lifeblood.
Manegarm has given birth by a Giantess in the Ironforest.
Manes Gk. the deified souls of the dead; the spirit or shade of a particular dead person
Manes Rom. similar to the Lares, Genii and Di Penates; they were the souls of deceased loved ones; They were
honored during the Parentalia and Feralia in February
Mangala In. the planet Mars, identified with Kartikeya, the god of war; he was son of Siva and the Earth, and
as son of the Earth is called Angaraka, Bhauma, Bhumi‐putra, Mahisuta
Manheimur N. The name of the land where the Aesir settled during their absence from Asgard during the war
with the Vanir.
Måni ‐ Moon‐God. Moon is the son of Mundilfari and the Light‐Disir Sol's brother. Together with his sister Sol
he was placed in the sky by the Æsirs. Moon is chased by the wolf Manegarm.
Mania Rom. Goddess of the dead
Mani‐Bhadra In. the chief of the Yakshas and guardian of travelers
Manimat In. a Rakshasa slain by Bhima
Mani‐Pura In. A city of the seacoast of Kalinga, when Babhru‐vahana, the son of Arjuna, dwelt. Wheeler
identifies it with the modern Munnipur or Muncepore, east of Bengal; but this is very questionable.
Manmatha In. a name of Kama; god of love
Manthara In. An ugly deformed slave, nurse of Queen Kaikeyi, who stirred up her mistress’s jealousy against
Rama chandra, and led her to persuade King Dasa‐ratha to banish Rama from court. Satru‐ghna beat
her and threatened to kill her, but she was saved by his brother Bharata.
Mantra In. that portion of the Veda, which consists of hymns, as distinct from the Brahmanas
Manu Eg. the mythical mountain on which the sun set; the region of the western horizon; one of two
mountains that held up the sky, the other being BAKHU; These peaks were guarded by the double lion
god, AKER
Manu. In. (From the root man, to think.) ‘The man.’ This name belongs to fourteen mythological progenitors
of mankind and rulers of the earth, each of whom holds away for the period called a Manwantara
(manu‐antara), the age of a Manu, i.e., a period of no less than 4,320,000 years.
Manwantara In. (Manu‐antara). The life or period of a Manu, 4,320,000 years
Mardoll N. "Shining over the Sea"; an aspect of Freya
Maricha In. a Rakshasa; son of Taraka. According to the Ramayana he interfered with a sacrifice, which was
being performed by Viswamitra, but was encountered by Rama, who discharged a weapon at him,
which drove him one hundred yojanas out to sea. He was afterwards the minister of Ravana, and
accompanied him to the hermitage where Rama and Sita were dwelling. There, to inveigle Rama, he
assumed the shape of a golden deer, which Rama pursued and killed. On receiving his death‐wound he
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resumed a Rakshasa form and spake, and Rama discovered whom he had killed. In the meanwhile
Ravana had carried off Sita.
Marichi In. chief of the Maruts; name of one of the Prajapatis. He is sometimes represented as springing direct
from Brahma. He was father of Kasyapa, and one of the seven great Rishis
Marisha In. daughter of the sage Kandu; wife of the Prachetasas, but from the mode of her birth she is called
“the nursling of the trees, and daughter of the wind and the moon.” She was mother of Daksha. Her
mother was a celestial nymph named Pramlocha, who beguiled the sage Kandu from his devotions and
lived with him for a long time. When the sage awoke from his voluptuous delusion, he drove her from
his presence. “She, passing through the air, wiped the perspiration from her with the leaves of the
trees,” and “the child she had conceived by the Rishi came forth from the pores of her skin in drops of
perspiration. The trees received the living dews, and the winds collected them into one mass. Soma
matured this by his rays, and gradually it increased in size till the exhalations that had rested on the
tree tops became the lovely girl named Marisha.” Vishnu Purana. According to the same authority
Marisha had been in a former birth the childless widow of a king. Her devotion to Vishnu gained his
favour, and he desired her to ask a boon. She bewailed her childless state, and prayed that in
succeeding births she might have “honourable husbands and a son equal to a patriarch.” She received
the promise that she should have ten husbands of mighty prowess, and a son whose posterity should
fill the universe. This legend is no doubt an addition of later date, invented to account for the
marvellous origin of Marisha.
Markandeya In. a sage; the son of Mrikanda; reputed author of the Markandeya Purana. He was remarkable
for his austerities and great age, and is called Dirghayus, ‘the long‐lived.’
Marpessa Gk. was a grand‐daughter of Ares; an Aetolian princess; she was kidnapped by Idas but loved by
Apollo as well; Zeus made her choose between them; According to another myth she was the daughter
of the river god Euenus and Alcippe.
Mars Rom. the god of war, spring, growth in nature, agriculture, terror, anger, revenge, courage and fertility;
Protector of cattle; The son of Jupiter and Juno, he was the god of war; Mars was regarded as the
father of the Roman people because he was the father of Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome,
and husband to Bellona; He was the most prominent of the military gods that were worshipped by the
Roman legions.
Marsyas Gk. a central figure in two stories involving music: in one, he picked up the double flute (aulos) that
had been abandoned by Athena and played it, in the other, he challenged Apollo to a contest of music
and lost his hide and life; In Antiquity, literary sources often emphasise the hubris of Marsyas and the
justice of his punishment.
Marttanda In. in the Vedas the sun or sun god
Martya‐Mukha In. ‘Human‐faced’ aany being in which the figures of a man and animal are combined
Maruts In. the storm gods; who hold a very prominent place in the Vedas, and are represented as friends and
allies of Indra
Marutta In. a descendant of Manu Vaivaswata. He was a Chakravarti, or universal monarch, and performed a
celebrated sacrifice. “Never,” says the Vishnu Purana, “was beheld on earth a sacrifice equal to the
sacrifice of Marutta. All the implements and utensils wee made of gold. Indra was intoxicated with the
libations of soma juice, and the Brahmans were enraptured with the magnificent donations they
received. The winds of heave encompassed the rite as guards, and the assembled gods attended to
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behold it.” According to the Vayu Purana, Marutta was taken to heaven with his kindred and friends by
Samvarta, the officiating priest at this sacrifice. But the Markandeya Purana says he was killed after he
had laid down his crown and retired to the woods; A king of the solar race, who was killed by
Vapushmat, and fearfully avenged by his son Dama.
Masataba Eg. the Arabic word meaning; "bench"; Used to describe tombs of the Early Dynastic Period and Old
Kingdom; The basic form resembled a bench
Matali In. charioteer of Indra
Matanga In. ‘An elephant’ a man who was brought up as a Brahman but was the son of a Chandala. His story,
as told in the Maha‐bharata, relates that he was mercilessly goading an ass’s foal, which he was driving.
The mother ass, seeing this, tells her foal that she could expect no better, for her driver was no
Brahman but a Chandala. Matanga, addressing the ass as “most intelligent,” begged to know how this
was, and was informed that his mother when intoxicated had received the embraces of a low‐born
barber, and that he, the offspring, was a Chandala and no Brahman. In order to obtain elevation to the
position of a Brahman, he went through such a course of austerities as alarmed the gods. Indra refused
to admit him. He persevered again for a hundred years, but still Indra persistently refused such an
impossible request, and advised him to seek some other boon. Nothing daunted, he went on a
thousand years longer, with the same result. Though dejected he did not despair, but proceeded to
balance himself on his great toe. He continued to do this for a hundred years, when he was reduced to
mere skin and bone, and was on the point of falling. Indra went to support him, but inexorably refused
his request, and, when further importuned, “gave him the power of moving about like a bird, and
changing his shape at will, and of being honoured and renowned.” In the Ramayana, Rama and Sita
visited the hermitage of Matanga near Rishya‐mukha Mountain.
Matari‐Swan In. an aerial being who is represented in the Rig‐veda as bringing down or producing Agni (fire)
for the Bhrigus; by some supposed to be the wind
Mathura In. An ancient and celebrated city on the right bank of the Yamuna, surviving in the modern Muttra.
It was the birthplace of Krishna and one of the seven sacred cities. The Vishnu Purana states that it was
originally called Madhu or Madhu‐vana, from the demon Madhu, who reigned there, but that when
Lavana, his son and successor, was killed by Satru‐ghna, the conqueror set up his own rule there and
built a city which he called Madhura or Mathura.
Matris In. ‘Mothers’ The divine mothers. These appear to have been originally the female energies of the great
gods, as Brahmani or Brahma, Maheswari of Siva, Vaishnavi of Vishnu, Indrani or Aindri of Indra, &c.
The number of them was seven or eight or sixteen, but in the later mythology they have increased out
of number. They are connected with the Tantra worship, and are represented as worshipping Siva and
attending upon his son Kartikeya.
Matsya In. the Fish Incarnation; name of a country
Matsya purana In. This Purana is so called from its contents having been narrated to Manu by Vishnu in the
form of a fish (Matsya). It consists of between 14,000 and 15,000 stanzas. This work “is a miscellaneous
compilation, but includes in the contents the elements of a genuine Purana. At the same time, it is of
too mixed a character to be considered as a genuine work of the Pauranik class. Many of its chapters
are the same as parts of the Vishnu and Padma Puranas. It has also drawn largely from the Maha‐
bharata. “Although a Saiva work, it is not exclusively so, and it have no such sectarial absurdities as the
Kurma and Linga.”
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Mattr N. personal beneficial force
Matuta Rom. Goddess of the dawn; harbors and the Sea; Patron of newborn babies; her festival day is June 11
Mauneyas In. a class of Gandharvas; sons of Kasyapa, who dwelt beneath the earth, and were sixty millions in
number. They overpowered the Nagas, and compelled them to flee to Vishnu for assistance, and he
sent Purukutsa against them, who destroyed them.
Maurya In. The dynasty founded by Chandra‐gupta at Patali‐putra (Patna) in Magadha. According to the
Vishnu Purana, the Maurya kings were ten in number and reigned 137 years. Their names were (1.)
Chandra‐gupta, (2.) Bindu‐sara, (3.) Asoka‐vardhana, (4.) Su‐yasas, (5.) Dasa‐ratha, (6.) Sangata, (7.)
Sali‐suka, (8.) Soma‐sarman, (9.) Sasa‐dharman, (10.) Brihad‐ratha. The names vary in other Puranas.
Maya In. illusion personified as a female form of celestial

origin, created for the purpose of beguiling some
individual. Sometimes identified with Durga as the
source of spells, or as a personification of the unreality
of worldly things. In this character she is called Maya‐
devi or Maha‐maya; A name of Gaya, one of the seven
sacred cities; a Daitya who was the architect and
artificer of the Asuras, as Viswa‐karma was the artificer
of the Suras or gods. He was son of Viprachitti and
father of Vajra‐kama and Mandodari, wife of Ravana. He
dwelt in the Deva‐giri mountains not very far from
Delhi, and his chief works were in the neighbourhood of
that city, where he worked for men as well as Daityas.
The Maha‐bharata speaks of a palace he built for the
Pandavas. In the Hari‐vansa he appears frequently both
as victor and vanquished in contests with the gods. Maya
Maya‐devi, Mayavati In. wife of the demon Sambara. She brought up Pradyumna, the son of Krishna, and
subsequently married him. Pradyumna is represented as being a revived embodiment of Kama, the god
of love; and in accordance with this legend Maya‐vati is identified with his wife Rati, the Hindu Venus.
Mead N. A type of ale brewed from honey and water and thought to be the nectar of the gods. Mead is the
drink which made the Germanic tribes fierce...and also extremely inebriated. It is the celebrated drink
of Beowulf, made from fermented honey. Apparently when put in a horn (the preferred Germanic
drinking vessel), it left a residue at the tip of the horn which turned into ergot, a hallucinogenic by‐
product, which probably explains their fanaticism in battle. However, in certain Eastern European
countries, mead is still a popular home‐brewed drink, and is very simple to concoct:
Mead of Poetry N. The Mead of Poetry is very special mead which makes the drinker a poet. The mead was
made of Kvæsir's blood mixed with honey by Fjalar and Galar.
Meander Gk. a river in Greek mythology; patron deity of the Meander river (modern Büyük Menderes River) in
Caria, southern Asia Minor (modern Turkey); He is one of the sons of Oceanus and Tethys, and is the
father of Cyanee, Samia and Kalamos.
Medea Gk. a woman in Greek mythology; she was the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, niece of Circe,
granddaughter of the sun god Helios, and later wife to the hero Jason, with whom she had two
children: Mermeros and Pheres.; In Euripides's play Medea, Jason leaves Medea when Creon, king of
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Corinth, offers him/his daughter, Glauce, the play tells of how Medea gets her revenge on her husband
for this betrayal.
Medhatithi In. name of a Kanwa who was a Vedic Rishi. There is a legend in one of the Upanishads that he was
carried up to heaven by Indra in the form of a ram, because the god had been pleased with his
austerities. Cf. Ganymede.
Medini In. the earth.
Meditrina Rom. Goddess of wine and health; her festival is the Meditrinalia on October 11
Medu N. Mead, inspiration, transformation.
Medusa Gk. a Gorgon; a chthonic monster; a daughter of Phorcys and Ceto; Only Hyginus, (Fabulae, 151)
interposes a generation and gives another chthonic pair as parents of Medusa, until he gave it to the
goddess Athena to place on her shield; In classical antiquity the image of the head of Medusa appeared
in the evil averting device known as the Gorgoneion.
Mefitas Rom. Goddess of poisonous vapors from the earth
Megaera Gk. Iis one of the Erinyes in Greek mythology; she is the cause of jealousy and envy, and punishes
people who commit crimes, especially marital infidelity; Like her sisters Alecto and Tisiphone, she was
born of the blood of Uranus when Cronus castrated him. In modern French (mégère) and Portuguese
(megera), derivatives of this name are used to designate a jealous or spiteful woman; In modern Greek,
Italian and Russian, the word megera indicates an evil and/or ugly woman.
Megara Gk. the oldest daughter of Creon, king of Thebes; in reward for Heracles' defending Thebes from
Orchomenus in single‐handed battle, Creon offered his daughter Megara to Heracles and he brought
her home to the house of Amphitryon; she bore him a son and a daughter, whom Heracles killed when
Hera struck him with temporary madness, in their hero‐tombs in Thebes they were venerated as the
Chalkoarai; in some sources Heracles slew Megara too, in others, she was given to Iolaus when Heracles
left Thebes forever.
Megha‐duta In. ‘Cloud messenger.’ A celebrated poem by Kali‐dasa; banished Yaksha implores a cloud to
convey tidings of him to his wife. It has been translated into English verse by Wilson, and there are
versions in French and German. The text has been printed with a vocabulary by Johnson.
Megha‐nada In. son of Ravana; See Indra‐jit.
Megin N. A personal force, distinct from physical power or strength, the possession of which assures success
and good fortune.
Meile N ”Mile Stepper"; Meile is Thor's relatively unknown brother.
Meinvættir N. Evil spirits who do one personal injury
Mekala In. Name of a mountain from which the Narmada river is said to rise, an form which it is called Mekala
and this name, who probably lived in the vicinity of this mountain. Their kings were also called Mekalas,
and there appears to have been a city Mekala.
Melampus Gk. A legendary soothsayer and healer, originally of Pylos, who ruled at Argos. He was the
introducer of the worship of Dionysus, according to Herodotus, who asserted that his powers as a seer
were derived from the Egyptians and that he could understand the language of animals; a number of
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pseudepigraphal works of divination were circulated in Classical and Hellenistic times under the name
Melampus.
Melanion Gk. Also known as Hippomenes; was the husband of Atalanta.
Meleager Gk. A hero venerated in his temenos at Calydon in Aetolia; he was already famed as the host of the
Calydonian boar hunt in the epic tradition that was reworked by Homer; Meleager was the son of
Althaea and the vintner Oeneus and, according to some accounts father of Parthenopeus and Polydora.
Melicertes Gk. Sometimes Melecertes, later called Palaemon is the son of the Boeotian prince Athamas and
Ino, daughter of Cadmus.
Mell N. A sacred hammer.
Mellona Rom. Goddess and protector of bees.
Melpomene Gk. Muse in Greek mythology. She was the muse of tragedy, despite her joyous singing; she is
often represented with a tragic mask and wearing the cothurnus, boots traditionally worn by tragic
actors. Often, she also holds a knife or club in one hand and the tragic mask in the other. On her head
she is shown wearing a crown of cypress.
Mena Rom. goddess of menstruation
Mena, Menaka In. Daughter of Vrishn‐aswa. A Brahmana tells a strange story of Indra having assumed the
form of Mena and then fallen in love with her. In the Puranas, wife of Himavat and mother of Uma and
Ganga, and of a son named Mainaka. An Apsaras sent to seduce the sage Viswamitra from his
devotions, and succeeding in this object, she became the mother of the nymph Sakuntala.
Menat Eg. A protective amulet invoking the divine favor; it was usually worn on a string of beads at the back
of the neck, probably as a counterpoise to items of jewelry worn in front.
Menelaus Gk. A legendary King of Mycenaean (pre‐Dorian) Sparta. Husband of Helen; he was the son of Atreus
and Aerope, and brother of Agamemnon king of Mycenae and, according to the Iliad, leader of the
Spartan contingent of the Greek army during the War. Prominent in both the Iliad and Odyssey,
Menelaus was also popular in Greek vase painting and Greek tragedy; the latter more as a hero of the
Trojan War than as a member of the doomed House of Atreus.
Mengingjord, Megingjardar N. "Strength Increaser". Thor's strength belt; with it wrapped around his stomach
Thor becomes twice as strong and twice as angry.
Mengloth N. The bride of Svipdag who lives on the Lyfja Mountain in Lyr hall; Svipdag had to take a perilous
journey to marry her.
Menhed Eg. A scribes pallet; Writing was a very important skill to the ancient Egyptians; It was practiced by a
group called scribes; The writing equipment used by scribes consisted of a palette, which held black and
red pigments, a water jar, and a pen; To be a scribe was a favorable position, even some kings and
nobles are show proudly displaying scribe palettes.
Menja N. Jotun‐Giantess, sister of Fenja, the two women responsible for turning King Frodes giant mill, Grotte.
Menoecceus Gk. son of Creon; in the war of the seven Argives against Thebes, Teiresias declared that the
Thebans should conquer if Menoecceus would sacrifice himself for his country. Menoecceus
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accordingly killed himself outside the gates of Thebes; relates that Menoeceus killed himself in
consequence of an oracle of the Delphian god; his tomb was shown at Thebes near the Neitian gate.
Mens Rom. goddess of the mind and consciousness; her festival is May 8.
Mentor Gk. Son of Alcimus and a friend of Odysseus, who, on quitting Ithaca, entrusted to him the care of his
house. Athena assumed his appearance when she conducted Telemachus to Pylos. On Odysseus'
return, Mentor assisted him in the contest with the suitors, and brought about reconciliation between
him and the people.
Mercury Rm. roman name of Hermes; he is an Olympian
messenger god; The god of thieves, commerce and
travelers; His main festival, the Mercuralia, was
celebrated on May 15 and on this day the merchants
sprinkled their heads and their merchandise with
water from his well near the Porta Capena. The
symbols of Mercury are the caduceus (a staff with
two intertwined snakes) and a purse (a symbol of his
connection with commerce).
Mercury
Mermaids N. The mermaids appear in Norse lore as well, and lure unsuspecting seafarers’ off‐course with
their beautiful song. Aegir and Ran's nine wave‐daughters are undines or mermaids.
Merope Gk. Is one of the seven Pleiades, daughters of Atlas and Pleione. The Pleiades were virgin companions
of Artemis; Merope lived on Chios, and was often pursued by Orion but she did not love Orion; she
known to be the wife of Polybus, foster‐mother of Oedipus.
Meru In. A fabulous mountain in the navel or centre of the earth, on which is situated Swarga, the heaven of
Indra, containing the cities of the gods and the habitations of celestial spirits. The Olympus of the
Hindus; regarded as a terrestrial object, it would seem to be some mountain north of the Himalayas. It
is also Su‐meru, Hemadri, ‘golden mountain;’ Ratnasanu, ‘jewel peak;’ Karnikachala, ‘lotus mountain;’
and Amaradri and Deva‐parvata, ‘mountain of the gods.’
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Meru‐Savarnas In. The ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth Manus, said to be the “mind‐engendered sons of a
daughter of Daksha by himself and the three gods Brahma, Dharma, and Rudra, to whom he presented
her on Mount Meru.” The signification of the appellation Meru is obvious; that of Savarna or Savarni
signifies that they were all of one caste (varna).
Messe‐dag stave N. Wooden almanac showing holy days only. See Primestave.
Messene Gk. Daughter of Triopas, and wife of Polycaon, whom she induced to take possession of the country
which was called after her, Messenia; she is also said to have introduced there the worship of Zeus and
the mysteries of the great goddess of Eleusis; she was honored with a temple and heroic worship.
Messor Rom. a god of agriculture and mowing
Metaneira Gk. The wife of Celeus, and mother of Triptolemus, received Demeter on her arrival in Attica.
Metis Gk. The Titan goddess of good counsel; she was an adviser to Zeus in the Titan War, but when it was
prophesied that she would bear a son greater than his father, the god put her away inside his belly.
Their daughter Athena was born from the cracked skull of the god.
Mickle N. Great (in the sense of large); mighty.
Midas Gk. Phrygian king who did a favor for Dionysus and was granted what has since been called the Midas
touch.
Middle‐Garth N. The world of humankind.
Midgard, Midgardhr N. The material universe, the dwelling place of humanity. The world of mankind; The
realm of humanity, which the gods built out of Ymir's eyebrows as a protection against the Jotuns.
Midgardsormr N. One of Loki's children, a serpent that circles Midgard. Brother to Hel and the Fenrir‐wolf.
Thor will kill the snake during Ragnarok. See Iormungand; World Serpent.
Milanion Gk. son of Amphidamas; husband of Atalante who became the father of Parthenopaeus
Mimansa In. a school of philosophy, See Darsana.
Mimir's Well N. The source wisdom and intelligence; this well lies under the root of Yggdrasill in Asgard and is
guarded by the head of Mimir. Odin came there and asked for a single drink from the spring, but he did
not get it until he had given one of his eyes to Mímir.
Mimisbrunnur N. Mimir's Well.
Min Eg. In early times Min was a sky‐god whose symbol was a thunderbolt; His title was Chief of Heaven; He
was also seen as a rain god that promoted the fertility of nature, especially in the growing of grain.
Minerva Rm. the Olympian goddess of crafts and war; Roman name of Athena
Minerva Rom. Goddess of Wisdom, Learning, the Arts, Sciences, Medicine, Dyeing, Trade, and of War;
Daughter of Jupiter, protectress of commerce, industry and education; Honored at the spring equinox
with her main festival, March 19 ‐ 23, called the Quinquatria; On June 13 the minor Quinquatrus was
observed.
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Minjika (mas.) and Minkika (fem.) In. Two beings, according to the Maha‐bharata sprang from the seed of
Rudra, which was split upon a mountain. They are to be worshipped by those who desire the welfare of
children.
Minni N. The faculty of "memory"; the images stored in the deep mind from aeons past. The reflective part of
the soul, the memory‐‐personal and transpersonal; Also myne
Minos Gk. King of Crete. His insult to the gods eventuated in the birth of the Minotaur; had Daedalus build the
Labyrinth.
Minotaur Gk. A monster, half‐man, half‐bull, born of Queen Pasiphae's god‐inflicted infatuation with a bull;

terror of the Labyrinth; he was fed a diet of sacrificial youths and maidens until slain by the hero
Theseus.

Minotaur and Theseus
Minyae Gk. An ancient race of heroes at Orchomenos, Iolcos, and other places; their ancestral hero, Minyas, is
said to have migrated from Thessaly into the northern parts of Boeotia, and there to have established
the powerful race of the Minyans with the capital of Orchomenos. As the greater part of the Argonauts
is descended from the Minyans, they are themselves called Minyae.
Minyans Gk. Were an autochthonous group inhabiting the Aegean region; the extent to which the prehistory
of the Aegean world is reflected in literary accounts of legendary peoples, and the degree to which
material culture can be securely linked to language‐based ethnicity have been subjected to repeated
revision.
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Mirkwood N. A magic, dark forest from which three Valkrye maidens flew in search of husbands.
Mirmir N. "The Murmuring". Mirmir is Bolthorn's son, Betsla's brother, and Odin's mother's brother. Mimer is
a proto‐etin (Giant) and the wisest of all beings, holder of all knowledge that has ever existed, who
lived by Mimir's Well. At the end of the war with the Vanirs, Mirmir was sent as a hostage. The Vanirs
chopped off his head and sent it back to Asgard. Odin galdored over the head, reviving it, and now it
lives in the well. Mirmir is God of all the waters beneath the earth.
Mist N. "The Mist" or "The Fog". The Valkyrie Mist is one of Odin's two servants. Her major task is to serve the
Einheriars in Valhalla of the four kinds of mead that comes from the goat Heidrun. Mist and Hrist bring
an ale horn to Odin.
Mistblindi N. "Fog Blind". Mistblindi is father to the Ocean Giant Aegir and the Fire Giant Logi.
Mistletoe N. The mistletoe was sacred to the Druids and to the Norse. It was considered to be the great healer
and has both male and female qualities. It was so well regarded by the Norse (because it was sacred to
Freyja) that they refused to fight in the vicinity of Mistletoe.The custom of hanging Mistletoe in the
house to promote peace comes from this. Generally regarded today as a symbol of love and purity; By
an oversight, Mistletoe was the only entity in the universe that did not swear to not cause harm to
Balder. Loki used magic to make an arrow of Mistletoe, and tricked Balder's blind brother, Hodur, to
shoot at Balder. The arrow struck and killed Balder.
Mistress of the house Eg. Housewife, title given to married ladies from the Middle Kingdom onwards.
Mit sinn ok megin N. Old Norse phrase meaning "belief in one's own Might and Main", found in the Icelandic
sagas describing those who did not sacrifice to the Germanic Gods, but rather believed in themselves.
Mitakshara In. a commentary of Vijnaneswara on the Smriti or text‐book of Yajnawalkya; the authority of this
book is admitted all over India, with the exception of Bengal proper. The portion on inheritance has
been translated by Colebrooke and into French by Orianne. The text has been printed in India.
Mithila In. A city, the capital of Videha or North Bihar, which corresponds to the modern Tirhut and Puraniya,
between the Gandaki and Kosi rivers. It has given its name to one of the five northern nations of
Brahmans (see Brahman), and to a school of law. It was the country of King Janaka, and the name of his
capital, Janaka‐pura, still survives in “Janakpoor,” on the northern frontier.
Mitra In. She is probably connected with the Persian Mithra, a form of the sun. In the Vedas he is generally
associated with Varuna, he being the ruler of the day and Varuna the ruler of the night. They together
uphold and rule the earth and sky, guard and world, encourage religion, and chastise sin. He is one of
the Adityas or sons of Aditi.
Mjollnir N. "Smasher" or "Crusher"; Thor's hammer, forged by the Dwarf Brokk, hits everything that Thor aims
at and always comes back to his hand. Thor can reduce its size to hang it around his neck. Thor's
Hammer is one of the most popular pieces of jewelry of the Viking era.
Mlechhas In. Foreigners, barbarians, people not of Aryan race.
Mnemosyne Gk. Was Titan goddess of memory and remembrance and the inventress of language and words;
was also a goddess of time. She represented the rote memorization required, before the introduction
of writing, to preserve the stories of history and sagas of myth. In this role, she was represented as the
mother of the Mousai (Muses), originally patron goddesses of the poets of the oral tradition.
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Modgud N. The grim skeleton Modgunn is the guardian by the Gjallarbridge Bridge that goes over the river
Gjoll to the kingdom of death, Hel. She extracts a toll of blood before permitting one to cross. She
demands everyone who passes tell their name and family.
Modi N. "The Brave. Son of Thorr and Jarnsaxa; He is very brave. He will survive the Ragnarok with his brother,
Magni.
Modin N. "Tired". A horse belonging to the Dwarf Dvalin
Modsognir, Durin N. Dwarves; the Dwarves were originally maggots but given intelligence by Gods.
Modvitnir N. "Mead‐Wolf". A Dwarf
Moha‐mudgara In. ‘Hammers for ignorance;’ a poem, explaining the Vedanta philosophy. It has been printed
and translated by Neve.
Moira Gk. supreme even over the Olympian gods; Greek godess of fate or necessity
Moirae Gk. Were the goddesses who controlled the destiny of everyone from the time they were born to the
time they died; the fates were often depicted as ugly hags, cold and unmerciful.
Moly Gk. In the story, Hermes gave this herb to Odysseus to protect him from Circe's magic spells that will be
cast on him if he went to her home to rescue his friends.
Moneta Rom. goddess of prosperity
Mood N. The emotional part of the soul closely allied with the wode.
Moon Gk. Represented by the Greek goddess Selene.
Mopsus Gk. He was one of the Lapithae of Oechalia or Titaeron (Thessaly), and one of the Calydonian hunters;
he is also mentioned among the combatants at the wedding of Peirithous, and was a famous prophet
among the Argonauts; he was represented on the chest of Cypselus.
Morkkurkalve N. A golum, or Mud‐Giant, created by the Jotuns to help Rungnir in his fight with Thor. He is
shaped from mud, with a mare's heart. He is nine miles tall and his chest is three miles wide. He
collapsed during the battle.
Morpheus Gk. He Greek god of dreams; he lies on an ebony bed in a dim‐lit cave, surrounded by poppy; he
appears to humans in their dreams in the shape of a man; he is responsible for shaping dreams, or
giving shape to the beings which inhabit dreams; Morpheus, known from Ovid's Metamorphoses, plays
no part in Greek mythology. His name means "he who forms or molds" and is mentioned as the son of
Hypnos, the god of sleep; “Morphine” is derived from his name.
Mors Rom. god of death
Morta Rom. Goddess of death and one of the three Parcae.
Mortuary cult Eg. People who provided funerary offerings for nourishment of the deceased
Mortuary Eg. Pertaining to the burial of the dead
Mortuary priest Eg. Called the "servant of the ka"; this was a Person who was appointed to bring daily
offerings to a tomb.
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Mother Earth Gk. The first Greek god was actually a goddess; she is Gaia, or Mother Earth, who created
herself out of primordial chaos. From her fertile womb all life sprang, and unto Mother Earth all living
things must return after their allotted span of life is over.
Mrichchhakati In. ‘The toy‐cart.’ A drama in ten acts by King Sudraka, supposed to be the oldest Sanskrit
drama extant, and to have been written in the first or second century A.D. The country over which
Sudraka reigned is not known.
Mrigaka‐lekhara In. a play in four acts, written by Viswa‐natha at Benares; the piece takes its name from the
heroine, a princess of Kamarupa. It is a comparatively modern work.
Mrityu In. a name of Yama, the god of the dead
Mugdha‐bodha In. A standard Grammar by Vopadeva; written towards the end of the thirteenth century. It
has been edited by Bohtlingk, and there are several Indian editions.
Muka In. a Danava; son of Upasunda; he assumed the form of a wild boar in order to kill Arjuna, but was
himself killed by Siva in his form of the Kirata or mountaineer.
Mukhagni In. spirits or goblins with faces of fire; perhaps meteors
Mummy Eg. From the Persian word; "moumiya"; a preserved corpse by either natural or artificial means;
Mummification involved thoroughly drying the body to remove the source of decay.
Munda In. an appellation of Ketu; name of a demon slain by Durga
Mundilfari N. "Travels like a pendulum". Father of the beautiful Sun and her brother Moon; The Gods thought
Sun and Moon were too beautiful so they put them in the sky.
Muni In. “A holy sage, a pious and learned person, endowed with more or less of a divine nature, or having
attained to it by rigid abstraction and mortification. The title is applied to the Rishis, and to a great
number of persons distinguished for their writings considered as inspired, as Panini, Vyasa.” Their
superhuman powers over gods and men have been often displayed in blessings, but more frequently in
curses.
Munin N. "Memory". One of Odin's two black ravens; Everyday the ravens fly out all over the world, returning
and reports what they have seen.
Mura, Muru In. A great demon that had seven thousand sons; he was an ally of the demon Naraka, who ruled
over Prag‐jyotisha, and assisted him in the defence of that city against Krishna. He placed in the
environs of the city “nooses the edges of which were as sharp as razors,” but Krishna cut them to
pieces with his discus, slew Muru, “and burnt his severe thousand sons like moths with the flame of the
edge of his discus.”
Murari In. ‘The foe of Mura;’ an appellation of Krishna
Murk‐stave N. The negative aspects of a given runestave.
Musala In. The pestle‐shaped club carried by Bala‐rama. It was named Saunanda.
Muses Gk. Greek goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences; they were believed to inspire all artists,
especially poets, philosophers, and musicians; the Muses were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne,
the goddess of memory; muses sat near the throne of Zeus, king of the gods, and sang of his greatness
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and of the origin of the world and its inhabitants and the glorious deeds of the great heroes; from their
name words such as music, museum, mosaic are derived.

The Muses
Mushtika In. A celebrated boxer in the service of Kansa, who directed him to kill Krishna or Bala‐rama in a
public encounter, but Bala‐rama overthrew him and kill him.
Muspell, Muspellheim, Muspellheimr N. Land of fire. The first world to exist; A bright, flaming, hot world in
the southern region, home of the Fire‐Giants; Realm of fiery sparks, abode of expansion and electricity.
The force of pure energy constantly expanding away from itself
Mut Eg. Mut was the divine mother goddess, the queen of all gods; She is portrayed as a woman wearing a
vulture headdress, with the double crown (Pshent) of upper and lower Egypt.
Muta Rom. Goddess of silence
Mutinus Mutunus Rom. God of fertility
Mycenae Gk. Real city of the Heroic Age of great wealth as revealed by archaeology; in myth, said to have
been founded by Perseus.
Myne N. The faculty of "memory"; the images stored in the deep mind from aeons past. The reflective part of
the soul, the memory‐‐personal and transpersonal; See also Minni
Myrkstafr N. The negative aspects of a given runestave. "Murk‐stave"
Myrmidons Gk. People from Aegina which was created out of ants when the island had been desolated
because of a plague; also mentioned in Odysseus’ journey
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Myrrha Gk. The daughter of Cinyras and Cenchreis, who lusted for her father; while Myrrha's mother,
Cenchreis, was away at Ceres' festival, Myrrha had sex with her father, Cinyras; who bore Adonis.
Myrtilus Gk. Son of Hermes by Cleobule; he was the charioteer of Oenomaus, king of Elis, and having betrayed
his master; he was thrown into the sea by Pelops near Geraestus in Euboea; and that part of the
Aegean is said to have thenceforth been called after him the Myrtoan sea. At the moment he expired,
he pronounced a curse upon the house of Pelops, which was hence harassed by the Erinnyes of that
curse. His father placed him among the stars as Auriga.
Myrtle Gk. one of Aphrodite’s most important sacred plants and animals which attributed in classical art
N
Naenia Rom. Goddess of funerals.
Naga‐loka In. Patala, the residence of the Nagas.
Naga‐nandana In. a Buddhist drama in five acts by Sri Harsha Deva; it has been translated by Boyd. The text
has been printed.
Nagara In. a city; there are seven sacred cities which confer eternal happiness – (1)Ayodhya, (2)Mathura,
(3)Maya (Gaya), (4)Kasi (Benares), (5)Kanchi (Conjeveram), (6) Avantika (Ujjayini), (7)Dwaraka or
Dwaravati.
Naglfar N. "The ship with rivets". Naglfar is a ship that the Death Goddess Hel created using dead humans'
fingernails. When people trim their fingernails, the construction of Nagelfar is delayed. It will be
launched at Ragnarok from Jotunheim loaded with armed Jotuns, ready to fight the Gods.
Nahusha In. son of Ayus the eldest son of Pururavas, and father of Yayati; this king is mentioned by Manu as
having come into conflict with the Brahmans, and his story is repeated several times with variations in
different parts of the Maha‐bharata as well as in the Purnas, the aim and object of it evidently being to
exhibit the retribution awaiting any man who derogates from the power of Brahmans and the respect
due to them.
Naiads Gk. Are fresh‐water nymphs who inhabited the rivers, streams, lakes, marshes, fountains and springs
of the earth; they were immortal, minor divinities who were invited to attend the assemblies of the
gods on Mount Olympus.
Naikasheyas In. Carnivorous imps descended from Nikasha, mother of Ravana. They are called also
Nikashatmajas.
Nairrita In. belonging to the south‐west quarter; the regent of that quarter; an imp, goblin, or Rakshasa
Nakahatras In. mansions of the moon, lunar asterisms; at first they were twenty‐seven in number, but they
were increased to twenty‐eight. They are said to be daughters of Daksha who were married to the
moon.
Nakula In. the fourth of the Pandu princes; he was the twin son of Madri, the second wife of Pandu, but
mythologically he was son of the Aswins, or more specifically of the Aswin Nasatya. He was taught the
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art of training and managing horses by Drona, and when he entered the service of the king of Virata he
was master of the horse. He had a son named Niramitra by his wife Karenu‐mati, a princess of Chedi.
Nala‐kuvaraala In. a son of Kuvera
Nalodaya In. (Nala + udaya). ‘The rise of Nala;’ a poem describing the restoration to power of king Nala after
he had lost his all; it is ascribed to a Kali‐dasa, but the composition is very artificial, and the ascription
to the great Kali‐dasa may well be doubted. The text has been printed, and there is a metrical
translation by Yates.
Namuchi In. a demon slain by Indra with the foam of water; the legend of Namuchi first appears in the Rig‐
veda, where it is said that Indra ground “the head of the slave Namuchi like a sounding and rolling
cloud,” but it is amplified by the commentator and also in the Satapatha Brahmana and Maha‐bharata.
When Indra conquered the Asuras there was one Namuchi who resisted so strongly that he
overpowered Indra and held him. Namuchi offered to let Indra go on promise not to kill him by day or
by night, with wet or with dry. Indra gave the promise and was released, but he cut off Namuchi’s head
at twilight, between day and night, and with foam of water, which was, according to the authorities,
neither wet nor dry. The Maha‐bharata adds that the dissevered head followed Indra calling out “O
wicked slayer of thy friend.”
Nanda In. the cowherd by whom Krishna was brought up; a king, or dynasty of kings, of Magadha, that reigned
at Patali‐putra, and was overthrown by Chandra‐gupta the Maurya about 315 B.C.
Nandana In. the grove of Indra, lying to the north of Meru
Nandi In. the bull of Siva; the Vayu Purana makes him the son of Kasyapa and Surabhi. His image, of a milky
white colour, is always conspicuous before the temples of Siva. He is the chamberlain of Siva, chief of
his personal attendants (ganas), and carries a staff of office. He is guardian of all quadrupeds. He is also
called Salankayana, and he has the appellations of Nadi‐deha and Tandava‐talika, because he
accompanies with music the tandava dance of his master.
Nandi‐mukha In. A class of Pitris or Manes, concerning whose character there is a good deal of uncertainty.
Nandini In. The cow of plenty belonging to the sage Vasishtha, said to have been born of Surabhi, the cow of
plenty that was produced at the churning of the ocean.
Nanna, Anna, Inanna N. "The Moon". Asa‐Goddess, wife of Balder, mother of Forseti; She dies of heartache
after Balder's death and is burned with him on his funeral boat, along with his chopped up horse and a
misfortunate Dwarf who Thor kicked in at the last minute.
Naos Eg. Shrine in which divine statues were kept, especially in temple sanctuaries; A small wooden naos was
normally placed inside a monolithic one in hard stone; the latter are typical of the Late Period, and
sometimes elaborately decorated; Also used as a term for temple sanctuary.
Nara In. the original eternal man
Naraka In. a place of torture to which the souls of the wicked are sent. Manu enumerates twenty‐one hells: ‐
Tamisra, Andha‐tamisra, Maha‐raurava, Raurava, Naraka, Kalasuta, Maha‐naraka, Sanjivana, Maha‐
vichi, Tapana, Sampratapana, Sanhata, Sakakola, Kudmala, Puti‐mrittika, Loha‐sanku, Rijisha, Panthana,
Salmali, Asi‐patra‐vana, and Loha‐daraka. Other authorities vary greatly as to the numbers and names
of the hells.
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Naraka In. an Asura, son of the Earth; In the Maha‐bharata and Vishnu Purana he is said to have carried off the
ear‐rings of Aditi to the impregnable castle of Prag‐jyotisha, but Krishna, at the request of the gods,
went there and killed him and recovered the jewels. In the Hari‐vansa the legend differs. According to
this, Naraka, king of Prag‐jyotisha, was an implacable enemy of the gods. He assumed the form of an
elephant and having carried off the daughter of Viswa‐karma, he subjected her to violation. He seized
the daughters of the Gandharvas, and of gods and of men, as well as the Apsarasas themselves, and
had more than 16,000 women, for whom he built a splendid residence. He also appropriated to himself
jewels, garments, and valuables of all sorts, and no Asura before him had ever been so horrible in his
actions.
Narcissus Gk. A handsome youth who fall in love with his own reflection in a pool and was caused to break the
heart of the nymph Echo.

Narcissus and Echo
Narfi N. Narfi is son of Loki and Sigyn. Narfi was killed by his brother Vali, who was turned into a wolf. When
Loki was punished, the Gods used Narfi's intestines to bind him onto rocks under a poisonous snake
which dripped its venom onto him.
Narmada In. the Nerbudda river, which is esteemed holy; the personified river is variously represented as
being daughter of a Rishi named Mekala (from whom she is called Mekala and Mekala‐kanya), as a
daughter of the moon, as a ‘mind‐born daughter’ of the Somapas, and as sister of the Nagas. It was she
who brought Purukutsa to the aid of the Nagas against the Gandharvas, and the grateful snake‐gods
made her name a charm against the venom of snakes. According to the Vishnu Purana, she had a son
by Purukutsa who has named Trasadasyu. The Matsa Purana gives Duh‐saha as the name of her
husband. The Hari‐vansa is inconsistent with itself. In one place it makes her wife of Purukutsa and
mother of Trasadasyu; in another it makes her the wife of Trasadasyu. She is also called Reva and
Purva‐ganga, and, as a daughter of the moon, Indu‐ja and Somodbhava.
Nasatya In. name of one of the Aswins; it is also used in the plural for both of them.
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Nastrond N. Site of the hall of evildoers in Hel; The dragon Nidhogg knaws at corpses here
Natron Eg. a naturally occurring salt used as a preservative and drying agent during mummification; It is a
mixture of four salts that occur in varying proportions: sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium
chloride and sodium sulfate.
Natt , Nott, Night. N. "Night". Natt, a Night‐Disir, is the daugher of Norvi. She has been married three times.
With Nagifari, her first husband, she had a son, Aud. Her second husband was Annarr, father of her
daughter Earth/Erda (Jõrd). With Delling ("Dawn"), her third husband, she had a son, Dag/Day. Natt is
also the mother of Njord. Natt and Dag circle the world on their horses. Natt's horse is Hrimfaxi ("Frost
Mane"). Dag's is Skinfaxi ("Shining Mane").
Nausicaa Gk. The Phaeacian princess who met the shipwrecked Odysseus when she was washing clothes on
the shore; this young princess was looked after by Eurymedusa, a woman from Aperaea.
Nava‐ratna In. The nine‐gems: pearl, ruby, topaz, diamond, emerald, lapis lazuli, coral, sapphire, and one not
identified called Go‐meda. The nine gems of the court of Vikrama, probably meaning Vikramaditya,
whose era the Samvat begins in 56 B.C. A verse gives their names as Dhanwantari, Kshapanaka, Amara
Sinha, Sanku, Vetala‐bhatta, Ghata‐karpara, Kali‐dasa, Varaha‐mihira, and Vararuchi. The date of
Vikramaditya is by no means settled. Bhau Daji endeavours to identify Vikrama with Harsha
Vikramaditya, who lived in the middle of the sixth century.
Naxos Gk. an island in the Aegean Sea
Nebu Eg. This is the Egyptian word for gold, which was considered a divine metal, it was thought to be the
flesh of the gods; Its polished surface was related to the brilliance of the sun; Gold was important to the
afterlife as it represents aspects of immortality; By the New Kingdom, the royal burial chamber was
called the "House of Gold."
Necessitas Rom. Goddess of destiny.
Necropolis Eg. The Greek word meaning; "city of the dead" normally describes large and important burial
areas that were in use for long periods.
Need‐fire N. Fire kindled directly from wood without flint by friction; A person's intense driving motivation to
achieve a desired end.
Nehallennia N. "The Fruitful One". Great mother of sea and vegetation; Goddess of plenty, seafaring, fishing,
fruitfulness; her symbol is a cornucopia
Neith Eg. A goddess of the hunt; She may have also been a war goddess; Neith was pictured as a woman
wearing the red crown of Lower Egypt, holding a bow and crossed arrows; Her cult sign was a shield
and crossed arrows.
Nekhbet Eg. A goddess portrayed as a vulture; Protectress of Upper Egypt.
Neleus Gk. The son of Poseidon and Tyro; he was the twin brother of Pelias and contested with him for the
crown; Neleus moved to Messenia and became king of Pylos. When Heracles visited him with the
request of cleansing him from a blood‐debt, Neleus refused. Heracles destroyed Pylos, and killed
Neleus with all his sons, except for Nestor.
Nemean lion Gk. preternatural beast with an impenetrable pelt, nevertheless vanquished by Hercules as one
of his Labors
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Nemes Eg. a striped head cloth worn by Pharaohs
Nemesis Gk. Is the goddess of divine justice and vengeance; her anger is directed toward human transgression
of the natural, right order of things and of the arrogance causing it; Nemesis pursues the insolent and
the wicked with inflexible vengeance. Her cult probably originated from Smyrna; she is regarded as the
daughter of Oceanus or Zeus, but according to Hesiod she is a child of Erebus and Nyx.
Nemestrinus Rom. God of the woods.
Nemeton N. Sanctuary, often a sacred grove of trees
Neoptolemus Gk. A young warrior and son of Achilles and Deidameia, the daughter of Lycomedes, was also
called Pyrrhus; at Troy he showed himself in every respect worthy of his great father, and at last was
one of the heroes that were concealed in the wooden horse.
Nephele Gk. a nymph; the first wife of Athamas, and mother of Phrixus and Helle; when she was driven away
by her husband, she protected her children against the threats of their stepmother Ino.
Nephthys Eg. a goddess, the twin sister of Osiris, Isis and Seth; She plays an important role in the Osiris
legend; her name means 'Lady of the House' it's thought to be referring to Osiris' Palace.
Neptune Rom. the god of the sea; the God and patron of Horses and Horse Racing as Neptune Equester.
Neptunalia was celebrated on July 23; the trident is Neptune's attribute.
Neptune Rom. the Olympian god of the sea; Roman name of Poseidon
Nepur N. Moon‐God. He abducted king Ivaldi's sons, Bil & Hjuki. as they tried to take mead from their fathers
well. He had to release them when Ivaldi caught him as he rode through the underworld.
Nereids Gk. The fifty daughters of the sea‐god Nereus, one of whom bestowed a crown upon Theseus; the
Nerieds saved the Argonauts from the Wandering Rocks.
Nereus Gk. sea‐god; thought of as being very old and correspondingly wise; father of the Nereidss
Nerthus N. Mother Earth Goddess, primal earth mother. She is the oldest Scandinavian Goddess whose name
has come down to us. Some connect her with Frigga. Possibly an older version of Njord (as the opposite
sex) or his sister/wife with whom he has Freyr and Freya; she was a fertility Goddess whose worship
was centered in Denmark; she lived in a grove on a sacred island; Once a year she traveled across the
land in a wagon bringing a season of peace and plenty. When she tired, she returned to her island and
was bathed in a lake by slaves who were later drowned.
Nessus Gk. centaur killed by Hercules with arrows dipped in Hydra venom; tricked the hero's wife into saving
his blood for a potion that ultimately killed the hero when he donned a shirt dipped in it.
Nestor Gk. The son of Neleus, king of Pylos, and Chloris; he was the only one who was spared when Heracles
slew his father and his brothers; Nestor helped fight the centaurs, participated in the hunt for the
Calydonian boar and was one of the Argonauts. When he was already of advanced age, he still
participated in the expedition against Troy, where he, as oldest of the Greek heroes, excelled in
wisdom, eloquence, and bravery.
Neter Eg. This seems to be the Egyptian word for the forces that are god or a group of gods, although the
exact meaning is unknown.
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Neter‐khertet Eg. This translates as "divine subterranean place"; A name for the land of the dead.
Nibelunggold N. A treasure that was

first owned by the Dwarf
Andvari, which was stolen by the
Æsirs. Andvari then spoke a curse
over the magic ring Andvaranut.
Hreidmar received Andvari's
hoard and a cursed gold ring
from Odin, as compensation for
the death of his son, Otter, but
he refused to share any with his
other sons. Fáfnir and Regin
killed their father, but then Fafnir
would not share the gold with
Regin. Fáfnir went to a cave on
the Gnita Heath and, making a
lair there, turned himself into a
dragon to guard the gold. Many
years later, Regin killed the Fafni
dragon, with the aid of Sigurdr,
and reclaimed the gold. Sigurdr
killed Regin and abandoned the
gold.
Nid, Nídh N. An insult which is also a curse, calling upon the Landvaettir to drive out the miscreant. "Nidering"
is the worst thing any northerner could be called. Egil Skallagrimsson set up a "nidhin‐pole" to magically
banish Erik Bloddaxe from Norway. It worked.
Nidagha In. a Brahman; son of Pulastya, who dwelt “at Vira‐nagara, a large handsome city on the banks of the
Devika river” (the Gogra); he was a disciple of the sage Ribhu, and when Ribhu went to visit his disciple,
Nidagha entertained him reverentially. Ribhu instructed him in divine knowledge until he learned to
“behold all things as the same with himself, and, perfect in holy knowledge, obtained final liberation.”
Nidana‐sutra In. an old work upon the metres of the Vedas
Nidavellir N. Land of the Dwarves
Nidering, Nídhingr, Nithling N. A wretched coward; a vile wretch. The very worst insult one could say to
another.
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Nidfjoll N. "Dark Mountains" A hall, called Sindri, is found in this mountain range. It will be a refuge to those
finding it at Ragnarok.
Nidhi In. Nine treasures belonging to the god Kuvera. Each of them is personified or has a guardian spirit,
which is an object of worship among the Tantrikas. The nature of these Nidhis is not clearly
understoosd. See a note by Wilson on verse 534 of the Megha‐duta, collected works, IV. 372. Their
names are Kachchhapa, Mukunda, Nanda (or Kunda), Kharba, Makara, Nila, Sankha, Padma, and Maha‐
padma. The Nidhis are called also Nidhana, Nikara, and Sevadhi.
Nidhing Pole N. "Pole of insult". A pole with a horse's head or carving of the victim in an obscene posture,
sued for serious insult and damaging curses.
Nidhoggr N. "Bites in anger". The terrible dragon that guards the Spring of Hvergelmir in Niflheim and gnaws
Yggdrasil's root to the north; Nidhoggr is always arguing with the eagle in the top of the tree.
Nidra In. Sometimes said to be a female form of Brahma, at others to have been produced at the churning of
the ocean.
Niflehel N. The location of Hela's Helheim, the domain of the dead who don't qualify for Valhalla. It lies in the
northernmost part of the Niflheim underworld. There are passages connecting Jotunheimur to Niflhel.
Jotunheimur contains the Giants that survived the blood‐flood, but Niflhel has the souls of the Giants
that drowned.
Niflheim, Niflheimr N. The lowest level of the nine worlds. The realm of mist becoming ice, abode of
contraction and magnetism. The force of antimatter, a point of constantly pulling in on itself, like a
"black hole"; The northern world of the ice and unbearable cold, north of Asgard, home of the Frost‐
Giants. It is the location of a frozen well known as Hvergelmir. Here Hel created her Domain of the
Dead, Helheim.

Niflheim
Nikasha In. a female demon; the mother of Ravana; the mother of carnivorous imps called Pisitasanas, or by
their metronymic Naikusheyas and Nikashatmajas
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Nike Gk. The Greek personification of victory; she can run and fly at great speed; she is a constant companion
of Athena; Nike is the daughter of Pallas and Styx, and the sister of Cratos, Bia, and Zelus; she was
represented as a woman with wings, dressed in a billowing robe with a wreath or staff.
Nikumbh In. A Rakshasa who fought against Rama He was son of Kumbha‐karna; an Asura who, according to
the Hari‐vansa, received the boon from Brahma that he should die only by the hands of Vishnu. He was
king of Shat‐pura and had great magical powers, so that he could multiply himself into many forms,
though he commonly assumed only three. He carried off the daughters of Brahma‐datta, the friend of
Krishna, and that hero attacked him and killed him under different forms more than once, but he was
eventually slain outright by Krishna, and his city of Shat‐pura was given to Brahma‐datta.
Nila In. A mythic range of mountains north of Meru; A mountain range in Orissa; A monkey ally of Rama; A
Pandava warrior killed by Aswatthaman.
Nile Gk. A river derived from the name of Greek god of the river, Neilos.
Nilometer Eg. Staircase descending into the Nile and marked with levels above low water; Used for measuring,
and in some cases recording, inundation levels; the most famous are on Elephantine Island and on Roda
Island in Cairo.
Nimi In. son of Ikshwaku, and founder of the dynasty of Mithila; he was cursed by the sage Vasishtha to lose
his corporeal form, and he retorted the imprecation upon the sage. Both abandoned the bodily
condition Vasishtha was born again as the issue of Mitra and Varuna, but "the corpse of Nimi was
preserved from decay by being embalmed with fragrant oils and resins, and it remained entire as if it
were immortal." The gods were willing to restore him to bodily life but Nimi declined, declaring that the
separation of soul and body was so distressing that he would never resume a corporeal shape and
become liable to it again." To this desire the god assented, and Nimi was placed by them in the eyes of
al living creatures, in consequence of which their eyelids are ever opening and shutting."‐Vishnu
Purana. A wink of the eye is called nimisha, and the legend was probably built upon the resemblance of
the two words.
Nine bows Eg. A term given to the defeated enemies of Egypt
Nine Worlds of Norse Mythology N. The world‐tree Yggdrasil contains the whole of creation, embraced by
nine worlds. 1) Asgardhr ‐‐ world of the Æsir, the land of the Gods. 2) Vanaheim ‐‐ world of the Vanir. 3)
Midgardh ‐‐ world of men. 4) Jotunheim ‐‐ world of the Giants. 5) Svartalfaheim ‐‐ world of the
Dwarves. 6) Alfheim or Lysalfheim ‐‐ world of the Light‐Elves. 7) Muspellheim ‐‐ world of fire, a bright,
flaming, hot world in the southern region, home of the Fire‐Giants. 8) Niflheim ‐‐ world of ice and
terrible cold, in the far north, home of the Frost‐Giants, and 9) Helheim or Niflhel‐‐world of the dead.
Some versions of the mythology refer to Eight Worlds, combining Niflheim and Helheim, or Seven
Worlds, in which Lysalfheim is the home of Freyr and Light Elves and is not considered a "world". The
Light‐Elves also have a hall, Gimle, which is found in Andlang, one of the heavens above Asgardr. The
other heaven above Asagardr is Vidblain.
Ninus Gk. King of Assyria and the eponymous founder of the city of Nineveh, which itself sometimes called
Ninus; he was said to have been the son of Belos, and to have conquered in 17 years all of western Asia
with the help of Ariaeus, king of Arabia.
Niobe Gk. She was the daughter of Tantalus; Niobe was the queen of Thebes (the principle city in Boetia),
married to Amphion, King of Thebes.
Niorun N. Niorun is the Goddess of dreams. The Dwarves call nighttime Dream‐Niorun.
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Nirirriti In. Death personified as a goddess; sometimes regarded as the wife and sometimes as the daughter of
A‐dharma; one of the Rudras
Nirnaya‐sindhu In. a work on religious ceremonies and law by Kamalakara; it has been printed at Bombay and
Benares.
Nishada In. a mythic range of mountains lying south of Meru, but sometimes described as on the east. It is
north of the Himalaya; the country of Nala, probably the Bhil country.
Nishada In. a mountain tribe dwelling in the Vindhya Mountains, said to have been produced from the thigh of
Vena; the Bhils or foresters, and barbarians in general; any outcast, especially the offspring of a
Brahman father and Sudra mother.
Nisunbha In. An Asura killed by Durga. See Sumbha.
Nisus Gk. Son of Pandion and Pylia, was a brother of Aegeus, Pallas, and Lycus, and husband of Abrote, by
whom he became the father of Scylla; Nisus died because his daughter Scylla, who had fallen in love
with Minos, had pulled out the purple or golden hair which grew on the top of her father's head, and
on which his life depended.
Niti‐Manjari In. a work on ethics by Dya Dwiveda, exemplified by stories and legends with special reference to
the Vedas. Some specimens are given in the Indian Antiquary, vol v.
Niti‐Sastras In. works on morals and polity, consisting either of proverbs and wise maxims in verse, or of
stories and fables inculcating some moral precept and illustrating its effects. These fables are generally
in prose interspersed with pithy maxims in verse.
Njörd, Niord N. "Stiller‐of‐storms". Vana‐God of seafaring; He controls wind, stills sea and fire. He is the son of
Nott (Night). He lives in Noatun ("Boat Town"). His first wife was Nerthus, with whom he had his most
famous children, Freyr and Freyja. He had eight more daughters. He was briefly married to Giantess
Skadi who picked him for his beautiful feet, by mistake, thinking he was Balder. Njord and Skadi could
not agree on where to live. She didn't like his home, and he didn't like hers, so they split up.
Noatun N. "Ship Yard" or "Boat Town"; Hall of the god Njörd
Nome Eg. From the Greek, nomos; this is an administrative province of Egypt; the nome system started in the
Early Dynastic Period; During some periods, when there was a highly centralized government the
nomes had little political importance.
Nona Rom. Goddess of pregnancy; one of the Parcae with the Goddesses Morta and Decima, the Roman
Fates.
Nordri N. "North". The Dwarf Nordri was put in the sky's north corner by Odin, Vili and Ve. The sky is made out
of the Giant Ymir's head.
Norfe N. The Giant Norfe is the father of the disir Night. He was the first who built anything in Jotunheim.
Norn N. Usually had taken as the singular of the Nornir, the three Disir Fates of Norse myth known as Urdhr,
Verdhandi, and Skuld, and representing the past, present and future.The embodiments of ørlög and
causality. There are three Norns, Urdhr (that‐which‐is), Verdhandi (that‐which‐is‐becoming), and Skuld
(that‐which‐should‐be) who shape the turnings of Wyrd through the worlds. Each person is also said to
have his or her own lesser norns who bring his or her personal weird. These may be related to or
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identical with the Disir and Valkyrja, who also embody personal ørlög. Also known by the Saxons as the
Weird or Wyrd Sisters
Notus Gk. The god of the South Wind, which is a very warm and moist wind; he is the son of Eos and Astraeus;
the Romans called him Auster.
Nox Rom. personification of the night
Nu Eg. A swirling watery chaos from which the cosmic order was produced; in the beginning there was only
Nu. See also the creation myths
Nundina Rom. Goddess of the ninth day, on which the newborn child was given a name.
Nut Eg. Nut was originally a mother‐goddess who had many children; The hieroglyph for her name, which she
is often seen wearing on her head is a water pot, but it is also thought to represent a womb; As the sky
goddess, she is shown stretching from horizon to horizon, touching only her fingertips and toes to the
ground.

Nut
Nykur N. A Kelpie, a malignant water‐elemental, usually in the form of a horse.
Nysa Gk. daughter of Aristaeus, who was believed to have brought up the infant god Dionysus, and from
whom one of the many towns of the name of Nysa was believed to have derived its name
O
Obarator Rom. God of ploughing
Obelisk Eg. From the Greek word meaning; "a spit"; It is a monumental tapering shaft usually made of pink
granite; Capped with a pyramidion at the top; Obelisks are solar symbols similar in meaning to
pyramids, they are associated with an ancient stone called BENBEN in Heliopolis; They were set in pairs,
at the entrances of temples, and to some Old Kingdom tombs.
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Occator Rom. God of harrowing
Ocean Gk. A river, personified as a god, which ushered from the Underworld and flowed around the flat earth
in a circle.
Oceanids Gk. Where the nymphs of the great ocean, the daughters of Oceanus and Tethys; there were well
over 4,000 of these Oceanids. They were sometimes shy, but at other times they were passionate
lovers. Most of the time nymphs were kind to mortals, but they sometimes punished people who
mistreated them; in the forest, nymphs were represented with fauns and satyrs; Oceanids could
sometimes found playing around the keels of ships; Nymphs lived for a long time, but they were usually
not considered immortal.
Ocyrrhoe Gk. The daughter of Chiron and the nymph Chariclo; because she performed as a seer, Apollo turned
her into a mare.
Od N. Od has two beautiful daughters, Hnoss and Gersimi, with the beautiful fertility goddess Freya. This
mysterious husband of Freyrja disappeared, and she mourned for him with tears of gold. No reason is
ever given for his disappearance other than that he was a "traveller". The name Od may be another
form of the name Odin.
Ódhr N. Inspiration, fury; given to humankind by Odhin's brother Hoenir. Cognate to Modern German Wut
and English wood (used archaically to mean madness)..
Odhrærir, Odhroerir N. "Exciter or Stirrer of Inspiration". This is both a name of the Mead of Poetry and its
container, which Odin stole from Suttung's daughter The Mead, was actually stored in three cauldrons:
Odhroerir, Son, and Bodhn.
Odian N. A technical term for the "theology" of the Erulian. Distinguished from the Odinist by the fact that the
Odian does not worship Odhinn but seeks to emulate his pattern of self‐transformation
Odin, Odhinn, Woden N. Ruler of the Æsir, God of the
runes, inspiration, shamanism, magic and war;
God of the hanged and the Wild Hunt; God of
storm, rain and harvest. A shape‐shifter, he makes
men mad or possessed with a blind raging fury. He
produces the battle panic called "battle‐fetter".
Three different frenzies or madness are his gifts to
humankind: the warrior in battle, the seer in
trance, and the poet in creativity. Subtle, wily,
mysterious and dangerous, he often ignores pacts
made in honor with humans. Attended by his two
ravens, two wolves and the Valkyries; Feared by
ordinary people and worshiped only by princes,
poets, the berzerkers, and sorcerers.
Unpredictable when invoked. "I call myself Grim
and Ganglari, Herian, Hialmberi, Thekk, Third,
Thunn, Unn, Helblindi, High, Sann, Svipal,
Sanngetal, Herteit, Hnikar, Bileyg, Baleyg, Bolverk,
Fiolnir, Grimnir, Glapsvinn, Fiolsvinn, Sidhott,
Sidskegg, Sigfather, Hnikud, All‐father, Atrid,
Farmatyr, Oski ("God of Wishes"), Omi, Just‐as‐
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high, Blindi, Gondlir, Harbard, Svidur, Svidrir, Ialk, Kialar, Vidur, Thror, Ygg, Thund, Vakr, Skilfing, Vafud,
Hropta‐Tyr, Gaut, Veratyr." Other names include Tveggi and Gagnrath. Odin married Erda/Jörd, with
whom he had a son, Thor. With his wife Frigga, he had Hermod, Hodur and Balder. His third wife was
Rinda, who bore Vali. Grid is a friendly Giantess who had his son, Vidar. Giantess Gunnlod gave birth to
Bragi after Odin spent three nights with her and stole the Mead of Poetry. He was also said to have
married Saga, and to have visited her daily in the crystal hall of Sokvabek. His other consorts were
Skadi, and the nine undines (the wave‐daughters of Aegir and Ran) that bore Odin Heimdall.
Odin, Vili, Ve N. The three‐fold form of Odin as warrior, shaman and wanderer. Sometimes Vili and Ve are
referred to as Odin's "brothers". Odin (spirit), Vili (will) and Ve (holy) were the sons of Börr (who was
son of the Giant Buri) and his wife Bestla, a Giantess (who was daughter of Bolthorn).
Odinism N. An alternative name for Àsatrú, so called because Wodan/Odhinn was the chief of the gods. An
Odinist is a follower of a follower of Woden‐Vili‐Vé.
Odra In. the country of Orissa; a man of that country
Odysseus Gk. King of an island off the western coast of Greece or known as Ithaca; one of the heroes who
fought at Troy; encountered many perils on his homeward trip, among them were the Cyclops and the
Sirens.
Oedipus Gk. The son of Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes; he was adapted by King Polybus and
Queen Merope of Corinth; fulfilled a prophecy that said he would kill his father and marry his mother,
and thus brought disaster on his city and family.
Oeneus/Oineus Gk. a Calydonian king; son of Porthaon and Euryte, husband of Althaea and father of
Deianeira, Meleager, Toxeus, Clymenus, Periphas, Agelaus, Thyreus (or Phereus or Pheres), Gorge,
Eurymede, Mothone, Perimede and Melanippe (although Meleager's and Deianeira's fathers could also
have been Ares and Dionysus respectively); Oeneus was also the father of Tydeus by Periboea,
daughter of Hipponous, though Tydeus was exiled from Aetolia and appears in myths concerning Argos;
he introduced winemaking to Aetolia, which he learned from Dionysus.
Oenone Gk. The first wife of Paris of Troy, whom he abandoned for the queen Helen of Sparta; a mountain
nymph on Mount Ida in Phrygia, a mountain associated with the Mother Goddess Cybele, alternatively
Rhea; her father was Cebren, a river‐god; her very name links her to the gift of wine.
Oenopion Gk. Son of Rhadamanthys or Dionysus and Ariadne; was a legendary king of Chios, said to have
brought winemaking to the island. He had one daughter: Merope.
Oeta Gk. a mountain in Thessaly west of the city of Thermopylae in Greece
Ófreskr, Ófreskir N. Second‐sighted, one with vision of events in the spirit world
Ogdoad Eg. Term describing the group of 8 deities associated with Hermopolis; it contained four couples who
symbolized the state of the world before creation; the group usually consists of: Nun and Naunet,
representing the primeval waters; Huh and Hauhet, being endless space; Kuk and Kauket are darkness;
Amun and Amaunet; represent that which is hidden.
Oileus Gk. the king of Locris; his father was given as Odoedocus (whom Oileus succeeded as King of Locris) and
his mother as Agrianome (daughter of Perseon); husband of Eriopis, who bore him a son named Ajax.
Oileus was also the father of Medon, who is usually regarded as illegitimate; Medon's mother was said
to be a nymph named Rhene. Oileus was also an Argonaut.
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Okolnir N. A land of warmth created after Ragnarok. A refuge to those finding it at Ragnarok; Site of the hall of
Brimnir
Old Man of the Sea Gk. a primordial figure who could be identified as any of several water‐gods, generally
Nereus or Proteus, but also Triton, Pontus, Phorcys or Glaucus. He is the father of Thetis (the mother of
Achilles); can answer any questions if captured, but capturing him means holding on as he changes
from one form to another.
Olive Gk. A tree; the result of a contest held between Athena and Poseidon; it was also believed that the
Greek gods were born under the branches of the olive tree.
Olvalde N. "Emperor of the Ale". The father of Tjatsi, Gang and Ide; He lives with Tjatsi in Trymheim, When he
died the brothers shared his beer.
Olympians Gk. Group of 12 gods who ruled after the overthrow of the Titans; named after their dwelling place
Mount Olympus; among of these are Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Hera, Aris, Athena, Apollo,
Aphrodite, Hermes, Artemis and Hephaestus.
Olympus Gk. The abode of the chief god Zeus; the foremost gods of the Greek pantheon have their palaces at
the summit; it is here that the gods assemble to consume nectar and ambrosia ("immortal"), the
substances which reinforces their immortality. According to the myth, the top of the Olympus, which is
covered in snow and hidden in the clouds, reaches all the way into the Aether; the highest mountain of
Greece and lies on the border of Macedonia and Thessaly
Olympus
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Om In. a word of solemn invocation, affirmation, benediction, and consent, so sacred that when it is uttered
no one must hear it; the word is used at the commencement of prayers and religious ceremonies, and
is generally placed at the beginning of books. It is a compound of the three letters a, u, m, which are
typical of the three Vedas; and it is declared in the Upanishads, where it first appears, to have a mystic
power and to be worthy of the deepest meditation. In later times the monosyllable represents the
Hindu triad or union of the three gods, a being Vishnu, u Siva, and m Brahma. This monosyllable is
called Udgitha.
Omkara In. the sacred monosyllable 'Om'; name of one of the twelve great lingas
Omphale Gk. a daughter of Iardanus, either a king of Lydia, or a river‐god. Omphale was queen of the kingdom
of Lydia in Asia Minor; she was the wife of Tmolus, the oak‐clad mountain king of Lydia.
Ónd N. Vital breath or universal soul; Everything in the universe possessed önd; this önd can be viewed as a
spirit, special character, or impersonal powe;. It is an active essence which belongs both to the material
and magical domains. In plants, önd gives medicinal powers; in foodstuffs it is the essence which makes
children grow and gives us the energy to keep alive. In living plants, it is the resident soul. This soul can
be lost, degenerate or be stolen, and consecration rituals are designed to prevent this. Where it is
concentrated in special ways, here are the places of power in the landscape, places where önd may be
manifested in many possible ways. It may appear as Earth spirits (landvaettir or land wights);
hytersprites, yarthkins etc., each having beneficial or harmful effects upon human activities conducted
there. Geomants, magicians, traditional hunters and farmers have always had a subtle rapport with the
the landscape and the qualities inherent in it.
Öndvegissulur N. Main pillars of a wooden temple, the most sacred part, into which the Reginnaglar (sacred
nails) were hammered.
On‐lay N. A spell or incantation pronounced on a place.
Opening of the mouth Eg. This ceremony was performed at the funeral to restore the senses of the deceased;
the ceremony was done by touching an adze to the mouth of a mummy or statue of the deceased, it
was believed to restore the senses in preparation for the afterlife.
Opet Eg. A great religious festival that took place in Thebes during the inundation; The god Amun was taken
from his temple at Karnak and brought to visit his wife, Mut at her temple of Luxor.
Ophion /Ophioneus Gk. Ruled the world with Eurynome before the two of them were cast down by Cronus
and Rhea.
Ops Rom. Goddess of the fertile earth, abundance, sowing, harvest and wealth; One of her festivals was on
August 10, another festival was the Opalia, which was observed on December 9; the Opeconsiva, on
August 25 was her primary festival, but was participated in only by her priests and the Vestal Virgins.
Oracle Gk. A person considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinion, predictions or
precognition of the future, inspired by the gods.; is a form of divination; oracles in Greek mythology
were Pythia, priestess to Apollo at Delphi, and the oracle of Dione and Zeus at Dodona in Epirus, other
temples of Apollo were located at Didyma on the coast of Asia Minor, at Corinth and Bassae in the
Peloponnese, and at the islands of Delos and Aegina in the Aegean Sea only the Delphic Oracle was a
female; all others were male.
Orbona Rom. goddess of parents who lost their children
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Orchil N. Orchil, the Saxon goddess who is under the brown earth, in a vast cavern, where she weaves at two
looms. With one hand she weaves life upward through the grass; with the other she weaves death
downward through the mould; and the sound of the weaving is Eternity, and the name of it in the
Green World is Time. And, through all, Orchil weaves the weft of Eternal Beauty, that passeth not,
though her soul is Change.
Orcus Rom. God of death and the underworld; also a god of oaths and punisher of perjurers.
Oreads/Orestiad Gk. A type of nymph that lived in mountains, valleys, ravines; they differ from each other
according to their dwelling: the Idae were from Mount Ida, Peliades from Mount Pelia, etc.; they were
associated with Artemis, since the goddess, when she went out hunting, preferred mounts and rocky
precipices.
Orestes Gk. The son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon; he is the subject of several Ancient Greek plays and of
various myths connected with his madness and purification, which retain obscure threads of much
older ones.
Orion Gk. A giant huntsman in Greek mythology whom Zeus placed among the stars as the constellation of

Orion; first appears as a great hunter in the Odyssey, where Odysseus sees his shade in the underworld.
Orithyia Gk. The daughter of King Erechtheus of Athens and his wife, Praxithea, in Greek mythology; her
brothers were Cecrops, Pandorus, and Metion, and her sisters were Procris, Creusa, and Chthonia.
Orlög or Ørlög N. "Ur‐law" or "ur‐layer", "fate"; Ørlög literally means "primal layers" or "primal laws," the past
action of an individual or the cosmos that shapes present reality, and that which should come about as
a result of it. Its root concept is "wyrd". Ørlög is Old Norse for cycle of fate, or for the unalterable
destiny of the world. Ørlög encompasses all, including the gods. One aspect of ørlög is the "Ragnarök".
Ørlög is the collective wyrd of the world as a whole, whereas "wyrd" is more individual.
Orpheus Gk. A legendary figure, described by most ancient sources as Thracian, and venerated throughout the
ancient Hellenised world as a heroic, civilising benefactor to mankind; he was the inspiration and focus
for Orphic cults, myths and literature.
Orpheus Gk. A legendary figure, described by most ancient sources as Thracian, and venerated throughout the
ancient Hellenised world as a heroic, civilising benefactor to mankind ; he was the inspiration and focus
for Orphic cults, myths and literature; "the father of songs" and asserts him as a son of the
Thracian king Oeagrus and the Muse Calliope; the greatest of all poets and musicians: it was said that
while Hermes had invented the lyre, Orpheus perfected it; Orpheus' music and singing could charm the
birds, fish and wild beasts, coax the trees and rocks into dance and divert the course of rivers; he was
one of the handful of Greek heroes to visit the Underworld and return; his music and song even had
power over Hades.
Orthia Gk. surname of the Artemis who is also called Iphigeneia or Lygodesma, and must be regarded as the
goddess of the moon; her worship was probably brought to Sparta from Lemnos.
Ortygia Gk. A little island and it is the historical centre of the city of Syracuse, Sicily; an island, also known as
Città Vecchia (Old City), contains many historical landmarks; this is where goddess Leto stopped to gave
birth to Artemis.
Orúnar N. Ale runes, by which one gains protection through higher consciousness and power
Orvandil N. A Giant, a Star Hero, first husband of Sif and father of Ullr. (Sif later married Thorr).
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Oshadhi‐prastha In. 'The place of medicinal herbs;' a city in the Himalaya mentioned in the Kumara Sambhava.

Oshtha‐karnakas In. a person whose lips extended to their ears, mentioned in the Maha‐bharata.
Osiris Eg. a supreme god and judge of the dead; the symbol of resurrection and eternal life; provider of
fertility and prosperity to the living; A bearded man wearing white mummy wrappings; Wearing the
atef crown and holding the symbols of supreme power, the flail and crook; His skin is green to
represent vegetation or red to represent the earth.
Osiris Pillar Eg. Pillar; mostly in an open court or portico, with a colossal statue of a king forming its front part;
unlike caryatids in Classical architecture, the statues are not weight‐bearing elements; Most are
mummiform, but not all; the connection with Osiris is doubtful.
Oski, Óski N. "Fulfiller of Desire". A by‐name of Odin
Ossa Gk. Goddess or spirit (daimon) of rumour, report and gossip; she was also, by extension, the dual spirit of
fame and good repute in a positive sense, and infamy and scandal in the bad.
Ostracon Eg. From the Greek word meaning; "potsherd"; a chip or shard of limestone or pottery used as a
writing tablet; Ostraca are known from all periods; but 19th and 20th‐Dynasty examples are the most
common; the texts can be anything from a simple shopping list to drafts of hieroglyphic inscriptions.
Othr N. One of the divine lovers of the Goddess Freya.
Othrys Gk. A mountain in Thessaly; the headquarters of the Titans when they fought with Gods; it was the
base of the Titans during the ten year war with the Olympian Gods known as the Titanomachy.
Otter N. Otter is Hreidmar's son and brother to Fafnir and Regin. He could turn himself into an otter. When he
was killed by the Æsir, his father demanded the Nibelunggold as blood‐payment. It was given to him,
but cursed.
Otus Gk. A mythological hero from Kyllini, Elis; he participated in the Trojan War and his commander was
Epeus of Elis; in Hector's exit from the Trojan walls, he fought in a drastic battle. There, Hector killed
Schedius, commander of Phocaea and Polydamas of Otus commander of Epeus' generation where it
correctly said by Homer. He saw Otus dead, the friend of Meges, his commander which came from
Dulichium, he attacked Polydamas in which he fled with a godlike help (Apollo's intervention). Meges
killed in Crosemus.
Ouranos Gk. Uranus in Roman; the first ruler of the universe, created by Gaea when she emerged from
Chaos.Ouranos, with Gaea, became the father of theTitans, the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires
(hundred‐handed ones); he was afraid that some of his children would rebel against him, so he
imprisoned them within Gaea's earth womb. Kronos, the youngest of the Titans, freed his siblings by
castrating his father. Ouranos' blood gave birth to the Furies, and Aphrodite was born of the discarded
member when it fell into the foaming sea.
Outdweller N. Inhabitant of the Utangardhs; uncanny wight.
Ovid Gk. A Roman poet who is best known as the author of the three major collections of erotic poetry:
Heroides, Amores, and Ars Amatoria. He is also well known for the Metamorphoses, a mythological
hexameter poem; the Fasti, about the Roman calendar; and the Tristia and Epistulae ex Ponto, two
collections of poems written in exile on the Black Sea; the author of several smaller pieces, the Remedia
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Amoris, the Medicamina Faciei Femineae, and the long curse‐poem Ibis. He also authored a lost
tragedy, Medea. He is considered a master of the elegiac couplet, and is traditionally ranked alongside
Virgil and Horace as one of the three canonic poets of Latin literature. The scholar Quintilian considered
him the last of the canonical Latin love elegists; his poetry, much imitated during Late Antiquity and the
Middle Ages, decisively influenced European art and literature and remains as one of the most
important sources of classical mythology.
Owl Gk. firmly linked with Athena, the Goddess of wisdom (and in later times, of battle); a creature sacred to
Athena, Goddess of the night who represented wisdom. Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom had a
companion Owl on her shoulder, which revealed unseen truths to her. Owl had the ability to light up
Athena's blind side, enabling her to speak the whole truth, as opposed to only a half truth.
P
Pactolus Gk. A Phrygian river with significant deposits of gold in ancient times; these were attributed to the
legendary King Midas, who had been granted the ability to transmute whatever he touched into gold.
The king found drawbacks to this power and was permitted to wash it away in the river. Mythological
fiction intersects with historical fact in that the Pactolus was source of the wealth of King Croesus, who
ruled in the sixth century B.C.E. Both the legendary Midas and historical Croesus survive in figures of
speech. One speaks of the "Midas touch" and being "as rich as Croesus".
Pada In. The Pada text of the Vedas, or of any other work, is one in which each word (pada) stands separate
and distinct, not joined with the next according to the rules of sandhi (coalition). See Patha.
PADMA Padmavatl In. a name of Lakshmi
Padma‐Kalpa In. The last expired kalpa or year of Brahma.
Padma‐Purana,Padma‐Purana In. This purana generally stands second in the list of Puranas, and is thus
described: ‐ "That which contains an account of the period when the world was a golden lotus (padma),
and of all the occurrences of that time, is, therefore, called Padma by the wise. It contains 55,000
stanzas." The work is divided into five books or Khandas: ‐ "(1)Srishti Khanda, or section on creation;
(2)Bhumi Khanda, on the earth; (3) Swarga Khanda, on heaven; (4)Patala Khanda, on the regions below
the earth; (5)Uttara Khanda, last or supplementary chapter. There is also current a sixth division, the
Kriya‐yoga‐sara, a treatise on the practice of devotion." These denominations of the various divisions
convey but an imperfect and partial notion of their heterogeneous contents, and it seems probable
that the different sections are distinct works associated together under one title. There is no reason to
consider any of them as older than the twelfth century. The tone of the whole purana is strongly
Vaishnava; that of the last section especially so. In it Siva is represented as explaining to Parvati the
nature and attributes of Vishnu and in the end the two join in adoration of that deity. A few chapters
have been printed and translated into Latin by Wollheim.
Padmavatl In. a name of a city; it would seem, from the mention made of it in the drama Malati Madhava, to
lie in the Vindhya Mountains
Paean Gk. The designation of the physician of the Olympian gods, who heals, for example, the wounded Ares
and Hades;, used also in the more general sense of deliverer from any evil or calamity and was thus
applied to Apollo and Thanatos, or Death, who are conceived as delivering men from the pains and
sorrows of life.
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Pahlava In. name of people; Manu places the Pahlavas among the northern nations, and perhaps the name is
connected with the word Pahlavi, i.e., Persian. They let their beards grow by command of King Sagara.
According to Manu, they were Kshatriyas who had become outcasts, but the Maha‐bharata says they
were created from the tail of Vasishtha's cow of fortune and the Ramayana states that they sprang
from her breath. They are also called Pahnavas.
Paijavana In. name of the King Sudas; his patronymic as son of Pijavana
Paila In. a learned man who was appointed in ancient days to collect the hymns of the Rig‐veda; he arranged it
in two parts, and must have been a coadjutor of Veda Vyasa.
Paka‐Sasana In. A name of Indra, and of Arjuna as descended from Indra.
Palaemon Gk. a youngsea‐god who, with his mother Leukothea, came to the aid of sailors in distress; he was
originally a mortal child named Melikertes whose parents incurred the wrath of Hera when they
fostered the young god Dionysos. His father was driven into a murderous rage by Hera. Ino fled with
Melikertes in her arms, after he had killed their other child, and fleeing leapt off the cliffs into the sea.
There the pair were transformed into sea‐gods and received the names Palaimon and Leukothea.
Palaimon was depicted in Greco‐Roman mosaic as either a dolphin‐riding boy, or a fish‐tailed Triton‐
child.
Pales Rom. Goddess of shepherds and flocks; her festival was the Palilia, on April 21.
Palladium Gk. An image of great antiquity on which the safety of a city was said to depend; signified the
wooden statue (xoanon) of Pallas Athena that Odysseus and Diomedes stole from the citadel of Troy;
meant anything believed to provide protection or safety — a safeguard.
Pallas Athena Gk. the goddess of war, civilization, wisdom, strength, strategy, crafts, justice and skill in Greek
mythology; Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes; a shrewd companion of
heroes and the goddess of heroic endeavour. She is the virgin patron of Athens. The Athenians built the
Parthenon on the Acropolis of her namesake city, Athens, in her honour (Athena Parthenos).
Pallas Gk. One of the Giantess born of the blood which spilled onto Gaia when Cronus castrated her father
Uranus; confronted Athena during the Gigantomachy, where she killed her and turned her skin into a
shield (the Aegis); sometimes referred to as being goat‐like.
Pampa In. a river, which rises in the Rishyamuka Mountain and falls into the Tungabhadra below Anagundi;
also a lake in the same locality
Pan Gk. The god of shepherds and flocks, of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music, as well as the
companion of the nymphs; his name originates within the Greek language, from the word paein
(Πάειν), meaning "to pasture."; has the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat, in the same manner as
a faun or satyr; his homeland is in rustic Arcadia, he is recognized as the god of fields, groves, and
wooded glens; because of this, Pan is connected to fertility and the season of spring; ancient Greeks
also considered him to be the god of theatrical criticism; in Roman religion and myth counterpart was
Faunus, a nature god who was the father of Bona Dea, sometimes identified as Fauna.
Pancha‐Chuda In. name of Rambha
Panchajana In. Name of a demon who lived in the sea in the form of a conch‐shell; he seized the son of
Sandipani, under whom Krishna learnt the use of arms. Krishna rescued the boy, killed the demon, and
afterwards used the conch‐shell for a‐horn.; A name of Asamanjas (q.v.).
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Panchajanya In. Krishna's conch, formed from the shell of the sea‐demon Panchajana.
Panchala In. a name of a country; from the Maha‐bharata it would seem to have occupied the Lower Doab;
Manu places it near Kanauj; it has sometimes been identified with the Panjab, and with a little territory
in the more immediate neighbourhood of Hastinapur." Wilson says, "A country extending north and
west from Delhi, from the foot of the Himalayas to the Chambal" It was divided into Northern and
Southern Panchalas, and the Ganges separated them. Cunningham considers North Panchala to be
Rohilkhand, and South Panchala the Gangetic Doab. The capital of the former was Ahi‐chhatra, whose
ruins are found near Ramnagar, and of the latter Kampilya, identical with the modem Kampila, on the
old Ganges between Badaun and Farrukhabad.
Pancha‐Lakshana In. The five distinguishing characteristics of a Purana; see purana
Panchali In. Draupadi as princess of Panchala
Panchanana In. ‘Five faced.’ An epithet applied to Siva.
Panchapsaras In. name of a lake; see Manda‐karni
Pancha‐Sikha One of the earliest professors of the Sankhya philosophy.
Pancha‐Tantra In. a famous collection of tales and fables in five (pancha) books (tantra); it was compiled by a
Brahman named Vishnu‐sarman, about the end of the fifth century A.D., for the edification of the sons
of a king, and was the original of the better‐known Hitopadesa. This work has reappeared in very many
languages both of the East and West, and has been the source of many familiar and widely known
stories. It was translated into Pahlavi or Old Persian by order of Naushirvan in the sixth century A.D. In
the ninth century it appeared in Arabic as Kalila o Damna, then, or before, it was translated into
Hebrew, Syriac, Turkish, and Greek; and from these, versions were made into all the languages of
Europe, and it became familiar in England as Pilpay's Fables (Fables of Bidpai). In modem Persia it is the
basis of the Anwar‐isuhaili and Iyar‐i Danish. The latter has reappeared in Hindustani as the Khirad‐
afroz. The stories are popular throughout Hindustan, and have found their way into most of the
languages and dialects. There are various editions of the text and several translations.
Panchavati In. a place in the great southern forest near the sources of the Godavari, where Rama passed a

long period of his banishment. It has been proposed to identify it with the modem Nasik, because
Lakshmana cut off Surpa‐nakha's nose (nasika) at PanchavatL
Panchavinsa In. See Praudha Brahmana.
Pancha‐Vriksha In. 'Five trees;' the five trees of Swarga, named Mandara, Parijataka, Santana, Kalpa‐vriksha,
and Hari‐chandana.
Panchopakhyana In. The Pancha‐tantra
Pandarus/Pandaros Gk. A famous archer and the son of Lycaon; fights on the side of Troy in the Trojan War,
first appears in Book Two of the Iliad. In Book Four, he shoots Menelaus and wounds him with an
arrow, sabotaging a truce that could potentially have led to the peaceful return of Helen of Troy; he is
goaded into breaking the truce by the gods, who wish for the destruction of Troy then wounds
Diomedes with an arrow and acts as Aeneas' charioteer; later killed by Diomedes by having his spear
strike him in the face, severing his tongue; is also the name of a companion of Aeneas in Virgil's Aeneid.
Pandavas In. The descendants of Pandu
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Pandora Gk. The first woman; each god helped create her by giving her unique gifts. Zeus ordered
Hephaestusto mold her out of earth as part of the punishment of mankind for Prometheus' theft of the
secret of fire, and all the gods joined in offering her "seductive gifts"; she opened a jar (pithos), in
modern accounts sometimes mistranslated as "Pandora's box" , releasing all the evils of mankind—
although the particular evils, aside from plagues and diseases, are not specified — leaving only Hope
inside once she had closed it again; she opened the jar out of simple curiosity and not as a malicious
act.

Pandrosus Gk. A daughter of Cecrops, sister to Herse and Aglauro; she was by Hermes the mother of Ceryx
Pandu In. ‘The pale.’ Brother of Dhrita‐rashtra, king of Hastina‐pura and father of the Pandavas or Pandu
princes. See Maha‐bharata.
Pandya In. Pandya, Chola, and Chera were three kingdoms in the south of the Peninsula for some centuries
before and after the Christian era. Pandya was well known to the Romans as the kingdom of King
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Pandion, who is said to have sent ambassadors on two different occasions to Augustus Caesar. Its
capital was Madura, the Southern Mathura. Pa1ldya seems to have fallen under the ascendancy of the
Chola kings in the seventh or eighth century.
Panini In. The celebrated grammarian, author of the work called Paniniyam. This is the standard authority on
Sanskrit grammar, and it is held in such respect and reverence that it is considered to have been
written by inspiration. So in old times Panini was placed among the Rishis and in more modern days he
is represented to have received a large portion of his work by direct inspiration from the god Siva. It is
also said that he was so dull a child that he was expelled from school, but the favour of Siva placed him
foremost in knowledge. He was not the first grammarian, for he refers to the works of several who
preceded him. The grammars that have been written since his time are numberless, but although some
of them are of great excellence and much in use, Panini still reigns supreme, and his rules are
incontestable. “His work," says Professor Williams "is perhaps the most original of all productions of the
Hindu mind." The work is written in the form of Sutras or aphorisms, of which it contains 3996,
arranged in eight (ashta) chapters (adhyaya), from which the work is sometimes called Ashtadhyayi.
These aphorisms are exceedingly terse and complicated. Special training and study are required to
reach their meaning. Colebrooke remarks, that "the endless pursuit of exceptions and limitations so
disjoins the general precepts, that the reader cannot keep in view their intended connection and
mutual relations. He wanders in an intricate maze, and the key of the labyrinth is continually slipping
from his hand." But it has been well observed that there is a great difference between the European
and Hindu ideas of a grammar. In Europe, grammar has hitherto been looked upon as only a means to
an end, the medium through which knowledge of language and literature is acquired. With the Pandit,
grammar was a science; it was studied for its own sake, and investigated with the minutest criticism;
hence, as Goldstucker says, "Panini's work is indeed a kind of natural history of the Sanskrit language."
Panini was a native of Salatura, in the country of Gandhara, west of the Indus, and so is known as
salottariya. He is described as a descendant of Panin and grandson of Devala. His mother's name was
Dakshi, who probably belonged to the race of Daksha, and he bears the metronymic Daksheya. He is
also called Ahika. The time when he lived is uncertain, but it is supposed to have been about four
centuries B.C. Goldstucker carries him back to the sixth century, but Weber is inclined to place him
considerably later. Panini's grammar has been printed by Bohtlingk, and also in India. See Goldstucker's
Painini, his Place in Literature."
Panis In. 'Niggards;' in the Rig‐veda, "the senseless, false, evil‐speaking, unbelieving, un‐praising,
unworshipping Panis were Dasyus or envious demons who used to steal cows and hide them in
caverns." They are said to have stolen the cows recovered by Sarama (q.v.).
Pannaga In. a serpent, snake; see Naga.
Panope Gk. Also the name of one of the daughters of Thespius and Megamede; she bore Heracles a son,
Threpsippas; among of two of the Nereids.
Pantheon. Eg. The gods; collectively as a group
Papa‐Purusha In. 'Man of sin.' a personification of all wickedness in a human form, of which all the members
are great sins. The head is brahmanicide, the arm cow killing, the nose woman‐murder, &c.
Paphos Gk. A small, coastal and very romantic city in the southwest of Cyprus; named after the daughter of
Aphrodite and the legendary Greek sculptor Pygmalion and was the capital of Cyprus in Greco‐Roman
times.
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Papyrus Eg. The main Egyptian writing material, and an important export; The earliest papyrus dates to the Ist
Dynasty, the latest to the Islamic Period; Oddly enough, the papyrus plant became extinct in Egypt,
being reintroduced in the 1960's; it is now an important link in the tourist trade; Sheets were made by
cutting the stem of the plant into strips. These strips were soaked in several baths to remove some of
the sugar and starches; These strips were then laid in rows horizontally and vertically; Then it was
beaten together, activating the plant's natural starches and forming a glue that bound the sheet
together; Separate sheets were glued together to form a roll.
Paradas In. a barbarous people dwelling in the north‐west; Manu says they were Kshatriyas degraded to be
Sudras.
Paramarshis In. (Parama‐rishis); the great Rishis; see Rishi
Paramatman In. The supreme soul of the universe
Parameshthin In. ‘Who stands in the highest place;' a title applied to any superior god and to some
distinguished mortals. A name used in the Vedas for a son or a creation of Prajapati.
Parasara In. A Vedic Rishi to whom some hymns of the Rig‐veda are attributed. He was a disciple of Kapila,
and he received the Vishnu purana from Pulastya and taught it to Maitreya. He was also a writer on
Dharma‐sastra, and texts of his are often cited in "books on law. Speculations as to his era differ widely,
from 575 B.C. to 1391 B.C., and cannot be trusted. By an amour with Satyavati he was father of Krishna
Dwaipayana, the Vyasa or arranger of the Vedas. According to the Nirukta, he was son of Vasishtha, but
the Maha‐bharata and the Vishnu purana make him the son of Saktri and grandson of Vasishtha. The
legend of his birth, as given in the Maha‐bharata, is that King Kalmasha‐pada met with Saktri in a
narrow path, and desired him to get out of the way. The sage refused, and the Raja struck him with his
whip. The sage refused, and the Raja so that he became a man‐eating Rakshasa. In this state he ate up
Saktri, whose wife, Adrisyanti, afterwards gave birth to Parasara. When this child grew up and heard
the particulars of his father’s death, he instituted a sacrifice for the destruction of all the Rakshasas, but
was dissuaded from its completion by Vasistha and other sages. As he desisted, he scattered the
remaining sacrificial fire upon the northern face of the Himalaya, where it still blazes forth at the
phases of the moon, consuming Rakshasas, forests, and mountains.
Parasara‐Purana In. See Purana.
Parasikas In. Parasikas or Farsikas; i.e., Persians
Parasu‐Rama In. ‘Rama with the axe;’ the first Rama and the sixth Avatara of Vishnu; he was a Brahman, the
fifth son of Jamad‐agni and Renuka. By his father’s side he descended from Bhrigu, and was, par
excellence, the Bhargava; by his mother’s side he belonged to the royal race of the Kusikas. He became
manifest in the world at the beginning of the Treta‐yuga, for the purpose of repressing the tyranny of
the Kshatriya or regal caste. His story is told in the Maha‐bharata and in the Puranas. He also appears in
the Ramayana, but chiefly as an opponent of Rama‐chandra. According to the Maha‐bharata, he
instructed Arjuna in the use of arms, and had a combat with Bhishma, in which both suffered equally.
He is also represented as being present at the Great War council of the Kaurava princes. This Parasu‐
rama, the sixth Avatara of Vishnu, appeared in the world before Rama or Rama‐chandra, the seventh
Avatara, but they were both living at the same time, and the elder incarnation showed some jealousy of
the younger. The Maha‐bharata represents Parasu‐rama as being struck senseless by Rama‐chandra,
and the Ramayana related how Parasu‐rama, who was a follower of Siva, felt aggrieved by Rama’s
breaking the bow of Siva, and challenged him to a trial of strength. This ended in his defeat, and in
some way led to his being “excluded from a seat in the celestial world.” In early life Parasu‐rama was
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under the protection of Siva, who instructed him in the use of arms, and gave him the parasu, or axe,
from which he is named. The first act recorded of him by the Maha‐bharata is that, by command of his
father, he cut off the head of his mother, Renuka. She had incensed her husband by entertaining
impure thoughts, and he called upon each of his sons in succession to kill her. Parsu‐rama alone
obeyed, and his readiness so pleased his father that he told him to ask a boon. He begged that his
mother might be restored pure to life, and for himself, that he might be invincible in single combat and
enjoy length of days. Parasu‐rama’s hostility to the Kshatriyas evidently indicates a severe struggle for
the supremacy between them and the Brahmans. He is said to have cleared the earth to the Brahmans.
The origin of his hostility to the Kshatriyas is thus related: ‐ Kasta‐virya, a Kshatriya, and King of the
Haihayas, had a thousand arms. This king paid a visit to the hermitage of Jamad‐agni in the absence of
that sage, and was hospitably entertained by his wife, but when he departed he carried off a sacrificial
calf belonging to their host. This act so enraged Parasu‐rama that he pursued Karta‐virya, cut off his
thousand arms and killed him. In retaliation the sons of Karta‐virya killed Jamad‐agni, and for that
murder Parasu‐rama vowed vengeance against them and the whole Kshatriya race. “Thrice seven times
did he clear the earth of the Kshatriya caste, and he filled with their blood the five large lakes of
Samanta‐panchaka.” He then gave the earth to Kasyapa, and retired to the Mahendra Mountains,
where he was visited by Arjuna. Tradition ascribes the origin of the country of Malabar to Parasu‐rama.
According to one account he received it as a gift from Varuna, and according to another he drove back
the ocean and cut fissures in the Ghats with blows of his axe. He is said to have brought Brahmans into
this country from the north, and to have bestowed the land upon them in expiation of the slaughter of
the Kshatriyas. He bears the appellations Khanda‐parasu, ‘who strikes with the axe,’ and Nyaksha,
‘inferior.’
Paravasu In. See Raibhya and Yava‐krita
Parcae Rom. Goddesses of fate; The Goddesses Nona, Morta and Decima make up the group; the three Parcae
are also called Tria Fata.
Parijata In. The tree produced at the churning of the ocean, “and the delight of the nymphs of heaven,
perfuming the world with its blossoms.” It was kept in Indra’s heaven, and was the pride of his wife
Sachi, but when Krishna visited Indra in Swarga, his wife Satya‐bhama induced him to carry the tree
away, which led to a great fight between the two gods and their adherents, in which Indra was
defeated. The tree was taken to Dwaraka and planted there, but after Krishna's death it returned to
Indra's heaven.
Parikshit In. a son of Abhimanyu by his wife Uttari; grandson of Arjuna, and father of Janamejaya. He was
killed by Aswatthaman in the womb of his mother and was born dead, but he was brought to life by
Krishna, who blessed him and cursed Aswatthaman; when Yudhi‐shthira retired from the world,
Parikshit succeeded him on the throne of Hastina‐pura. He died from the bite of a serpent, and the
Bhagavata Purana is represented as having been rehearsed to him in the interval between the bite and
his death. Also written Parikshit.
Paripatra In. The northern part of the Vindhya range of mountains; according to the Hari‐vansa, it was the

scene of the combat between Krishna and Indra, and its heights sank down under the pressure of
Krishna's feet; also called Pariyatra
Paris Gk. The son of Priam and Hecuba, king and queen of Troy; was abandoned on Mt. Ida because it was
prophesied that he would cause the destruction of Troy, but there he was raised by shepherds and
loved by the nymph Oenone. Later he returned to Troy, where he was welcomed by Priam. Paris was
chosen to settle a dispute among the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, all of whom claimed
possession of the apple of discord, a golden fruit inscribed “to the fairest.” It had been thrown among
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the guests at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis by Eris, who sought revenge because she had not been
invited. Hera tried to bribe Paris with royal greatness and riches, and Athena offered him success in
war, but Paris awarded the apple to Aphrodite, who promised him Helen, the most beautiful of women.
With Aphrodite's help he abducted Helen from King Menelaus of Sparta; thus he brought on the Trojan
War. In the war Paris killed Achilles, but was himself fatally wounded by Philoctetes.
Parishad In. A college or community of Brahmans associated for the study of the Vedas.
Parisishta In. a supplement or appendix; a series of works called Parisishtas belong to the Vedic period, but
they are the last of the series, and indicate a transition state. They A supply information on theological
or ceremonial points which had been passed over in the Sutras, and they treat everything in a popular
and superficial manner, as if the time was gone when students would spend ten or twenty years of
their lives in fathoming the mysteries and mastering the intricacies of the Brahmana literature."‐Max
Muller.
Parivrajaka In. a religious mendicant; a Brahman in the fourth stage of his religious life; see Brahman
Parjanya In. A Vedic deity, the rain‐god or rain personified. Three hymns in the Rig‐veda are addressed to this
deity, and one of them is very poetical and picturesque in de‐ scribing rain and its effects. The name is
sometimes combined with the word vata (wind), parjanya‐vata, referring probably to the combined
powers and effects of rain and wind. In later times he is regarded as the guardian deity of clouds and
rain, and the name is applied to Indra; one of the Adityas.
Parnassus Gk. A mountain of limestone in central Greece that towers above Delphi, north of the Gulf of
Corinth, and offers scenic views of the surrounding olive groves and countryside; this mountain was
sacred to Apollo and the Corycian nymphs, and the home of the Muses; the ark of Deucalion comes to
rest on the slopes of Parnassus; Orestes spent his time in hiding on Mount Parnassus; was sacred to the
god Dionysus; also the home of Pegasus, the winged horse of Bellerophon.
Parshada In. Any treatise on the Vedas produced in Parishad or Vedic college.
Partha In. a son of Pritha or Kunti.; a title applicable to the three elder Pandavas, but especially used for
Arjuna.
Parthenon Gk. A temple in the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, whom the
people of Athens considered their protector; showed Lapiths fighting centaurs, Olympians battling
Giants and perhaps scenes from the Trojan War; symbolized the power and religious devotion of
Athens.
Parthenope Gk. One of the Sirens; daughter of Stymphalus with Heracles the mother of Everes .
Parthenopeus Gk. One of the Seven Against Thebes and the son of Atalanta and Hippomenes, Meleager, or
Ares, or perhaps the son of Talaus; father of Promachus; he was exposed by his mother on Mount
Pathenius, so that she would be thought a virgin and he was rescued by a shepherd, along with
Telephus, the son of Auge and Heracles, and the two boys were good friends. Parthenopeus went with
Telephus to Teuthrania, where he helped him repulse Idas's invasion of the kingdom. Parthenopeus
was killed while attacking Thebes, by Periclymenus, Amphidicus, or Asphodicus.
Parthenos Gk. a princess of the Island of Naxos who, along with her sister Molpadia, leapt into the sea to
escape the wrath of their stepfather Staphylos; Apollo then transformed the two maidens into
goddesses (through apotheosis). Some claimed the god was their natural father. Parthenos was
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worshipped in the Karian town of Bubastos and her sister Hemithea in the nearby town of Kastabos;
the virgin, a surname of Athena at Athens, where the famous temple Parthenon was dedicated to her.
Parvati In. 'The mountaineer;' a name of the wife of Siva; see Devi
Pasiphaë Gk. The daughter of Helios, the Sun, by the eldest of the Oceanids, Perse; like her doublet Europa,
her origins were in the East, in her case at Colchis, the palace of the Sun; she was given in marriage to
King Minos of Crete. With Minos, she was the mother of Ariadne, Androgeus, Glaucus, Deucalion,
Phaedra, and Catreus. She was also the mother of "starlike" Asterion, called by the Greeks the
Minotaur, after a curse from Poseidon caused her to experience lust for and mate with a white bull
sent by Poseidon. "The Bull was the old pre‐Olympian Poseidon," Ruck and Staples remark. In the Greek
literalistic understanding of a Minoan myth, in order to actually copulate with the bull, she had the
Athenian artificer Daedalus construct a portable wooden cow with a cowhide covering, within which
she was able to satisfy her strong desire.The effect of the Greek interpretation was to reduce a more‐
than‐human female, daughter of the Sun itself, to a stereotyped emblem of grotesque bestiality and
the shocking excesses of female sensuality and deceit.
Pasu‐Pati In. 'Lord of creatures.' A name of Rudra or of one of his manifestations; see Rudra
Patala In. the infernal regions, inhabited by Nagas (serpents), naityas, Danavas, Yakshas, and others; they are
seven in number, and their names, according to the Vishnu Purina, are Atala, Vitala, Nitala,
Gabhastimat, Mahitala, Butala, and Patala, but these names vary in different authorities. The Padma
Purana gives the names of the seven regions and their respective rulers as follow: (1) Atala, subject to
Maha‐maya; (2) Vitala, ruled by a form of Biva called Hitakeswara; (3) Butala, ruled by Bali; (4) Talatala,
ruled by Maya; (5) Mahatala, where reside the great serpents; (6) Rasatala, where the Daityas and
Dinavas dwell; (7) Patala, the lowermost, in which Vasuki reigns over the chief Nagas or snake‐gods. In
the Siva Purana there are eight: Patala, Tala, Atala, Vitala, Tala, Vidhi‐patala, Sarkari‐bhumi, and Vijaya.
The sage Narada paid a visit to these regions, and on his return to the skies gave a glowing account of
them, declaring them to be far more delightful than Indra's heaven, and abounding with every kind of
luxury and sensual gratification.
Patali‐Putra In. The Palibothra of the Greek writers, and described by them as being situated at the
confluence of the Erranaboas (the Bone river) with the Ganges. It was the capital of the Nandas, and of
the Maurya dynasty, founded by Chandra‐ gupta, which succeeded them as rulers of Magadha. The city
has been identified with the modern Patna; for although the Bone does not now fall into the Ganges
there, the modern town is smaller in extent than the ancient one, and there is good reason for
believing that the rivers have changed their courses.
Patanjala In. the Yoga philosophy; see Darsana
Patanjali In. the founder of the Yoga philosophy, (See Darsana.) The author of the Maha‐bhashya, a celebrated
commentary on the Grammar of Panini, and a defence of that work against the criticisms of Katyayana;
he is supposed to have written about 200 B.C. Rim Krishna Gopal Bhandarkar, a late inquirer, says, "He
probably wrote the third chapter of his Bhashya between 144 and 142 B.C. Weber, however, makes his
date to be 25 A.D. He is also called Gonardiya and Gonikaputra. A legend accounting for his name
represents that he fen as a small snake from heaven into the palm of Panini (pata, 'fallen;' anjali, 'palm
').
Patha In. 'Reading.' There are three forms, called rathas, in which the Vedic text is read and written :‐(1.)
Sanhita‐ patha, the ordinary form, in which the words coalesce according to the rules of Sandhi; (2.)
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pada‐patha, in which each word stands separate and independent; (3.) Krama‐patha, in which each
word is given twice, first joined with the word preceding and then with the word following.
Patroclus Gk. The son of Menoetius, grandson of Actor, King of Opus, and was Achilles' beloved comrade and
brother‐in‐arms; accidentally killed his friend, Clysonymus, during an argument over a game of dice. His
father fled with Patroclus into exile to evade revenge, and they took shelter at the palace of their
kinsman King Peleus of Phthia. There Patroclus apparently first met Peleus' son Achilles. Peleus sent the
boys to live in the wilderness and be raised by Chiron, the cave‐dwelling wise King of the Centaurs.
Pattana In. 'City;' several great places have been known as Pattan or 'the city.' Soma‐natha was Pattan;
Anhalwara is still known as Pattan, and there is also Patna.
Paulomas In. Kasyapa by his wife Puloma had many thousand "distinguished Danavas called Paulomas, who
were powerful, ferocious, and cruel." They were killed by Arjuna.
Paundra, Paundraka In. Belonging to the country of Pundra; the conch‐shell of Bhishma.
Paundraka In. A pretender, who, on the strength of being a Vasudeva, or descendant of one named Vasu‐
deva, set himself up in opposition to Krishna, who was son of Vasu‐deva, and assumed his style and
insignia; he was supported by the king of Kasi (Benares), but he was defeated and killed by Krishna, and
Benares was burnt.
Pauravas In. descendants of Puru of the Lunar race; see Puru
Pausanias Gk. a Greek scholar who lived during the second century A.D.; well educated and well connected,
he traveled in Greece and Asia Minor and took in the local antiquities. Some historians believe that he
was also a doctor; he believed in the Greek mythology of the day, including creatures such as griffins,
giants and satyrs, but he made practical interpretations of organic remains, arguing that the skeletons
of supposed giants he encountered had belonged to mortals, not dieties.
Pavan In. a 'Wind;' the god of the wind; see vayu.
Pax Rom. Goddess of peace; her festivals are January 3 and 30 and July 4.
Peacock Gk. the bird of Hera, queen of the Gods; one myth told of Argus, Hera's hundred eyed giant whose
job it was to spy on Zeus and discover his trysting places. When he discovered Zeus with the maiden Io,
Zeus changed Io into a cow to escape Hera's wrath. Hera saw through the disguise and requested the
cow as a gift, and Zeus could not refuse her. She entrusted Argus to watch Io day and night so she could
not be changed back to her true form. Zeus then sent Hermes, messenger of the gods and god of
thieves and trickery, to recover Io. Knowing that he could not escape detection from Argus' 100 eyes,
Hermes began to play sleepy tunes on his flute and one by one Argus' eyes closed and he fell asleep.
Hermes then cut off his head. When Hera found Argus, she removed his one‐hundred eyes and placed
them on the tail of her favorite bird, the peacock.
Pegasus Gk. a winged divine horse, usually white in color; he was sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse‐god,
and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa; he was the brother of Chrysaor, born at a single birthing when his
mother was decapitated by Perseus. Greco‐Roman poets write about his ascent to heaven after his
birth and his obeisance to Zeus, king of the gods, who instructed him to bring lightning and thunder
from Olympus. Friend of the Muses, Pegasus is the creator of Hippocrene, the fountain on Mt. Helicon.
He was captured by the Greek hero Bellerophon near the fountain Peirene with the help of Athena and
Poseidon. Pegasus allows the hero to ride him to defeat a monster, the Chimera, before realizing many
191
other exploits. His rider, however, falls off his back trying to reach Mount Olympus. Zeus transformed
him into the constellation Pegasus and placed him in the sky.

Pegasus
Peitho Gk. the goddess who personifies persuasion and seduction; her Roman name is Suadela; attendant or
companion of Aphrodite, was intimately connected to the goddess of love and beauty; the daughter of
the Titans Tethys and Oceanus, which would make her an Oceanid and therefore sister of such notable
goddesses as Tyche, Doris, Metis, and Calypso.
Pelasgus Gk.The eponymous ancestor of the Pelasgians, the mythical inhabitants of Greece who established
the worship of the Dodonaean Zeus, Hephaestus, the Cabeiri, and other divinities. In the different parts
of the country once occupied by Pelasgians, there existed different traditions as to the origin and
connection of Pelasgus. The Ancient Greeks used to believe even he was the first man.
Peleus Gk. The son of king Aeacus of Aegina; he had to escape the island after killing his half brother Phocus
together with his other brother Telamon. The people of the island, the Myrmidons, came with him, and
he became the myrmidons' king in Thessaly; his wife was the Nereid Thetis, who he had captured after
holding her tight while she was tring to escape, transforming herself into fire, water and beasts. All the
gods were invited to their wedding except Eris, goddess of conflicts, and she punished them by
throwing a golden apple with the inscription "to the most beautiful" into the banquet. This led to an
argument between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite which as a consequence became the beginning of the
Trojan War. Peleus and Thetis had Achilles, and Peleus was to outlive both him and his grandson
Neoptolmenus; he was also one of the hunters of the Calydonian boar, and also one of the Argonauts.
Pelias Gk. King of Iolcus in Greek mythology, the son of Tyro and Poseidon; his wife is recorded as either
Anaxibia, daughter of Bias, or Phylomache, daughter of Amphion. He was the father of Acastus,
Pisidice, Alcestis, Pelopia, Hippothoe, Asteropia, and Antinoe; twin brother of Neleus; he killed Sidero;
he power‐hungry and he wished to gain dominion over all of Thessaly. To this end, he banished Neleus
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and Pheres, and locked Aeson in the dungeons in Lolcus. While in there, Aeson married and had several
children, most famously, Jason. Aeson sent Jason to Chiron the centaur, on Mount Pelium, to be
educated while Pelias, paranoid that he would be overthrown, was warned by an oracle to beware a
man wearing one sandal; hold the Olympics in honor of Poseidon when Jason, rushing to Lolcus (by the
modern city of Volos), lost one of his sandals in the flooded river Anaurus, while helping someone
cross. In Virgil's Aeneid, Hera had diguised herself as an old woman, whom Jason helped across the
river and then lost his sandal. When Jason entered Lolcus, he was announced as a man wearing one
sandal. Paranoid, Pelias asked him what he (Jason) would do if confronted with the man who would be
his downfall. Jason responded that he would send that man after the Golden Fleece. Pelias took that
advice and sent Jason to retrieve the Golden Fleece. Pelias thought the Argo had sunk, and this was
what he told Aeson and Promachus, who committed suicide by drinking poison or were both killed
directly by Pelias. While Jason searched for the Golden Fleece, Hera, who was still angry at Pelias,
conspired to make him fall in love with Medea, whom she hoped would kill Pelias. When Jason and
Medea returned, Pelias still refused to give up his throne. Medea conspired to have Pelias' own
daughters (Peliades) kill him. She told them she could turn an old ram into a young ram by cutting up
the old ram and boiling it. During the demonstration, a live, young ram jumped out of the pot. Excited,
the girls cut their father into pieces and threw them in a pot, in the expectation that he would emerge
rejuvenated. Pelias did not survive. Pelias' son Acastus later drove Jason and Medea to Corinth and so
reclaimed the kingdom.
Pelion Gk. the pass of Gods and heroes; it was hymned by the ancient Greeks for the thick vegetation and its
mystic beauty; is a mountain at the southeastern part of Thessaly in central Greece, forming a hook‐like
peninsula between the Pagasetic Gulf and the Aegean Sea; took its name from the mythical king Peleus,
father of Achilles was the homeland of Chiron the Centaur, tutor of many ancient Greek heroes, such as
Jason, Achilles, Theseus and Heracles. It was in Mount Pelion, near Chiron's cave, that the marriage of
Thetis and Peleus took place. The uninvited goddess Eris, to take revenge for having been kept outside
the party, brought a golden apple with the inscription "To the Fairest". The dispute that then arose
between the goddesses Hera, Aphrodite and Athene resulted in events leading to the Trojan War.
When the giants Otus and Ephialtes attempted to storm Olympus, they piled Mount Pelion upon Mount
Ossa.
Pelops Gk. King of Pisa in the Peloponnesus; he was the founder of the House of Atreus through his son of that
name; he was venerated at Olympia, where his cult developed into the founding myth of the Olympic
Games, the most important expression of unity, not only for the Peloponnesus, "island of Pelops", but
for all Hellenes. At the sanctuary at Olympia, chthonic night‐time libations were offered each time to
"dark‐faced" Pelops in his sacrificial pit (bothros) before they were offered in the following daylight to
the sky‐god Zeus;son of Tantalus and Dione or Euryanassa. Of Phrygian or Lydian birth, he departed his
homeland for Greece, and won the crown of Pisa (or Olympia) from King Oenomaus. Pelops was
credited with numerous children, begotten on his wife Hippodameia, daughter of Oenomaus. Pelops'
sons include Pittheus, Alcathous, Dias, Pleisthenes, Atreus, Thyestes, Copreus, and Hippalcimus. Pelops
and Hippodameia also had several daughters, some of whom married into the House of Perseus, such
as Astydameia (who married Alcaeus), Nicippe (who married Sthenelus), and Eurydice (who married
Electryon). By the nymph Axioche, Pelops was father of Chrysippus.
Penates Rom. Gods of the storeroom and the household.
Penelope Gk. the faithful wife of Odysseus, who keeps her suitors at bay in his long absence and is eventually
reunited with him; daughter of Icarius and his wife Periboea. She only has one son by Odysseus,
Telemachus, who was born just before Odysseus was called to fight in the Trojan War; she waited
twenty years for the final return of her husband,during which she has a hard time snubbing marriage
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proposals from 108 odious suitors (led by Antinous and including Agelaus, Amphinomus, Ctessippus,
Demoptolemus, Elatus, Euryades, Eurymachus and Peisandros).
Peneus Gk. a river god, one of the three‐thousand Rivers, a child of Oceanus and Tethys. The nymph Creusa
bore him one son, Hypseus, who was King of the Lapiths, and three daughters, Cyrene, Daphne, and
Stilbe.
Penthesilea Gk. An Amazonian queen, daughter of Ares and Otrera, and sister of Hippolyta, Antiope and
Melanippe. Quintus Smyrnaeus explains more fully than pseudo‐Apollodorus how Penthesilea came to
be at Troy: she had killed Hippolyta with a spear when they were hunting deer; this accident caused
Penthesilea so much grief that she wished only to die, but, as a warrior and an Amazon, she had to do
so honorably and in battle; she therefore was easily convinced to join in the Trojan War, fighting on the
side of Troy's defenders.
Pentheus Gk. A king of Thebes, son of the strongest of the Spartes, Echion, and of Agave, daughter of Cadmus,
the founder of Thebes, and the goddess Harmonia; king of Thebes, Cadmus, abdicated in favor of his
grandson, Pentheus, due to his old age. Pentheus soon banned the worship of the god Dionysus, who
was the son of his aunt Semele, and did not allow the women of Cadmeia to join in his rites. An angered
Dionysus caused Pentheus' mother and his aunts, Ino and Autonoë, along with all the other women of
Thebes, to rush to Mount Cithaeron in a Bacchic frenzy. Because of this, Pentheus imprisoned Dionysus,
but his chains fell off and the jail doors opened for him. Dionysus then lured Pentheus out to spy on the
Bacchic rites. The daughters of Cadmus saw him in a tree and thought him to be a wild animal.
Pentheus was pulled down and torn limb from limb by them (as part of a ritual known as the
sparagmos), causing them to be exiled from Thebes. Some say that his own mother tore his head off;
name "Pentheus", as Dionysus and Tiresias both point out, means "Man of Sorrows" and derives from
πένθος, pénthos, sorrow or grief, especially the grief caused by the death of a loved one; even his name
destines him for tragedy. Pentheus was succeeded by his uncle Polydorus.
Per Nefer Eg. a place where some of the purification and mummification rituals took place
Perdix Gk. Nephew and student of Daedalus; he invented the saw and the compass. Daedalus became jealous
of him; he is killed by Daedalus when the inventor lets him fall off a cliff; he died, and Athena gives
Daedelus the mark of a murderer.
Pergamos/Pergamus Gk. son of Pyrrhus and Andromache; in a contest for the kingdom of Teuthrania, he slew
its king Areius, and then named the town after himself Pergamus, and in it he erected a sanctuary of his
mother.
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Persephone Gk. the Queen of the Underworld, the korē (or young maiden), and a daughter of Demeter and
Zeus; Persephone had a
double function as a
cthonian and vegetation
goddess In the Olympian
version, she becomes the
consort of Hades when he
becomes the deity that
governs the underworld.
She is also the symbol of
vegetation which shoots
forth in spring and the
power of which withdraw
into the earth at other
seasons of the year. In the
myth when Hades
abducted her in the
underworld, her mother
Demeter caused a terrible
drought and Zeus allowed
her to return to her
mother, but she was
obliged to spend one
season in the underworld;
her central myth was the
context of the secret
initiatory mysteries rites in
the Eleusinian mysteries
where she was worshipped
alongside with her mother
Demeter. These mysteries
promised to the
participants a reward in the
future life.
Perseus Gk. The son of Zeus and Danaë; wife of Andromeda; the Greek hero who killed the Gorgon Medusa
Pet Eg. This is the sky depicted as a ceiling which drops at the ends, the same way the real sky seems to reach
for the horizon; This sign was often used in architectural motifs; the top of walls, and door frames; It
symbolizes the heavens.
Phaeacians Gk. One of a race of people inhabiting the island of Scheria visited by Odysseus on his way home
from the Trojan War
Phaedra Gk. Daughter of Pasiphaë and wife of Theseus who killed herself after accusing her stepson
Hippolytus of rape.
Phaedrus Gk. Son of Helios; killed when trying to drive his father's chariot and came too close to earth
195
Phalguna In. a name of Arjuna; name of a month
Phantasus Gk. One of the sons of Hypnos, god of sleep, who gives dreams of inanimate objects
Phaon Gk. a boatman of Mitylene in Lesbos; he was old and ugly when Aphrodite came to his boat. Phaon
ferried her over to Asia Minor and accepted no payment for doing so. In return, she gave him a box of
ointment. When he rubbed it on himself, he became young and beautiful. Many were captivated by his
beauty.
Pherae Gk. Ancient Greek town in southeastern Thessaly; in mythology, it was the home of King Admetus,
whose wife, Alcestis, Heracles went into Hades to rescue. In history, it was more famous as the home of
the fourth‐century B.C. tyrants Jason and Alexander of Pherae, who took control of much of Thessaly
before their defeat by the Thebans.
Phidias Gk. A Greek sculptor, painter and architect, who lived in the 5th century BC, and is commonly
regarded as one of the greatest of all sculptors of Classical Greece, Phidias' Statue of Zeus at Olympia
was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Phidias also designed the statues of the goddess
Athena on the Athenian Acropolis, namely the Athena Parthenos inside the Parthenon and the Athena
[2]
Promachos, a colossal bronze statue of Athena which stood between it and the Propylaea, a
monumental gateway that served as the entrance to the Acropolis in Athens. Phidias was the son of a

certain Charmides of Athens.
Philoctetes or Philocthetes Gk. the son of King Poeas of the city of Meliboea in Thessaly; when Heracles wore
the shirt of Nessus and built his funeral pyre, no one would light it for him except for Philoctetes or in
other versions his father Poeas. This gained him the favor of the newly deified Heracles. Because of
this, Philoctetes or Poeas is given Heracles' bow and poisoned arrows.
Philomela Gk. (princess of Athens), who in Greek myth was raped and had her tongue cut out by her brother‐
in‐law Philomela (mother of Patroclus)
Phineus Gk. Killed by Perseus; the son of Agenor, was a king of Thrace and a prophet. Because he prophesied
too truly, revealing too much of the gods' truth to humans, Zeus blinded him and set the Harpies to
plague him. Whenever Phineus sat down to eat, the Harpies would swoop down and steal the food;
what little food they left would be foul‐smelling and unpalatable. When Jason and the Argonauts
arrived in Phineus' land, they rid his household of the curse by having the winged Boreads pursue the
Harpies; the goddess Iris prevented the Boreads from killing the Harpies by promising that Phineus
would not be troubled again. In return for the Argonauts' help, Phineus foretold the results of their
quest, and revealed to them how they should get past the hazard of the Symplegades.
Phlegethon Gk. The river Phlegethon (English translation: "flaming") or Pyriphlegethon ( English translation:
"fire‐flaming") was one of the five rivers in the infernal regions of the underworld, along with the rivers
Styx, Lethe, Cocytus, and Acheron. Plato describes it as "a stream of fire, which coils round the earth
and flows into the depths of Tartarus." It was parallel to the river Styx. It is said that the goddess Styx
was in love with Phlegethon, but she was consumed by his flames and sent to Hades. Eventually when
Hades allowed her river to flow through, they reunited.
Phobos Gk. (Ancient Greek "Fear") the personification of horror in Greek mythology; he is the offspring of
Ares and Aphrodite. He was known for accompanying Ares into battle along with his brother, Deimos,
the goddess Enyo, and his father’s attendants. Timor is his Roman equivalent. Considering the accounts
in Greek mythology, Phobos is more of a personification of the fear brought by war and does not
appear as an actual character in any mythology.
196
Phoebe Gk. (“golden‐wreathed" in English), the feminine counterpart of the name Phoebus, was one of the
original Titans, who were one set of sons and daughters of Uranus and Gaia. She was traditionally
associated with the moon (see Selene), as in Michael Drayton's Endimion and Phœbe, (1595), the first
extended treatment of the Endymion myth in English. Her consort was her brother Coeus, with whom
she had two daughters, Leto, who bore Artemis and Apollo, and Asteria, a star‐goddess who bore an
only daughter Hecate.
Phoebus Gk. The Latin form of Greek Phoibos "Shining‐one"(also spelled Pheabus) a byname used in classical
mythology for either the god Apollo, or the god Helios, or the sun, generally.
Phol N. Saxon god of male fertility (aspect of Balder)
Pholus Gk. A wise Centaur killed indirectly through the actions of Herakles who lived in a cave on or near
Mount Pelion.
Phorcys(also Phorkys) Gk. A primordial sea god, generally cited (first in Hesiod) as the son of Pontus and Gaia.
According to the Orphic hymns, Phorcys, Cronus and Rhea were the eldest offspring of Oceanus and
Tethys. Classical scholar Karl Kerenyi conflated Phorcys with the similar sea gods Nereus and Proteus.
His wife was Ceto, and he is most notable in myth for fathering by Ceto a host of monstrous children
collectively known as the Phorcydes. In extant Hellenistic‐Roman mosaics, Phorcys was depicted as a
fish‐tailed merman with crab‐claw fore‐legs and red‐spiked skin.
Phrixus Gk. or Phryxus The son of Athamas, king of Boiotia, and Nephele (a goddess of clouds). His twin sister
Helle and he were hated by their stepmother; Ino hatched a devious plot to get rid of the twins,
roasting all of Boeotia's crop seeds so they would not grow.
Phrygia Gk. a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now modern‐day Turkey; the Phrygians
(Phruges or Phryges) initially lived in the southern Balkans; according to Herodotus, under the name of
Bryges (Briges), changing it to Phruges after their final migration to Anatolia, via the Hellespont.
Picus Rom. God of agriculture
Pieria Gk. one of the prefectures of Greece; it is located in the southern part of Macedonia, in the Periphery of
Central Macedonia. Its capital is the town of Katerini. Pieria is the smallest prefecture within
Macedonia. The name Pieria originates from the ancient tribe and the ancient country of Pieris.
Pierides Gk. The muses, a name derived from their place birthplace in Thessaly
Pierus Gk. Son of Thessalian Magnes and Meliboea, was the lover of muse Clio and father of Hyacinth and
Rhagus. Pierus was loved by muse Clio because Aphrodite had inspired her with the passion, as a
punishment for deriding the goddess' own love for Adonis.
Pierus Gk. the eponym of Pieria, son of Makednos and father by Antiope or Euippe of the Pierides, nine
maidens who wanted to outshine the Muses; they afterwards entered into a contest with the Muses,
and being conquered, they were transformed into birds called Colymbas, lyngx, Cenchris, Cissa, Chloris,
Acalanthis, Nessa, Pipo, and Dracontis. These names were taken from actual names of birds in ancient
Greek, such as the wryneck, hawk, jay, duck, goldfinch, and four others with no recognizable modern
equivalents. Pierus is sometimes said to be have been father of Linus or Oeagrus and therefore the
grandfather of Orpheus.
Pietas Rom. Goddess of piety
197
Pindar Gk. (Latin: Pindarus) (ca. 522–443 BC), An Ancient Greek lyric poet. Of the canonical nine lyric poets of
ancient Greece, Pindar is the one whose work is best preserved. Quintilian described him as "by far the
greatest of the nine lyric poets, in virtue of his inspired magnificence, the beauty of his thoughts and
figures, the rich exuberance of his language and matter, and his rolling flood of eloquence". The
Athenian comic playwright Eupolis is said to have remarked that the poems of Pindar "are already
reduced to silence by the disinclination of the multitude for elegant learning".
Pindar Gk. the first Greek poet whose works reflect extensively on the nature of poetry and on the poet's role
Pindaraka In. A watering‐place on the coast of Gujarat, near Dwaraka, resorted to occasionally by Krishna. It
still survives as a village, and is held in veneration. It is about twenty miles from the north‐west
extremity of the Peninsula.
Pingala In. the great authority on the Chhandas or Prosody of the Vedas; he is supposed to have written about
two centuries B.C. 2. Name of one of the serpent kings sometimes identified with the foregoing.
Pippalada In. a school of the Atharva‐veda, founded by a sage of that name
Pirene Gk. (fountain) in Corinth, a nymph in Greek mythology
Pirithous Gk. (also transliterated as Perithoos, Peirithoos or Peirithous) was the King of the Lapiths in Thessaly
and husband of Hippodamia, at whose wedding the famous Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs occurred. He
was a son of "heavenly" Dia, fathered either by Ixion or by Zeus. His best friend was Theseus. In Iliad I,
Nestor numbers Pirithous and Theseus "of heroic fame" among an earlier generation of heroes of his
youth, "the strongest men that Earth has bred, the strongest men against the strongest enemies, a
savage mountain‐dwelling tribe whom they utterly destroyed". No trace of such an oral tradition, which
Homer's listeners would have recognized in Nestor's allusion, survived in literary epic.
Pisacha‐Loka In. See Loka.
Pisachas In. (mas.), Pisachi (fem.); fiends, evil spirits, placed by the Vedas as lower than Rakshasas; the vilest
and most malignant (order of malevolent beings; accounts differ as to their origin. The Brahmana and
the Maha‐bharata say that they were created by Brahma, together with the Asuras and Rakshasas,
from the stray drops of water: which fell apart from the drops out of which gods, men, gandharvas, &c.,
had been produced. According to Manu they spring from the Prajapatis. In the puranas they are
represented as the offspring of Kasyapa by his wife Krodhavasa, or Pisacha, or Kapisa.
Pisitasinas, Pisitasins In. Carnivorous and cannibal imps descended from Nikasha.
Pita‐Maha In. a paternal grandfather; a name of Brahma as the great father of all
Pitambara In. 'Clothed in yellow garments;' a name of Vishnu.
Pitha‐Sthana In. ' seat or a place of a seat;' "Fifty‐ one places where, according to the Tantras, the limbs of Sati
fell when scattered by her husband Siva, as he bore her dead body about and tore it to pieces after she
had put an end to her existence at Daksha's sacrifice. This part of the legend seems to be an addition to
the original fable, made by the Tantras, as it is not in the Puranas(see Daksha.) It bears some analogy to
the Egyptian fable of Isis and Osiris. .At the Pitha‐sthanas, however, of Jwala‐mukhi, Vindhya‐ vasini,
Kali‐ghat, and others, temples are erected to the different forms of Devi or Sati, not to the phallic
emblem of Maha‐deva, which, if present, is there as an accessory, not as a principal; and the chief
object of worship is a figure of the goddess‐a circumstance in which there is an essential difference
between the temples of Durga and the shrines of Osiris."‐Wilson.
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Pitri‐Loka In. See Loka.
Pitri‐Pati In. 'The lord of the Manes;' Yama, judge of the dead
Pitris In. Patres, the fathers; the Manes; this name is applied to three different classes of beings: 1. The Manes
of departed forefathers, to whom pindas (balls of rice and flour) and water are offered at stated
periods. 2. The ten Prajapatis or mythical progenitors of the human race. 3. "According to a legend in
the Hari‐vansa and in the vayu purana, the first Pitris were the sons of the gods. The gods having
offended Brahma by neglecting to worship him, were cursed by him to become fools; but, upon their
repentance, he directed them to apply to their sons for instruction. Being taught accordingly the rites of
expiation and penance by their Sons, they addressed them as fathers; whence the Sons of the gods
were the first Pitris. "The account given of the Pitris is much the same in all the Puranas.”They agree in
distinguishing them into seven classes, three of which are without form, or composed of intellectual,
nonelementary substance, and assuming what forms they please; and four are corporeal. When the
puranas come to the enumeration of the particular classes, they somewhat differ, and the accounts in
all the works are singularly imperfect." The incorporeal Pitris, according to one enumeration, are the
Vairajas, Agnishwattas, and Barhishads. The first of these seem also to be called Subhaswaras,
Somasads, and Saumyas. The corporeal are the Sukalas or Su‐kalins, Angirasas, Su‐swadhas, and
Somapas. The Sukalas are also called Manasas; the Somapas are also called Ushmapas; the Angirasas
seem also to be called Havishmats, Havirbhujas, and Upahutas; and the Su‐swadhas are apparently the
same as the Ajyapas and Kavyas or Kavyas. The Vairajas are the Manes of great ascetics and anchorites,
the Agnishwattas are the Pitris of the gods, the Barhishads of demons, the Somapos of Brahmans, the
Havishmats of Kshatriyas, the Ajyapas of Vaisyas, and the Su‐kalins of the Sudras; but one authority, the
Hari‐vansa, makes the Somapas belong to the Sudras, and the Su‐kalins to the Brahmans, and there
appears to be good reason for this. Other names are given by Dr. F. Hall from various authorities
(Vishnu Purana, ai. 339): Rasmipas, Phenapas, Sudhavats, Girhapatyas, Ekasringas, Cha‐turvedas, and
Kalas. Besides these there are the Vyamas, ‘fumes,' the Pitris of the barbarians. The Rig‐veda and Manu
make two independent classes, the Agni‐dagdhas and the agni‐dagdhas, those ‘who when alive kept up
(or did not keep up) the household flame,' and presented (or did not present) oblations with fire. The
Vishnu purana makes the Barhishads identical with the former, and the Agnishwattas with the latter.
Yama, god of the dead, is king of the Pitris, and Swadha, ‘oblation,' is sometimes said to be their
mother, at others their wife. – Wilson, Vishnu Purana, ai. 157,339. See Manu, ai. 192.
Piyadasi See Asoka.
Pl n Greek myth; another name for the Muses; nine maidens of Thessaly, who were defeated in a singing
contest by the Muses and turned into magpies for their effrontery
Platform magic N. The magic circle is a feature of more southerly practices which does not appear in the
north. Instead there were three method of isolating the magician from the world around him‐ or
herself. One was the ox‐hide, which was marked with nine squares and stood or sat upon. A second
was the setting out of hurdles, or lengths of wood, to form a skeletal nine square arrangement, with
the center square being occupied. The third method was the platform, literally what it says, usually
supported by four posts and high enough of the ground for someone to get underneath, which
happened in at least one tale in which runes cut on the supports countered the ritual in progress above.
Pleiades Gk. is likely a Bronze Age artifact known as the Nebra sky disk, dated to approximately 1600 BC. Some
Greek astronomers considered them to be a distinct constellation, and they are mentioned by Hesiod,
and in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. They are also mentioned three times in the Bible (Job 9:9 and 38:31,
as well as Amos 5:8). The Pleiades (Krittika) are particularly revered in Hindu mythology as the six
199
mothers of the war god Skanda, who developed six faces, one for each of them. Some scholars of Islam
suggested that the Pleiades (Ats‐tsuraiya) are the Star in Najm which is mentioned in the Quran.
Pllakapya In. an ancient sage who wrote upon medicine, and is supposed to have been an incarnation of
Dhanwantari
Pluto Rom. god of the underworld
Poeas or Poias Gk. one of the Argonauts and a friend of Heracles; as
an Argonaut, Poeas is identified as the greatest archer of the
group. When facing the giant Talos, some accounts say
Medea drugged the bronze giant and Poeas shot an arrow to
poison him in his heel; Poeas was also the king of Meliboea in
Thessaly.
Poena (also Poine) Gk. the spirit of punishment and the attendant of
punishment to Nemesis, the goddess of divine retribution; the
Latin word poena, "pain, punishment, penalty", gave rise to
English words such as subpoena. The original root of the word
is from the Ancient Greek "poini" (ποινή), also meaning
penalty.
Poena Rom. Goddess of punishment
Pluto and Cerberus
Poetry N. Poetry was a powerful weapon in the northern magician's armory, and the majority of charms and
incantations were in verse. Two possible metres can be used for charms.The first, incantation metre, is
composed in the following manner. Lines one and three have four stresses, and are divined by a
caesura (a pause in a line of verse dictated by sense or natural speech rhythm rather than by metrics)
into two half‐lines with two stresses in each. The first stressed syllable of the second half‐line had to
alliterate with either or both of the stresses in the first half‐line. Lines two and four were not broken
and contained only two or three stressed syllables, not four. Line five would be the same as line four,
but with slight verbal variation in the content.The second form was chant metre. This varied from
incantation metre only that it did not use a fifth line.
Polybus Gk. He was the king of Corinth and husband of either Merope or Periboea. He raised Oedipus as his
adopted son, who had been abandoned by his parents Laius and Jocasta of Thebes in Greece. He was
the father of Alcinoe. The news of Polybus' death by natural causes was announced by a messenger to
Jocasta in Sophocles' Oedipus the King, in which it is (falsely) taken to mean that Oedipus did not kill his
father. This would mean that prophecy that Oedpius would murder his father and marry his mother
would be false. Since Polybus only adopted Oedipus and was not his actual father, Oedipus could and
did kill his father and fulfill the prophecy.
Polydectes Gk. the ruler of the island of Seriphos, son of Magnes and an unnamed naiad; Polydectes fell in
love with Danaë when she and her son Perseus were saved by his brother Dictys (see: Acrisius). Perseus
was very protective of his mother and wouldn't allow Polydectes near Danaë. Therefore, Polydectes
wanted to get rid of him so he could marry her. He thereby hatched a plot.
200
Polydeuces Gk. a figure in Greek mythology; he is also the twin brother of Castor and the son of Zeus and Leda
of Sparta, who was a mortal. He and Castor form the constellation Gemini. The twins were born from
eggs after Zeus visited Leda as a swan. Since one parent was mortal and the other immortal, Castor
became mortal whereas Polydeuces became immortal; was known as a boxer and won many Olympic
events. He was also one of Jason's Argonauts on Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece. During the quest,
Polydueces proved himself by killing an evil king and allowing the quest to continue.
Polydorus Gk. (son of Priam) a Trojan, and King Priam's youngest son during the Trojan War; he was sent with
gifts of jewelry and gold to the court of King Polymestor to be kept safe during the Trojan War. The
fighting was getting vicious and Priam was frightened for the child's safety. After Troy fell, Polymestor
threw Polydorus to his death to take the treasure for himself. Hecuba, Polydorus' mother, eventually
avenged her son. This story is depicted in Hecuba by Euripides.
Polydorus Gk. son of Cadmus and Harmonia, and father of Labdacus by his wife Nycteis, daughter of Nycteus
Polyhymnia Gk. ("the one of many hymns") was in Greek mythology the Muse of sacred poetry, sacred hymn
and eloquence as well as agriculture and pantomime. She is depicted as very serious, pensive and
meditative, and often holding a finger to her mouth, dressed in a long cloak and veil and resting her
elbow on a pillar. Polyhymnia is also sometimes accredited as being the Muse of geometry and
meditation.
Polyidus of Thessaly Gk. (also Polyides, Polydus) English translation: "well‐grounded", "wise")An ancient
Greek military engineer of Philip, who made improvements in the covered battering‐ram (testudo
arietaria, poliorceticus krios) during Philip's siege of Byzantium in 340 BC. His students were Diades of
Pella and Charias, who served in the campaigns of Alexander the Great. Polyidus was the inventor of
Helepolis.
Polykleitos Gk. (or Polyklitos, Polycleitus, Polyclitus) called the Elder, was a Greek sculptor in bronze of the
fifth and the early 4th century BC. Next to Phidias, Myron and Kresilas, he is considered the most
important sculptor of Classical antiquity: the 4th‐century catalogue attributed to Xenocrates (the
"Xenocratic catalogue"), which was Pliny's guide in matters of art, ranked him between Phidias and
Myron.
Polyneices Gk. the son of Oedipus and his wife/mother Jocasta, after Oedipus was banished from Thebes, he
and his brother Eteocles ruled the city jointly. Eventually, however, the two fell into a quarrel. Eteocles
banished his brother Polyneices, who went to Argos for help. There was then a battle between Thebes
and Argos. Before the war began, however, Polyneices learned that he would succeed if he had the
support of his father. Therefore, he attempted to gain the blessing of his father Oedipus, who was
living in Athens. Oedipus sternly refused his son.
Polyphemus Gk. The gigantic one‐eyed son of Poseidon and Thoosa in Greek mythology, one of the Cyclopes;
his name means "everywhere famous". Polyphemus plays a pivotal role in Homer's Odyssey: He was a
Cyclops (plural Cyclopes) in Greek meaning "round eye", a mythical semi‐human monster of huge
proportions, with a single eye at the centre of his forehead, usually described as a one‐eyed giant. The
island where they are thought to have dwelt is a remote part of Sicily, where they lived in caves and
eating raw flesh of any kind (including human), and also keeping goats and sheep. They led a fairly
solitary existence.
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Polyphemus
Polyphontes Gk. the son of Autophonus; in the Iliad, when the Argives attack Thebes in an attempt to regain
the throne for Polynices that his brother, Eteocles, holds, Tydeus, a leader of the Thebans, enters
Thebes as an embassy, and finding all the Theban leaders together challenges them to contests of
arms, all of which he wins. This angers Eteocles, who sends Polyphontes and Maion as leaders of a
group of fifty men who ambush Tydeus on his way back to his army. Tydeus slays all of these but
[1]
Maion, whom the gods advise him to spare. In Aeschylus' play Seven against Thebes, however,
Polyphontes is one of the seven Theban defenders who face the Argive champions at Thebes' gates. He

faces Capaneus at the Electran gates.
Polyxena Gk. The youngest daughter of King Priam of Troy and his queen, Hecuba; she is considered the
Trojan version of Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Polyxena is not in Homer's
Iliad, appearing in works by later poets, perhaps to add romance to Homer's austere tale.
Pomona Gk. the goddess of plenty in Roman mythology, her name comes from the Latin word, pomum,
meaning "fruit." She scorned the love of Silvanus and Picus but married Vertumnus after he tricked her,
disguised as an old woman. Her high priest was called the flamen Pomonalis. The pruning knife was her
attribute; was a uniquely Roman goddess, unusual in that she was never identified with any Greek
counterpart. She was particularly associated with the blossoming of trees rather than with the harvest.
Pomona Rom. Goddess of fruit trees and orchards
Pontus (or Pontos , English translation: "sea") Gk. an ancient, pre‐Olympian sea‐god, one of the protogenoi,
the "first‐born"; Pontus was the son of Gaia, the Earth: Hesiod says that Gaia brought forth Pontus out
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of herself, without coupling. For Hesiod, Pontus seems little more than a personification of the sea, ho
[2]
pontos, "the Road", by which Hellenes signified the Mediterranean Sea. With Gaia, he was the father
of Nereus (the Old Man of the Sea),
Porphyrion Gk. a giant, one of the sons of Uranus and Gaia; after the Olympian gods imprisoned the Titans in
Tartarus, Porphyrion was one of twenty‐four anguipede giants who made war on Olympus.During the
Giant's revolt on Olympus, Porphyrion attempted to strangle Hera. An arrow from the bow of Eros
inspired Porphyrion with lust for Hera, and he tore her robes and would have forced her, but an
enraged Zeus shot him with a thunderbolt. The giant sprang back up from this attack, but Hercules
mortally wounded him with an arrow.
Portunes Rom. God of ports and harbors; He is the guardian of storehouses and locked doors; the Portunalia
were observed on August 17
Porus Rom. God of plenty
Poseidon Gk. (Latin: Neptūnus; Roman name

Neptune) the god of the sea,
earthquakes and horses and, "Earth‐
Shaker," of earthquakes; although he
was officially one of the supreme gods
of Mount Olympus, he spent most of his
time in his watery domain; Poseidon
was brother to Zeus and Hades. These
three gods divided up creation. Zeus
was ruler of the sky, Hades had
dominion of the Underworld and
Poseidon was given all water, both fresh
and salt.
Postverta Rom. Goddess of the past
Potina Rom. Goddess of children's drinks
Prabhasa In. a place of pilgrimage on the coast
of Gujarat near to Dwaraka, and also
near to the temple of Soma‐natha.
Prabhavatl In. wife of Pradyumna
Prachanda‐Pandava In. 'The incensed

Pandavas;' a drama in two acts by Raja
Sekhara, the main incident in which is
the outrage of Draupadi by the
assembled Kaurava princes
PRACHETAS In. One of the Prajapatis; An ancient sage and lawgiver; the ten Prachetasas were sons of
Prachina‐barhis and great‐grandsons of Prithu, and, according to the Vishnu purana, they passed ten
thousand years in the great ocean, deep in meditation upon Vishnu, and obtained from him the boon
of becoming the progenitors of mankind. They took to wife Marisha: daughter of Kandu, and Daksha
was their son. See Daksha.
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Prachyas In. The people of the east; those easts of the Ganges; the Prasa of the Greeks
Pradhana In. Matter; primary matter, or nature as opposed to spirit
Pradyumna In. a son of Krishna by Rukmini. When a child only six days old, he was stolen by the demon
Sambara and thrown into the ocean. There he was swallowed by a fish, which was afterwards caught
and carried to the house of Sambara. When the fish was opened, a beautiful child was discovered, and
Maya‐devi or Maya‐vati, the mistress of Sambara's household, took him under her care. The sage
Narada informed her who the child was, and she reared him carefully. When he grew up she fell in love
with him, and informed him who he was .and how he had been carried off by Sambara. He defied the
demon to battle, and after a long conflict slew him. Then he flew through the air with Mayavati, and
alighted in the inner apartments of his father's palace. Krishna presented him to his mother Rukmini
"with the virtuous Mayavati his wife," declaring her really to be the goddess Ratio Pradyumna also
married Kakudmati, the daughter of Rukmin, and had by her a son named Aniruddha. Pradyumna was
killed at Dwaraka: in the presence of his father during a drunken brawl Though Pradyumna passed as
the son of Krishna, he was, according to the legend, a revival or resuscitation of Kama, the god of love,
who was reduced to ashes by the fiery glance of Siva, and so the name Pradyumna is used for Kama(see
Kama.) The Vishnu Purana puts the following words into the mouth of Narada when he presented
Pradyumna to Rukmini: “When Manmatha (the deity of love) had perished, the goddess of beauty
(Rati), desirous to secure his revival, assumed a delusive form, and by her charms fascinated the demon
Sambara, and exhibited herself to him in various illusory enjoyments. This son is the descended Kama;
and this is (the goddess) Rati, his wife. There is no occasion for any uncertainty; this is thy daughter‐in‐
law." In the Hari‐vansa he has a wife named Prabhavati, daughter of King Vajra‐nabha. When he went
to see her for the first time, he changed himself into a bee and lived in a garland of flowers, which had
been prepared for her. According to the Maha‐bharata, he was Sanat‐kumara, the son of Brahma.
Pradyumna‐Vijaya In. ‘Pradyumna victorious;' a drama in seven acts upon the victory of Pradyumna over the
Daitya Vajra‐nabha, written by Sankara Dikshita about the middle of the last century. “The play is the
work of a Pandit, not of a poet.”‐Wilson.
Praenomen Eg. This is a king's first cartouche name, which he adopted on his accession; also called the
"throne name;" It consists of a statement about the god Ra
Pragjyotisha In. A city situated in the east, in Kama‐rupa on the borders of Assam. See Naraka.
Prahlada, Prahrada In. A Daitya, son of Hiranya‐ kasipu and father of Ba1i Hiranya‐kasipu, in his wars with the
gods, had wrested the sovereignty of heaven from Indra and dwelt there in luxury. His son Prahlada,
while yet a boy, became an ardent devotee of Vishnu, which so enraged his father that he ordered the
boy to be killed; but not the weapons of the Daityas, the fangs of the serpents, the tusks of the celestial
elephants, nor the flames of fire took any effect, and his rather was constrained to send him back to his
preceptor, where l1e continued so earnest in performing and promoting the worship of Vishnu that he
eventually obtained final exemption from existence. According to some accounts, it was to avenge
Prahlada, as well as to vindicate his own insulted majesty, that Vishnu became incarnate as the Nara‐
sinha. ‘man‐lion,' and slew Hiranya‐kasipu. After the death of his father, Prahlada became king of the
Daityas and dwelt in Patala; but, according to the Padma Purana, he was raised to the rank of Indra for
life, and finally united with Vishnu. The Padma Purana carries the story farther back to previous birth. In
this previous existence Prahlada was a Brahman named Soma‐sarman, fifth son of Siva‐sarman. His four
brothers died and obtained union with Vishnu, and he desired to follow them. To accomplish this he
engaged in profound meditation, but he allowed him to be disturbed by an alarm of the Daityas, and so
was born again as one of them. He took the part of his race in the war between them and the gods, and
was killed by the discus of Vishnu, after that he was again born as son of Hiranya‐kasipu.
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Praj3odha‐Chandrodaya In. 'The rise of the moon of knowledge;' a philosophical drama by Krishna Misra,
who is supposed to have lived about the twelfth century; it has been translated into English by Dr.
Taylor, and into German by Rosenkranz and by Hirzel.
Praja‐Pati In. 'Lord of creatures,' a progenitor, creator. In the Veda the term is applied to Indra, Savitri, Soma,
Hiranya‐garbha, and other deities. In Manu the term is applied to Brahma as the active creator and
supporter of the universe; so Brahma is the Prajapati. It is also given to Manu Swayam‐bhuva himself,
as the son of Brahma and as the secondary creator of the ten Rishis, or "mind‐born sons" of Brahma,
from whom mankind has descended. It is to these ten sages, as fath6IS of the human race, that the
name Prajapati most commonly is given. They are Marichi, Atri, Angiras, and Pulastya. Pulaha, Kratu,
Vasishtha, Prachetas or Daksha, Bhrigu, and sarada. According to some authorities the Praja‐patis are
only seven in number, being identical with the seven great Rishis. (See Rishi) The number and names of
the praja‐patis vary in different authorities: the Maha‐bharata makes twenty‐one.
Prakasas In. Messengers of Vishnu, also called Vishnu‐dutas.
Prakrita In. The Prakrits are provincial dialects of the Sanskrit, exhibiting more or less deterioration from the
original language; and they occupy an intermediate position between that language and the modern
vernaculars of India, very similar to that of; the Romance languages between the Latin and the modern
languages of Europe. They resemble the European languages also in another respect: they have in them
a small proportion of words, which have not been affiliated on the original classical language, and are
apparently remnants of a different tongue and an older race. The Prakrits are chiefly known from the
dramas in which kings and Brahmans speak Sanskrit, while characters of inferior position speak in
different prakrits. Sometimes these Prakrit passages are so very debased that it hardly seems possible
for them to be specimens of really spoken vernaculars. Such passages may perhaps be comic
exaggerations of provincial peculiarities. The Prakrits have received careful study, and the Prakrita‐
prakasa, a Grammar by Vararuchi, translated by Professor Cowell, was probably written about the
beginning of the Christian era. See Katyayana.
Prakriti In. Nature; matter as opposed to spirit. The personified will of the Supreme in the creation, and the
prototype of the female sex, identified with Maya or illusion; the Sakti or female energy of any deity.
Pralamba In. An Asura killed by Krishna, according to the Maha‐bharata. His story as told in the Vishnu purana
is, that he was an Asura and a dependant of Kansa. With the object of devouring the boys Krishna and
Bala‐rama, he joined them and their playmates in jumping. Pralamba was beaten by his opponent Bala‐
rama, and by the rules of the game had to carry the victor back on his shoulders to the starting‐place.
He took up Bala‐rama and then expanded his form, and was making off with his rider when Bala‐rama
called upon Krishna for assistance. Krishna made a long speech, and ended by telling him to suspend
awhile his mortal character and do what was right. Bala‐rama laughed, squeezed Pralamba with his
knees, and beat him on the head with his fists till his eyes were knocked out and his brain forced
through his skull, so that he fell to the ground and expired.
Pralaya In. dissolution of the world at the end of a kalpa
Pramathas In. a class of demi‐gods or fiends attendant upon Siva
Pramlocha In. A celestial nymph sent by Indra to beguile the sage Kandu from his devotion and austerities.
She lived with him for some hundreds of years, which were but as a day to the sage. When he awoke
from his delusion he drove the nymph from his presence. The child with whom she was pregnant by
him came forth from her body in drops of perspiration, which she left upon the leaves of the trees.
These drops congealed and became eventually the lovely nymph Marisha (q.v.).
205
Prana In. 'Breath or life;' in the Atharva‐veda it is personified and a hymn is addressed to it.
Prasanna‐Raghava In. a drama by Jaya‐deva in seven acts; it has been printed at Benares.
Prasena In. son of Nighna and brother of Satra‐jit or Sattra‐jita; he was killed by a lion. See Syamantaka.
Prasna In. name of an Upanishad
Prasuti In. a daughter of Manu and wife of Daksha
Pratardana In. son of Divodisa, king of Kasi; the whole family of Divodasa was slain by a king named Vita‐
havya. The afflicted monarch through a sacrifice performed by Bhrigu obtained a son, Pratardana, who
became a mighty warrior, and avenged the family wrongs upon his father’s foe. Vita‐havya then flew to
the sage Bhrigu for protection, and was by him raised to the dignity of a Brahmarshi.
Pratisakhyas In. Treatises on the phonetic laws of the language of the Vedas, dealing with the euphonic
combination of letters and the peculiarities of their pronunciation as they prevailed in the different
Sakhas or Vedic schools. These treatises are very ancient, but they are considerably later than the
hymns, for the idiom of the hymns must have become obscure and obsolete before these treatises
were necessary. Four such treatises are known.
Prati‐Shthana In. An ancient city, the capital of the early kings of the lunar race; “it was situated on the
eastern side of the confluence of the Ganges and Jumna," opposite to the modern Allahabad. The
capital of Salivahana on the Godavari, supposed to be the same as "Pattan" or "Pyetan."
Praudha‐Brahmana In. one of the eight Brahmanas of the Sama‐veda; it contains twenty‐five sections, and is
therefore also called Pancha‐vinsa.
Prayaga In. the modern Allahabad; the place where the Ganges, Jumna, and the fabled subterranean Sarasvati
unite, called also Tri‐veni, ‘the triple braid.' It has always been a celebrated place of pilgrimage.
Preta In. a ghost; an evil spirit animating a dead carcase, and haunting cemeteries and other places
Priam Gk. the king of Troy during the Trojan War and youngest son of Laomedon; modern scholars derive his
name from the Luwian compound Priimuua, which means "exceptionally courageous".
Priapos Gk. (Latinized as Priapus), a minor rustic fertility god, protector of livestock, fruit plants, gardens and
male genitalia. Priapus was best noted for his large, permanent erection, which gave rise to the medical
term priapism; was described as the son of Aphrodite by Dionysus, perhaps as father or son of Hermes,
son of Zeus or Pan, depending on the source.
Priapus Gk. described as the son of Aphrodite by Dionysus, perhaps as father or son of Hermes; son of Zeus or

Pan, depending on the source.
Priapus Rom. god of gardens, viniculture, sailors and fishermen
Primestave N. Wooden almanac with day, month, lunar and solar rotation and holy days engraved with runic
symbols. Also called a "Cog Alamac"
Primsigning N. An agreement to think about becoming a baptized Christian which Norsemen undertook in
order to trade with Christian communities. One could delay baptism for quite a while by use of the
primsigning.
206
Prishadhra In. A son of Manu Vaivaswata, who, according to the Hari‐vansa and the puranas, became a Sudra
because he killed the cow of his religious preceptor.
Prishata In. Drupada's father
Prisni In. In the Vedas and Puranas, the earth, the mother of the Maruts; the name is used in the Vedas also
for a cow. There were several females of this name, and one of them is said to have been a new birth of
Devaki.
Pritau In. a king of the solar race, a descendant of Ikshwaku; there are many Prithus. See Prithi.
Pritha In. A name of Kunti
Prithi, Prithu, Prithi‐Vainya In. Prithi or Prithi‐vainya, i.e., Prithi, son of Vena, is mentioned in the Rig‐veda,
and he is the declared Rishi or author of one of the hymns. The Atharva‐veda says, " She (Viraj)
ascended: she came to men. Men called her to them, saying, ‘Come, Iravati.' Manu Vaivaswata was her
calf, and the earth her vessel Prithi‐vainya milked her; he milked from her agriculture and grain. Men
subsist on agriculture and grain." The Satapatha Brahmana refers to Prithi as "first of men who was
installed as a king." These early allusions receive a consistent form in the puranas, and we have tile
following legend: ‐ Prithi was son of Vena, son of Anga He was called the first king, and from him the
earth received her name Prithivi. The Vishnu Purana says that the Rishis "inaugurated Vena monarch of
the earth," but he was wicked by nature and prohibited worship and sacrifice. Incensed at the decay of
religion, pious sages beat Vena to death with blades of holy grass in the absence of a king robbery and
anarchy arose, and the Munis, after consultation, proceeded to rub the thigh of the dead king in order
to produce a son. There came forth "a man like a charred log, with fiat face and extremely short." This
man became a Nishida, and with him came out the sins of ‐the departed king. The Brahmans then
rubbed the right arm of the corpse, "and from it sprang the majestic Prithu, Vena's son, resplendent in
body, glowing like the manifested Agni ... At his birth all creatures rejoiced, and through the birth of
this virtuous son Vena, delivered from the hell called Put, ascended to heaven." Prithu then became
invested with universal dominion; his subjects, who had suffered from famine, be‐sought him for the
edible plants, which the earth withheld; in anger he seized his bow to compel her to yield the usual
supply. She assumed the form of a cow and fled before him. Unable to escape, she implored him to
spare her, and promised to restore all the needed fruits if a calf were given to her, through which she
might be able to secrete milk. "He therefore, having made Swayam‐bhuva Manu the calf, milked the
earth, and received the milk into his own hand for the benefit of mankind. Thence preceded all kinds of
corn and vegetables upon which people subsist now and perpetually. By granting life to the earth Prithu
was as her father, and she thence derived the patronymic appellation Prithivi." This milking the earth
has been made the subject of much allegory and symbolism. The Matsya Purina specifies a variety of
milkers, gods, men, Nagas, Asuras, &c, in the follow style: ‐ "The Rishis milked the earth through
Brihaspati; their calf was Soma, the Vedas were the vessel, and the milk was devotion." Other Puranas
agree with only slight deviations. "These mystifications," says Wilson, "are all, probably, subsequent
modifications of the original simple allegory which typified the earth as a cow, who yielded to every
class of beings the milk they desired, or the object of their wishes."
Prithvi In. 'The broad;' the earth or wide world; in the Vedas the earth is personified as the mother of all
beings, and is invoked together with the sky. According to the Vedas there are three earths
corresponding to the three heavens, and our earth is called Bhumi. Another name of the earth is Urvi,
‘wide.’ In the Vishnu Purina she is represented as receiving her name from a mythical person named
Prithu, who granted her life, and so was to her as a father. See above, Prithi or Prithu
Priya‐Darsi In. See Asoka.
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Priyam‐Vada In. a Vidya‐dhara, son of the king of the Gandharvas
Priya‐Vrata In. one of the two sons of Brahma and Sata‐rupa; or, according to other statements, a son of
Manu Swayam‐bhuva. "Priya‐vrata being dissatisfied that only hall the earth was illuminated at one
time by the solar rays, followed the sun seven times round the earth in his own flaming car of equal
velocity, like another celestial orb, resolved to turn night into day."' He was stopped by Brahma. "The
ruts which were formed by the motion of his chariot wheels were the seven oceans. In this way the
seven continents of the earth were made." ‐Bhagavata Purana. In the Vishnu Purana his wife is stated
to be Kamya, daughter of Kardama, by whom he had ten sons and two daughters. Three of the sons
adopted a religious life, and Priya‐vrata divided the seven continents among the others.
Procne Gk. (Or Prokne) Sister to Philomela; wife of Tereus, and mother of Itys
Procris Gk. the daughter of Erechtheus, king of Athens and his wife, Praxithea; she married Cephalus, the son
of Deioneus. Procris had at least two sisters, Creusa and Orithyia. Sophocles wrote a tragedy called
Procris which has been lost, as has a version contained in the Greek Cycle, but at least six different
accounts of her story still exist.
Procrustes Gk. or "the stretcher [who hammers out the metal]", also known as Prokoptas or Damastes
("subduer"); was a rogue smith and bandit from Attica who physically attacked people, stretching them,
or cutting off their legs so as to make them fit an iron bed's size. In general, when something is
Procrustean different lengths or sizes or properties are fitted to an arbitrary standard; the Greek myth,
Procrustes was a son of Poseidon with a stronghold on Mount Korydallos, on the sacred way between
Athens and Eleusis.
Proetus Gk. a mythical king of Argos and Tiryns; his father Abas, son of the last surviving and died Danaid, had
ruled over Argos and married Ocalea. However, Proetus quarreled continually with his twin brother
Acrisius, inventing shields or bucklers in the process. Proetus started out as king of Argos, and held the
throne for about seventeen years, but Acrisius defeated and exiled him and he fled to King Jobates or
Amphianax in Lycia, and married his daughter Antea or Stheneboea.
Prometheus Gk. (Ancient Greek: "forethought")Titan, the son of Iapetus and Themis, and brother to Atlas,
Epimetheus and Menoetius. He was a champion of mankind, known for his wily intelligence, which
stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals. Zeus then punished him for his crime by having him bound
to a rock while a great eagle ate his liver every day only to have it grow back to be eaten again the next
day. His myth has been treated by a number of ancient sources, in which Prometheus is credited with –
or blamed for – playing a pivotal role in the early history of mankind.
Pronaos Eg. A pillared room in front of the naos sanctuary of a temple; usually completely or half open in the
front; The location of this room varies with the design of the temple.
Prophet Eg. This translates as "God's Servant"; there was usually a ranking; the high priest of Amun at Thebes
was called "The First Prophet of Amun"; below him were the Second Prophet and so on; the head of the
local cults, was often called "Overseer of Prophets."
Propylon Eg. gateway that stands in front of a Pylon
Prorsa Postverta Rom. goddess of women in labor
Protesilaus Gk. (Ancient Greek: Πρωτεσίλαος, Protesilaos), A hero in the Iliad who was venerated at cult sites
in Thessaly and Thrace. Protesilaus was the son of Iphicles, a "lord of many sheep"; as grandson of the
eponymous Phylacos, he was the leader of the Phylaceans. Hyginus surmised that he was originally
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]
known as Iolaus, but was reeferrd to as Protesilaus after being the first (protos) to die at Troy;
Protesilaus was one of the suitors of Helen. He brought forty black ships with him to Troy, drawing his
men from flowering Pyrasus, coastal Antron and Pteleus, "deep in grass", in addition to his native
Phylace. Protesilaus was the first to land: "the first man who dared to leap ashore when the Greek fleet
touched the Troad, Pausanias recalled, quoting "the author of the epic called the Cypria"
Proteus Gk. An early sea‐god, one of several deities whom Homer calls the "Old Man of the Sea", whose name
suggests the "first" (from Greek ‐ protos, "first"), as protogonos (πρωτόγονος) is the "primordial" or the
"firstborn". He became the son of Poseidon in the Olympian theogony or of Nereus and Doris, or of
Oceanus and a Naiad, and was made the herdsman of Poseidon's seals, the great bull seal at the center
of the harem. He can foretell the future, but, in a mytheme familiar from several cultures, will change
his shape to avoid having to; he will answer only to someone who is capable of capturing him.
Providentia Rom. goddess of forethought
Proving N. Proving refers to both the runes being cut and the person doing the cutting. The concept of magical
initiation was as valid for a runemaster as for anyone else, and the knowledge imparted orally and in
practical demonstration would only have been communicated to the worthy, who would have to prove
their worth. And any single inscription, once cut, would need to be proven before it was known to be of
use to the runemaster, enabling it to be added to the corpus of knowledge that individual accumulated.
Psamathe Gk. a Nereid, the lover of Aeacus and mother of Phocus; in the tragedy Helen by Euripides, she was
married to king Proteus of Egypt; was the daughter of Crotopus, the King of Argos and mother of Linus
by Apollo. She feared her father and gave the infant Linus to shepherds to rise. He was torn apart by
dogs after reaching adulthood and Psamathe was killed by her father, for which Apollo sent a child‐
killing plague to Argos; Nereid goddess of sand beaches. Her name means "the Sand‐Goddess" from
psammos, sand and theia, goddess; was the wife of Proteus, the old seal‐herder of Poseidon. She bore
him a mortal son and a sea‐nymph daughter.
Pshent Eg. The Crown of upper and lower Egypt, the red crown and the white crown put together to represent
a unified Egypt; Although Egypt was not always a unified nation it was stronger that way; Therefore
unification was desirable; Narmer (Menes), the founder of the First Dynasty around 3100 B.C., was the
first man recorded wearing this crown.
Psyche Gk. the deification of the human soul; she was portrayed in ancient mosaics as a goddess with
butterfly wings (because psyche is also the Greek word for 'butterfly'). The Greek word psyche literally
means "spirit, breath, life or animating force".Psyche was originally the youngest daughter of the king
and queen of Sicily, and the most beautiful person on the island. Suitors flocked to ask for her hand.
She eventually boasted that she was more beautiful than Aphrodite (Venus) herself, and Aphrodite sent
Eros to transfix her with an arrow of desire, to make her fall in love with the nearest person or thing
available. But even Eros (Cupid) fell in love with her, and took her to a secret place, eventually marrying
her and having her made a goddess by Zeus (Jupiter).
Ptah Eg. He is a creator god; the patron of architects, artists and sculptors; It was Ptah who built the boats for
the souls of the dead to use in the afterlife.
Pudicitia Rom. goddess of modesty and chastity
Pulaha In. Name of one of the Praja‐patis and great Rishis His wife was Kshama, and he had three sons,
Kardama, Arva‐rivat, and Sahishnu; a Gandharva
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Pulastya In. one of the Praja‐patis or mind‐born sons of Brahma, and one of the great Rishis; he was the
medium through which some of the puranas were communicated to man. He received the Vishnu
Purana from Brahma and communicated it to Parasara, who made it known to mankind. He was father
of Visravas, the father of Kuvera and Ravana, and all the Rakshasas are supposed to have sprung from
him.
Pulindas.In. barbarians; barbarous tribes living in woods and mountains, especially in Central India; but there
were some in the north and on the Indus
Puloman In. a Danava and father of Sachi, wife of Indra; he was killed by Indra when he wished to curse that
deity for having ravished his daughter.
Pundarikaksha In. 'The lotus‐eyed;' a name of Vishnu
Pundra In. a country corresponding "to Bengal proper, with part of South Bihar and the Jungle Mahals;" a
fabulous city between the Hima‐vat and Hema‐kuta
Punya‐Sloka (mas.), Punva‐Sloka (fem.) In. ‘Hymned in holy verse;’ an appellation applied to Krishna, Yudhi‐
shthira, and Nala, also to Draupadi and Sati.
Purana In. 'Old,' hence an ancient legend or tale of olden times; the Puranas succeed the Itihasas or epic
poems, but at a considerable distance of time, and must be distinguished from them. The epics treat of
the legendary actions of heroes as mortal men, the Puranas celebrate the powers and works of positive
gods, and represent a later and more extravagant development of Hinduism, of which they are in fact
the Scriptures. The definition of a Purana by Amara Sinha, an ancient Sanskrit lexicographer, is a work"
which has five distinguishing topics: (1) The creation of the universe; (2) Its destruction and renovation;
(3) The genealogy of gods and patriarchs; (4) The reigns of the Manus, forming the periods called
Manwantaras. (5) The history of the Solar and Lunar races of kings. "These are the Pancha‐lakshanas or
distinguishing marks, but no one of the puranas answers exactly to the description; some show a partial
conformity with it, others depart from it very widely. The Vishnu purana is the one, which best accords
with the title. Wilson says, "A very great portion of the contents of many is genuine and old. The
sectarial interpolation or embellishment is always sufficiently palpable to be set aside without injury to
the more authentic and primitive material; and the Puranas, although they belong especially to that
stage of the Hindu religion in which faith in some one divinity was the prevailing principle, are also a
valuable record of the form of Hindu belief which came next in order to that of the Vedas, which
grafted hero. Worship upon the simpler ritual of the latter, and which had been adopted, and was
extensively, perhaps universally, established in India at the time of the Greek invasion. " According to
the same authority, Pantheism " is one of their invariable characteristics," and underlies their whole
teaching, "although the particular divinity who is all things, from whom all things proceed, and to
whom all things return, is diversified according to their individual sectarian bias." The puranas are all
written in verse, and their invariable form is that of a dialogue between an exponent and an inquirer,
interspersed with the dialogues and observations of other individuals. Thus Pulastya received the
Vishnu Purana from Brahma; he made it known to Parasara, and Parasara narrated it to his disciple
Maitreya. The Puranas are eighteen in number, and in addition to these there are eighteen Upa
Puranas or subordinate works. The Puranas are classified in three categories, according to the
prevalence in them of the qualities of purity, gloom, and passion. Those in which the quality of Sattwa
or purity prevail are: (1) Vishnu, (2) Naradiya, (3) Bhagavata, (4) Garuda, (5) Padma, (6) Varaha
Puran‐Jaya In. 'City‐conqueror;' a prince of the solar race, son of Vikukshi His story, as told in the Vishnu
Purana, is that in the Treta age there was war between the gods and the Asuras, in which the former
were worsted. They had re‐ course to Vishnu for assistance, and he detcted them to obtain the aid of
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Puran‐jaya, into whose person he promised to infuse a portion of him. The prince complied with their
wishes, and asked that their chief, Indra, would assume the form of a bull and carry him, the prince,
upon his hump. This was done, and thus seated Puran‐jaya destroyed all the enemies of the gods. As he
rode on the hump he obtained the cognomen of Kakut‐stha. In explanation of his title Puran‐jaya, the
Bhagavata purana says that he took the city of the Daityas situated in the west.
Purochana In. The emissary of Dur‐yodhana who at‐ tempted to burn the Pandavas in their house and was
burnt in his own house by Bhima. See Maha‐bharata.
Puru In. the sixth king of the lunar race, youngest son of Yayati and Sarmishtha; he and his brother Yadu were
founders of two great branches of the lunar race. The descendants of Puru were called Pauravas, and of
this race came the Kauravas and Pandavas. Among the Yadavas or descendants of Yadu was Krishna.
See Yayati.
Purukutsa In. A son of Mandhatri, into whose person Vishnu entered for the purpose of destroying the
subterranean Gandharvas, called Mauneyas. He reigned on the banks of the Narmada, and that river
personified as one of the Nagas was his wife. By her he had a son, Trasadasyu. The Vishnu Purana is
said to have been narrated to him by "Daksha and other venerable sages."
Puru‐Ravas In. in the Vedas, a mythical personage connected with the sun and the dawn, and existing in the
middle region of the universe; according to the Rig‐veda he was son of Ila, and a beneficent pious
prince; but to Maha‐bharata says, "We have heard that Ila was both his mother and his father. The
parentage usually assigned to him is that he was son of Budha by Ila, daughter of Manu, and grandson
of the moon." Through his mother he received the city of pratishthana. (See Na) He is the hero of the
story and of the drama 01 Vikrama and Urvasi, or the "Hero and the Nymph." Puru‐ravas is the Vikrama
or hero, and Urvasi is an Apsaras who came down from Swarga through having incurred the
imprecation of Mitra and Varuna. On earth Puru‐ravas and she became enamoured of each other, and
she agreed to live with him upon certain conditions "I have two rams," said the nymph, "which I love as
children. They must be kept near my bed‐ side, and never suffered to be carried away. You must also
take care never to be seen by me undressed; and clarified butter alone must be my food." The
inhabitants of Swarga were anxious for the return of Urvasi, and knowing the compact made with Puru‐
ravas, the Gandharvas came by night and stole her rams. Puru‐ravas was undressed, and so at first
refrained from pursuing the robbers, but the cries of Urvasi impelled him to seize his sword and rush
after them. The Gandharvas then brought a vivid flash of lightning to the chamber which displayed the
person of Puru‐ravas So the charm was broken and Urvasi disappeared. Puru‐ravas wandered about
demented in search of her, and at length found her at Kuru‐kshetra bathing with four other nymphs of
heaven. She declared herself pregnant, and told him to come there again at the end of a year, when
she would deliver to him a son and remain with him for one night. Puru‐ravas, thus comforted,
returned to his capital. At the end of the year he went to the trysting‐place and received from Urvasi his
eldest son, Ayus. The annual interviews were repeated until she had borne him five more sons (Some
authorities increase the number to eight, and there is considerable variety in their names.) She then
told him that the Gandharvas had determined to grant him any boon he might desire. His desire was to
pass his life with Urvasi. The Gandharvas then brought him a vessel with fire and said, " Take this fire,
and, according to the precepts of the Vedas, divide it into three fires j then, fixing your mind upon the
idea of living with Urvasi, offer oblations, and you shall assuredly obtain your wishes. "He did not
immediately obey this command, but eventually he fulfilled it in an emblematic way, and "obtained a
seat in the sphere of the Gandharvas. and was no more separated from his love." Aa a son of Ila, his
metronymic is Aila. There is a hymn in the Rig‐veda, which contains an obscure conversation between
Pururavas and Urvasi. The above story is first told in the Satapat Brahmana, and afterwards reappears
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in the Puranas. The Bhagavata Purana says, "From Puru‐ravas came the triple Veda in the beginning of
the Treta (age)."
Purusha‐Narayana In. the original male; the divine creator Brahma
Purusha‐Sukta In. a hymn of the Rig‐veda in which the four castes are first mentioned; it is considered to be
one of the latest in date. See Muir's Texts, i. p. 7.
Purushottama In. Literally 'best of men;' but the word Purusha is here used in its mythic sense of soul of the
universe, and so the compound means the "supreme soul" It is a title of Vishnu, and asserts his right to
be considered the Supreme God. So the Hari‐vansa says, "Purushottama is whatever is declared to be
the highest, Purusha the sacrifice, and everything else which is known by the name of Purusha."
Purushottama ‐Kshetra In. the sacred territory round about the temple of Jagannatha in Orissa
Purva‐Mimansa In. a school of philosophy; see Darsana
Pushan In. A deity frequently mentioned in the Vedas, but he is not of a distinctly defined character. Many

hymns are addressed to him. The word comes from the root push, and the primary idea is that of
"nourisher" or Providence. So the Taittiriya Brahmana says, “When Prajapati formed living creatures
Pushan nourished them.” The account given in Bohtlingk and Roth’s Dictionary, and adopted by Dr.
Muir, is as follows: ‐ “Pushan is a protector and multiplier of cattle and of human possessions in
general. As a cowherd he carries an ox‐goad, and he is drawn by goats. In the character of a solar deity,
he beholds the entire universe, and is a guide on roads and journeys and to the other world. He is
called the lover of his sister Surya. He aids in the revolution of day and night and shares with Soma the
guardianship of living creatures. He is invoked along with the most various deities, but most frequently
with Indra and the Bhaga.” He is a patron of conjurors, especially of those who discover stolen goods,
and he is connected with the marriage ceremonial, being besought to take the bride’s hand and bless
her. (See Muir’s Texts, v. 171.) In the Nirukta, and in works of later date, Pushan is identified with the
sun. He is also called the brother of Indra, and is enumerated among the twelve Adityas. Pushan is
toothless, and feeds upon a kind of gruel, and the cooked oblations offered to him are of ground
materials, hence he is called Karambhad. The cause of his being toothless is variously explained.
According to the Taittiriya Sanhita, the deity Rudra, being excluded from a certain sacrifice, shot an
arrow at the offering and pierced it. A portion of this sacrifice was presented to Pushan, and it broke his
teeth. In the Maha‐bharata and in the Puranas the legend takes a more definite shape. “Rudra (Siva), of
dreadful power, ran up to the gods present at Daksha’s sacrifice, and in his rage knocked out the eyes
of Bhaga with a blow, and, incensed, assaulted Pushan with his foot, and knocked out his teeth as he
was eating the purodasa offering.” In the Puranas it is not Siva himself, but his manifestation the
Rudras, who disturbed the sacrifice of the gods and knocked Pushan’s teeth down his throat. Pushan is
called Aghrini, ‘splendid;’ Dasra, Dasma, and Dasma‐varchas, ‘of wonderful appearance or power,’ and
Kapardin (q.v.).
Pushkara In. A blue lotus; a celebrated tank about five miles from Ajmir; one of the seven Dwipas(See Dwipa);
the name of several persons. Of the brother of Nala to whom Nala lost his kingdom and all that he
possessed in gambling. Of a son of Bharata and nephew of Rama‐chandra, who reigned over the
Gandharas.
Pushkaravati In. a city of the Gandharas not far from the Indus; and the Pouse kielofati of Hiouen Thsang
Pushpa‐Danta In. 1. One of the chief attendants of Siva; he incurred his master’s displeasure by listening of his
private conversation with Parvati and talking of it afterwards. For this he was condemned to become a
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man, and so appeared in the form of the great grammarian Katyayana. 2. One of the guardian
elephants. See Loka‐pala.
Pushpaka In. a self‐moving aerial car of large dimensions, which contained within it a palace or city. Kuvera
obtained it by gift from Brahma, but it was carried off by Ravana, his half‐brother, and constantly used
by him. After Rama‐chandra had slain Ravana, he made use of this capacious car to convey himself and
Sita, with Lakshmana and all his allies, back to Ayodhya; after that he returned it to its owner, Kuvera. It
is also called Ratna‐varshuka, “that rains jewels.”
Pushpa‐Karandini In. a name of Ujjayini
Pushpa‐Mitra In. The first of the Sunga kings, who succeeded the Mauryas, and reigned at Patali‐putra. In his
time the grammarian Patanjali is supposed to have lived.
Pushpotkata In. a Rakshasi, the wife of Visravas and mother of Ravana and Kumbha‐karna.
Put In. a hell to which childless men are said to be condemned; “A name invented to explain the word putra,
son (hell‐saver); A female demon, daughter of Bali She attempted to kill the infant Krishna by suckling
him, but was herself sucked to death by the child.
Puta Rom. goddess of the pruning of vines and trees
Pygmalion Gk. is a legendary figure of Cyprus. Though Pygmalion is the Greek version of the Phoenician royal
name Pumayyaton, he is most familiar from Ovid's Metamorphoses, X, in which Pygmalion was a
sculptor who fell in love with a statue he had carved.Pygmalion was a Cypriot sculptor who carved a
woman out of ivory. According to Ovid, after seeing the Propoetides prostituting themselves (more
accurately, they denied the divinity of Venus and she thus ‘reduced’ them to prostitution), he was 'not
interested in women', but his statue was so fair and realistic that he fell in love with it. In the vertex,
Venus (Aphrodite)'s festival day came. For the festival, Pygmalion made offerings to Venus and made a
wish. "I sincerely wished the ivory sculpture will be changed to a real woman." However, he couldn’t
bring himself to express it. When he returned home, Cupid sent by Venus kissed the ivory sculpture on
the hand. At that time, it was changed to a beautiful woman. A ring was put on her finger. It was
Cupid’s ring which made love achieved. Venus granted his wish.
Pylades Gk. the son of King Strophius of Phocis and of Anaxibia; daughter of Atreus and sister of Agamemnon
and Menelaus; he is mostly known for his strong friendship or homosexual relationship with his cousin
Orestes, son of Agamemnon.
Pylon Eg. From the Greek word meaning "gate"; it is a monumental entrance wall of a temple; Pylons are the
largest and least essential parts of a temple that is usually built last; some temples have more than one
set, the temple at Karnak has 10 Pylons.
Pyramid texts Eg. Texts on the walls of the pyramids of the end of the 5th through 8th Dynasties
Pyramidion Eg. Capstone of a pyramid or the top of an obelisk; Sometimes called a benben stone or
primordial mound; The pyramidion was decorated and became a symbolic object that was the focal
point of the small brick pyramids of private tombs.
Pyrrhus Gk. King of Epirus and one of the most illustrious generals of antiquity; was born about 318 BC and
died in 272 BC; was left an orphan in childhood and was placed on the throne of his ancestors when
about twelve years of age, and reigned peacefully five years, when advantage was taken of his absence
to transfer the crown to his great‐uncle, Neoptolemus.
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Pythia Gk. Commonly known as the Oracle of Delphi; was the priestess at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi,
located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus; was widely credited for her prophecies inspired by Apollo
Python Gk. A huge serpent that was killed by the god Apollo at Delphi either because it would not let him
found his oracle, being accustomed itself to giving oracles, or because it had persecuted Apollo’s
mother, Leto, during her pregnancy.
Q
Quirinus Rom. Old Sabine god with mysterious origins; Became very important as a figure of the state; His
festival, the Quirinalia, was celebrated on February 17.
Quiritis Rom. goddess of motherhood
R
Ra Eg. From very early times Ra was a sun god; He took on many of the attributes and even the names of
other gods as Egyptian myths evolved; He is often pictured as a hawk or as a hawk headed man with a
solar disk encircled by a uraeus on his head; He is often pictured wearing the double crown of upper
and lower Egypt.
Radha In. wife of Adhiratha and foster‐mother of Karna; the favourite mistress and consort of Krishna while he
lived as Go‐pala among the cowherds in Vrinda‐vana; she was wife of Ayana‐ghosa, a cowherd.
Considered by some to be an incarnation of Lakshmi, and worshipped accordingly. Some have
discovered a mystical character in Radha, and consider her as the type of the human soul drawn to the
ineffable god, Krishna, or as that pure divine love to which the fickle lover returns.
Radheya In. a metronymic of Karna
Radhika In. a diminutive and endearing form of the name Radha
Radsvinn N. "Swift in Counsel". A Dwarf
Raga (mas.), Ragini (fem.) In. The Ragas are the musical modes or melodies personified, six or more in
number, and the Raginis are their consorts.
Raghava In. descendant of Raghu, a name of Rama
Raghava‐Pandaviya In. a modern poem by Kavi Raja, which is in high repute; it is an artificial work, which
exhibits extraordinary ingenuity in the employment of words. As its name implies, the poem celebrates
the actions of Raghava, i.e., Rama, the descendant of Raghu, and also those of the Pandava princes. It
thus recounts at once in the same words the story of the Ramayana and that of the Maha‐bharata; and
the composition is so managed that the words may be understood as applying either to Rama or the
Pandavas. It has been printed.
Raghava‐Vilasa In. a poem on the life of Rama by Viswa‐natha, the author of the Sahitya‐darpana
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Raghu In. a king of the solar race; according to the Raghu‐vansa, he was the son of Dilipa and great‐
grandfather of Rama, who from Raghu got the patronymic Raghava and the title Raghu‐pati, chief of
the race of Raghu. The authorities disagree as to the genealogy of Raghu, but all admit him to be an
ancestor of Rama.
Raghu‐Pati In. See Raghu.
Raghu‐Vansa In. ‘The race of Raghu;’ the name of a celebrated poem in nineteen cantos by Kali‐dasa on the
ancestry and life of Rama; it has been translated into Latin by Stenzler, and into English by Griffiths.
There are other translations and many editions of the text.
Ragnarök N. "Doom of the Gods". Presaged by several harsh winters in a row, it wills the end of the era. There
will be battles all over the world, with brother vs. brother. The wolf will swallow the sun, and the moon
will be caught by other wolf. Stars will disappear, mountains will fall, and trees will be uprooted. Fenrir‐
wolf will get free. There will be tidal waves as the Midgard Serpent goes ashore. Naglfar will be loosed
from its moorings and captured by Giant Hrym. The sky will open and sons of Muspell will come
through, with Surt riding in front amid fire. The Bifrost Bridge will collapse. All will meet in battle at
Vigrid field. Heimdall will blow Giallarhorn. Odin will battle and be killed by Fenri ‐wolf. Thor will fight
the Midgard Serpent, Freyr will battle Surt, and Tyr will fight Garm. Vidar will break the jaw of Fenrir
after it swallows Odin. Surt will burn entire world, and the earth will sink into the ocean. After
Ragnarok, Earth will rise out of sea, and crops will grow. Vidar and Vali will be alive and will dwell at
Idavoll. Modi ("Wrath") and Magni ("Might") will inherit Mjollnir. Baldr & Hod will return from Hel. Life
& Leifthrasir, two human survivors of Ragnarok, will repopulate world.
Rahu In. Rahu and Ketu are in astronomy the ascending and descending nodes. Rahu is the cause of eclipses,
and the term is used to designate the eclipse itself. He is also considered as one of the planets, as king
of meteors, and as guardian of the south‐west quarter. Mythologically Rahu is a Daitya who is supposed
to seize the sun and moon and swallow them, thus obscuring their rays and causing eclipses. He was
son of Vipra‐chitti and Sinhika, and is called by his metronymic Sainhikeya. He had four arms, and his
lower part ended in a tail. He was a great mischief‐maker, and when the gods had produced the Amrita
by churning the ocean, he assumed a disguise, and insinuating himself amongst them, drank some of it.
The sun and moon detected him and informed Vishnu, who cut off his head and two of his arms, but, as
he had secured immortality, his body was placed in the stellar sphere, the upper parts, represented by
a dragon’s head, being the ascending node, and the lower parts, represented by a dragon’s tail, being
Ketu the descending node. Rahu wreaks his vengeance on the sun and moon by occasionally
swallowing them. The Vishnu Purana says, “Eight black horses draw the dusky chariot of Rahu, and
once harnessed are attached to it for ever. On the Parvans (nodes, or lunar and solar eclipses) Rahu
directs his course from the sun to the moon, and back again from the moon to the sun. The eight
horses of the chariot of Ketu, swift as the wind, are of the dusky red colour of lac, or of the smoke of
burning straw.” Rahu is called Abhra‐pisacha, ‘the demon of the sky;’ Bharani‐bhu, ‘born from the
asterism Bharani;’ Graha, ‘the seizer;’ Kabandha, ‘the headless’; A sage who was the friend of
Bharadwaja he had two sons, Arvavasu and Paravasu. The latter, under the curse of Bharadwaja, killed
his father, mistaking him for an antelope, as he was walking about at night covered with an antelope’s
skin. Arvavasu retired into the forest to obtain by devotion a remission of his brother’s guilt. When he
returned, Paravasu charged him with the crime, and he again retired to his devotions. These so pleased
the gods that they drove away Paravasu and restored Raibhya to life. See Yava‐krita.
Rain‐God Gk. Zeus is the Lord of the Sky and the God of Rain
Raivat In. son of Reva or Revata; also called Kakudmin. He had a very lovely daughter named Revati, and not
deeming any mortal worthy of her, he went to Brahma to consult him. At the command of that god he
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bestowed her upon Balarama. He was king of Anarta, and built the city of Kusasthali or Dwaraka in
Gujarat, which he made his capital; One of the Manus (the fifth).
Raivata, Raivataka. In. the range that branches off from the western portion of the Vindhya towards the
north, extending nearly to the Jumna
Raja Sekhara In. a dramatist who was the author of the dramas Viddha‐Salabhanjika and Prachanda‐Pandava;
he was also the writer of Karpura‐Manjari, a drama entirely in Prakriti. Another play, Bala‐Ramayana, is
attributed to him. He appears to have been the minister of some Rajput, and to have lived about the
beginning of the twelfth century.
Raja‐Griha In. the capital of Magadha; its site is still traceable in the hills between Patna and Gaya
Rajanya In. a Vedic designation of the Kshatriya caste
Rajarshi (Raja‐rishi) In. A Rishi or saint of the regal caste.; A Kshatriya who, through pure and holy life on earth
has been raised as a saint or demigod to Indra’s heaven, as Viswa‐mitra, Puru‐ravas.
Raja‐Suya In. ‘A royal sacrifice.’ A great sacrifice performed at the installation of a king, religious in its nature
but political in its operation, because it implied that he who instituted the sacrifice was a supreme lord,
a king over kings, and his tributary princes were required to be present at the rite.
Raja‐Tarangini In. A Sanskrit metrical history of Kashmir by Kalhana Pandit. It commences with the days of
fable and comes down to the year 1027 A.D. The author probably lived about 1148 A.D. This is the only
known work in Sanskrit which deserves the name of a history. The text has been printed in Calcutta.
Troyer published the text with a French translation. Wilson and Lassen have analysed it, and Dr. Buhler
has lately reviewed the work in the Indian Antiquary.
Raji In. A son of Ayus and father of 500 sons of great Valour. In one of the chronic wars between the gods and
the Asuras it was declared by Brahma that the victory should be gained by that side which Raji joined.
The Asuras first sought him, and he undertook to aid them if they promised to make him their king on
their victory being secured. They declined. The heavenly hosts repaired to him and undertook to make
him their Indra. After the Asuras were defeated he became king of gods, and Indra paid him homage.
When he returned to his own city, he left Indra as his deputy in heaven. On Raji’s death Indra refused
to acknowledge the succession of his sons, and by the help of Brihaspati, who led them astray and
effected their ruin, Indra recovered his sovereignty.
Raka In. A Rakshasi, wife of Visravas and mother of Khara and Surpa‐nakha.
Rakshasa‐Loka In. See Loka.
Rakshasas In. Goblins or evil spirits. They are not all equally bad, but have been classified as of three sorts –
one as a set of beings like the Yakshas, another as a sort of Titans or enemies of the gods, and lastly, in
the common acceptation of the term, demons and fiends who haunt cemeteries, disturb sacrifices,
harass devout men, animate dead bodies, devour human beings, and vex and afflict mankind in all sorts
of ways. These last are the Rakshasas of whom Ravana was chief, and according to some authorities,
they are descended, like Ravana himself, from the sage Pulastya. According to other authorities, they
sprang from Brahma’s foot. The Vishnu Purana also makes them descendants of Kasyapa and Khasa, a
daughter of Daksha, through their son Rakshas; and the Ramayana states that when Brahma created
the waters, he formed certain beings to guard them who were called Rakshasas (from the root raksh, to
guard, but the derivation from this root may have suggested the explanation), and the Vishnu Purana
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gives a somewhat similar derivation. It is thought that the Raksas of the epic poems were the rude
barbarian races of India who were subdued by the Aryans.
When Hanuman entered the city of Lanka to reconnoitre in the form of a cat, he saw that “the
Rakshasas sleeping in the houses were of every shape and form. Some of them disgusted the eye, while
some were beautiful to look upon. Some had long arms and frightful shapes; some were very fat and
some were very lean: some were mere dwarfs and some were prodigiously tall. Some had only one eye
and others only one ear. Some had monstrous bellies, hanging breasts, long projecting teeth, and
crooked thighs’ whilst others were exceedingly beautiful to behold and clothed in great splendour.
Some had two legs, some three legs, and some four legs. Some had the heads of serpents, some the
heads of donkeys, some the heads of horses, and some the heads of elephants.” – (Ramayana). The
Rakshas have a great many epithets descriptive of their characters and actions. They are called
Anusaras, Asaras, and Hanushas, ‘killers or hurters;’ Ishti‐pachas, ‘stealers of offerings;’ Sandhya‐balas,
‘strong in twilight;’ Kashapatas, Naktancharas, Ratri‐charas, and Samani‐shadas, ‘night‐walkers;’ Nri‐
jagdhas or Nri‐chakshas, ‘cannibals;’ Palalas, Paladas, Palankashas, Kravyads, ‘carnivorous;’ Asra‐pas,
Asrik‐pas, Kauna‐pas, Kilala‐pas, and Rakta‐pas, ‘blood‐drinkers;’ Dandasukas, ‘biters;’ Praghasas,
‘gluttons;’ Malina‐mukhas, ‘black‐faced;’ Karburas, &c. But many of these epithets are not reserved
exclusively for Rakshasas.
Rakta‐Vija In. An Asura whose combat with the goddess Chamunda (Devi) is celebrated in the Devi‐
mahatmya. Each drop of his blood as it fell on the ground produced a new Asura, but Chamunda put an
end to this by drinking his blood and devouring his flesh.
Rama In. There are three Ramas: Parasu‐rama, Rama‐chandra, and Bala‐rama; but it is to the second of these
that the name is specially applied.
Rama, Rama‐Chandra In. Eldest son of Dasa‐ratha, a king of the Solar race, reigning at Ayodhya. This Rama is
the seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu, and made his appearance in the world at the end of the
Treta or second age. His story is briefly told in the Vana Parva of the Maha‐bharata, but it is given in full
length as the grand subject of the Ramayana. King Dasa‐ratha was childless, and performed the Aswa‐
medha sacrifice with scrupulous care, in the hope of obtaining offspring. His devotion was accepted by
the gods, and he received the promise of four sons. At this time the gods were in great terror and alarm
at the deeds and menaces of Ravana, the Rakshasa king of Lanka, who had obtained extraordinary
power, in virtue of severe penances and austere devotion to Brahma. In their terror the gods appealed
to Vishnu for deliverance, and he resolved to become manifest in the world with Dasa‐ratha as his
human father. Dasa‐ratha was performing a sacrifice when Vishnu appeared to him as a glorious being
from out of the sacrificial fire, and gave to him a pot of nectar for his wives to drink. Dasa‐ratha gave
half of the nectar to Kausalya, who brought forth Rama with a half of the divine essence, a quarter to
Kaikeyi, whose son Bharata was endowed with a quarter of the deity, and the fourth part to Su‐mitra,
who brought forth two sons, Lakshmana and Satru‐ghna, each having an eighth part of the divine
essence. The brothers were all attached to each other, but Lakshmana was more especially devoted to
Rama and Satru‐ghna to Bharata.
The two sons of Su‐mitra and the pairing off of the brothers have not passed without notice. The
version of the Ramayana given by Mr. Wheeler endeavours to account for these circumstances. It says
that Dasa‐ratha divided the divine nectar between his senior wives, Kausalya, and Kaikeyi, and that
when the younger, Su‐mitra, asked for some, Dasa‐ratha desired them to share their portions with her.
Each gave her half, so Sumitra received two quarters and gave birth to two sons: “from the quarter
which she received from Kausalya she gave birth to Lakshmana, who became the ever‐faithful friend of
Rama, and from the quarter she received from Kaikeyi she gave birth to Satru‐ghna, who became the
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ever‐faithful friend of Bharata.” This account is silent as to the superior divinity of Rama, and according
to it all four brothers must have been equals as manifestations of the deity.]
The four brothers grew up together at Ayodhya, but while they were yet striplings, the sage
Viswamitra sought the aid of Rama to protect him from the Rakshasas. Dasa‐ratha, though very
unwilling, was constrained to consent to the sage’s request. Rama and Lakshmana then went to the
hermitage of Viswamitra, and there Rama killed the female demon Taraka, but it required a good deal
of persuasion from the sage before he was induced to kill a female. Viswamitra supplied Rama with
celestial arms, and exercised a considerable influence over his actions. Viswamitra afterwards took
Rama and his brothers to Mithila to the court of Janaka king of Videha. This king and a lovely daughter
named Sita, whom he offered in marriage to any one who could bend the wonderful bow which had
once belonged to Siva. Rama not only bent the bow but also broke it, and thus won the hand of the
princess, who became a most virtuous and devoted wife. Rama’s three brothers also were married to a
sister and two cousins of Sita.
This breaking of the bow of Siva brought about a very curious incident, which is probably an
interpolation of a later date, introduced for a sectarian purpose. Parasu‐rama, the sixth incarnation of
Vishnu, the Brahman exterminator of the Kshatriyas, was still living upon earth. He was a follower of
Siva, and was offended at the breaking of that deity’s bow. Notwithstanding that he and Rama were
both incarnations of Vishnu, he challenged Rama to a trial of strength and was discomfited, but Rama
spared his life because he was a Brahman.Preparations were made at Ayodhya for the inauguration of
Rama as successor to the throne. Kaikeyi, the second wife of Dasa‐ratha, and mother of Bharata, was
her husband’s favourite. She was kind to Rama in childhood and youth, but she had a spiteful
humpbacked female slave named Manthara. This woman worked upon the maternal affection of her
mistress until she aroused a strong feeling of jealousy against Rama. Kaikeyi had a quarrel and a long
struggle with her husband, but he at length consented to install Bharata and to send Rama into exile for
fourteen years. Rama departed with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana, and travelling
southwards, he took up his abode at Chitra‐kuta, in the Dandaka forest, between the Yamuna and
Godavari. Soon after the departure of Rama, his father Dasa‐ratha died, and Bharata was called upon to
ascend the throne. He declined, and set out for the forest with an army to bring Rama back. When the
brothers met there was a long contention. Rama refused to return until the term of his father’s
sentence was completed, and Bharata declined to ascend the throne. At length it was arranged that
Bharata should return and act as his brother’s vicegerent. As a sign of Rama’s supremacy Bharata
carried back with him a pair of Rama’s shoes, and these were always brought out ceremoniously when
business had to be transacted. Rama passed ten years of his banishment moving from one hermitage to
another, and went at length to the hermitage of the sage Agastya, near the Vindhya mountains. This
holy man recommended Rama to take up his abode at Panchavati, on the river Godavari, and the party
accordingly proceeded thither. This district was infested with Rakshasas, and one of them named
Surpa‐naka, a sister of Ravana, saw Rama and fell in love with him. He repelled her advances, and in her
jealousy she attacked Sita. This so enraged Lakshmana that he cut off her ears and nose. She brought
her brothers Khara and Dushana with an army of Rakshasas to avenge her wrongs, but they were all
destroyed. Smarting under her mutilation and with spretoe injuria formoe, she repaired to her brother
Ravana, in Lanka, and inspired him by her description with a fierce passion for Sita. Ravana proceeded
to Rama’s residence in an aerial car, and his accomplice Maricha having lured Rama from home, Ravana
assumed the form of a religious mendicant and lulled sita’s apprehensions until he found an
opportunity to declare himself and carry her off by force to Lanka. Rama’s despair and rage at the loss
of his faithful wife were terrible. He and Lakshmana went in pursuit and tracked the ravisher. On their
way they killed Kabandha, a headless monster, whose disembodied spirit counselled Rama to seek the
aid of Su‐griva, king of the monkeys. The two brothers accordingly went on their way to Su‐griva, and
after overcoming some obstacles and assisting Su‐griva to recover Kishkindhya, his capital, from his
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usurping brother Balin, they entered into a firm alliance with him. Through this connection Rama got
the appellations of Kapi‐prabhu and Kapi‐ratha. He received not only the support of all the forces of Su‐
griva and his allies, but the active aid of Hanuman, son of the wind, minister and general of Su‐griva.
Hanuman’s extraordinary powers of leaping and flying enabled him to do all the work of
reconnoitering. By superhuman efforts their armies were transported to Ceylon by “Rama’s bridge,”
and after many fiercely contested battles the city of Lanka was taken, Ravana was killed and Sita
rescued. The recovery of his wife filled Rama with joy, but he was jealous of her honour, received her
coldly, and refused to take her back. She asserted her purity in touching and dignified language, and
determined to prove her innocence by the ordeal of fire. She entered the flames in the presence of
men and gods, and Agni, god of fire, led her forth and placed her in Rama’s arms unhurt. Rama then
returned, taking with him his chief allies to Ayodhya. Re‐united with his three brothers, he was
solemnly crowned and began a glorious reign, Lakshmana being associated with him in the
government. The sixth section of the Ramayana here concludes; the remainder of the story is told in
the Uttara‐kanda, a subsequent addition. The treatment which Sita received in captivity was better
than might have been expected at the hands of a Rakshasa. She had asserted and proved her purity,
and Rama believed her; but jealous thoughts would cross his sensitive mind, and when his subjects
blamed him for taking back his wife, he resolved, although she was pregnant, to send her to spend the
rest of her life at the hermitage of Valmiki. There she was delivered of her twin sons Kusa and Lava,
who bore upon their persons the marks of their high paternity. When they were about fifteen years old
they wandered accidentally to Ayodhya and were recognised by their father, who acknowledged them,
and recalled Sita to attest her innocence. She returned, and in a public assembly declared her purity,
and called upon the earth to verify her words. It did so. The ground opened and received “the daughter
of the furrow,” and Rama lost his beloved and only wife. Unable to endure life without her, he resolved
to follow, and the gods favoured his determination. Time appeared to him in the form of an ascetic and
told him that he must stay on earth or ascend to heaven and rule over the gods. Lakshmana with
devoted fraternal affection endeavoured to save his brother from what he deemed the baleful visit of
Time. He incurred a sentence of death for his interference, and was conveyed bodily to Indra’s heaven.
Rama with great state and ceremony went to the river Sarayu, and walking into the water was hailed by
Brahma’s voice of welcome from heaven, and entered “into the glory of Vishnu.”
The conclusion of the story is told in the version of the Ramayana used by Mr. Wheeler differs
materially. It represents that Sita remained in exile until her sons were fifteen or sixteen years of age.
Rama had resolved upon performing the Aswa‐medha sacrifice; the horse was turned loose, and Satru‐
ghna followed it with an army. Kusa and Lava took the horse and defeated and wounded Satru‐ghna.
Rama then sent Lakshmana to recover the horse, but he was defeated and left for dead. Next Bharata
was sent with Hanuman, but they were also defeated. Rama then sent out himself to repair his
reverses. When the father and sons came into each other’s presence, nature spoke out, and Rama
acknowledged his sons. Sita also, after receiving an admonition from Valmiki, agreed to forgive her
husband. They returned to Ayodhya. Rama performed the Aswa‐medha, and they passed the
remainder of their lives in peace and joy.
The incidents of the first six kandas of the Ramayana supply the plot of Bhava‐bhuti’s drama Maha‐
vira‐charita. The Uttara‐khanda is the basis of his Uttara‐rama‐charita. This describes Rama’s jealousy,
the banishment of Sita, and the birth of her sons; but the subsequent action is more human and
affecting than in the poem. Rama repents of his unjust treatment of his wife, and goes forth to seek
her. The course of his wanderings is depicted with great poetic beauty, and his meeting with his sons
and his reconciliation with Sita are described with exquisite pathos and tenderness. The drama closes
when “All conspires to make their happiness complete.”The worship of Rama still holds its ground,
particularly in Oude an Bihar, and he has numerous worshippers. “It is noteworthy,” says Professor
Williams, “that the Rama legends have always retained their purity, and, unlike those of Brahma,
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Krishna, Siva, and Durga, have never been mixed up with indecencies and licentiousness. In fact, the
worship of Rama has never degenerated to the same extent as that of some of these other deities.”
This is true; but it may be observed that Rama and his wife were pure; there was nothing in their
characters suggestive of license; and if “the husband of one wife” and the devoted and affectionate
wife had come to be associated with impure ideas, they must have lost all that gave them a title to
veneration. The name of Rama, as “Ram! Ram!’ is a common form of salutation.
Rama‐Giri In. ‘The hill of Rama.’ It stands a short distance north of Nagpur.
Rama‐Setu In. ‘Rama’s bridge,’ constructed for him by his general, Nala, son of Viswa‐karma, at the time of his
invasion of Ceylon. This name is given to the line of rocks in the channel between the continent and
Ceylon, called in maps “Adam’s bridge.”
Ramatapaniyopanishad In. An Upanishad of the Atharva‐veda, in which Rama is worshipped as the
supreme god and the sage Yajnawalkya in his glorifier. It has been printed and translated by Weber in
his Indische Studien, vol. ix.
Ramayana In. ‘The Adventures of Rama.’ The oldest of the Sanskrit epic poems, written by the sage Valmiki. It
is supposed to have been composed about five centuries B.C., and to have received its present form a
century or two later. The MSS. Of the Ramayana vary greatly. There are two well‐known distinct
recensions, the Northern and the Bengal. The Northern is the older and the purer; the additions and
alterations in that of Bengal are so numerous that it is not trustworthy, and has even been called
“spurious.” Later researches have shown that the variations in MSS. Found in different parts of India
are so diverse that the versions can hardly be classed in a certain number of different recensions.
Unfortunately the inferior edition is the one best known to Europeans. Carey and Marshman translated
two books of it, and Signor Gorresio has given an Italian translation of the whole. Schlegel published a
Latin translation of the first book of the Northern recension. The full texts of both these recensions
have been printed, and Mr. Wheeler has given an epitome of the whole work after the Bengal
recension. There is also a poetical version by Griffiths.
Besides the ancient Ramayana, there is another popular work of comparative modern times called
the Adhyatma Ramayana. The authorship of it is ascribed to Vyasa, but it is generally considered to be a
part of the Brahmanda Purana. It is a sort of spiritualised version of the poem, in which Rama is
depicted as a saviour and deliverer, as a god rather than a man. It is divided into seven books, which
bear the same names as those of the original poem, but it is not so long.
The Ramayana celebrates the life and exploits of Rama (Rama‐chandra), the loves of Rama and his
wife Sita, the rape of the latter by Ravana, the demon king of Ceylon, the war carried on by Rama and
his monkey allies against Ravana, ending in the destruction of the demon and the rescue of Sita, the
restoration of Rama to the throne of Ayodhya, his jealousy and banishment of Sita, her residence at the
hermitage of Valmiki, the birth of her twin sons Kusa and Lava, the father’s discovery and recognition of
his children, the recall of Sita, the attestation of her innocence, her death, Rama’s resolution to follow
her, and his translation to heaven.
The Ramayana is divided into seven kandas or sections, and contains about 50,000 lines. The last of
the seven sections is probably of later date than the rest of the work. ‐‐‐‐
1. Bala‐kanda The boyhood of Rama.
2. Ayodhya‐kanda The scenes at Ayodhya, and the banishment of Rama by his father, King
Dasa‐ratha.
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3. Aranya‐kanda ‘Forest section.’ Rama’s life in the forest, and the rape of Sita by Ravana.
4. Kishkindhya‐kanda Rama’s residence at Kishkindhya the capital of his monkey ally, King Su‐
griva.
5. Sundara‐kanda ‘Beautiful section.’ The marvellous passage of the straits by Rama and his
allies and their arrival in Ceylon.
6. Yuddha‐kanda ‘War section.’ The war with Ravana, his defeat and death, the recovery of
Sita, the return to Ayodhya and the coronation of Rama. This is sometimes called the Lanka to
Ceylon Kanda.
7. Uttara‐kanda ‘Later section.’ Rama’s life in Ayodhya, his banishment of Sita, the birth of his
two sons, his recognition of them and of the innocence of his wife, their reunion, her death,
and his translation to heaven.
The writer or the compilers of the Ramayana had a high estimate of its value, and it is
still held in very great veneration. A verse in the introduction says, “He who reads and repeats this
holy life‐giving Ramayana is liberated from all his sins and exalted with all his posterity to the
highest heaven;” and in the second chapter Brahma is made to say, “As long as the mountains and
rivers shall continue on the surface of the earth, so long shall the story of the Ramayana be current
in the world.”
Rambha In. An Apsaras or nymph produced at the churning of the ocean, and popularly the type of female
beauty. She was sent by Indra to seduce Viswamitra, but was cursed by that sage to become a stone,
and remain so for a thousand year. According to the Ramayana, she was seen by Ravana when he went
to Kailasa, and he was so smitten by her charms that he ravished her, although she told him that she
was the wife of Nala‐kuvara, son of his brother Kuvera.
Rameswara In. ‘Lord of Rama.’ Name of one of the twelve great Lingas set up, as is said, by Rama at
Rameswaram or Ramisseram, which is a celebrated place of pilgrimage, and contains a most
magnificent temple.
Rammaukinn N. One possessed by superhuman strength through the practice of the northern martial arts.
Ramopakhyana In. ‘The story of Rama,’ as told in the Vana‐parva of the Maha‐bharata. It relates many, but
far from all, of the incidents celebrated in the Ramayana; it makes no mention of Valmiki, the author of
that poem, and it represents Rama as a human being and a great hero, but not a deity.
Ran N. "The Ravager"; Vana‐Goddess; wife of Aegir; mother of the 9 undines or "daughers of the waves"; She
is the Sea Goddess and Goddess of death for those who perish at sea. She collects drowned people in
her net. She is unpredictable and malicious.
Rana‐neidda N. She brings spring renewal and grass for the reindeer.
Rándgrídr N. "Counsel of Peace" or "Shield of Peace". A Valkyrie who serves ale to the Einheriar in Valhalla
Rani N. The snout of a boar. See Svínfylking: Norse boar‐cult warriors who fought in wedge‐formation with
two champions, 'the rani' (snout) to the fore.
Rantideva In. A pious and benevolent king of the Lunar race, sixth in descent from Bharata. He is mentioned
in the Maha‐bharata and Puranas as being enormously rich, very religious, and charitable and profuse
in his sacrifices. The former authority says that he had 200,000 cooks, that he had 2000 head of cattle
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an as many other animals slaughtered daily for use in his kitchen, and that he fed innumerable beggars
daily with beef.
Ratatosk N. "Teeth That Find". The squirrel that lives in Yggdrasil; He runs up and down the trunk carrying
insults between the dragon Nidhogg and the eagle that dwells in the top branches.
Rati In. ‘Love, desire.’ The Venus of the Hindus, the goddess of sexual pleasures, wife of Kama the god of love,
and daughter of Daksha. She is also called Reva, Kami, Priti, Kama‐patni, ‘wife of Kama,’ Kama‐kala,
‘part of Kama;’ Kama‐priya, ‘beloved of Kama;’ Raga‐lata, ‘vine of love;’ Mayavati, ‘deceiver;’ Kelikila,
‘wanton;’ Subhangi, ‘fair‐limbed.’
Ratnavali In. ‘The necklace.’ A drama ascribed to a king of Kashmir named Sri Harsha Deva. The subject of the
play is the loves of Udayana or Vatsa, prince of Kausambi, and Vasava‐datta, princess of Ujjayini. It was
written between 1113 and 1125 A. D., and has been translated by Wilson. There are several editions of
the text.
Rauchya In. The thirteenth Manu. See Manu.
Raudra In. A descendant of Rudra. A name of Karttikeya, the god of war.
Ravana.In. The demon king of Lanka or Ceylon, from which he expelled his half‐brother Kuvera. He was son of
Visravas by his wife Nikasha, daughter of the Rakshasa Su‐mali. He was half‐brother of Kuvera, and
grandson of the Rishi Pulastya; and as Kuvera is king of the Yakshas, Ravana is king of the demons called
Rakshasas. Pulastya is said to be the pro genitor, not only of Ravana, but of the whole race of
Rakshasas. By penance and devotion to Brahma, Ravana was made invulnerable against gods and
demons, but he was doomed to die through a woman. He was also enabled to assume any form he
pleased. All Rakshasas are malignant and terrible, but Ravana as their chief attained the utmost degree
of wickedness, and was a very incarnation of evil He is described in the Ramayana as having "ten heads
(hence his names Dasanana, Dasa‐kantha, and Pankti‐griva), twenty arms, and copper‐coloured eyes,
and bright teeth like the young moon. His form was as a thick cloud or a mountain, or the god of death
with open mouth. He had all the marks of royalty, but his body bore the impress of wounds inflicted by
all the divine arms in his warfare with the gods. It was scarred by the thunderbolt of Indra, by the tusks
of Indra's elephant Airavata, and by the discus of Vishnu. His strength was so great that he could agitate
the seas and split the tops of mountains. He was a breaker of all laws and a ravisher of other men's
wives. ...Tall as a mountain peak, he stopped with his arms the sun and moon in their course, and
prevented their rising." The terror he inspires is such that where he is "the sun does not give out its
heat, the winds do not blow, and the ocean becomes motionless." His evil deeds cried aloud for
vengeance, and the cry reached hen Yen. Vishnu declared that, as Ravana had been too proud to seek
protection against men and beasts, he should fall under their attacks, so Vishnu became incarnate as
Rama‐chandra for the express purpose of destroying Ravana, and vast numbers of monkeys and bears
were created to aid in the enterprise. Rama's wars against the Rakshasas inflicted such losses upon
them as greatly to incense Ravana. Burning with rage, and excited by a passion for Sita, the wife of
Rama, he left his island abode, repaired to Rama's dwelling, assumed the appearance of a religious
mendicant, and carried off Sita to Lanka. Ravana urged Sita to become his wife, and threatened to kill
and eat her if she refused. Sita persistently resisted, and was saved from death by the interposition of
one of Ravana's wives. Rama called to his assistance his allies Su‐griva and Hanuman, with their hosts of
monkeys and bears. They built Rama's bridge, by which they passed over into Lanka, and after many
battles and wholesale slaughter Ravana was brought to bay at the city of Lanka. Rama and Ravana
fought together on equal terms for a long while, victory sometimes inclining to one sometimes to the
other. Rama with a sharp arrow cut off one of Ravana's heads, “but no sooner did the head fall on the
ground than another sprang up in its room.”Rama then took an arrow which had been made by
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Brahma, and discharged it at his foe. It entered his breast, came out of his back, went to the ocean, and
then returned clean to the quiver of Rama. "Ravana fell to the ground and expired, and the gods
Bounded celestial music in the heavens, and assembled in the sky and praised Rama as Vishnu, in that
he had slain that Ravana who would otherwise have caused their destruction." Ravana, though he was
chief among Rakshasas, was a Brahman on his father's side; he was well versed in Sanskrit, used the
Vedic ritual, and his body was burnt with Brahmanical rites. There is a story that Ravana made each of
the gods perform some menial office in his household: thus Agni was his cook, Varuna supplied water,
Kuvera furnished money, Vayu swept the house, &c. The Vishnu Purana relates that Ravana, "elevated
with wine, came on his tour of triumph to the city of Mahishmati, but there he was taken prisoner by
King Karta‐virya, and confined like a beast in a corner of his capital " The same authority states that, in
another birth, Ravana was Sisu‐pala. Ravana's chief wife was Mandodari, but he had many others, and
they were burnt at hip obsequies. His sons were Megha‐nada, also called Indra‐jit, Ravani, and Aksha;
Tri‐sikha or Tri‐siras, Devantaka, Narantaka and Atikaya. See Nandisa.
Ravi In. The Sun. See Surya.
Reading N. The part of a ritual in which a mythic‐poetic text is recited in order to place the gathering into a
mythic time/space, to engage in the mythic flow of timelessness; "Reading" the runes involves knowing
the runes and their correspondences, to ensure that what was being cut, be it for secular or magical
purposes, was appropriate. There is also a close correspondence to the modern sense of "psychic
reading", namely consulting for divination.
Rede N. Counsel, advice; the part of a ritual in which the purpose of the working is stated
Regin N. Dwarf Regin is the son of Hreidmar and brother to Otter and Fafni. He killed his father, and later the
dragon Fafnir, with the help of Sigurdr Fafnisbari and his sword Gram, to get the Nibelunggold.
Reginleif N. "Heritage of the Gods". A Valkyrie who serves ale to the Einheriar in Valhalla
Reginnaglar N. Sacred nails hammered into the main pillars of a wooden temple.
Renuka In. Daughter of King Prasenajit or Renu, wife of Jamad‐agni, and mother of Parasu‐rama. A sight of the
connubial endearments of King Chitra‐ratha and his wife inspired her with impure thoughts, and her
husband, perceiving that she had “fallen from perfection,” desired her sons to kill her. Ru‐manvat, Su‐
shena, and Vasu, the three seniors, declined, and their father cursed them so that they became idiots.
Parasu‐ rama, the fourth son, cut off her head, which act so gratified his father that Jamad‐agni
promised him whatever blessings he de‐ sired Among other things, Parasu‐rama asked that his mother
might be brought back to life in ignorance of her death and in perfect purity. He also desired that his
brothers might be restored to their senses. All this Jamad‐agni bestowed She was also called Konkana.
Reva In. The Narmada River.
Reva In. Wife of Karna; A name of Rati.
Revanta In. A son of Surya and Sanjna. Ire is chief of the Guhyakas, and is also called Haya‐vahana.
Revatl In. Daughter of King Raivata and wife of Bala‐rama. She was so beautiful that her father, thinking no
one upon earth worthy of her, repaired to the god Brahma to consult him about a husband Brahma
delivered a long discourse on the glories of Vishnu, and directed Raivata to proceed to Dwaraka, where
a portion of Vishnu was incarnate in the person of Bala‐rama. Ages had elapsed while Raivata was in
heaven without his knowledge. When he returned to earth, "he found the race of men dwindled in
stature, reduced in vigour, and enfeebled in intellect." He went to Bala‐rama and gave him Revati, but
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that hero, "beholding the damsel of excessively lofty height, he shortened her with the end of his
ploughshare, and she became his wife." She had two sons. Revati is said to have taken part with her
husband in his drinking bouts.
Reyn til Runa N. A Rune‐Gild slogan. It is an Old Norse way of saying something pretty close to "study runes
deeply". Rune‐Gild members often sign off with "RTR" or "Reyn til Runa."
Rhadamanthus Gk. A wise king, the son of Zeus and Europa and was raised by Asterion.; his brothers were
Sarpedon and Minos; he had two sons, Gortys and Erythrus; he was made one of the three judges of
the dead in the underworld after his death
Rhea Gk. The wife of Cronus who made it a practice to swallow their children.; She tricked Cronus into
swallowing a rock, saving her son Zeus.
Rhesus Gk. A Thracian king who fought on the side of Trojans in the Iliad; a son of king Eïoneus in Thrace, and
an ally of the Trojans in their war with the Greeks he possessed horses white as snow and swift as the
wind, which were carried off by night by Odysseus and Diomedes, the latter of whom murdered Rhesus
himself in his sleep; also described as a son Euterpe one of the muses and the river god Strymon, and
he was raised by fountain nymphs; was killed in his tent, and his famous steeds were stolen by
Diomedes and Odysseus
Rhoecus Gk. He attempted to rape Atalanta along with Hylaeus; he was killed by Atalanta with a single arrow
Rhoetus Gk. One of the giants who was slain by Bacchus; usually called Eurytus
Ribhu In. 'Clever, skilful.' An epithet used for Indra, Agni, and the Adityas. In the Puranic mythology, Ribhu is a
"Son of the Supreme Brahma, who, from his innate disposition, was of a holy character and acquainted
with true wisdom." His pupil was Nidagha, a son of Pulastya, and he took especial interest in his
instruction, returning to him after two intervals of a thousand years" to instruct him further in true
wisdom." The Vishnu Purana, "originally composed by the Rishi (Narayana), was communicated by
Brahma to Ribhu." He was one of the four Kumaras (q.v.)
Ribhukshan In. The first of the three Ribhus. In the plural, the three Ribhus.
Ribhus In. Three sons of Su‐dhanwan, a descendant of An‐giras, severally named Ribhu, Vibhu, and Vaja.
Through their assiduous performance of good works they obtained divinity, exercised superhuman
powers, and became entitled to receive praise and adoration. They are supposed to dwell in the solar
sphere, and there is an indistinct identification of them with the rays of the sun; but, whether typical or
not, they prove the admission, at an early date, of the doctrine that men might become divinities.‐
Wilson. They are celebrated in the Rig‐veda as skilful workmen, who fashioned Indra's chariot and
horses, and made their parents young again. By command of the gods, and with a promise of exaltation
to divine honours, they made a single new sacrificial cup into four. They are also spoken of as
supporters of the sky.
Richika In. A Rishi descended from Bhrigu and husband of Satyavati, son of Urva and father of Jamad‐agni.
(See Viswamitra.) In the Maha‐bharata and Vishnu Purana it is related that Richika was an old man
when he demanded in marriage Satyavati, the daughter of Gadhi, king of Kanya‐kubja. Unwilling to give
her to so old a man, Gadhi demanded of him 1000 white horses, each of them having one black ear.
Richika obtained these from the god Varuna, and so gained his wife. According to the Ramayana, he
sold his son Sunah‐sephas to be a sacrifice.
Riddhi In. 'Prosperity.' The wife of Kubera, god of wealth. The name is also used for Parvati, the wife of Siva.
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Rig N. "God of Society's Order". A by‐name of Heimdall
Rig‐Veda In. See Veda.
Rig‐veda One, which is considered to belong to the Sakhala‐sakha of this Veda, and is ascribed to Saunaka. It
has been edited and translated into German by Max Muller, and into French by M. Regnier.
Rig‐Vidhana In. Writings which treat of the mystic and magic efficacy of the recitation of hymns of the Rig‐
veda, or even of single verses. Some of them are attributed to Saunaka, but probably belong only to the
time of the Puranas. ‐ Weber.
Rime Giants N. Frost Jotuns from the first era after the creation of the world.
Rimfaxi, Hrimfaxi N. "Frosty Mane". Natt's horse which runs over the sky every day and dribbles the
morningdew in the grass
Rimkalk N. "Crystal Cup". A cup used for drinking mead. Gerd gave Freyr's servant Skirnir Rimkalk mead and
the same was served to the Æsirs in Aegir's hall.
Rimstock N. Danish wooden almanac; See Primstave
Rind, Rinda N. Rime‐Giantess; Primal goddess of the frozen earth; Mother of Vali, by Odin
Ringhornir N. Ringhornir is Balder's funeral ship. When he was buried he and his wife, Nanna, who died of a
broken heart, were put in the ship and it was set on fire and pushed out in the ocean.
Ring‐oath N. Baugeidhr; The holiest of oaths, represented by the arm‐ring, which was the holiest symbol of
troth; According to Eyrbyggja saga, the oath‐ring always lay on the harrow, and had to be made of at
least an ounce of precious metal. The godhi was expected to wear it on his arm at the Thing (law‐
meeting) and at other times when he called upon the might of the gods or touched them most closely
Ris, Risi N. Old Norse the word risi meant a true Giant of great size, capable of intermarrying with humans;
they were usually beautiful and good. The jotnar, singular jötunn, had great strength and age. Etins
were usually friendly with the Gods. The thursar, singular Thurs, were particularly antagonistic,
destructive, and stupid.
Rishabh In. a Son of Nabhi and Meru, and father of a hundred sons, the eldest of whom was Bharata. He gave
his kingdom to his son and retired to a hermitage, where he led a life of such severe austerity and
abstinence, that he became I mere “collection of skin and fibres, and went the way of all flesh.” The
Bhagavata purana speaks of his wanderings in the western part of the Peninsula, and connects him with
the establishment of the Jain religion in those parts. The name of the first Jain Tirthakara or saint was
Rishabha.
Rishi In. An inspired poet or sage. The inspired persons to whom the hymns of the Vedas were revealed and
under whose names they stand. “The seven Rishis” (saptarshi), or the Praja‐patis, “the mind‐born sons”
of Brahma, are often referred to. In the Satapatha Brahmana their names are given as Gotama,
Bharadwaja, Viswamitra, Jamad‐agni, Vasishtha, Kasyapa, and Atri The Maha‐bharata gives them as
Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya, and Vasishtha. The Vayu Purana adds Bhrigu to this. list,
making eight, although it still calls them "seven." The Vishnu Purina, more consistently, adds Bhrigu and
Daksha, and calls them the nine Brahmarshis (Brahma‐rishis). The names of Gautama, Kanwa, Valmiki,
Vyasa, Manu, and Vibhandaka are also enumerated among the great Rishis by different authorities.
Besides these great Rishis there are many other Rishis. The seven Rishis are represented in the sky by
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the seven stars of the Great Bear, and as such are called Riksha and Chitra‐sikhandinas, ‘having bright
crests.’
Rishi‐Brahmana In. An old Anukramani, or Index of the Sama‐veda.
Rishya‐Muka In. A mountain in the Dakhin, near the source of the Pampa river and the lake Pampa. Rama

abode there for a time with the monkeys.
Rishya‐Sringa In. 'The deer‐horned.' A hermit, the son of Vibhandaka, descended from Kasyapa. According to
the Ramayana and Maha‐bharata he was born of a doe and had a small horn on his forehead. He was
brought up in the forest by his father, and saw no other human being till he was verging upon
manhood. There was great drought in the country of Anga, and the king, Lomapada, was advised by his
Brahmans to send for the youth Rishya‐sringa, who should marry his daughter Santa, and be the means
of obtaining rain. A number of fair damsela were sent to bring him. He accompanied them back to their
city, the desired rain fell, and he married Santa. This Santa was the adopted daughter of Lomapada; her
real father was Dasa‐ratha, and it was Rishya‐sringa who performed that sacrifice for Dasa‐ratha which
brought about the birth of Rama.
Rist, Hrist N. "Spear Thrower'’; The Valkyrie Rist is one of Odin's two servants. Her task is to serve the men in
Valhalla the never‐ceasing four kinds of mead that comes from the goat Heidrun.
Ristir, Rister N. Carving‐tool, used for runes; A kind of knife. One "rists" i.e. carves the runes.
Ritu‐Parna In. A king of Ayodhya, and son of Sarva‐kama, into whose service Nala entered after he had lost his
kingdom. He was “skilled profoundly in dice.”
Ritu‐Sanhara In. ‘The round of the seasons.’ A poem attributed to Ka1i‐dasa. This poem was published by Sir
W. Jones, and was the first Sanskrit work ever printed. There are other editions. It has been translated
into Latin by Bohlen.
Rivers of the Nine Worlds N. The following are the rivers of the Nine World: Sid, Vid, Sekin, Ekin, Svol,
Gunnthro, Fiorm, Fimbulthul, Gipul, Gopul, Gomul, Geirvimul, Thyn, Vin, Tholl, Boll, Grad, Gunnthrain,
Nyt, Not, Nonn, Hronn, Vina, Veg, Svinn, Thiodnuma.
Rlbhavas In. See Ribhus.
Robigo Rom. Goddess of corn.
Robigus Rom. God who protected corn from diseases; His festival, the Robigalia, took place on April 25.
Rock‐cut tomb Eg. Method of excavating tombs that begun during the Middle Kingdom; The burials in the
Valley of the Kings are perhaps the best known Rock‐cut tombs.
Rohinl In. 1. Daughter of Kasyapa and Surabhi, and mother of horned cattle, including Kama‐dhenu, the cow
which grants desires. 2. Daughter of Daksha and fourth of the lunar asterisms, the favourite wife of the
moon. 3. One of the wives of Vasu‐deva, the father of Krishna and mother of Bala‐rama. She was
burned with her husband's corpse at Dwaraka. 4. Krishna himself also had a wife so called, and the
name is common.
Rohita In. ‘Red.’ A red horse; a horse of the sun or of fire. 1. A deity celebrated in the Atharva‐veda, probably
& form of fire or the sun. 2. Son of King Haris‐chandra. He is also called Rohitaswa. The fort of Rohtas is
said to derive its name from him. See Haris‐chandra.
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Roma Rom. Personified Goddess of the City of Rome.
Roma‐Harshana In. See Loma‐harshana.
Roskva N. "The Quick"; Roskva is a human girl, but she lives in Bilskirnir with Thor and Sif. Tjalfi is her brother
and Groa and Egil Skytten are her parents.
Róta N. "She Who Causes Turmoil"; Gunnr and Róta, and the youngest Norn, called Skuld, ride to choose who
shall be slain and to govern the killings.
Rown N. A verb meaning "to whisper sacred things (that is, runes)". It is the verb‐form of rune.
Rudra In. ‘A howler or roarer; terrible.’ In the Vedas Rudra has many attributes and many names. He is the
howling terrible god, the god of storms, the father of the Rudras or Maruts, and is sometimes identified
with the god of fire. On the one hand he is a destructive deity who brings diseases upon men and
cattle, and upon the other he is a beneficent deity supposed to have a healing influence. These are the
germs which afterwards developed into the god Siva. It is worthy of note that Rudra is first called
Maha‐deva in the White Yajur‐veda. As applied to the god Siva, the name of Rudra generally designates
him in his destructive character. In the Brihad‐aranyaka Upanishad the Rudras are "ten vital breaths
(prana) with the heart (manas) as eleventh." In the Vishnu purana the god Rudra is said to have sprung
from the forehead of Brahma, and at the command of that god to have separated his nature into male
and female, then to have multiplied each of these into eleven persons, some of which were white and
gentle others black and furious. Elsewhere it is said that the eleven Rudras were sons of Kasyapa and
Surabhi, and in another chapter of the same Purana it is represented that Brahma desired to create a
son, and that Rudra came into existence as a youth. He wept and asked for a name. Brahma gave him
the name of Rudra; but he wept seven times more, and so he obtained seven other names: Bhava,
Sarva, Isana, Pasupati, Bhima, Ugra, and Maha‐deva. Other of the Puranas agree in this nomenclature.
These names are sometimes used for Rudra or Siva himself, and at others for the seven manifestations
of him, sometimes called his sons. The names of the eleven Rudras vary considerably in different books.
Rudra‐Savarna In. The twelfth Manu. See Manu.
Rukmin In. A son of King Bhishmaka and king of Vidharbha, who offered his services to the Pandavas and
Kauravas in turn, but was rejected by both on account of his extravagant boastings and pretensions. He
was brother of Rukmini, with whom Krishna eloped. Rukmin pursued the fugitives and overtook them,
but his army was defeated by Krishna, and he owed his life to the entreaties of his sister. He founded
the city of Bhoja‐kata, and was eventually killed by Bala‐rama.
Rukmini In. Daughter of Bhishmaka, king of Vidarbha. According to the Hari‐vansa she was sought in marriage
by Krishna, with whom she fell in love. But her brother Rukmin was a friend of Kansa, whom Krishna
had killed, He therefore opposed him and thwarted the match. Rukmini was then betrothed to Sisu‐
pala, king of Chedi, but on her wedding day, as she was going to the temple, “Krishna saw her, took her
by the hand, and carried her away in his chariot.” They were pursued by her intended husband and by
her brother Rukmin, but Krishna defeated them both, and took her safe to Dwaraka, where he married
her. She was his principal wife and bore him a son, Pradyumna (q. v.). By him also she had nine other
sons and one daughter. These other sons were Charu‐deshna, Su‐deshna, Charu‐deha, Su‐shena, Charu‐
gupta, Bhadra‐charu, Charu‐vinda, Su‐charu, and the very mighty Charu; also one daughter, “Charu‐
mati.” At Krishna's death she and seven other of his wives immolated themselves on his funeral pile.
Ruma In. Wife of the monkey king Su‐griva.
Rumina Rom. Goddess of nursing mothers.
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Rune laying N. An operation of runic divination in which the lots are not thrown, but rather laid in their steads
of meaning.
Rune N. The original meaning of the word "rune" in most Germanic languages is "secret" or "mystery". A rune
is not simply a letter or character in an alphabet‐‐it is that and much more. Every rune is made up of
three elements or aspects: 1) a sound (song); 2) a stave (shape); 3) a rune (hidden lore). he sound or
phonetic value of the rune is its vibratory quality in the air, in space. This is the magical‐creative quality
that is inherent in speech. This is a cosmic principle with which runesters work when they sing or speak
the runes in acts of Galdr. The shape of the rune‐stave is the spatial or visible quality of the rune. This
aspect can be the most deceptive because we put so much emphasis on what we see. The visible staves
(characters) are only reflections of the actual runes, which remain forever hidden from our five senses,
They exist in a realm beyond the three dimensions and are only approximated in the two‐dimentional
diagrams we can see. The runes themselves are complex and multifaceted and fit within a web‐work
which only further complicates the picture. No one definition of a rune is possible, for each rune is in
and of itself infinite and without bounds. In practical terms the rune is the sum total of lore and
information on the stave and the sound. The song is the vibration, the stave is the image, and the rune
is the lore needed to activate the magic. Thorsson, Northern Magic.
Runestave N. The physical shape of a runic character, or the physical object onto which the shape is carved
(especially when carved in wood.
Rungne, Rungnir, Hrungnir N. The strongest Giant in Jotunheim. His head is made of stone and so is also his
pentagram‐shaped heart. He is very boastful. Thor killed him in a fight.
Rym N. "Old and Powerless" The Storm Giant who controls the rudder on Naglfar, the ship that Hel, the Death
Goddess, built using dead people's nails.
Rÿnstr N. "One most skilled in runes"; General term for one involved in deep‐level rune skill.
S
Sa Eg. The Sa was a symbol of protection; Its origins are uncertain, but it is speculated that it represents either
a rolled up herdsman's shelter or a papyrus life‐preserver used by ancient Egyptian boaters; Either way
it is clearly a symbol of protection; From early times the Sa plays an important part in jewelry design; It
is often used in conjunction with symbols, particularly the ankh, was and djed signs; We often find
Taurt, the hippopotamus goddess of childbirth, resting her paw on a standing Sa sign.
Sabalaswas In. Sons of Daksha, one thousand in number, brought forth after the loss of the Haryaswas. Like
their predecessors, they were dissuaded by Narada from begetting off‐spring, and “scattered
themselves through the regions” never to return.
Sachi In. Wife of Indra. See Indrani.
Sadhyas In. A Gana or class of inferior deities; the personified rites and prayers of the Vedas who dwell with
the gods or in the intermediate region between heaven and earth. Their number is twelve according to
one authority, and seven teen according to another, and the Puranas make them sons of Dharma and
Sadhya, daughter of Daksha.
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Sæhrimnir N. "The Sea Striped". Each evening the boar Sæhrimnir is slaughtered, cut up, and cooked, to serve
the warriors in Valhalla, but every morning he's alive and healthy again.
Saff tomb Eg. An Arabic word that means "row", it describes the rock‐cut tombs of the early 11th Dynasty that
consisted of a row of openings on the hillside.
Sága N. "Seeress". Daughter or consort of Odin, one of the Asynjor (female Æsir); She is invoked for recall and
memory. She resides by the stream of time and events. She was an attendant to Frigg. Some consider
her just an aspect of Frigg. The sagas or songs of history are named for her. She resides by the stream
of time and events. She lived in Sokvabek, a crystal hall, and drank daily from the river of time with
Odin. Saga was once called Bil. She is invoked for recall and memory. The sagas or songs of history are
named for her. At Ragnarok, she is the one who will see the flames from the elves territory; The word
saga "history" and "story". The fundamental meaning of saga is "a narrative". The sagas of the medieval
Nordic world, principally preserved in manuscripts written in Iceland, are the written narratives of this
civilization. Sagas most nearly approximate our historical novels ‐ but are often leavened with myth and
magic.
Sagara In. A king of Ayodhya, of the Solar race, and son of King Bahu, who was driven out of his dominions by
the Haihayas. Bahu took refuge in the forest with his wives. Sagara's mother was then pregnant, and a
rival wife, wing jealous, gave her a drug to prevent her delivery. This poison confined the child is the
womb for seven years, and in the interim Bahu died. The pregnant wife wished to ascend his pyre, but
the sage Aurva forbad her, predicting that she would give birth to a valiant universal monarch. "When
the child was born, Aurva gave him the name of Sagara (sa, ‘with,’ and gara, ‘poison’). The child grew
up, and having heard his father's history, he vowed that he would exterminate the Haihayas and the
other barbarians, and recover his ancestral kingdom. He obtained from Aurva the Agneyastra or fire
weapon, and, armed with this; he put nearly the whole of the Haihayas to death and regained his
throne. He would also “have destroyed tile Sakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, paradas, and Pahlavas,” but they
applied to Vasishtha, Sagara's family priest, and he indeed Sagara to spare them, but “he made the
Yavanas shave their heads entirely; the Sakas he compelled to shave (the upper) half of their heads; the
Paradas wore their hair long; and the Pahlavas let their beards grow in obedience to his commands.”
Sagara married two wives, Su‐mati, the daughter of Kasyapa, and Kesini, the daughter of Raja Vidarbha,
but having no children, he besought the sage Aurva for this boon. Aurva promised that one wife should
have one son; the other, sixty thousand. Kesini chose the one, and her son was Asamanjas, through
whom the royal line was continued. Su‐mati had sixty thousand sons. Asamanjas was a wild immoral
youth, and his father abandoned him. The other sixty thousand sons followed the courses of their
brother, and their impiety was such that the gods complained of them to the sage Kapila and the god
Vishnu. Sagara engaged in the performance of an Aswa‐medha or sacrifice of a horse, but although the
animal was guarded by his sixty thousand sons, it was carried off to Patala. Sagara directed his sons to
recover it. They dug their way to the infernal regions, and there they found the horse grazing and the
sage Kapila seated close by engaged in meditation. Conceiving him to be the thief, they menaced him.
with their weapons. Disturbed from his devotions," he looked upon them for an instant, and they were
reduced to ashes by the (sacred) flame that darted from his person. "Their remains were discovered by
Ansumat, the son of Asamanjas, who prayed Kapila that the victims of his wrath might be raised
through his favour to heaven. Kapila promised that the grandson of AnS1lmat should be the means of
accomplishing this by bringing down the river of heaven. Ansumat then returned to Sagara, who
completed his sacrifice, and he gave the name of Sagara to the chasm which his sons had dug, and
Sagara means ‘ocean.’ The son of Ansumat was Dilipa, and his son was Bhagiratha. The devotion of
Bhagiratha brought down from heaven the holy Ganges, which flows from the toe of Vishnu, and its
waters having laved the ashes of the sons of Sagara, cleansed them from all impurity. Their Manes were
thus made fit for the exequial ceremonies and for admission into Swarga. The Ganges received the
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name of Sagara in honour of Sagara, and Bhagirathi from the name of the devout king whose prayers
brought her down to earth. (See Bhagirathi) The Hari‐vansa adds another marvel to the story. Sagara's
wife Su‐mati was delivered of a gourd containing sixty thousand seeds, which became embryos and
grew. Sagara at first placed them in vessels of milk, but afterwards each one had a separate nurse, and
at ten months they all ran about. The name of Sagara is frequently cited in deeds conveying grants of
land in honour of his generosity in respect of such gifts.
Saha‐Dev In. The youngest of the five Pandu princes, twin son of Madri, the second wife of Pandu, and
mythologically son of the Aswins, or more specifically of the Aswin Dasra. He was learned in the science
of astronomy, which he had studied under Drona, and he was also well acquainted with the
management of cattle. (See Maha‐bharata.) He had a SOD named Su‐hotra by his wife Vijaya.
Sahasraksha In. ‘Thousand ‐eyed.’ An epithet of lndra.
Sahitya‐Darpana In. ‘The mirror of composition.’ A celebrated work on poetry and rhetoric by Viswanatha
Kavi Raja, written about the fifteenth century. It has been translated into English for the Bibliotheca
Indica. There are several editions of the text.
Saibya In. Wife of Haris‐chandra (q.v.); wife of Jyamagha (q.v.); wife of Sata‐dhanu (q. v.).
Saindhavas In. The people of Sindhu or Sindh, of the country between the Indus and the Jhilam.
Saiva Purana In. Same as Siva Purana.
Saka In. An era commencing 78 A.D., and called the era of Salivahana. Cunningham supposes its epoch to be
connected with a defeat of the Sakas by Salivahana.
Sakala In. The city of the Bahikas or Madras, in the Panjab. It has been identified with the Sagala of Ptolemy
on the Hyphasis (Byas), south‐west of Lahore. Cunningham says it is the Sangala of Alexander.
Sakalya In. An old grammarian and expositor of the Vedas who lived before the time of Yaska. He is said to
have divided a Sanhita of the Veda into five, and to have taught these portions to as many disciples. He
was also called Veda‐mitra and Deva‐mitra.
Sakapujni, Sakapurni In. An author who arranged a part of the Rig‐veda and appended a glossary. He lived
before the time of Yaska.
Sakas In. A northern people, usually associated with the Yavanas. Wilson says, "These people, the Sakai and
Sacre of classical writers, the Indo‐Scythians of Ptolemy, extended, about the commencement of our
era, along the West of India, from the Hindu Koh to the mouths of the Indus." They were probably Turk
or Tatar tribes, and were among those recorded as conquered by King Sagara, who compelled them to
shave the upper half of their heads. They seem to have been encountered and kept back by King
Vikramaditya of Ujjayini, who was called Sakari, ‘foe of the Sakas.’
Sakatayana In. An ancient grammarian anterior to Yaska. and Panini. Part of his work is said to have been
lately discovered by Dr. Buhler.
Sakha In. ‘Branch, Sect.’ The Sakhas Of The Vedas Are The Different Recensions Of The Same Text As Taught
And Handed down traditionally by different schools and teachers, showing some slight variations, the
effect of long‐continued oral tradition. See Veda.
Sakinls In. Female demons attendant on Durga.
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Sakra In. A name of lndra.
Sakrani In. Wife of Indra. See Indrani.
Sakra‐Prastha In. Same as Indra‐prastha.
Sakta In. A worshipper of the Saktis.
Sakti In. The wife or the female energy of a deity, but especially of Siva. See Devi and Tantra.
Sakti, Saktri In. A priest and eldest son of Vasishtha. King Kalmasha‐pada struck him with a whip, and he
cursed the king to become possessed by a man‐eating Rakshasa. He himself became the first victim of
the momster he had evoked.
Sakuni In. Brother of Queen Gandhari, and so uncle of the Kaurava princes. He was a skilful gambler and a
cheat, so he was selected to be the opponent of Yudhi‐shthira in the match in which that prince was
induced to stake and lose his all. He also was known by the patronymic Saubala, from Su‐bala, his
father.
Sakuntala In. A nymph who was the daughter of Viswamitra by the nymph Menaka. She was born and left in a
forest, where she was nourished by birds until found by the sage Kanwa. She was brought up by this
sage in his hermitage as his daughter, and is often called his daughter. The loves, marriage, separation,
and re‐union of Sakuntala and King Dushyanta are the subject of the celebrated drama Sakuntala. She
was mother of Bharata, the head of a long race of kings, who has given his name to India (Bharata‐
varsha), and the wars of whose descendants are sung in the Maha‐bharata. The story of the loves of
Dushyanta and Sakuntala is, that while she was living in the hermitage of Kanwa she was Been in the
forest by King Dushyanta, who fell in love with her. He induced her to contract with him a Gandharva
marriage, that is, a simple declaration of mutual acceptance. On leaving her to return to his city, he
gave her a ring as a pledge of his love. When the nymph when back to the hermitage, she was so
engrossed with thoughts of her husband that she heeded not the approach of the sage Dur‐vasas, who
had come to visit Kanwa, so that choleric saint cursed her to be forgotten by her beloved. He
afterwards relented, and promised that the curse should be removed as soon as Dushyanta should see
the ring. Sakuntala, finding herself with child, set off to her husband; but on her way she bathed in a
sacred pool, and there lost the ring. On reaching the palace, the king did not recognise her and would
not own her, so she was taken by her mother to the forest, where she gave birth to Bharata. Then it
happened that a fisherman caught a large fish and in it found a ring which he carried to Dushyanta. The
king recognised his own ring, and he soon afterwards accepted Sakuntala and her son Bharata. Kali‐
dasa's drama of Sakuntala was the first translation made from Sanskrit into English. It excited great
curiosity and gained much admiration when it appeared. There are several recensions of the text
extant. The text has been often printed, and there are many translations into the languages of Europe.
Professor Williams has published a beautifully illustrated translation.
Sál N. the "shade", after‐death image.
Salagrama In. A stone held sacred and worshipped by the Vaishnavas, because its spirals are supposed to
contain or to be typical of Vishnu. It is an ammonite found in the river Gandak, and is valued more or
less highly according to the number of its spirals and perforations.
Salamis Gk. A nymph in Greek mythology; the daughter of the river god Asopus and Metope, daughter of the
Ladon, another river god; she was carried away by Poseidon to the island which was named after her,
whereupon she bore the god a son Cychreus who became king of the island
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Salivahana In. A celebrated king of the south of India, who was the enemy of Vikramaditya, and whose era,
the Saka, dates from A.D. 78. His capital was Prati‐shthana on the Godavari. He was killed in battle at
Karur.
Salmoneus Gk. King of Elis and son of Aeolus; he pretended to be Zeus and demanded sacrifices, threw
torches to imitate lightning, and made noises like thunder with his chariot; he was destroyed by Zeus
and his kingdom with a thunderbolt
Salu N. "Sun‐kissed", i.e. health.
Salus Rom. Goddess of health and prosperity; Festival was celebrated on March 30.
Salwa In. Name of a country in the west of India, or Rajasthan; also the name of its king.
Salya In. King of the Madras, and brother of Madri, second wife of Pandu. In the great war he left the side of
the panda‐ vas and went over to the Kauravas. He acted as Charioteer of Karna in the great battle. At
the death of Karna he succeeded him as general, and commanded the army on the last day of the
battle, when he was slain by Yudhi‐shthira.
Sama‐Veda In. The third Veda. See Veda.
Sama‐Vidhana Brahmana In. The third Brahmana of the Sama‐veda. It has been edited and translated by
Burnell.
Samayacharika Sutras In. Rules for the usages and practices of everyday life. See Sutras.
Samba In. A son of Krishna by Jambavati, but the Linga Purana names Rukmini as his mother. At the swayam‐
vara of Draupadi he carried off that princess, but he was pursued by Dur‐yodhana and his friends and
made prisoner. Bala‐rama undertook to obtain his release, and when that hero thrust his ploughshare
under the ramparts of Hastina‐pura and threatened it with ruin, the Kauravas gave up their prisoner,
and Bala‐ rama took him to Dwaraka, There he lived a dissolute life and scoffed at sacred things. The
devotions of the three great sages, Viswamitra, Dur‐vasas, and Narada, excited the ridicule of Samba
and his boon companions. They dressed samba up to represent a woman with child and took him to the
sages, inquiring whether he would give birth to a boy or a girl. The sages answered, "This is not a
woman, but the son of Krishna, and he shall bring forth an iron club which shall destroy the whole race
of Yadu, ...and you and all your people shall perish by that club." Samba accordingly brought forth an
iron club, which Ugrasena caused to be pounded and cast into the sea. These ashes produced rushes,
and the rushes when gathered turned into clubs, or into reeds which were used as swords. One piece
could not be crushed. This was subsequently found in the belly of a fish, and was used to tip an arrow,
which arrow was used by the hunter Jaras, who with it unintentionally killed Krishna. Under the curse
of Dur‐vasas, Samba became a leper and retired to the Panjab, where by fasting, penance, and prayer
he obtained the favour of Surya (the sun), and was cured of his leprosy. He built a temple to the sun on
the banks of the Chandra‐bhaga (Chinab), and introduced the worship of that luminary.
Samba‐Purana In. See purana.
Sambara In. In the Vedas, a demon, also called a Dasyu, who fought against King Divodasa, but was defeated
and had his many castles destroyed by Indra. He appears to be a mythical personification of drought, of
a kindred character to Vritra, or identical with him. In the puranas a Daitya who carried off Pradyumna
and threw him into the sea, but was subsequently slain by him. (See Pradyumna.) He was also
employed by Hiranya‐kasipu to destroy Prahlada.
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Sambhu In. A name of Siva; also one of the Rudras.
Sambuka In. A Sudra, mentioned in the Raghu‐vansa, who performed religious austerities and penances
improper for a man of his caste, and was consequently killed by Rama‐chandra.
Saml In. The Acacia suma, the wood of which is used for obtaining fire by friction. So Agni, or fire, is called
Sami‐garbha, ‘having the Sami for its womb.’ It is sometimes personified and worshipped as a goddess,
Sami‐devi.
Sampati In. A mythical bird who appears in the Ramayana as son of Yishnu's bird Garuda, and brother of
Jatayus. According to another account he was son of Aruna and Syeni. He was the ally of Rama.
Samvarana In. Son of Raksha, fourth in descent from lkshwaku, and father of Kuru. According to the Maha‐
bharata he was driven from Hastina‐pura by the panchalas, and forced to take refuge among the
thickets of the Indus. When the sage Yasishtha joined his people and became the Raja's family priest,
they recovered their country under Kuru.
Samvarta In. The writer of a Dharma‐sastra or code of law bearing his name.
Samvat, Samvatsara In. 'Year.' The era of Vikramaditya, dating from 57 B.C.
Sanais‐Chara In. 'Slow‐moving.' A name of Sani or Saturn.
Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana, Sanat‐Kumara In. The four Kumaras or mind‐born sons of Brahma. Some specify
seven. Sanat‐kumara (or Sanat‐sujata) was the most prominent of them. They are also called by the
patronymic Vaidhatra. See Kumara.
Sanat‐Kumara Purana In. See Purana.
Sancus Rom. God of oaths and good faith.
Sandhya In. 'Twilight.' It is personified as the daughter of Brahma and wife of Siva. In the Siva Purana it is
related that Brahma having attempted to do violence to his daughter, she changed herself into a deer.
Brahma then assumed the form of a stag and pursued her through the sky. Siva saw this, and shot an
arrow which cut off the head of the stag. Brahma then reassumed his own form and paid homage to
Siva. The arrow remains in the sky in the sixth lunar mansion, called Ardra, and the stag's head remains
in the fifth mansion, Mriga‐siras.
Sandhya‐Bala In. ‘Strong in twilight.’ Rakshasas and two Aswins and other demons, supposed to be most
powerful at twilight.
Sandilya In. A descendant of Sandila. A particular sage who was connected with the Chhandogya Upanishad;
one who wrote a book of Sutras, one who wrote upon law, and one who was the author of the
Bhagavata heresy: two or more of these may be one and the same person. The Sutras or aphorisms
have been published in the Bibliotheca Indica.
Sandipani In. A master‐at‐arms who gave instruction to Bala‐rama and Krishna.
Sandracottus In. See Chandra‐gupta.
Sangita‐Ratnakara In. A work on singing, dancing, and pantomime, written by Sarangi Deva
Sanhita In. That portion of a Veda which comprises the hymns. See Veda.
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Sanhitopanishad In. The eighth Brahmana of the Sama‐veda. The text with a commentary has been published
by Burnell.
Sani In. The planet Saturn. The regent of that planet, represented as a black man in black garments. Sani was
a son of sun and Chhaya, but another statement is that he was the offspring of Bala‐rama and Revati.
He is also known as Ara, Kona, and Kroda (cf. Kf6.0,), and by the patronymic Saura. His influence is evil,
hence he is called Krura‐dris and Krura‐lochana, the evil‐eyed one.’ He is also Manda, ‘the slow;’ Pangu,
‘tile lame;’ Sanais‐chara, ‘slow‐moving; ‘Saptarchi, I seven‐rayed;’ and Asita, ‘the dark.’
Sanjaya In. The charioteer of Dhrita‐rashtra. He was minister also, and went as ambassador to the Pandavas
before the great war broke out. He is represented as reciting to Dhrita‐rashtra the Bhagavad‐gita. His
patronymic is Gavalgani, son of Gavalgana; A king of Ujjayini and father of Vasava‐datta.
Sanjna In. ‘Conscience.’ According to the Puranas, she was daughter of Visva‐karma and wife of the sun. She.
had three children by him, the Manu Vaivaswata, Yama, and Yami (goddess of the Yamuna river).
“Unable to endure the fervours of her lord, Sanjna gave him Chhaya (shade) as his ‐ handmaid, and
repaired to the forests to practise devout exercises.” The sun beheld her engaged in austerities in the
form of a mare, and he approached her as a horse. Hence sprang the two Aswins and Revanta. Surya
then took Sanjna back to his own dwelling, but his effulgence was still so overpowering, that her father,
Viswa‐karma, placed the sun upon his lathe, and cut away an eighth part of his brilliancy. She is also call
Dyu‐ mayi, 'the brilliant,' and Maha‐virya, ‘the very powerful.’
Sankara In. ‘Auspicious.’ A name of Siva in his creative character or as chief of the Rudras.
Sankaracharya In. (Sankara + acharya). The great religious reformer and teacher of the Vedanta philosophy,
who lived in the eighth or ninth century. He was a native of Kerala or Malabar, and lived a very erratic
life, disputing with heretics and popularizing the Vedanta philosophy by his preaching and writings
wherever he went. His travels extended as far as Kashmir, and he died at Kedaranath in the Himalayas
at the early age of thirty‐two. His learning and sanctity were held in such high estimation and
reverence, that he was looked upon as an incarnation of Siva, and was believed to have the power of
working miracles. The god Siva was the special object of his worship, and he was the founder of the
great sect of Smartava Brahmans, who are very numerous and powerful in the south. He established
the several maths or monasteries for the teaching and preservation of his doctrines. Some of these still
remain. The chief one is at Sringa‐giri or Sringiri, on the edge of the Western Ghauts in the Mysore, and
it has the supreme control of the Smartava sect. The writings attributed to him are very numerous;
chief among them are his Bhashyas or commentaries on the Sutras or aphorisms of Vyasa, a
commentary on the Bhagavad‐gita, some commentaries on the Upanishads, and the Ananda‐lahari, a
hymn in praise of Parvati, the consort of Siva.
Sankara‐Vijaya In. ‘The triumph of Sankara.’ A biography of Sankaracharya relating his controversies with
heretical sects and his refutation of their doctrines and superstitions. There is more than one work
bearing this name; one by Ananda Giri, which is published in the Bibliotheca Indica ; another by
Madhavacharya; the latter is distinguished as the Sankshepa Sankara‐vijaya. The work of Ananda Giri
has been critically examined by Kashinath Trimbak Telang in the Indian Antiquary, vol. v.
Sankarshana In. A name of Bala‐rama.
Sankha In. The writer of a Dharma‐sastra or law‐book bearing his name. He is often coupled with Likhita, and
the two seem to have worked together.
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Sankhayana In. Name of a writer who was the author of the Sankhayana Brahmana of the Rig‐yeda, and of
certain Srauta‐sutras also called by his name; He is the oldest known writer on the Ars Erotics, and is
author of the work called Sankhayana Kama‐sutra.
Sankhya In. A school of philosophy. See Darsana.
Sankhya‐Darsana In. Kapila’s aphorisms on the Sankhya philosophy. They have been printed.
Sankhya‐Karika In. A work on the Sankhya philosophy, written by Iswara Krishna; translated by Colebrooke
and Wilson.
Sankhya‐Pravachana In. A text‐book of the Sankhya philosophy, said to have been written by Kapila himself.
Printed in the Bibliotheca Indica.
Sankhya‐Sara In. A work on the Sankhya philosophy by Vijnana Bhikshu. Edited by Hall in the Bibliotheca
Indica.
Sannyasl In. A Brahman in the fourth and last stage of his religious life. (See Brahman). In the present day the
term has a wider meaning, and is applied to various kinds of religious mendicants who wander about
and subsist upon alms, most of them in a filthy condition and with very scanty clothing. They are
generally devotees of Siva.
Santa In. Daughter of Dasa‐ratha, son of Aja, but adopted by Loma‐pada or Roma‐pada, king of Anga. She was
married to Rishya‐sringa.
Santanu In. A king of the Lunar race, son of Pratipa, father of Bhishma, and in a way the grandfather of Dhrita‐
rashtra and Pandu. Regarding him it is said, “Every decrepit man whom he touches with his hands
becomes young.” (See Maha‐bharata.) He was called Satya‐vach, ‘truth‐speaker,’ and was remarkable
for his “devotion and charity, modesty, constancy, and resolution.”
Santi‐Sataka In. A century of verses on peace of mind. A poem of repute written by Sri Sihlana.
Saptarshi In. (Sapta‐rishi). The seven great Rishis. See Rishi.
Sapta‐Sati In. A poem of 700 verses on the triumphs of Durga. It is also called Devi‐mahatmya.
Sapta‐Sindhava In. ‘The seven rivers.’ The term frequently occurs in the Vedas, and has been widely known
and somewhat differently applied. It was apparently known to the Romans in the days of Augustus, for
Virgil says ‐ “Ceu septem surgens sedates amnibus altus Per tacitum Ganges.” – Eneid, ix. 30.
They appear in Zend as the Hapta‐heando, and the early Muhammadan travellers have translated
the term. But their Saba Sin, 'seven rivers,' according to Biruni, applies to the rivers which flow
northwards from the mountains of the Hindu Koh, and "uniting near Turmuz, form the river of Balkh
(the Oxus).” The hymn in which the names of the rivers have been given has the following description:‐
" Each set of seven (streams, has followed a threefold course. The Sindhu surpasses the other rivers in
impetuosity. ...Receive favourably this my hymn, O Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Sutudri, Parushni; hear,
O Marud‐vridha, with the Asikni and Vitasta, and thou, Arjikiya, with the Sushoma. Unite first in thy
course with the Trishtama, the Susartu, the Rasa, and the Sweti; thou meetest with the Gomati, and the
Krumu with the Kubha and the Mehatnu." According to this, the "seven rivers" are ‐ (1.) Ganga
(Ganges); (2.) Yamuna (Jumna); (3.) Saraswati (Sarsuti); (4.) Sutudri (Satlej); (5.) Parushni; (6.) Marud‐
vridha; (7.) Arjikiya (the Vipasa, Hyphasis Byas). Wilson says "the Parushni is identified with the Iravati"
(Hydraotes, Ravi), but in this hymn it is the Marud‐vridha which would seem to be the Iravati, because
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it is said to unite with the Asikni (Akesines, Chandrabhaga, Chinab) and the Vitasta (Hydaspes or
Jhilam). This would leave the Parushni unsettled. The other names, with the exception of the Gomati
(Gumti), are not identified. Sushoma has been said to be the Sindhu, but in this hymn the Sindhu is
clearly distinct. In the Maha‐bharata the seven rivers are named in one place Vaswokasara, Nalini,
Pavani, Ganga, Sita, Sindhu, and Jambu‐nadi; and in another, Ganga, Yamuna, Plakshaga, Rathastha,
Saryu (Sarju), Gomati, and Gandaki (Gandak). In the Ramayana and the Puranas the seven rivers are the
seven streams into which the Ganges divided after falling from the brow of Siva, the Nalini, Hladini, and
Pavani going cast, the Chakshu, Sita, and Sindhu to the west, while the Ganges proper, the Bhagirathi,
flowed to the south. The term is also used for the seven great oceans of the world, and for the country
of the seven rivers.
Sapta‐Vadhri In. A Vedic Rishi. In a hymn he says, "Aswins, by your devices sunder the wickerwork for the
liberation of the terrified, imploring Rishi Sapta‐vadhri." Concerning this the following old story is told.
Sapta‐vadhri had seven brothers who determined to prevent his having intercourse with his wife. So
they shut him up every night in a large basket, which they locked and sealed, and in the morning they
let him out. He prayed to the Aswins, who enabled him to get out of his cage during the night and to
return to it at daybreak.
Sarabha In. A fabulous animal represented as having eight legs and as dwelling in the Himalayas. It is called
also Utpadaka and Kunjararati; One of Rama's monkey allies.
Sara‐Bhanga In. A hermit visited by Rama and Sita in the Dandaka forest. When he had seen Rama he declared
that his desire had been granted, and that he would depart to the highest heaven. He prepared a fire
and entered it. His body was consumed, but there came forth from the fire a beautiful youth, and in
this form Sara‐bhanga departed to heaven.
Sarada‐Tilaka In. A mystic poem by Lakshmana; A dramatic monologue by Sankara, not earlier than the
twelfth century; Name of a Tantra.
Saradwat In. A Rishi said to be the father of Kripa. He is also called Gautama. See Kripa.
Sarama In. In the Rig‐veda the dog of Indra and mother of the two dogs called, after their mother, Sarameyas,
who each had four eyes, and were the watchdogs of Yama. Sarama is said to have pursued and
recovered the cows stolen by the Panis, a myth which has been supposed to mean that Sarama is the
same as Ushas, the dawn, and that the cows represent the rays of the sun carried away by night; The
wife of Vibhishana, who attended upon Sita, and showed her great kindness when she was in captivity
with Ravana; In the Bhagavata Purana, Sarama is one of the daughters of Daksha, and the mother of
wild animals.
Sarameyas In. The two children of Sarama, Indra's watch‐dog; they were the watchdogs of Yama, and each
had four eyes. They have been compared with the Greek Hermes.
Saranyu In. 'The fleet runner.' A daughter of Twashtri. She has been identified with the Greek Erinnys. The
beginning of this myth is in a hymn of the Rig‐veda, which says‐ Twashtri makes a wedding for his
daughter. (Hearing) this, the whole world assembles. The mother of Yama, the wedded wife of the
great Vivaswat (the sun), disappeared; They concealed the immortal (bride) from mortals. Making
(another) of like appearance, they gave her to Vivaswat. Saranyu bore the two Aswins, and when she
had done so she deserted the two twins." In the Nirukta the story is expanded as follows :‐ " Saranyu,
the daughter of Twashtri, bore twins to Vivaswat, the son of Aditi. She then substituted for herself
another female of similar appearance, and tied in the form of a mare. Vivaswat in like manner assumed
the shape of a horse and followed her. From their intercourse sprang two Aswins, while Manu was the
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offspring of Savarna (or the female of like appearance)." The Brihad‐devata has another version of the
same story :‐ “Twashtri had twin children, (a daughter) Saranyu and (a son) Tri siras. He gave Saranyu
in‐marriage to Vivaswat, to whom she bore Yama and Yami, who also were twins. Creating a female like
herself without her husband's knowledge, and making the twins over in charge to her, Saranyu took the
form of a mare and departed. Vivaswat, in ignorance, begot on the female who was left Manu, a royal
Rishi, who resembled his father in glory; but discovering that the real Saranyu, Twashtri's daughter, had
gone away, Vivaswat followed her quickly, taking the shape of a horse of the same species as she.
Recognising him in that form, she approached him with the desire of sexual connection, which he
gratified. In their haste his seed fell on the ground, and she, being desirous of offspring, smelled it.
From this act sprang the two Kumaras (youths), Nasatya and Dasra, who were lauded as Aswins (sprung
from a horse)."‐ Muir's Texts, v. 227. See the Puranic version under "Sanjna."
Saraswata In. In the Maha‐bharata the Rishi Saraswata is represented as being the son of the personified river
Saraswati. In a time of great drought he was fed with fish by his mother, and so was enabled to keep up
his knowledge of the Vedas, while other Brahmans were reduced to such straits for the means of
subsistence that study was neglected and the Vedas were lost. When the drought was over, the
Brahmans flocked to him for instruction, and 60,000 acquired a knowledge of the Vedas from him. "This
legend," says Wilson, "appears to indicate the revival, or, more probably, the introduction of the Hindu
ritual by the race of Brahmans, or the people called Saraswata," who dwelt near the Saraswati river.
Saraswata Brahmans still dwell in the Panjab, and are met with in many other parts; The country about
the Saraswati river; A great national division of the Brahman caste.
Saraswati Kanthabharana In. A treatise on poetical and rhetorical composition generally ascribed to Bhoja
Raja.
Saraswatl In. ‘Watery, elegant.’ In the Vedas, Saraswati is primarily a
river, but is celebrated in the hymns both as a river and a
deity. The Saraswati river was one boundary of Brahmivartta,
the home of the early Aryans, and was to them, in all
likelihood, a sacred river, as the Ganges has long been to their
descendants. As a river goddess, Saraswati is lauded for the
fertilising and purifying powers of her waters, and as the
bestower of fertility, fatness, and wealth. Her position as Vach,
the goddess of speech, finds no mention in the Rig‐veda, but is
recognised by the Brahmanas and the Maha‐bharata. Dr. Muir
endeavours to account for her acquisition of this character. He
say, "When once the river had acquired a divine character, it
was quite natural that she should be regarded as the
patroness of the ceremonies which were celebrated on the margin of her holy waters, and that her
direction and blessing should be invoked as essential to their proper performance and success. The
connection into which she was thus brought with sacred rites may have led to the further step of
imagining her to have an influence on the composition of the hymns which formed so important a part
of the proceedings and of identifying her with Vach, the goddess of speech." In later times Saraswati is
the wife of Brahma, the goddess of speech and learning, inventress of the Sanskrit language and Deva‐
nagari letters, and patroness of the arts and sciences. “She is represented as of a white colour, without
any superfluity of limbs, and not unfrequently of a graceful figure, wearing a slender crescent on her
brow and sitting on a lotus.”‐Wilson. The same authority states that "the Vaishnavas of Bengal have a
popular legend that she was the wife of Vishnu, as were also Lakshmi and Ganga. The ladies dis‐agreed;
Saraswati, like the other prototype of learned ladies, Minerva, being something of a termagant, and
Vishnu finding that one wife was as much as he could manage, transferred Saraswati to Brahma and
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Ganga to Siva, and contented himself with Lakshmi alone. (See Vach.) Other names of Saraswati are
Bharati, Brahmi, Put‐kari, Sarada, Vagiswari. The river is now called Sarsuti. It falls from the Himalayas
and is lost in the sands of the desert. In ancient times it flowed on to the sea. A passage in the Rig‐veda
says of it, “She who goes on pure from the mountains as far as the sea.”‐Max Muller, Veda, 45.
According to the Maha‐bharata it was dried up by the curse of the sage Utathya (q.v.). See Sapta‐
sindhava.
Sarayu In. The Sarju river or Gogra.
Sarcophagus Eg. From the Greek word meaning; "flesh eater"; It was the name given to the stone container
within which the coffins and mummy were placed.
Saritor Rom. God of weeding and hoeing.
Sarmishtha In. Daughter of Vrishaparvan the Danava, second wife of Yayati and mother of Puru. See
Devayani.
Sarnga In. The bow of Krishna.
Sarpedon Gk. The first Sarpedon was a son of Zeus and Europa, and brother to Minos and Rhadamanthys; was
raised by the king Asterion and then, banished by Minos, his rival in love for the young Miletus; he
sought refuge with his uncle, Cilix Sarpedon conquered the Milyans, and ruled over them; his kingdom
was named Lycia, after his successor, Lycus, son of Pandion II; he was granted by Zeus the privilege of
living three generations.; the second Sarpedon, king of Lycia, a descendant of the preceding, was a son
of Zeus and Laodamia, daughter of Bellerophon; became king when his uncles withdrew their claim to
Lycia; he fought on the side of the Trojans, with his cousin Glaucus, during the Trojan War becoming
one of Troy's greatest allies and heroes
Sarva, Sarva In. A Vedic deity; the destroyer. Afterwards a name of Siva and of one of the Rudras. See Rudra.
Sarva‐Darsana Sangraha In. A work by Madhavacharya, which gives an account of the Darsanas or schools of
philosophy, whether orthodox or heretical. It has been printed.
Sarvari In. A woman of low caste, who was very devout and looked for the coming of Rama until she had
grown old. In reward of her piety a sage raised her from her low caste, and when she had seen Rama
she burnt herself on a funeral pile. She ascended from the pile in a chariot to the heaven of Vishnu.
Sarva‐Sara In. Name of an Upanishad.
Sasada In. ‘Hare‐eater.’ A name given to Vikukshi (q.v.).
Sasi, Sasin In. The moon, so called from the marks on the moon being considered to resemble a hare (sasa).
Sastra In. 'A rule, book, treatise.' Any book of divine or recognised authority, but more especially the law‐
books.
Sata‐Dhanu In. A king who had a virtuous and discreet wife named Saibya. They were both worshippers of
Vishnu. One day they met a heretic, with whom Sata‐dhanu conversed; but the wife “turned away from
him and east her eyes up to the sun.” After a time Sata‐dhanu died and his wife ascended his funeral
pile. The wife was born again as a princess with a knowledge of her previous existence, but the husband
received the form of & dog. She recognised him in this form and placed the bridal garland on his neck.
Then she reminded him of his previous existence and of the fault, which had caused his degradation.
He was greatly humiliated and died from a broken spirit. After that, he was born successively as a
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jackal, a wolf, a crow, and a peacock. In each form his wife recognised him, reminded him of his sin, and
urged him to make efforts for restoration to his former dignity. At length “he was born as the son of a
person of distinction,” and Saibya then elected him as her bridegroom; and having “again invested him
with the character of her husband, they lived happily together.” When he died she again followed him
in death, and both “ascended beyond the sphere of Indra to the regions where all desires are forever
gratified.” “This legend,” says Wilson, “is peculiar to the Vishnu Purana, although the doctrine it
inculcates is to be found elsewhere.
Sata‐Dhanwan, Sata‐Dhanus In. ‘Having a hundred bows.’ A Yadava and son of Hridika. He killed Satrajit,
father of Satya‐bhama, the wife of Krishna, in his sleep, and was himself killed in revenge by Krishna,
who struck off his head with his discus.
Sata‐Dru In. ‘Flowing in a hundred (channels).’ The name of the river Sutlej, the Zaradrus of Ptolemy, the
Hesudrus of Pliny.
Sata‐Ghni In. ‘Slaying hundreds.’ A missile weapon used by Krishna. It is described in the Maha‐bharata as a
stone set round with iron spikes, but many have supposed it to be a rocket or other fiery weapon.
Sata‐Kratu In. ‘The god of a hundred rites;’ Indra.
Satapatha‐Brahmana In. A celebrated Brahmana attached to the White Yajur‐veda, and ascribed to the Rishi
Yajnawalkya. It is found in two sakhas, the Madhyandina and the Kanwa. This is the most complete and
systematic as well as the most important of all the Brahmanas. It has been edited by Weber.
Sata‐Rupa In. ‘The hundred‐formed.’ The first woman. According to one account she was the daughter of
Brahma, and from their incestuous intercourse the first Manu, named Swayam‐bhuva, was born.
Another account makes her the wife, not the mother, of Manu. The account given by Manu is that
Brahma divided himself into two parts, male and female, and from them sprang Manu. She is also
called Savitri. See Viraj and Brahma.
Satatapa In. An old writer on law.
Sata‐Vahana In. A name by which Sali‐vahana is some‐times called.
Sati In. A daughter of Daksha and wife of Rudra, i.e., Siva. The Vishnu Purana states that she "abandoned her
body in consequence of the anger of Daksha. She then became the daughter of Himavat and Mena; and
the divine Bhava again married Uma, who was identical with his (Siva's) former spouse." The authorities
generally agree that she died or killed herself in consequence of the quarrel between her husband and
father; and the Kasi Khanda, a modern work, represents that she entered the fire and became a Sati.
See Pitha‐sthana.
Satrajit, Satrajita In. Son of Nighna. In return for praise rendered to the sun he beheld the luminary in his
proper form, and received from him the wonderful Syamantaka gem. He lust the gem, but it was
recovered and restored to him by Krishna. In return he presented Krishna with his daughter Satya‐
bhama to wife. There had been many suitors for this lady's hand, and one of them, named Sata‐
dhanwan, in revenge for her loss, killed Satrajit and carried off the gem, but he was afterwards killed by
Krishna.
Satru‐Ghna In. 'Foe destroyer.' Twin‐brother of Lakshmana and half‐brother of Rama, in whom an eighth part
of the divinity of Vishnu was incarnate. His wife was Sruta‐kirtti cousin of Sita. He fought on the side of
Rama and killed the Rakshasa chief Lavana. See Dasa‐ratha and Rama.
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Saturn Rom. God of agriculture and the sowing of seeds;
Saturnalia began on December 17 and lasted for
seven days; During this festival, businesses closed
and gifts were exchanged; Saturday is named after
him.
Satya‐Bhama In. Daughter of Satrajita and one of the four
chief wives of Krishna. She had ten sons, Bhanu, Su‐
bhanu, Swar‐bhanu, Prabhanu, Bhanumat,
Chandrabhanu, Brihadbhanu, Atibhanu, Sribhanu,
and Pratibhanu. Krishna took her with him to Indra's
heaven, and she induced him to bring away the
Parijata tree.
Satya‐Dhriti In. Son of Saradwat and grandson of the sage
Gautama. According to the Vishnu Purana he was
father by the nymph Urvasi of Kripa and Kripi.
Satyaki. In. A kinsman of Krishna's, who fought on the side
of the Pandavas, and was Krishna's charioteer. He
assassinated Krita‐varma in a drinking bout at
Dwaraka, and was himself cut down by the friends of
his victim. He is also called Daruka and Yuyudhana;
and Saineya from his father, Sini.
Satya‐Loka In. See Loka.
Satyavan In. See Savitri. Saturn
Satya‐Vati In. Daughter of Uparichara, king of Chedi, by an Apsaras named Adrika, who was condemned to
live on earth in the form of a fish. She was mother of Vyasa by the Rishi Parasara, and she was also wife
of King Santanu, mother of Vichitra‐virya and Chitrangada, and grandmother of the Kauravas and
Pandavas, the rivals in the great war. The sage Parasara met her as she was crossing the river Yamuna
when she was quite a girl, and the offspring of their illicit intercourse was brought forth on an island
(dwipa) in that river, and was hence called Dwaipayana. (See Vyasa.) She was also called Gandha‐kali,
Gandha‐vati, and Kalangani; and as her mother lived in the form of a fish, she is called Dasa‐nandini,
Daseyi, Jhajhodari, and Matsyodari, ‘fish‐born.’; A daughter of King Gadhi, wife of the Brahman Richika,
mother of Jamad‐agni and grandmother of Parasu‐rama. She was of the Kusika race, and is said to pave
been transformed into the Kausiki river. See Richika and Viswamitra.
Satya‐Vrata In. Name of the seventh Manu. See Manu; A king of the Solar race, descended from Ikshwaku. He
was father of Haris‐chandra, and is also named Vedhas and Trisanku. According to the Ramayana he
was a pious king, and was desirous of performing a Sacrifice in virtue of which he might ascend bodily
to heaven. Vasishtha, his priest, declined to perform it, declaring it impossible. He then applied to
Vasishtha's sons, and they condemned him to become a Chandala for his presumption. In his distress
and degradation he applied to Viswamitra, who promised to raise him in that form to heaven.
Viswamitra's intended sacrifice was strongly resisted by the sons of Vasishtha, but he reduced them to
ashes, and condemned them to be born again as outcasts for seven hundred births. The wrathful sage
bore down another opposition, and Tri‐sanku ascended to heaven. Here his entry was opposed by Indra
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and the gods, but Viswamitra in a fury declared that he would create “another Indra, or the world
should have no Indra at all.” The gods were obliged to yield, and it was agreed that Tri‐sanku, an
immortal, should hang with his head downwards, and shine among some stars newly called into being
by Viswamitra.
The Vishnu Purana gives a more simple version. While Satya‐vrata was a Chandala, and the famine
was raging, he supported Viswamitra's family by hanging deer's flesh on a tree on the bank of the
Ganges, so that they might obtain food without the degradation of receiving it from a Chandala : for
this charity Viswamitra raised him to heaven.
The story is differently told in the Hari‐vansa. Satya‐vrata or Tri‐sanku, when a prince, attempted to
carry off the wife of a citizen, in consequence of which his father drove him from home, nor did
Vasishtha, the family priest, endeavour to soften the father's decision. The period of his exile was a
time of famine, and he greatly succoured the wife and family of Viswamitra, w1lowere in deep distress
while the sage was absent far away. He completed his twelve years' exile and penance, and being
hungry one day, and having no flesh to eat, he killed Vasishtha's wondrous cow, the Kama‐dhenu, and
ate thereof himself, and gave some to the sons of Viswamitra. In his rage Vasishtha gave him the name
Tri‐sanku, as being guilty of three great sins. Viswamitra was gratified by the assistance which Satya‐
vrata bad rendered to his family; “he installed him in his father's kingdom, ...and, in spite of the
resistance of the gods and of Vasishtha, exalted the king alive to heaven.”
Satyayana In. Name of a Brahmans.
Satya‐Yauvana In. A certain Vidya‐dhara.
Satyrs Gk. Deities of the woods and mountains; they are half human and half beast; they usually have a goat's
tail, flanks and hooves while the upper part of the body is that of a human, they also have the horns of
a goat; they are the companions of Dionysus, the god of wine, and they spent their time drinking,
dancing, and chasing nymphs
Saubha In. A magical city, apparently first mentioned in the Yajur‐veda. An aerial city belonging to Haris‐
chandra, and according to popular belief still visible occasionally. It is called also Kha‐pura, Prati‐
margaka, and Tranga. In the Maha‐bharata an aerial or self‐supporting city belonging to the Daityas, on
the shore of the ocean, protected by the Salwa king.
Saubhari In. A devout sage, who, when he was old and emaciated, was inspired with a desire of offspring. He
went to King Mandhatri, and demanded one of his fifty daughters. Afraid to refuse, and yet unwilling to
bestow a daughter upon such a suitor, the king temporised, and endeavoured to evade the request. It
was at length settled that, if anyone of the daughters should accept him as a bridegroom, the king
would consent to the marriage. Saubhari was conducted to the presence of the girls; but on his way he
assumed a fair and handsome form, so that all the girls were captivated, and contended with each
other as to who should become his wife. It ended by his marrying them all and taking them home. He
caused Viswa‐karma to build for each a separate palace, furnished in the most luxurious manner, and
surrounded with exquisite gardens, where they lived a most happy life, each one of them having her
husband always present with her, and believing that he was devoted to her and her only. By his wives
he had a hundred and fifty sons; but as he found his hopes and desires for them to daily increase and
expand, he resolved to devote himself wholly and solely to penance and the worship of Vishnu.
Accordingly, he abandoned his children and retired with his wives to the forest. See Vishnu Purana.
Saudasa In. Son of King Sudas. Their descendants are all Saudasas. See Kalmasha‐pada.
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Saunaka In. A sage, the son of Sunaka and grandson of Gritsa‐mada. He was the author of the Brihad‐devata,
an Anu‐kramani, and other works, and he was a teacher of the Atharva‐veda. His pupil was Aswalayana.
There was a family of the name, and the works attributed to Saunaka are probably the productions of
more than one person.
Saunanda A club shaped like a pestle, which was one of the weapons of Bala‐rama.
Saura Purana In. See Purana.
Saurashtras In. The People of Surashtra.
Saut In. is Name of the sage who repeated the Maha‐bharata to the Rishis in the Naimisha forest.
Sauviras In. A people connected with the Saindhavas or people of Sindh, and probably inhabitants of the
western and southern parts of the Panjab. Cunningham says that Sauvira was the plain country.
Savarna In. Wife of the sun. “The female of like appearance,” whom Saranyu, wife of Vivaswat, substituted for
herself when she fled. (See Saranyu.) Manu was the offspring of Savarna. This is the version given in the
Nirukta. In the Vishnu Purana, Savarna is daughter of the ocean, wife of Prachinabarhis, and mother of
the ten Prachetasas.
Savarna, Savarni In. The eighth Manu. The name it used either alone or in combination for all the succeeding
Manus to the fourteenth and last. See Manu.
Savitri In. ‘Generator.’ 1. A name used in the Vedas for the sun. Many hymns are addressed to him, and he is
some‐ times distinguished from that deity. 2. One of the Adityas.
Savitrl In. The holy verse of the Veda, commonly called Gayatri; A name of Sata‐rupa, the daughter and wife of
Brahma, who is sometimes regarded as a personification of the holy verse; Daughter of King Aswa‐pati,
and lover of Satyavan, whom she insisted on marrying, although she was warned by a seer that he had
only one year to live. When the fatal day arrived, Satyavan went out to cut wood, and she followed
him. There he fell, dying, to the earth, and she, as she supported him, saw a figure, who told her that he
was Yama, king of the dead, and that he had come for her husband's spirit. Yama carried off the spirit
towards the shades, but Savitri followed him. Her devotion pleased Yama, and he offered her any boon
except the life of her husband. She extorted three such boons from Yama, but still she followed him,
and he was finally constrained to restore her husband to life.
Savya‐Sachin In. ‘Who pulls a bow with either hand.’ A title of Arjuna.
Saxnot N. Saxon helper god
Sayana In. Sayanacharya, the celebrated commentator on the Rig‐veda. “He was brother of Madhavacharya,
the prime minister of Vira Bukka Raya, Raja of Vijaya‐nagara, in the fourl6enth century, a munificent
patron of Hindu literature. Both the brothers are celebrated as scholars, and many important works are
attributed to them; not only scholia on the Sanhitas and Brahmanas of the Vedas, but original works on
grammar and law; the fact, no doubt, being that they availed themselves of those means which their
situation and influence secured them, and employed the most learned Brahmans they could attract to
Vijaya‐nagara upon the works which bear their name, and to which they also contributed their own
labour and learning; their works were, therefore, compiled under peculiar advantages, and are
deservedly held in the highest estimation.”‐Wilson.
Scaean Gates Gk. Gamous gates at Troy
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Scamander Gk. A river god; son of Oceanus and Tethys; also thought of as the son of Zeus; the father of King
Teucer by Idaea
Scarab Eg. The dung‐rolling beetle was, to the ancient Egyptians, a symbol of regeneration and spontaneous
creation, as it seemed to emerge from nowhere; in fact it came from eggs previously laid in the sand;
Seals and amulets in scarab form were very common and were thought to possess magic powers.
Scatach N. "She who strikes fear"; A Lapp (Saami) Goddess
Scheria Gk. An island, the homeland of the Phaeacians; the last destination of Odysseus before coming back
home to Ithaca
Sciron Gk. A robber killed by Theseus; he forced travelers to wash his feet, while they knelt before him he
kicked them off a cliff behind them where they were eaten by a sea monster (or a giant turtle); he was
pushed by Theseus off the cliff; Megarians claimed that Sciron was not a robber, but a prince of
Megara, and son of King Pylus who was the father of Endeis, wife of Aeacus
Scorpion Gk. Was a giant scorpion sent forth by the earth‐goddess Gaia to slay the giant Orion when he
threatened to slay all the beasts of the earth
Scylla Gk. Beautiful sea nymph who became a sea monster because of her lover Glaucus
Scyros, island Gk. An island ruled by Lycomedes where Theseus was killed and Achilles disguised as a girl
Seaboiler N. A one‐mile‐deep kettle owned by the Giant Hymir. Since borrowed by Tyr and Thor, it has been in
Aegir's posession, and used at his big beer fests
Seasons Gk. The Horai (or Horae) were the goddesses of the seasons and the natural portions of time, they
presided over the revolutions of the heavenly constellations by which the year was measured, while
their three sisters spinned out the web of fate, the Horai also guarded the gates of Olympos and rallied
the stars and constellations of heaven.
Seater N. Saxon deity of Saturday = Saturn.
Securitas Rom. Goddess of security and stability.
Sed festival Eg. This is ritual meant to show royal regeneration; It was traditionally celebrated after 30 years of
a king's reign; It is a scene usually found decorating the mortuary temples of the king.
Seid, Seidh, Seidhr N. A particular form of magic, used primarily by females. Odin is a seidh master, having
been taught by Freya. The seidkona (seid woman) enters a trance state and connects with the spirits,
who then give her advice. Seidh trance travel is comparable to shamanistic practices.
Seidh‐hjallr N. The seidh witch's seat.
Seidkona N. Woman who practices Seidr, a volva, a seer
Seidmann N. The bad magician. (Since seid is frowned upon as practiced by males, it has a negative
connotation.)
Sekhem Eg. A symbol of authority.
Sekhet‐aanru Eg. This mythical place was originally called the "Field of the Aanru plants"; It was believed to be
islands in the Delta where the souls of the dead lived; This was the abode of the god Osiris, who
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bestowed goodness upon his followers, and here the dead could lead a new existence complete with
an abundance of food of every kind; The Sekhet‐Aanru is in the "Fields of Peace".
Sekhet‐hetepet Eg. According to the Osiris cults the Fields of Peace was the desired location of the deceased;
They would join with their god, Osiris and become a khu, drink, plow, reap, fight, make love, never be in
a state of servitude and always be in a position of authority.
Sekhmet Eg. A lion headed goddess; As a sun goddess she represents the scorching, burning, destructive heat
of the sun; She was a fierce goddess of war, the destroyer of the enemies of Ra and Osiris.
Selene Gk. The Goddess of the Moon; daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia; her brother Helios is the
Sun, and Her sister Eos is the rosy‐fingered Dawn; was depicted as a beautiful winged goddess who
wears a golden crown that radiates gentle light; by Zeus, she is the mother of daughters Pandia, Erse
(the Dew), and Nemea; some also say she was mother of the Nemean Lion, whom Heracles killed
Sema Eg. It is believed to represent the lungs attached to the windpipe. As a hieroglyph this symbol represents
the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt; Other symbols are often added to further illustrate
unification; It is sometimes bound together with two plants, the papyrus and the lotus; The papyrus
represents Lower Egypt and the lotus represents Upper Egypt.
Semele Gk. A daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, at Thebes, and mother of Dionysus (Bacchus) by Zeus; her
liaison with Zeus enraged Zeus’s wife, Hera, who, disguised as an old nurse, coaxed Semele into asking
Zeus to visit her in the same splendor in which he would appear before Hera, Zeus had already
promised to grant Semele her every wish and thus was forced to grant a wish that would kill her: the
splendour of his firebolts, as god of thunder, destroyed Semele
Semiramis Gk. Was both Nimrod's wife and mother, was worshiped as the "mother of god" and a "fertility
goddess" because she had to be extremely fertile to give birth to all the pagan incarnate gods that
represented Nimrod
Semonia Rom. Goddess of sowing.
Sending N. The magical technique of projecting runestaves and their powers out of the self into the world to
do their rightful work.
Sepat Eg. The ancient Egyptian term for an administrative province of Egypt.
Serapis Rom. God of the sky.
Serpents and snakes N. Countless of these are beneath Yggdrasil along with Nidhogg; some of them are called
Goin and Moin (Grafvitnir's sons), Grabak, Grafvollud, Ofnir, and Svafnir.
Sesen Eg. A lotus flower; This is a symbol of the sun, of creation and rebirth; Because at night the flower closes
and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again; According to one creation myth it was a giant
lotus which first rose out of the watery chaos at the beginning of time; From this giant lotus the sun
itself rose on the first day.
Sesha, Sesha‐Naga In. King of the serpent race or Nagas, and of the infernal regions called Patala. A serpent
with a thousand heads which is the couch and canopy of Vishnu whilst sleeping during the intervals 9f
creation. Sometimes Sesha is represented as supporting the world, and sometimes as upholding, the
seven patalas or hells. Whenever he yawns he causes earth‐quakes. At the end of each kalpa he vomits
venomous fire, which destroys all creation. When the gods churned the ocean they made use of Sesha
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as a great rope, which they twisted round the mountain Mandara, and so used it as a churn. He is
represented clothed in purple and wearing a white necklace, holding in one hand a plough and in the
other a pestle. He is also called Ananta, ‘the endless,’ as the symbol of eternity. His wife was named
Ananta‐sirsha. He is sometimes distinct from Vasuki but generally identified with him. In the Puranas he
is said to be the son of Kasyapa and Kadru, and according to some authorities he was incarnate in Bala‐
rama. His hood is called Mani‐dwipa, ‘the island of jewels,’ and his palace Mani‐bhitti, ‘jewel‐walled,’ or
Mani‐mandapa, ‘jewel palace.’
Sessrumnir N. Freyia's hall in Asgard; her dwelling is called Folkvangar.
Set amentet Eg. This means "the mountain of the underworld," a common name for the cemeteries were in
the mountains or desert on the western bank of the Nile.
Seth Eg. Early in Egyptian history, Seth is spoken of in terms of reverence as the god of wind and storms; He
was even known as the Lord of Upper Egypt; Later he became the god of evil.
Setu‐Bandha In. ‘Rama's bridge.’ The line of rocks between the continent and Ceylon called in maps “Adam's
bridge.” It is also know as Samudraru. There is a poem called Setu‐bandha or Setu‐kavya on the subject
of the building of the bridge by Rama's allies.
Shad‐Darsana In. See Darsana.
Shad‐Vinsa In. ‘Twenty‐sixth.’ One of the Brahmanas of the Sama‐veda. It is called “the twenty‐sixth” because
it was added to the Praudha Brahmana, which has twenty‐five sections.
Shape‐shifting N. A form of astral‐projection or out‐of‐body experience. While the magician's body lay as if
asleep or dead, he'd assume the form of a bird, beast, fish or worm (serpent) and travel to distant
places. Shape‐shift battles are recorded. Injuries to a shape‐shifter often affected the human form.
Shat‐Pura In. ‘The sixfold cities,’ or ‘the six cities’ granted by Brahma to the Asuras, and of which Nikumbha
was king. It was taken by Krishna and given to Brahma‐datta, a Brahman. ‐Hari‐vansa.
She Eg. A pool of water; The Egyptians believed water was the primeval matter from which aII creation began;
Life in Egypt's desert climate depended on water, and a pool of water would be a great luxury; There
are many tomb paintings that show the deceased drinking from a pool in the afterlife.
Shen Eg. A loop of rope that has no beginning and no end, it symbolized eternity; The shen also seems to be a
symbol of protection; It is often seen being clutched by deities in bird form, Horus the falcon, Mut the
vulture; Hovering over Pharaohs head with their wings outstretched in a gesture of protection; The
word shen comes from the word "shenu" which means "encircle,"
and in its elongated form became the cartouche which surrounded
the king's name.
Shiva In. the destroyer; is one of the three supreme gods in Hindu
mythology.
Sibyl Gk. The Cumaean Sibyl was the priestess presiding over the
Apollonian oracle at Cumae, a Greek colony located near Naples,
Italy; comes (via Latin) from the ancient Greek word sibylla, meaning
prophetess
Shiva
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Sick Bed N. Sick Bed is the Death Goddess Hel's bed. It stands in her dark castle Eljudnir in Nifilhel.
Siddhanta In. Any scientific work on astronomy or mathematics.
SIDDHANTA Kaumudl In. A modern and simplified form , If panini's Grammar by Bhattoji Dikshita. It is in print.
SIDDHANTA‐Slromani In. A work on astronomy by Bhaskaracharya. It has been printed, and has been
translated for the Bibliotheca Indica.
Siddhas In. A class of semi‐divine beings of great purity and holiness, who dwell in the regions of the sky
between the earth and the sun. They are said to be 88,000 in number.
Sidero Gk. Known as "the Iron One"; the second wife of Salmoneus and stepmother of the twins Pelias and
Neleus; she mistreated the twins' mother Tyro horribly, incurring their wrath when they reached
adulthood
Sif N. The second wife of Thor, Sif has the gift of prophecy. Sif
is a swan maiden and can assume that form. She
signifies summer fertility and corn. Having been
married once to Orvandil, she is one of the elder races
of Gods. Ullr was her son from that union. Her golden
hair was cut off by Loki as a trick, and replaced with
hair of gold made by the Dwarves. She gave Thor two
sons, Magni ("Might") and Modi ("Wrath") who survive
Ragnarök.
Sig N. Victory.
Signing N. Magical signs or gestures made with motions of the
hands to trace various magical symbols in the air
around an object or person to be affected by their
power. The magical technique of tracing runestaves in
the air to "rist them in the world"
Sigrdrifa N. "Victory Blizzard". A Valkyrie, one of the Disir
Sigrún N. "Victory Rune"; A Valkyrie, one of the Disir
Sif
Sigrúnar N. Victory runes runes which are used to assist one in obtaining victory; These are used to gain
advantage in all kinds of contests. They should be written upon the runemaster's clothing, instruments,
tools, or weapons.
Sigtyr N. "God of Victory". A by‐name of Odin
Sigurdhr Fåvnesbane (sig‐urd) N. "Dragonslayer". Human lover of the Valkyrie Brynhild; He could understand
the speech of birds and could shape‐shift into wolf form. He killed the dragon Fafnir, and Fafnir's
brother, the smith Regin. He married Gudrun, Gjuke's daughter, even though he had betrothed himself
to Brynhilde.
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Sigyn, Siguna, Signy N. "The Faithful". Goddess wife of Loki, whose two sons are Vali and Narfi; When Loki is
punished, she stays with him holding a bowl over his face to save him from the snake venom dripping
onto him.
Sikhandin, Sikhandini In. Sikhandini is said to have been the daughter of Raja Drupada, but according to
another statement she was one of the two wives whom Bhishma obtained for his brother Vichitra‐
virya. "She (the widow) perished in the jungle, but before her death she had been assured by Parasu‐
rama that she should become a man in a future birth, and cause the death of Bhishma, who had been
the author of her misfortunes." Accordingly she was born again as Sikhandin, son of Drupada. Bhishma
fell in battle pierced all over by the arrows of Arjuna, but according to this story the fatal shaft came
from the hands of Sikhandin. See Amba.
Siksha In. Phonetics; one of the Vedangas. The science which teaches the proper pronunciation and manner
of reciting the Vedas. There are many treatises on this subject.
Silvanus Rom. God of woods and fields.
Sindhu In. The river Indus; also the country along that river and the people dwelling in it. From Sindhu came
the Hind of the Arabs, the Hindoi or Indoi of the Greeks, and our India; A river in Malwa. There are
others of the Dame. See Sapta‐sindhava.
Sindri N. Elf‐smith who worked in Asgard; Brokk was his brother; A red‐gold roofed hall which will appear after
Ragnarok.
SINHALA, SINHALA‐Dwlpa In. Ceylon.
Sinhasana Dwatrinsat In. The thirty‐two stories told by the images which supported the throne of King
Vikramaditya. It is the Singhasan Battisi in Hindustani, and is current in most of the languages of India.
Sinhika In. A daughter of Daksha and wife of Kasyapa; also a daughter of Kasyapa and wife of Viprachitti; A
Rakshasi who tried to swallow Hanuman and make a meal of him. He allowed her to do so and then
rent her body to pieces and departed. Her habit was to seize the shadow of the object she wished to
devour and so drag the prey into her jaws.
Sinmara N. The earth‐pale Giantess Sinmara watches the rooster Vidofner. Her magic‐wand, Laevatein, which
she keeps away from the Giants, is the only thing that can kill the rooster.
Sipra In. The river on which the city of Ujjayini stands.
Sira‐Dhwaja In. ‘He of the plough‐banner.’ An epithet for Janaka.
Sirens Gk. Three dangerous bird‐women, portrayed as seductresses who lured nearby sailors with their
enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island
Sirius Gk. The god or goddess of the Dog‐Star of the constellation Canis Major; the pre‐dawn rising of the star
in conjunction with the sun was believed to bring on the scorching heat of midsummer
Sistrum Eg. The sistrum was a sacred noise‐making instrument used in the cult of Hathor; The sistrum
consisted of a wooden or metal frame fitted with loose strips of metal and disks which jingled when
moved; This noise was thought to attract the attention of the gods; There are two types of sistrum, an
iba, was shaped in a simple loop, like a closed horse‐shoe with loose cross bars of metal above a Hathor
head and a long handle; The seseshet had the shape of a naos temple above a Hathor head, with
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ornamental loops on the sides; The rattle was inside the box of the naos; They were usually carried by
women of high rank.
Sisumara In. ‘A porpoise.’ The planetary sphere, which, as Vishnu Purana, has the shape of a porpoise, Vishnu
being seated in its heart, and Dhruva or the pole star in its tail. “As Dhruva revolves, it causes the sun,
moon, and other planets to turn round also; and the lunar asterisms follow in its circular path, for all
the celestial luminaries are, in fact, bound to the polar star by aerial cords.”
Sisu‐Pala In. Son of Dama‐ghosha, king of Chedi, by Sruta‐deva, sister of Vasu‐deva; he was therefore cousin
of Krishna, but he was Krishna's implacable foe, because Krishna had carried off Rukmini, his intended
wife. He was slain by Krishna at the great sacrifice of Yudhi‐shthira in punishment of opprobrious
abuse. The Maha‐bharata states that Sisu‐pala was born with three eyes and four arms. His parents
were inclined to cast him out, but were warned by a voice not to do so, as his time was not come. It
also foretold that his superfluous members should disappear when a certain person took the child into
his lap, and that he would eventually die by the hands of that same person. Krishna placed the child on
his knees and the extra eye and arms disappeared; Krishna also killed him. The Vishnu Purana
contributes an additional legend about him. "Sisu‐pala was in a former existence the unrighteous but
valiant monarch of the Daityas, Hiranya‐kasipu, who was killed by the divine guardian of creation (in
the man‐lion Avatara). He was next the ten‐headed (sovereign Ravana), whose unequalled prowess,
strength, and power were overcome by the lord of the three worlds (Rama). Having been killed by the
deity in the form of Raghava, he had long enjoyed the reward of his virtues in exemption from an
embodied state, but had now received birth once more as Sisu‐pala, the son of Dama‐ghosha, king of
Chedi. In this character he renewed with greater inveteracy than over his hostile hatred towards
Pundarikaksha (Vishnu ), ...and was in consequence Blain by him. But from the circumstance of his
thoughts being constantly engrossed by the supreme being, Sisu‐pala was united with him after death,
.., for the lord bestows a heavenly and exalted station even upon those whom he slays in his
displeasure," He was called Sunitha, ‘virtuous.’
Sisupala‐Badha In. ‘The death of Sisu‐pala;’ an epic poem by Magha, in twenty cantos. It has been often
printed, and has been translated into French by Fauche.
Sisyphus Gk. A king punished by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll

back down, and to repeat this throughout eternity
Sita In. ‘A furrow.’ In the Veda, Sita is the furrow, or husbandry
personified, and worshipped as a deity presiding over
agriculture and fruits. In the Ramayana and later works she is
daughter of Janaka king of Videha, and wife of Rama. The old
Vedic idea still adhered to her, for she sprang from a furrow
In the Ramayana her father Janaka says, “As I was ploughing
my field, there sprang from the plough a girl, obtained by me
while cleansing my field, and known by name as Sita (the
furrow). This girl sprung from the earth grew up as my
daughter.” Hence she is styled Ayonija, ‘not born from the
womb.’ She is said to have lived before in the Krita age as
Vedavati, and to be in reality the goddess Lakshmi in human
form, born in the world for bringing about the destruction of
Ravana, the Rakshasa king of Lanka, who was invulnerable to ordinary means, but doomed to die on
account of a woman. Sita became the wife of Rama, who won her by bending the great bow of Siva.
She was his only wife, and was the embodiment of purity, tenderness, and conjugal affection. She
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accompanied her husband in his exile, but was carried off from him by Ravana and kept in his palace at
Lanka. There he made many efforts to win her to his will, but she continued firm against all
persuasions, threats and terrors, and maintained a dignified serenity throughout. Then Rama had slain
the ravisher and recovered his wife, he received her coldly, and refused to take her back, for it was hard
to believe it possible that she had retained her honour. She asserted her purity in touching language,
and resolved to establish it by the ordeal of fire. The pile was raised and she entered the flames in the
presence of gods and men, but she remained unhurt, and the god of fire brought her forth and placed
her in her husband's arms. Notwithstanding this proof of her innocence, jealous thoughts passed
through the mind of Rama, and after he had ascended his ancestral throne at Ayodhya, his people
blamed him for taking back a wife who had been in the power of a licentious ravisher. So, although she
was pregnant, he banished her and sent her to the hermitage of Valmiki, where she gave birth to twin
sons, Kusa and Lava. There she lived till the boys were about fifteen years old. One day they strayed to
their father's capital He recognised and acknowledged them and then recalled Sita. She returned and
publicly declared her innocence. But her heart was deeply wounded. She called upon her mother earth
to attest her purity, and it did so. The ground opened, and she was taken back into the source from
which she had sprung. Raffia was now disconsolate and resolved to quit this mortal life. (See Rama.)
Sita had the appellations of Bhumi‐ja, Dharani‐suta, and Parthivi, all meaning ‘daughter of the earth.’
Sitting‐out magic N. Trance‐state magic practiced in Seid..Both motionlessness and breath control are basics
of Útiseta, the "sitting out" which is used to set the seidkona apart form the world she normally
inhabits. The resulting "not‐thinking" has the same intrinsic value for the runester, freeing body and
mind and leading to the magical trance which is required to examine and explore the nine worlds of
Norse creation.
Siva In. The name Siva is unknown to the Vedas, but Rudra, another name of this deity, and almost equally
common, occurs in the Veda both in the singular and plural, and from these the great deity Siva and his
manifestations, the Rudras, have been developed. In the Rig‐veda the word Rudra is used for Agni, and
the Maruts are called his sons. In other passages he is distinct from Agni. He is lauded as “the lord of
Bongs, the lord of sacrifices, who hea1s remedies, is brilliant as the sun, the best and most bountiful of
gods, who grants prosperity and welfare to horses and sheep, men, women, and cows; the lord of
nourishment, who drives away diseases, dispenses remedies, and removes sin; but, on the other hand
he is the wielder of the thunderbolt, the bearer of bow and arrows, and mounted on his chariot is
terrible as a wild beast, destructive and fierce.” In the Yajur‐veda there is a long prayer called
Satarudriya which is addressed to him and appeals to him under a great variety of epithets. He is
“auspicious, not terrible;” “the deliverer, the first divine physician;” he is “blue‐necked and red‐
coloured, who has a thousand eyes and bears a thousand quivers;” and in another hymn he is called
“Tryambaka, the sweet‐scented in‐ creaser of prosperity;” “a medicine for kine and horses, a medicine
for men, and a (source of) ease to rams and ewes.” In the Atharva‐veda he is still the protector of
cattle, but his character is fiercer. He is " dark, black, destroying, terrible.” He is the “fierce god,” who is
besought to betake himself elsewhere, “and not to assail mankind with consumption, poison, or
celestial fire.” The Brahmanas tell that when Rudra was born he wept, and his father, Prajapati, asked
the reason, and on being told that he wept because he had not received a name, his father gave him
the name of Rudra (from the root rod, ‘weep’). They also relate that at the request of the gods he
pierced Prajapati because of his incestuous intercourse with his daughter. In another place he is said to
have applied to his father eight successive times for a name, and that he received in succession the
names Bhava, Sarva, Pasu‐pati, Ugradeva, Mahandeva, Rudra, Isana, and Asani. In the Upanishads his
character is further developed. He declares to the inquiring gods, “I alone was before (all things), and I
exist and I shall be. No other transcends me. I am eternal and not eternal, discernible and
undiscernible, I am Brahma and I am not Brahma.” Again it is said, “He is the only Rudra, he is lsana, he
is divine, he is Maheswara, he is Mahadeva.” “There is only one Rudra, there is no place for a second.
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He rules this fourth world, controlling and productive; living beings abide with him, united with him. At
the time of the end he annihilates all worlds, the protector.” “He is without beginning, middle, or end;
the one, the pervading, the spiritual and blessed, the wonderful, the consort of Uma, the supreme lord,
the three‐eyed, the blue‐throated, the tranquil ...He is Brahma, he is Siva, he is Indra; he is undecaying,
supreme, self‐resplendent; he is Vishnu, he is breath, he is the spirit, the supreme lord; he is all that
hath been or that shall be, eternal Knowing him, a man overpasses death. There is no other way to
liberation.” In the Ramayana Siva is a great god, but the references to him having more of the idea of a
personal god than of a supreme divinity. He is represented as fighting with Vishnu, and as receiving
worship with Brahma, Vishnu, and Indra, but he acknowledges the divinity of Rama, and holds a less
exalted position than Vishnu. The Maha‐bharata also gives Vishnu or Krishna the highest honour upon
the whole. But it has many passages in which Siva occupies the supreme p~ and receives the homage
and worship of Vishnu and Krishna. “Maha‐deva,” it says, “is an all‐pervading god yet is nowhere seen;
he is the creator and the lord of Brahma, Vishnu, and Indra, whom the gods, from Brahma to the
Pisachas, worship.” The rival claims of Siva and Vishnu to supremacy are clearly displayed in this poem;
and many of those powers and attributes are ascribed to them which were afterwards so widely
developed in the Puranas. Attempts also are made to reconcile their conflicting claims by representing
Siva and Vishnu, Siva and Krishna, to be one, or, as it is expressed at a later time in the Hari‐vansa,
there is “no difference between Siva who exists in the form of Vishnu, and Vishnu who exists in the
form of Siva.”
The Puranas distinctly assert the supremacy of their particular divinity, whether it be Siva or
whether it be Vishnu, and they have developed and amplified the myths and allusions of the older
writings into numberless legends and stories for the glorification and honour of their favourite god.
The Rudra of the Vedas has developed in the course of ages into the great and powerful god Siva,
the third deity of the Hindu triad, and the supreme god of his votaries. He is shortly described as the
destroying principle, but his powers and attributes are more numerous and much wider. Under the
name of Rudra or Maha‐kala, he is the great destroying and dissolving power. But destruction in Hindu
belief implies reproduction; so as Siva or Sankara, ‘the auspicious,’ he is the reproductive power which
is perpetually restoring that which has been dissolved, and hence he is regarded as lswara, the supreme
lord, and Maha‐deva, the great god. Under this character of restorer he is represented by his symbol
the Linga or phallus, typical of reproduction; and it is under this form alone, or combined with the Yoni,
or female organ, the representative of his Sakti, or female energy, that he is everywhere worshipped.
Thirdly, he is the Maha‐yogi, the great ascetic, in whom is centred the highest perfection of austere
penance and abstract meditation, by which the most unlimited powers are attained, marvels an
miracles are worked, the highest spiritual knowledge is acquired, and union with the great spirit of the
universe is eventually gained. In this character he is the naked ascetic Dig‐ambara, ‘clothed with the
elements,’ or Dhur‐jati, ‘loaded with matted hair,’ and his body smeared with ashes. His first or
destructive character is sometimes intensified, and he becomes Bhairava, ‘the terrible destroyer,’ who
takes a pleasure in destruction. He is also Bhuteswara, the lord of ghosts and goblins. In these
characters he haunts cemeteries and places of cremation, wearing serpents round his head and skulls
for a necklace, attended by troops of imps and trampling on rebellious demons. He some‐ times
indulges in revelry, and, heated with drink, dances furiously with his wife Devi the dance called
Tandava, while troops of drunken imps caper around them. Possessed of so many powers and
attributes, he has a great number of names, and is represented under a variety of forms. One authority
enumerates a thousand and eight names, but most of these are descriptive epithets, as Tri‐lochana,
‘the three‐eyed,’ Nila‐kantha, ‘the blue‐throated,’ and Panch‐anana, ‘the five‐faced.’ Siva is a fair man
with five faces and four arms. He is commonly represented seated in profound thought, with a third
eye in the middle of his forehead, contained in or surmounted by the moon's crescent; his matted locks
are gathered up into a coil like a born, which bears upon it a symbol of the river Ganges, which he
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caught as it fell from heaven; a necklace of skulls (munda‐mala), hangs round his neck, and serpents
twine about his neck as a collar (naga‐kundala); his neck is blue from drinking the deadly poison which
would have destroyed the world, and in his hand he holds a trisula or trident called Pinaka. His garment
is the skin of a tiger, a deer, or an elephant, hence he is called Kritti‐vasas; sometimes he is clothed in a
skin and seated upon a tiger‐skin, and he holds a door in his hand. He is generally accompanied by his
bull Nandi. He also carries the bow Ajagava, a drum (damaru) in the shape of an hour‐glass the
Khatwanga or club with a skull at the end, or a cord (pasa) for binding refractory offenders. His
Pramathas or attendants are numerous, and are imps and demons of various kinds. His third eye has
been very destructive. With it he reduced to ashes Kama, the god of love, for daring to inspire amorous
thoughts of his consort Parvati while he was engaged in penance; and the gods and all created beings
were destroyed by its glance at one of the periodical destructions of the universe. He is represented to
have cut off one of the heads of Brahma for speaking disrespectfully, so that Brahma. Has only four
heads instead of five. Siva is the great object of worship at Benares under the name of Visweswara. His
heaven is on Mount Kailasa.
There are various legends respecting Siva's garments and weapons. It is said that he once visited a
forest in the form of a religious mendicant and the wives of the Rishis residing there fell in love with his
great beauty, which the Rishis, perceiving, resented; in order, therefore, to overpower him, they first
dug a pit, and by magical arts caused a tiger to rush out of it, which he slew, and taking his skin wore it
as a garment; they next caused a deer to spring out upon him, which he took up in his left hand and
ever after retained there. They then produced a red‐hot‐iron, but this too he took up and kept in his
hand as a weapon. ... The elephant's skin belonged to an Asura named Gaya, who acquired such power
that he would have conquered the gods, and would have destroyed the Munis had they not fled to
Benares and taken refuge in a temple of Siva, who then destroyed the Asura, and, ripping up his body,
stripped off the (elephant) hide, which he cast over his shoulders for a cloak."‐Williams.
Other names or epithets of Siva are Aghora, ‘horrible; Babhru, Bhagavat, ‘divine;’ Chandra‐sekhara,
‘moon‐crested;’ Ganga‐dhara, ‘bearer of the Ganges;’ Gilisa, ‘mountain lord;’ Hara, ‘seizer;’ lsana,
‘ruler;’ Jata‐dhara, ‘wearing matted hair;’ Jala‐murtti, ‘whose form is water;’ Kala, ‘time;’ Kalan‐jara;
Kapala‐malin, ‘wearing a garland of skulls;’ Maha‐kala, ‘great time;’ Mahesa, ‘great lord;’ Mrityunjaya,
‘vanquisher of death;’ Pasu‐pati, ‘lord of animals;’ Sankara, Sarva, Sadasiva or Sambhu, ‘the auspicious;’
Sthanu, ‘the firm;’ Tryambaka, ‘three‐eyed;’ Ugra, ‘fierce;’ Virupaksha, ‘of mis‐formed eyes;’
Viswanatha, ‘lord of all.’
Siva Purana In. See Purana.
Sivi In. Son of Usinara, and king of the country also called Usinara, near Gandhara. The great charity and
devotion of Sivi are extolled in the Maha‐bharata by the sage Markandeya. Agni having assumed the
form of a pigeon, was pursued by Indra in the shape of a falcon. The pigeon took refuge in the bosom of
Sivi, and the falcon would accept nothing from Sivi instead of the pigeon but an equal weight of the
king's own flesh. Sivi cut a piece of flesh from his right thigh and placed it in the balance, but the bird
was the heavier. He cut again and again, and still the pigeon drew the scale, until the king placed his
whole body in the balance. This outweighed the pigeon and the falcon flew away. On another occasion
Vishnu went to Sivi in the form of a Brahman and demanded food, but would accept no food but Sivi's
own son Vrihad‐garbha, whom he required Sivi to kill and cook. The king did so, and placed the food
before the Brahman, who then told him to eat it him‐self. Sivi took up the head and prepared to eat.
The Brahman then stayed his hand, commended his devotion, and restoring the son to life, vanished
from sight.
Sjåmadhr N. "See‐Man". A man who sees, a seer), that phonetically comes very close to the word 'Shaman'.
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Sjöfn, Sjofna N. "Affection". Asa‐Goddess of love, also known as Vjofn; One of the Asynjor (Æsir Goddess); It
was her duty to stop fights between married couples. The Sjofn gives love and sex to both men and
women. She is the mistress of the human's passion and the only one who can arrage for dissallowed
couples to be with each other.
Sjónhverfing N. A special subset of seid magic, the magical delusion or "deceiving of the sight" where the seid‐
witch affects the minds of others so that they cannot see things as they truly are. The role of seidr in
illusion magic is well‐documented in the sagas, particularly being used to conceal a person from his
pursuers. Part of this power may have been due to hypnosis, for the seid‐witch could be deprived of
her powers by being deprived of her sight, and the effect faded when the victim left the presence of
the seid‐practitioner.
Skadi N. "Harm". Daughter of the Jotun‐Giant Thjatsi; Scathing Goddess of wintertime destruction, she wished
to revenge her father that the gods had killed earlier. She is offered an Aesir husband. She desires fair
Balder and so chooses the most beautiful pair of feet, which belonged to Njord. They did marry, but it
didn't last because she didn't like living with the Æsirs. Scandinavia is named after her‐‐the "land of
Skadi". Ullr was her husband after Njord. She may have been the third aspect of Nerthus. She brings the
snow which insures a good harvest and she leads the Wild Hunt. The wolf and poisonous snake are
sacred to her.
Skald N. A poet who composes highly formal, originally magical, verse.
Skaldcraft N. The magical force of poetry; verbal magic (Galdr).
Skambha In. ‘The supporter.’ A name sometimes used in the Rig‐veda to designate the Supreme Deity. There
is considerable doubt and mystery about both this name and deity. "The meaning of the term," says
Goldstucker, "is 'the fulcrum,' and it seems to mean the fulcrum of the whole world in all it. physical,
religious, and other aspects." ‐Muir's Texts, v. 378.
Skanda In. God of war. See Karttikeya.
Skanda Purana In. “The Skanda purana is that in which the six‐faced deity (Skanda) has related the events of
the Tatpurusha Kalpa, enlarged with many tales, and subservient to the duties taught by Maheswara. It
is said to contain 81,800 stanzas: So it is asserted amongst mankind.” “It is uniformly agreed,” says
Wilson, “that the Skanda Purana, in a collective form, has no existence; and the fragments, in the shape
of Sanhitas, Khandas, and Mahatmyas, which are affirmed in various parts of India to be portions of the
Purana, present a much more formidable mass of stanzas than even the immense number of which it is
said to consist. The most celebrated of these portions in Hindusthan is the Kasi Khanda, a very minute
description of the temples of Siva in or adjacent to Benares, mixed with directions for worshipping
Maheswara, and a great variety of legends explanatory of its merits and of the holiness of Kasi. Many of
them are puerile and uninteresting, but some of them are of a higher character. There is every reason o
believe the greater part of the contents of the Kasi Khanda anterior to the first attack upon Benares by
Mahmud of Ghazni. The Kasi Khanda alone contains 15,000 stanzas. Another considerable work is the
Utkala Khanda, giving an account of the holiness of Orissa.” A part of this Purana has been printed at
Bombay.
Skeggjöld, Skegghol N. "Wearing a War Axe". A Valkyrie who serves ale to the Einheriar in Valhalla
Skidbladnir N. "Covered with pieces of wood". The best of ships, constructed with great ingenuity for Freyr by
the sons of Dwarf Ivaldi. It can sail in both air and water. It is big enough to hold all of the Æsir, yet it
can fold up like a cloth to go in one's pocket.
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Skinfaxi N. Dag/Day's horse, which’s shining mane lights the sky and sea.
Skirnir N. "The Beaming One". Freyr's servant;Skirnir rides to Jotunheim to get the Giantess Gerd for him. He
gets Freyr's horse, Blodighofi, as a reward. He was also sent to the world of black‐elves and Dwarves to
have Gleipnir made.
Skögul N. "Battle". A Valkyrie who serves ale to the Einheriar in Valhalla; Göndul, Hildr and Skögul, are the
noblest Valkyries in Asgard. Their task is to choose the men permitted to go to Valhalla. She is often
associated with war magic.
Skoll N. One of the two fierce wolves who pursued the sun and moon. The other is Hati.Their object was to
swallow them so that the world might again be enveloped in its primeval darkness. Skoll is the wolf that
chases the lightdisir Sun and her two horses. Hati runs in front of her.When nature dies before
Ragnarok, Skoll finally gets to eat Sun. Skoll and Hati are sons of the Giantess of Iron Wood and Fenrir‐
wolf.
Skrymir N. "Big Boy". Utgard‐Loki in huge Giant‐form; Thor and his companions slept in his glove.
Skuld N. "She Who Is Becoming" or "That which shall be"; one of the Great Norns; Gunnr and Róta and the
youngest Norn, called Skuld, are Valkyries, who ride to choose who shall be slain and to govern the
killings. With the other Fates, Skuld sits at the Urdawell spinning threads about the human's future.
Skuld comes from the verb skulu, meaning "shall". In Old Norse this has connotations of duty and
obligation, but in the most archaic levels when the term first arose, it merely indicated that which
should come to pass, given past circumstances. The other Norns are Urdhr and Verdhandi.
Sleipnir N. The eight‐legged horse that conveyed Odin between the realms of spirit and matter and was
symbolic of Time.He is faster and cleverer than all the horses in the world.He can gallop over land, sea,
or through the air. Sleipnir was the child of Loki (in female form) and a Giant stallion, Svadilfari. He is
the father of Grane.
Slidrugtanni N. One of the two boars that drags the fertility God Freyr's wagon. The other boar is Gullinbursti,
who with his golden bristle, is able to lit up the darkest night.
Sllpa‐SASTRA In. The science of mechanics; it includes architecture. Any book or treatise on this science.
Smarta In. Appertaining to the Smriti The Smarta‐sutras. See Sutras.
Smriti‐Chandrika In. A treatise on law, according w the Dravidian or Southern school, by Devana Bhatta.
Smritl In. ‘What was remembered.’ Inspiration, as distinguished from Sruti, or direct revelation. What has
been remembered and handed down by tradition. In its widest application, the term includes the
Vedangas, the Sutras, the Ramayana, the Maha‐bharata, the Puranas, the Dharma‐sastras, especially
the works of Manu, Yajnawalkya, and other inspired lawgivers, and the Niti‐sastras or ethics, but its
ordinary application is to the Dharma‐sastras; as Manu says, “By Sruti is meant the Veda, and by Smriti
the institutes of law,” ii 10.
Snotra N. "Wise". Goddess of women's gentle wisdom and good manners; The Goddess of virtue and master
of all knowledge; She knows the value of self‐discipline.
Sobek Eg. A crocodile‐headed god; Admired and feared for his ferocity; At the command of Ra, He performed
tasks such as catching with a net the four sons of Horus as they emerged from the waters in a lotus
bloom.
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Sokvabekk N. "Sunken‐bench" or "Deep Stream"; the home of Saga, the daughter of Odin; It was a crystal hall
is Asgard.
Sol Invictus Rom. Syrian , God of the sun.
Sól N. "Sun". The brilliant Sun Goddess mentioned in the Merseburger poems. Daughter of Munifauri, sister of
Mani ("Moon"); wife of Glen; Rider of the chariot drawn by Alsvid and Arvak, carrier of the shield Svalin
("Cool"); She will be consumed by the wolf Soll and be succeeded by her daughter, Sunna. Also known
as Gull ("Gold"); Gull and Sol are often interchangeable so she may be an aspect of Gullveig. Most
commentators seem to agree that Gullveig is identical with Freya. See also Sunna.
Sol Rom. God of the sun.
Soma In. The juice of a milky climbing plant (Asclepias acida), extracted and fermented, forming a beverage
offered in libations to the deities, and drunk by the Brahmans. Its exhilarating qualities were grateful to
the priests, and the gods were represented as being equally fond of it. This soma juice occupies a large
space in the Rig‐veda; one Mandala is almost wholly devoted to its praise and uses. It was raised to the
position of a deity, and represented to be primeval, all‐powerful, healing all diseases, bestower of
riches, lord of other gods, and even identified with the Supreme Being. As a personification, Soma was
the god who represented and animated the soma juice, an Indian Dionysus or Bacchus.
“The simple‐minded Arian people, whose whole religion was a worship of the wonderful powers
and phenomena of nature, had no sooner perceived that this liquid had power to elevate the spirits
and produce a temporary frenzy, under the influence of which the individual was prompted to, and
capable of, deeds beyond his natural powers, than they found in it something divine it was to their
apprehension a god, endowing those into whom it entered with godlike powers; the plant which
afforded it became to them the king of plants; the process of preparing it was a holy sacrifice; the
instruments used therefore were sacred. The high antiquity of this cultus is attested by the references
to it found occurring in the Persian Avesta, it seems, however, to have received a new impulse on
Indian Territory.”‐ Whitney.
In later times, the name was appropriated to the moon, and some of the qualities of the soma juice
have been transferred to the luminary, who is Oshadhi‐pati, or lord of herbs. So Soma is considered the
guardian of sacrifices and penance, asterisms and healing herbs.
In the Puranic mythology Soma, as the moon, is commonly said to be the son of the Rishi Atri by his
wife Anasuya, but the authorities are not agreed. One makes him son of Dharma; another gives his
paternity to Prabhakara, of the race of Atri; and he is also said to have been produced from the
churning of the ocean in another Manwantara. In the Vishnu Purana he is called “the monarch of
Brahmans;” but the Brihad Aranyaka, an older work, makes him a Kshatriya. He married twenty‐seven
daughters of the Rishi Daksha, who are really personifications of the twenty‐seven lunar asterisms; but
keeping up the personality, he paid such attention to Rohini, the fourth of them, that the rest became
jealous, and appealed to their father. Daksha’s interference was fruitless, and he cured his son‐in‐law,
so that he remained childless, and became affected with consumption. This moved the pity of his wives,
and they interceded with their father for him. He could not recall his curse, but he modified it so that
the decay should be periodical, not permanent hence the wane and increase of the moon. He
performed the Raja‐suya sacrifice, and became in consequence so arrogant and licentious that he
carried off Tara, the wife of Brihaspati, and refused to give her up either on the entreaties of her
husband or at the command of Brahma. This gave rise to a widespread quarrel. The sage Usanas, out of
enmity to Brihaspati, sided with Soma, and he was supported by the Danavas, the Daityas, and other
foes of the gods. Indra and the gods in general sided with Brihaspati. There ensued a fierce contest, and
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“the earth was shaken to her centre.” Soma had his body cut in two by Siva's trident, and hence he is
called Bhagnatma. At length Brahma interposed and stopped the fight, compelling Soma to restore
Tarn to her husband. The result of this intrigue was the birth of a child, whom Tara, after great
persuasion, declared to be the son of Soma, and to whom the name of Budha was given: from him the
Lunar race sprung.
According to the Puranas, the chariot of Soma has three wheels, and is drawn by ten horses of the
whiteness of the jasmine, five on the right half of the yoke, and five on the left.
The moon has many names and descriptive epithets, as Chandra, Indu, Sasi, ‘marked like a hare;’
Nisakara, ‘maker of night;’ Nakshatra‐natha, ‘lord of the constellations;’ Sita‐marichi, ‘having cool rays;’
Sitansu, ‘having white rays;’ Mri‐ganka, ‘marked like a deer;’ Siva‐sekhara, ‘the crest of Siva;’ Kumuda‐
pati, ‘lord of the lotus;’ Sweta‐vaji, ‘drawn by white horses.’
Somadeva Bhatta In. The writer or compiler of the collection of stories called Katha‐sarit‐sagara.
Somaka In. Grandfather of Drupada, who transmitted his name to his descendants.
Soma‐Loka In. See Loka.
Soma‐Natha, Someswara In. ‘Lord of the moon.’ The name of a celebrated Lingam or emblem of Siva at the
city of Somnath‐pattan in Gujarat. It was destroyed by Mahmud of Gazni.
Somapas In. ‘Soma‐drinkers.’ A class of Pitris or Manes who drink the soma juice. See Pitris.
Soma‐Vansa In. Sa Chandra‐vansa.
Somnus Rom. God of sleep.
Son N. Son is one of three bowls used by the Dwarves Fjalar and Galar while making Kvæsir's blood into the
Mead of Poetry.
Sors Rom. God of luck.
Spae‐craft N. The craft of fore‐seeing, used by the Spåkonur in trance state. See also seid.
Spåkona N. Seidrkona, volva; one who uses utsetia, seidr. A seeress
Sparta Gk. The daughter of Eurotas by Clete; the wife of Lacedaemon (also her uncle) by whom she became
the mother of Amyclas and Eurydice of Argos (no relation to Orpheus' Eurydice); the city of Sparta is
said to have been named after her
Spes Rom. Goddess of hope.
Sphinx Eg. A figure with the body of a lion and the head of a man, hawk or a ram.
Sphinx Gk. Has the haunches of a lion, the wings of a great bird, and the face and breast of a woman; she is
treacherous and merciless, those who cannot answer her riddle suffer a fate typical in such
mythological stories: they are gobbled up whole and raw, eaten by this ravenous monster
Sraddha In. Faith, personified in the Vedas and lauded in a few hymns. 2. Daughter of the sage Daksha, wife
of the god Dharma, and reputed mother of Kama‐deva, the god of love.
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Sraddha‐Deva, Sraddha‐Deva In. Manu is called by the former name in the Brahmanas, and by the latter in
the Maha‐bharata. The latter is commonly applied to Yama.
Srauta In. Belonging to the Sruti See Sruti and Sutra.
Srauta‐Sutra In. See Sutra and Vedangas.
Sravasti In. An ancient city which seems to have stood near Faizabad in Oude.
Sri Bhagavata In. See Bhagavata Purana.
Sri Dama Charitra In. A modern drama in five acts by Sama Raja Dikshita, on the sudden elevation to affluence
of Sri Daman, a friend of Krishna. It is not a good play, “but there is some vivacity in the thoughts and
much melody in the style.” –Wilson.
Sri Harsha Deva In. A king who was author of the drama. Ratnavali.
Sri Harsha In. A great sceptical philosopher, and author of the poem called Naishadha or Naishadhiya. There
were several kings of the name.
Sri‐Dhara Swami In. Author of several commentaries of repute on the Bhagavad‐gita, Vishnu Purana, &c.
Sringa‐Giri In. A hill on the edge of the Western Ghats in Mysore, where there is a math or monastic
establishment of Brahmans, said to have been founded by Sankaracharya.
Sringara Tilaka In. ‘The mark of love.’ A work by Rudra Bhatta on the sentiments and emotions of lovers as
exhibited in poetry and the drama.
Sringa‐Vera In. The modern Sungroor, a town on the left bank of the Ganges and on the frontier of Kosala and
the Bhil country. The country around was inhabited by Nishadas or wild tribes, and Guha, the friend of
Rama, was their chief.
Sri‐Saila In. The mountain of Sri, the goddess of fortune. It is a holy place in the Dakhin, near the Krishna, and
was formerly a place of great splendour. It retains its sanctity but has lost its grandeur. Also called Sri‐
parvata.
Sri‐Vatsa In. A particular mark, said to be a curl of hair on the breast of Vishnu or Krishna
Srl In. ‘Fortune, prosperity.’ 1. The wife of Vishnu. (See Lakshmi.) 2. An honorific prefix to the names of gods,
kings, heroes, and men and books of high estimation.
Sruta‐Bodha In. A work on metres attributed to Kali‐dasa. It has been edited and translated into French by
Lancereau.
Sruta‐Kirtti In. Cousin of Sita and wife of Satru‐ghna.
Srutarshi In. A Rishi who did not receive the Sruti (revelation) direct, but obtained it at second‐hand from the
Vedic Rishis.
Sruti In. ‘What was heard.’ The revealed word. The Mantras and Brahmans of the Vedas are always included
in the term, and the Upanishads are generally classed with them.
Stabaz N. Germanic term for stave or stick, perhaps had to do with the fact that runes were carved on piece of
wood that most probably were used in divinatory practices. Runo and Stabaz were so intertwined that
the words eventually became synonymous.
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Stadha N. "Standing". Bodily postures which imitate the shapes of runestaves used in galdr
Stadhagaldr N. "Posture magic"; the magical technique of assuming runic postures coupled with incantational
formulas. Also, the meditational practice of standing in a rune's shape and intoning its name;
Developed by German Armanen magicians. The stadha is the physical position.
Stafgardr N. Stave‐surrounded sacred enclosure
Stafr N. Stick, stave, letter, or secret lore
Stata Mater Rom. Goddess who guards against fires.
Stela Eg. A stone slab, sometimes wood, decorated with paintings, reliefs or texts; They usually commemorate
an event.
Sthali‐Devatas, Devatas In. Gods or goddesses of the soil, local deities.
Sthanu In. A name of Siva.
Sthapatya‐Veda In. The science of architecture, one of the Upa‐vedas.
Sthenelus Gk. Attributed to several different individuals: son of Perseus and Andromeda, and king of
Mycenae; son of Capaneus and Evadne, he fought alongside Diomedes and the other Argives in the
Trojan War and was one of the men who hid in the Trojan horse; son of Actor and a companion of
Heracles, whom he accompanied to the land of the Amazons to steal Hippolyte's girdle; son of
Aegyptus and Tyria, who married (and was killed by) Sthenele, daughter of Danaus and Memphis;
father of Cycnus and King of Liguria
Sthuna, Sthuna‐Karna In. A Yaksha who is represented in the Maha‐bharata to have changed sexes for a while
with Sikhandini, daughter of Drupada.
Stimula Rom. Goddess who incites passion in women.
Strenua Rom. Goddess of strength and vigor.
Strophius Gk. King of Phocis and father of Pylades; the one who hid Orestes from his murderous mother,
Clytemnestra
Stymphalus Gk. A son of Elatus and Laodice a grandson of Arcas; father of Parthenope, Agamedes and Gortys.
Styx Gk. (meaning "hate" and "detestation"); river in Greek Mythology that formed the boundary between
Earth and the Underworld (often called Hades which is also the name of this domain's ruler).
Styx Gk. Goddess of the Underworld river Styx and personification of hatred
Suadela Rom. Goddess of persuasion, especially in matters of love.
Su‐Bahu In. ‘Five‐armed.’ 1. A son of Dhrita‐rashtra and king of Chedi; A son of Satru‐ghna and king of
Mathura.
Su‐Bala In. A king of Gandhara, father of Gandhari, wife of Dhrita‐rashtra; A mountain in Lanka on which
Hanuman alighted after leaping over the channel.
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Su‐Bhadra In. Daughter of Vasu‐deva, sister of Krishna, and wife of Arjuna. Bala‐rama, her elder brother,
wished to give her to Dur‐yodhana, but Arjuna carried her off from Dwaraka at Krishna’s suggestion,
and Bala‐rama subsequently acquiesced in their union. She was mother of Abhimanyu. She appears
especially as sister of Krishna in his form Jagan‐natha, and according to tradition there was an
incestuous intimacy between them. When the car of Jagan‐natha is brought out the images of Su‐
bhadra and Bala‐rama accompany the idol, and the intimacy of Jagan‐natha and Su‐bhadra is said to
provoke taunts and reproaches.
Subhangi In. ‘Fair‐limbed.’ An epithet of Rati, wife of Kama, and of Yakshi, wife of Kuvera.
Su‐Bhanu In. Son of Krishna and Satya‐bhama.
SU‐Bodhinl In. A commentary by Visweswara Bhatta on the law‐book called Mitakshara.
Su‐Brahmanya In. A name of Karttikeya, god of war, used especially in the South. See Karttikeya.
Subrincinator Rom. God of weeding.
Su‐Charu In. A son of Krishna and Rukmini.
Su‐Darsana In. A name of Krishna's chakra or discus weapon. See Vajra‐nabha.
Sudas In. A king who frequently appears in the Rig‐veda, and at whose court the rival Rishis Vasishtha and
Viswamitra are represented as living. He was famous for his sacrifices.
Su‐Deshna In. ‘Good‐looking.’; Wife of the Raja of Virata, the patron of the disguised pandavas, and mistress
of Draupadi; Also the wife of Balin.
Su‐Deshna In. Son of Krishna and Rukmini.
Su‐Dharma, Su‐Dharman In. The hall of Indra, “the unrivalled gem of princely courts,” which Krishna
commanded Indra to resign to Ugrasena, for the assemblage of the race of Yadu. After the death of
Krish1la it returned to Indra's heaven.
Sudra In. The fourth or servile caste. See Varna.
Sudraka In. A king who wrote the play called Mrichchha‐kati, ‘the toy‐cart,’ in ten acts.
Sudri N. "South". The Dwarf Sudri was put in the sky's south corner by Odin, Vili and Ve. The sky is made out of
the Giant Ymir's head.
Su‐Dyumna In. Son of the Manu Vaivaswata. At his birth he was a female, Ila, but was afterwards changed
into a male and called Su‐Dyumna. Under the curse of Siva he again became Ila, who married Budha or
Mercury, and was mother of Pura‐ravas. By favour of Vishnu the male form was again recovered, and
Su‐dyumna became the father of three sons. This legend evidently has reference to the origin of the
Lunar race of kings.
Su‐Griva In. ‘Handsome neck.’ A monkey king who was dethroned by his brother Balin, but after the latter had
been killed, Su‐griva was re‐installed by Rama as king at Kishkin‐dhya. He, with his adviser Hanuman
and their army (If monkeys, were the allies of Rama in his war against Ravana, in which he was
wounded. He is said to have been son of the sun, and from his paternity he is called Ravi‐nandana and
by other similar names. He is described as being grateful, active in aiding his friends, and able to change
his form at will. His wife's name was Ruma.
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Suhma In. A country said to be east of Bengal.
Suka‐Saptati In. ‘The seventy (tales) of a parrot.’ This is the original of the Tuti‐namah of the Persian, from
which the Hindustani Tota‐kahani was translated.
Sukra In. The planet Venus and its regent. Sukra was son of Bhrigu and priest of Bali and the Daityas (Daitya‐
guru). He is also called the son of Kavi His wife's name was Susuma or Sata‐parwa. His daughter
Devayani married Yayati of the Lunar race, and her husband's infidelity induced Sukra to curse him.
Sukra is identified with Usanas, and is author of a code of law. The Hari‐vansa relates that he went to
Siva and asked for means of protecting the Asuras against the gods, and for obtaining his object he
performed “a painful rite, imbibing the smoke of chaff with his head downwards for a thousand years.”
In his absence the gods attacked the Asuras and Vishnu killed his mother, for which deed Sukra cursed
him “to be born seven times in the world of men.” Sukra restored his mother to life, and the gods being
alarmed lest Sukra's penance should be accomplished, Indra sent his daughter Jayanti to lure him from
it. She waited upon him and soothed him, but he accomplished his penance and afterwards married
her. Sukra is known by his patronymic Bhargava, and also as Bhrigu. He is also Kavi or Kavya, ‘the poet.’
The planet is called Asphujit, **; Magha‐bhava, son of Magha; Shodasansu, ‘having sixteen rays;’ and
Sweta, ‘the white.’
Sukta In. A Vedic hymn.
Sumantra In. The chief counsellor of Raja Dasa‐ratha and friend of Rama.
Su‐Mantu In. The collector of the hymns of the Atharva‐veda; he is said to have been a pupil of Veda Vyasa,
and to have acted under his guidance.
Sumbha And Nishumbha In. Two Asuras, brothers, who were killed by Durga. These brothers, as related in the
Markandeya Purana, were votaries of Siva, and performed severe penance for 5000 years in order to
obtain immortality. Siva refused the boon, and they continued their devotions with such increased
intensity for 800 years more, that the gods trembled for their power. By advice of Indra, the god of
love, Kama, went to them with two celestial nymphs, Rambha and Tilottama, and they succeeded in
seducing the two Asuras and holding them in the toils of sensuality for 5000 years. On recovering from
their voluptuous aberration they drove the nymphs back to paradise and recommenced their penance.
At the end of 1000 years Siva blessed them “that in riches and strength they should excel the gods.” In
their exaltation they warred against the gods, who, in despair, appealed in succession to Brahma,
Vishnu, and Siva, but in vain. The latter advised them to apply to Durga, and they did so. She contrived
to engage the Asuras in war, defeated their forces, slew their commanders, Chanda and Munda, and
finally killed them. See Sunda.
Sumble N. The sacred ritual feast at which boasts are drunk.
Su‐Meru In. The mountain Meru, actual or personified.
Su‐Mitra In. Wife of Dasa‐ratha and mother of Lakshmana and Satru‐ghna. See Dasa‐ratha.
Summanus Rom. God of night thunder; His festival is June 20.
Su‐Mukha In. ‘Handsome face.’ This epithet is used for Garuda and for the son of Garuda.
Sunah‐Sephas In. The legend of Sunah‐sephas, as told in the Aitareya Brahmana, is as follows: ‐ King Haris‐
chandra, of the race of Ikshwaku, being childless, made a vow that if he obtained a son he would
sacrifice him to Varuna. A son was born who received the name of Rohita, but the father postponed,
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under various pretexts, the fulfilment of his vow. When '1t length he resolved to perform the sacrifice,
Rohita refused to be the victim, and went out into the forest, where he lived for six years. He then met
a poor Brahman Rishi called Ajigartta, who had three sons, and Rohita purchased from Ajigartta for a
hundred cows, the second son, named Sunah‐ sephas, to be the substitute for himself in the sacrifice.
Varuna approved of the substitute, and the sacrifice was about to be per‐ formed, the father receiving
another hundred cows for binding his son to the sacrificial post, and a third hundred for agreeing to
slaughter him. Sunah‐Sephas saved himself by reciting verses in honour of different deities, and was
received into the family of Viswamitra, who was one of the officiating priests. The Rama‐yana gives a
different version of the legend. Ambarisha, king of Ayodhya, was performing a sacrifice when Indra
carried off the victim. The officiating priest represented that this loss could be atoned for only by the
sacrifice of a human victim. The king, after a long search, found a Brahman Rishi named Richika, who
had two sons, and the younger, Sunah‐sephas, was then sold by his own consent for a hundred
thousand cows, ten millions of gold pieces, and heaps of jewels. Sunah‐sephas met with his maternal
uncle, Viswamitra, who taught him two divine verses which he was to repeat when about to be
sacrificed. As he was bound at the stake to be immolated, he celebrated the two gods Indra and Vishnu
with the excellent verses, and Indra, being pleased, bestowed upon him long life. He was afterwards
called Deva‐rata, and is said to have become son of Viswamitra. The Maha‐bharata and the puranas
show some few variations. A series of seven hymns in the Rig‐veda is attributed to Sunah‐sephas. See
Muir's Texts, i 355, 407, 413; Vishnu Purana, iv. 25; Muller's Sanskrit Literature, 408; Wilson's Rig‐Veda,
i 60.
Su‐Naman In. Son of Ugrasena and brother of Kansa. He was king of the Surasenas. When Kansa was
overpowered in battle by Krishna, Su‐naman went to succour him, but was encountered and slain by
Bala‐rama.
Su‐Nanda In. A princess of Chedi who befriended Dama‐yanti when she was deserted by her husband.
Sunda In. Sunda and Upasunda, of the Maha‐bharata, were two Daityas, sons of Nisunda, for whose
destruction the .Apsaras Tilottama was sent down from heaven. They quarrelled for her, and killed each
other. See Sumbha.
Sunna N. Daughter of the lightdisir, Sol and Glen. She will succeed her mother when Sol is consumed by the
wolf Skoll.
Su‐Parnas In. ‘Fine‐winged.’ “Beings of superhuman character, as Garuda, and other birds of equally fanciful
description; one of those classes first created by the Brahmadikas, and included in the daily
presentation of water to deceased ancestors, &c.”‐Wilson.
Su‐Parswa In. A fabulous bird in the Ramayana. He was son of Sampati and nephew of Jatayus.
Su‐Priya In. ‘Very dear.’ Chief of the Gandharvas.
Sura In. Wine or spirituous liquor, personified as Sura‐devi, a goddess or nymph produced at the churning of
the ocean.
Sura In. A Yadava king who ruled over the Surasenas at Mathura; he was father of Vasu‐deva and Kunti, and
grand‐father of Krishna.
Surabhi In. The ‘cow of plenty,’ produced at the churning of the ocean, who granted every desire, and is
reverenced as “the fountain of milk and curds.” See Kama‐dhenu and Nandini.
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Suras In. In the Vedas, a class of beings connected with Surya, the sun. The inferior deities who inhabit
Swarga; a god in general According to some, the word is allied to swar, heaven;’ others think it to have
sprung from the derivation assigned to asura, and as a‐sura is said to signify ‘not a god,’ sura has come
to mean. ‘god.’
Su‐Rasa In. A Rakshasi, mother of the Nagas. ‘Then Hanuman was on his flight to Lanka against Ravana, she
tried to save her relative by swallowing Hanuman bodily. To avoid this Hanuman distended his body
and continued to do so, while she stretched her mouth till it was a hundred leagues wide. Then he
suddenly shrank up to the size of a thumb, darted through her, and came out at her right ear.
Surasenas In. Name of a people, the Suraseni of Arrian. Their capital was Mathura on the Yamuna, which
Manu calls Surasena.
Surpa‐Nakha In. ‘Having nails like winnowing‐fans.’ Sister of Ravana. This Rakshasi admired the beauty of
Rama and fell in love with him. When she made advances to Rama he referred her to Lakshmana, and
Lakshmana in like manner sent her back to Rama. Enraged at this double rejection, she fell upon Sita,
and Rama was obliged to interfere forcibly for the protection of his wife. He called out to Lakshmana to
disfigure the violent Rakshasi, and Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears. She flew to her brothers for
revenge, and this brought on the war between Rama and Ravana. She descanted to Ravana on the
beauty of Sita, and instigated his carrying her off, and finally she cursed him just before the
engagement in which he was killed .
Surt N. "Black". An evil Fire Giant who guards the gates of Muspell and rules the fiery beings there. He carries
a flaming sword. His hair is burning and boiling lava covers his body. He will kill Freyr in Ragnarok.
Surya In. The sun or its deity. He is one of the three chief deities in the Vedas, as the great source of light and
warmth, but the references to him are more poetical than precise. Sometimes he is identical with
Savitri and Aditya, sometimes he is distinct. “Sometimes he is called son of Dyaus, sometimes of Aditi.
In one passage, Ushas, the dawn, is his wife, in another he is called the child of the dawns; he moves
through the sky in a chariot drawn by seven ruddy horses or mares.” Surya has several wives, but,
according to later legends, his twin sons the Aswins, who are ever young and handsome and ride in a
golden car as precursors of Ushas, the dawn, were born of a nymph called Aswini, from her having
concealed herself in the form of a mare. In the Ramayana and Puranas, Surya is said to be the son of
Kasyapa and Aditi, but in the Ramayana he is otherwise referred to as a son of Brahma. His wife was
Sanjna, daughter of Viswa‐karma, and by her he had three children, the Manu Vaivaswata, Yama, and
the goddess Yami, or the Yamuna river. His effulgence was so overpowering that his wife gave him
Chhaya (shade) for a handmaid, and retired into the forest to devote herself to religion. While thus
engaged, and in the form of a mare, the sun saw her and approached her in the form of a horse. Hence
sprang the two Aswins and Revanta. Surya brought back his wife Sanjna to his home, and her father,
the sage Viswa‐karma, placed the luminary on his lathe and cut away an eighth of his effulgence,
trimming him in every part except the feet. The fragments that were cut off fell blazing to the earth,
and from them Viswa‐karma formed the discus of Vishnu, the trident of Siva, the weapon of Kuvera,
the lance of Karttikeya, and the weapons of the other gods. According to the Maha‐bharata, Karna was
his illegitimate son by Kunti. He is also fabled to be the father of Sani and the monkey chief Su‐griva.
The Manu Vaivaswata was father of Ikshwaku, and from him, the grandson of the sun, the Surya‐vansa,
or Solar race of kings, draws its origin. In the form of a horse Surya communicated the White Yajur‐veda
to Yajnawalkya, and it was he who bestowed on Satrajit the Syamantaka gem. A set of terrific
Rakshasas called Mandehas made an attack upon him and sought to devour him, but were dispersed by
his light. According to the Vishnu Purana he ,vas seen by Sattrajita in “his proper form,” “of dwarfish
stature, with a body like burnished copper, and with slightly reddish eyes.” Surya is represented in a
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chariot drawn by seven horses, or a horse with seven heads, surrounded with rays. His charioteer is
Aruna or Vivaswat, and his city Vivaswati or Bhaswati. There are temples of the sun, and he receives
worship. The names and epithets of the sun are number‐less. He is Savitri, ‘the nourisher;’ Vivaswat,
‘the brilliant;’ Bhaskara, ‘light‐maker;’ Dina‐kara, ‘day‐maker;’ Arha‐pati, ‘lord of day;’ Loka‐chakshuh,
‘eye of the world;’ Karma‐sakshi, ‘witness of the deeds (of men);’ Graha‐raja, ‘king of the
constellations;’ Gabhastiman, ‘possessed of rays;’ Sahasra‐kirana, ‘having a thousand rays;’ Vikarttana,
‘shorn of his beams’ (by Viswa‐karma); Martanda, ‘descended from Mritanda,’ &c. Surya's wives are
called Savarna, Swati, and Maha‐virya.
Surya Siddhanta In. A celebrated work on astronomy, said to have been revealed by the sun (Surya). It has
been edited in the Bibliotheca Indica by Hall, and ‐there are other editions. It has been translated by
Whitney and Burgess.
Surya‐ Vansa In. The Solar race. A race or lineage of Kshatriyas which sprank from Ikshwaku, grandson of the
sun. Rama was of this race, and so were many other great kings and heroes. Many Rajputs claim
descent from this and the other great lineage, the Lunar race. The Rana of Udaypur claims to be of the
Surya‐vansa, and the Jharejas of Cutch and Sindh assert a descent from the Chandra‐vansa. There were
two dynasties of the Solar race. The elder branch, which reigned at Ayodhya, descended from Ikshwaku
through his eldest son, Vikukshi the other dynasty, reigning at Mithili, descended from another of
Ikshwakus sons, named Nimi the lists of thesl1 two dynasties on the opposite page are taken from the
Vishnu Purana. The lists given by other authorities show some discrepancies, but they agree in general
as to the chief names.
Surya‐Kanta In. ‘The sun‐gem.’ A crystal supposed to be formed of condensed rays of the sun, and though cool
to the touch to give out heat in the sun’s rays. There touch, to give out heat in the sun's rays. There is a
similar moon‐stone. It is also called Dahanopala. See Chandra‐kanta.
Su‐Sarman In. A king of Tri‐gartta, who attacked the Raja of Virata, and defeated him and made him prisoner,
but Bhima rescued the Raja and made Su‐sarman prisoner.
Sushena In. A son of Krishna and Rukmini. 2. A physician in the army of Rama, who brought the dead to life
and performed other miraculous cures.
Sushna In. An Asura mentioned in the Rig‐veda as killed by Indra.
Susruta In. A medical writer whose date is uncertain, but his work was translated into Arabic before the end of
the eighth century. The book has been printed at Calcutta. There is a Latin translation by Hepler and
one in German by Vullers.
Suta In. ‘Charioteer.’ A title given to Karna.
Su‐Tikshna In. A hermit sage who dwelt in the Dandaka forest, and was visited by Rama and Sita.
Sutra In. ‘A thread or string.’ A rule or aphorism. A verses expressed in brief and technical language, ‐a very
favourite form among the Hindus of embodying and transmitting rules. There are Sutras upon almost
every subject, but “the Sutras” generally signify those which are connected with the Vedas, viz., the
Kalpa Sutras, relating to ritual; the Grihya Sutras, to domestic rites; and the Samayacharika Sutras, to
conventional usages. The Kalpa Sutras, having especial reference to the Veda or Sruti, are called Srauta;
the others are classed as Smarta, being derived from the Smriti. The Sutras generally are anterior to
Manu, and are probably as old as the sixth century B.C. Several have been published in the Bibliotheca
Indica.
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Suttung N. The Giant who guards the Mead of Poetry. Suttung, son of Gilling, got the Mead of Poetry from the
Dwarves Fjalar and Galar when he was avenging the murder of his parents.
Sutudri In. The river Satlej. See Sata‐dru.
Su‐Vahu In. A Rakshasa, son of Taraka. He was killed by Rama.
Su‐Vela In. One of the three peaks of the mountain Tri‐kuta, on the midmost of which the city of Lanka was
built.
Su‐Yodhana In. ‘Fair fighter.’ A name of Dur‐yodhana.
Svadilfari N. "He who picks the hard way”; A stallion which belonged to a Rock Giant. Svadilfari is a very strong
horse and helped build the Asgard wall. He mated with Loki (who had shape‐shifted into the form of a
mare) and produced Sleipnir.
Svalin N. Svalin is the shield that protects Sun from the warmth of her carriage when she rides to maintain the
day rythm. Her horses also have a protection called Isarnkol.
Svanhvit N. "Swan‐White". A Valkyrie
Svartalfheim, Svartalfheimr N. The world of the Black Elves or Dwarves. A "subterranean" world of darkness
where shapes are forged
Svartalfr, Svartalfar N. Dwarves, or Black Elves; also known as Dvergar. They were created by the gods out of
the maggots that crawled through the flesh of the slain Ymir. They are very clever smiths, who forged
Freyja's necklace, Thor's hammer, Sif's golden hair, Freyr's ship, and a hoard of other treasures for the
golds. Their dwelling, Svartalfheim is beneath Midgardhr's surface, and it is there that they hoard their
gold and jewels. The dwarves are earthly craft and power which give shape to and being to the
inspiration of the Ljosalfar. It was Svartalfar who slew Kvasir and made the mean Odhroerir from his
blood, transforming the raw material of wisdom into the craft and art of poetry from which any who
could might drink. The Kobolds of the German mines may be classed as Svartalfar, as may all of the
knocking spirits heard in subterranean works. The Svartalfar are said to be miserly and grudging, as well
as more ill‐tempered than the other races of Alfar. The word dwarf is etymologically connected to the
idea of harming, oppressing or maliciously deceiving. Like the Dokkalfar (Dark Elves), they are skilled in
magic, having learned the runes through the Dwarf Dvalin, and they know magical songs; unlike them,
they almost never willingly teach their magical knowledge, though at times they may teach the art of
smithing to a human. ...It is not uncommon for the Svartalfar to curse things that they are forced to
make, such as the sword Tyrfing, or that are stolen from them, such as Advari's hoard. They are also
said to steal human women and children, perhaps because there are few dwarvish women. Yet,
although they are often untrustworthy, viciously vengeful, and malicious, they can be surprisingly loyal
and friendly to humans who treat them well....The Svartalfar are said to be dark of complexion, ugly,
perhaps twisted; they often appear as short but very powerful men with long gray beards.
Svartrunir N. "Black Runes". Necromantic characters; runes used to communicate with departed spirits.
Sváva N. Sváva is a Valkyrie that once fell in love with Helge, the son of a king. Their story is tragic. Helge was
mortally wounded and the couple died together.
Svin N. Wild boar, formidable opposition.
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Svínfylking N. Norse boar‐cult warriors who fought in wedge‐formation with two champions, the rani (snout)
to the fore; also the animal form taken in shapeshifting by these warriors
Swadha In. ‘Oblation.’ Daughter of Daksha and Prasuti according to one statement, and of Agni according to
another. She is connected with the Pitris or Manes, and is represented as wife of Kavi or of one class of
Pitris, and as mother of others.
Swaha In. ‘Offering.’ Daughter of Daksha and Prasuti. She was wife of Vahni or Fire, or of Abhimani, one of the
Agnis.
Swa‐Phalka In. Husband of Gandini and father of Akrura. He was a man of great sanctity of character, and

where “he dwelt famine, plague, death, and other visitations were unknown.” His presence once
brought rain to the kingdom of Kasi‐raja, where it was much wanted.
Swar In. See Vyahriti.
Swarga In. The heaven of Indra, the abode of the inferior gods and of beatified mortals, supposed to be
situated on Mount Meru. It is called also Sairibha, Misraka‐vana, Tavisha, Tri‐divam, Tri‐pishtapam, and
Urdhwa‐loka. Names of heaven or paradise in general are also used for it.
Swar‐Loka In. See Loka.
Swarochisha In. Name of the second Manu. See Manu.
Swastika In. A mystical religious mark placed upon persons or things. It is in the form of a Greek cross with the
ends bent round.
Swayam‐Bhu In. ‘The self‐existent.’ A name of Brahma, the creator.
Swayam‐Bhuva A name of the first Manu (q.v.).
SWETA‐Dwlpa In. ‘The white island or continent.’ Colonel Wilford attempted to identify it with Britain.
Sweta‐Ketu In. A sage who, according to the Maha‐bharata, put a stop to the practice of married women
consorting with other men, especially with Brahmans. His indignation was aroused at seeing a Brahman
take his mother by the hand and invite her to go away with him. The husband saw this, and told his son
that there was no ground of offence, for the practice had prevailed from time immemorial. Sweta‐ketu
would not tolerate it, and introduced the rule by which a wife is forbidden to have intercourse with
another man unless specially appointed by her husband to raise up seed to him.
Swetaswatara In. An Upanishad attached to the Yajur‐veda. It is one of the most modern. Translated by Dr.
Roel for the Bibliotheca Indica.
Syala In. ‘A brother‐in‐law.’ A Yadava prince who insulted the sage Gargya, and was the cause of his becoming
the father of Kala‐yavana, a great foe of Krishna and the Yadava family.
Syama In. ‘The black.’ A name of Siva's consort. See Devi.
Syamantaka In. A celebrated gem given by the sun to Satrajita. “It yielded daily eight loads of gold, and
dispelled all fear of portents, wild beasts, fire, robbers, and famine.” But though it was an inexhaustible
source of good to the virtuous wearer, it was deadly to a wicked one. Satrajita being afraid that Krishna
would take it from him, gave it to his own brother, Prasena, but he, being a bad man, was killed by a
lion. Jambavat, king of the bears, killed the lion and carried off the gem, but Krishna, after a long
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conflict, took it from him, and restored it to Satrajita. Afterwards Satrajita was killed in' his sleep by
Sata‐dhanwan, who carried off the gem. Being pursued by Krishna and Bala‐rama, he gave the gem to
Akrura and continued his flight, but he was overtaken and killed by Krishna alone. As Krishna did not
bring back the jewel, Bala‐rama suspected that he had secreted it, and consequently he upbraided him
and parted from him, declaring that he would not be imposed upon by perjuries. Akrura subsequently
produced the gem, and it was claimed by Krishna, Bala‐rama, and Satya‐bhama. After some contention
it was decided that Akrura should keep it, and so “he moved about like the sun wearing a garland of
light.”
Syavaswa In. Son of Archananas. Both were Vedic Rishis. In a hymn he says, “Sasiyasi has given me cattle,
comprising horses and cows and hundreds of sheep.” The story told in explanation is that Archananas,
having seen the daughter of Raja Rathaviti, asked her in marriage for his son Syavaswa. The king was
inclined to consent, but the queen objected that no daughter of their house had ever been given to
anyone less saintly than a Rishi. To qualify himself Syavaswa engaged in austerities and begged alms.
Among others, he begged of Sasiyasi, wife of Raja Taranta. She took him to her husband, with whose
permission she gave him a herd of cattle and costly ornaments. The Raja also gave him whatever he
asked for, and sent him on to his younger brother, Purumilha. On his way he met the Maruts, and
lauded them in a hymn, for which the) made him a Rishi. He then returned to Rathaviti, and received
his daughter to wife.
Sychaeus Gk. Best known as the uncle and husband of Dido; after his marriage to Dido, he was murdered by
her brother, Pygmalion
Syn N. "Truth". Guardian Goddess of doorways and of love An attendant of Frigga, Syn guarded the door of
Frigga's palace, refusing to open it to those who were not allowed to come in. When she had once shut
the door upon a would‐be intruder no appeal would prevail to change her decision. She therefore
presided over all tribunals and trials, and whenever a thing was to be vetoed the usual formula was to
declare that Syn was against it.
Syr N. An aspect of Freya as the Golden Sow
Syracuse. Gk. The Greek city on the southeastern coast of the island of Sicily.
Syrinx Gk. A nymph and a follower of Artemis known for her Chastity; Pursued by the amorous Greek god Pan,
she ran to the river's edge and asked for assistance from the river nymphs.
T
Tadaka In. Taraka.
Taenarum Gk. Where Hercules (Herakles) went to find the entrance to Hades (or Άδης in Greek) to fulfill his
last labor of capturing Cerberus.
Taittiriya In. This term is applied to the Sanhita of the Black Yajur‐veda.(See Veda.) It is also applied to a
Brahmana, to an Aranyaka, to an Upanishad, and a Pratisakhya of the same Veda. All these are printed,
or are in course of printing, in the Bibliotheca Indica,and of the last there is a translation in that serial.
Taksha, Takshaka In. Son of Bharata, and nephew of Rama‐chandra. The sovereign of Gandhara, who resided
at and probably founded Taksha‐sila or Taxila, in the Panjab.
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Takshaka In. ‘One who cuts off; a carpenter.’ A name of Viswa‐karma. A serpent, son of Kadru, and chief of
snakes.
Taksha‐Sila In. A city of the Gandharas, situated in the Panjab. It was the residence of Taksha, son of Bharata
and nephew of Rama‐chandra, and perhaps took its name from him. It is the Taxila of Ptolemy and
other classical writers. Arrian describes it as “a large and wealthy city, and the most populous between
the Indus and Hydaspes.” It was three days' journey east of the Indus, and General Cunningham has
found its remains at Sahh‐dhari, one mile north‐east of Kala‐kisarai.
Tala Vakara In. A name of the Kena Upanishad.
Talajangha In. Son of Jaya‐dhwaja, king of Avanti, of the Haihaya race, and founder of the Tala‐jangha tribe of
Haihayas. See Haihaya.
Tala‐Ketu In. ‘Palm‐banner.’ An appellation of Bhishma; also of an enemy killed by Krishna. Bala‐rama had the
synonymous appellation Tala‐dhwaja.
Talam In. The throne of Durga.
Talatat Eg. This Arabic word means "three handbreadths"; It is used to describe the typical stone building
blocks of temples of Akhenaten, they are decorated with scenes in the Amarna style; They have been
found reused at a number of other building sites.
Talus Gk. A giant man of bronze; who protected Europa in Crete from pirates and invaders by circling the
island's shores three times daily while guarding it.
Tamasa In. The fourth Manu. SeeManu.
Tamasa In. The river “Tonse,” rising in the Riksha mountains, and falling into the Ganges.
Tamra‐Lipta In. The country immediately West of the Bhagirathi; Tamlook, Hijjali, and Midnapore. Its
inhabitants are called Tamra‐liptakas.
TAMRA‐PARNA, TAMRA‐Parnl In. Ceylon, the ancient Taprobane. There was a town in the island called
Tamra‐parni, from which the whole island has been called by that name.
Tandgnistr N. "Tooth Grinder". One of the two he‐goats that pulled Thor's wagon; If Thor slaughters it, it will
be alive again the next morning as long as the bones are intact.
Tandgrisner N. "Gap Tooth" or "The one with teeth spaces". One of the two he‐goats that pulled Thor's
wagon; If Thor slaughters it, it will be alive the next morning as long as the bones are intact.
Tandu In. One of Siva's attendants. He was skilled in music, and invented the dance called Tandava. SeeSiva.
Tandya, Tandaka In. The most important of the eight Brahmanas of the Sama‐veda. It has been published in
the B ibliotheca Indica.
Tantalus Gk. The ruler of an ancient western Anatolian city called either after his name, as "Tantalís", "the city
of Tantalus", or as "Sipylus", in reference to Mount Sipylus at the foot of which his city was located and
whose ruins were reported to be still visible in the beginning of the Common Era although few traces
remain today.
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Tantra In.‘Rule, ritual.’ The title of a numerous class of religious and magical works, generally of later date
than the Puranas, and representing a later development of religion, although the worship of the female
energy had its origin at an earlier period. The chief peculiarity of the Tantras is the prominence they
give to the female energy of the deity, his active nature being personified in the person of his Sakti, or
wife. There are a few Tantras which make Vishnu's wife or Radha the object of devotion, but the great
majority of them are devoted to one of the manifold forms of Dev!, the Sakti of Siva, and they are
commonly written in the form of a dialogue between these two deities Devi, as the Sakti of Siva, is the
especial energy concerned with sexual intercourse and magical powers, and these are the leading
topics of the Tantras. There are five requisites for Tantra worship, the five Makaras or five m's‐(1.)
Madya, wine; (2.) Mansa,flesh; (3.) Matsya, fish; (4) Mudra, parched grain and mystic gesticulations; (5.
) Maithuna, sexual intercourse. Each Sakti has a twofold nature, white and black, gentle and ferocious.
Thus Uma and Gauri are gentle forms of the Sakti of Siva, while Durga and Kali are fierce forms. The
Saktas or worshippers of the Saktis are divided into two classes, Dakshinacharis and Vamanacharis, the
right‐handed and the left‐ handed. The worship of the right‐hand Saktas is comparatively decent, but
that of the left hand is addressed to the fierce forms of the Saktis, and is most licentious. The female
principle is worshipped, not only symbolically, but in the actual woman, and promiscuous intercourse
forms part of the orgies. Tantra worship prevails chiefly in Bengal and the Eastern provinces.
Tapar‐Loka, Tapo‐Loka In. SeeLoka.
Tapati In. The river Tapti personified as a daughter of the Sun by Chhaya. She was mother of Kuru by
Samvarana.
Tara In. Wife of the monkey king Balin, and mother of Angada. After the death of Balin in battle she was taken
to wife by his brother, Su‐griva.
Tara, Taraka In. Wife of Brihaspati. According to the Puranas, Soma, the moon, carried her off, which led to a
great war between the gods and the Asuras. Brahma put an end to the war and restored Tara, but she
was delivered of a child which she declared to be the son of Soma, and it was named Budha.
SeeBrihaspati.
Taraka In. A female Daitya, daughter off the Yaksha Su‐ketu or of the demon Sunda, and mother of Maricha.
She was changed into a Rakshasi by Agastya, and lived in a forest called by her name on the Ganges,
opposite the confluence of the Sarju, and she ravaged all the country round. Viswamitra desired Rama‐
chandra to kill her, but he was reluctant to kill a woman. He resolved to deprive her of the power of
doing harm, and cut off her two arms. Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears. She, by the power of,
sorcery, assailed Rama and Lakshmana with a fearful shower of stones, and at the earnest command of
Viswamitra, the former killed her with an arrow.‐Ramayana.
Taraka In. Son of Vajranaka. A Daitya whoso austerities made him formidable to the gods, and for whose
destruction Skanda, the god of war, was miraculously born.
Taraka‐Maya In. The war which arose in consequence of Soma, the moon, having carried off Tara, the wife of
Brihaspati.
Tarkshya In. An ancient mythological personification of the sun in the form of a horse or bird. In later times
the name is applied to Garuda.
Tartarus Gk. It is a deep, gloomy place, a pit, or an abyss used as a dungeon of torment and suffering that
resides beneath the underworld.
Tatwa Samasa In. A text book of the Sankhya philosophy, attributed to Kapila himself.
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Taufr N. Talismanic magic; also used to refer to the talismanic object itself; for example, a bindrune amulet
Taurt Eg. A goddess who protected pregnant woman and infants; Also protectress of rebirth into the afterlife;
She is pictured as a pregnant hippopotamus with human breasts, the hind legs of a lioness and the tail
of a crocodile.
Taygete Gk. A daughter of Atlas and Pleione; one of the Pleiades; she became the mother of Lacedaemon and
Eurotas.
Teinar N. Tines (i.e. runes)
Teinéigin N. need‐fire
Teinn N. "Twig". A talismanic word for divination
Teiresias. Gk. Blind prophet of Thebes, famous for clairvoyance and for being transformed into a woman for
seven years; He was the son of the shepherd Everes and the nymph Chariclo.
Telamon Gk. The son of the king Aeacus of Aegina; accompanied Jason as one of his Argonauts, and was
present at the hunt for the Calidonian Boar; In the Iliad he was the father of Greek heroes Ajax the
Great and Teucer the Archer by different mothers; He and Peleus were also close friends with Heracles
assisting him on his expeditions against the Amazons and against Troy.
Telemachus Gk. The son of Odysseus and Penelope; He was still an infant at the time when his father went to
Troy, and in his absence of nearly twenty years he grew up to manhood.
Telephus Gk. One of the Heraclidae, the sons of Heracles, who were venerated as founders of cities.
Telinga In. The Telugu country, stretching along the coast from Orissa to Madras.
Tellus Rom. Goddess of the earth. Fordicidia, held on April 15 was her festival.
Tempe Gk. A valley in eastern Greece in Thessaly between Mount Olympos (Olympus) and Mount Ossa; called
the Vale of Tempe.
Tempestes Rom. Goddesses of storms.
Tereus Gk. A Thracian king; the son of Ares and husband of Procne; father of Itys.
Terminus Rom. Terminus was the god of boundaries; Festival February 23.
Terpsichore Gk. One of the nine Mousai; the goddesses of music, song and dance; In late classical times‐‐when
the Muses were assigned specific literary and artistic spheres‐‐Terpsikhore was named Muse of choral
song and dancing, and represented with a plectrum and lyre.
Terra Mater Rom. (Mother Earth) Goddess of fertility and growth; She was worshipped on April 15 in the
Fordicia.
Tethys Gk. The Titan goddess of the sources fresh water which nourished the earth; She was the wife of
Okeanos, the earth‐encircling, fresh‐water stream, and the mother of the Potamoi (Rivers), Okeanides
(Springs, Streams & Fountains) and Nephlai (Clouds); Tethys was imagined feeding her children's
streams by drawing water from Okeanos through subterranean aquifers.
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Teucer Gk. The son of King Telamon of Salamis and his concubine slave Hesione, daughter of King Laomedon
of Troy.
Teucri Gk. Ancestor the king ok Trojans.
Thalia Gk. One of the nine Mousai, the goddesses of music, song and dance; her name was derived from the
Greek word thaleia, meaning "rich festivity" or "blooming."; In Classical times‐‐when the Mousai were
assigned specific artistic and literary spheres‐‐Thaleia was named Muse of comedy and bucolic poetry.
Thamyris Gk. A Thracian poet who loved the beautiful youth Hyacinthus.
Thanatos Gk. The daemon personification of death; He was a minor figure in Greek mythology, often referred
to but rarely appearing in person.
The fishes' bath N. A kenning for the sea.
Thea Gk. The Titan goddess of sight (thea) and shining light of the clear blue sky; She was also, by extension,
the goddess who endowed gold, silver and gems with their brilliance and intrinsic value; married to
Hyperion, the Titan‐god of light, and bore him three bright children‐‐Helios the Sun, Eos the Dawn, and
Selene the Moon
Theban Triad Gk. This consist of the gods Amun, his wife Mut, and their son Khons
Thebes Gk. Greek city, ruled in myth by Oedipus; was founded by Cadmus, who had consulted the Delphic
Oracle while searching for his missing sister; The Oracle told Cadmus to abandon his search and follow
the nearest cow instead. Wherever the cow lay down, he was to found a new city; There was another
famous Thebes in Egypt
Themis Gk. Titan goddess of divine law and order‐‐the traditional rules of conduct first established by the
gods; she was also a prophetic goddess who presided over the most ancient oracles, including Delphoi
Themiscyra Gk. The capital of the nation of all‐female warriors called Amazons, on the river Thermodon.
Theocritus Gk. The creator of ancient Greek public poetry, flourished in the 3rd century BC.
Thersander Gk. A son of Sisyphus, and father of Haliartus and Coronus; A son of Agamididas, and the father of
Lathria and Anaxandra, at Sparta; A son of Polyneices and Argeia, and one of the Epigoni; he was
married to Demonassa, by whom he became the father of Tisamenus. After having been made king of
Thebes, he went with Agamemnon to Troy, and was slain in that expedition by Telephus; His tomb was
shown at Elaea in Mysia, and sacrifices were offered to him there. These are Vaishnava Puranas, in
which the god Vishnu holds the pre‐eminence. The Puranas in which Tamas, the quality of gloom or
ignorance, predominates are‐(1.) Matsya, (2.) Kurma, (3.) Linga, (4.) Siva, (5.) Skanda, (6.) Agni. These
are devoted to the god Siva. Those in which Rajas or passion prevails relate chiefly to the god Brahma.
They are‐(I.) Brahma, (2.) Brahmanda, (3.) Brahma‐vaivarta, (4.) Markandeya, (5.) Bhavishya, (6.)
vamana. The works themselves do not fully justify this classification. None of them are devoted
exclusively to one god, but Vishnu and his incarnations fill the largest space. One called the vayu Purana
is in some of the Puranas substituted for the Agni, and in others for the Siva. This Vayu is apparently the
oldest of them, and may date as far back as the sixth century, and it is considered that some of the
others may be as late as the thirteenth or even the sixteenth century. One fact appears certain: they
must all have received a supplementary revision, because each one of them enumerates the whole
eighteen. The Markandeya is the least sectarian of the Puranas; and the Bhagavata, which deals at
length with the incarnations of Vishnu, and particularly with his form Krishna, is the most popular. The
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most perfect and the best known is the Vishnu, which has been entirely translated into English by
Professor Wilson, and a second edition, with many valuable notes, has been edited by Dr. F. E. Hall. The
text of the Agni and Markandeya Puranas is in course of publication in the Bibliotheca Indica. The
Puranas vary greatly in length. Some of them specify the number of couplets that each of the eighteen
contains. According to the Bhagavata, the sum total of couplets in the whole eighteen is 400,000; the
Skanda is the longest, with 81,000, the Brahma and the vamana the shortest, with 10,000 complete
each. The UpaPuranas are named‐(1.) Sanat‐kumara, ( 2.) Nara‐sinha or Nri‐sinha, (3.) Naradiya or
Vrihan (old) Naradiya, (4.) Siva, (5.) Dur‐vasasa,(6.) Kapila, (7.) Manava, (8.) Ausanasa, (9.) Varuna, (10)
Kalika, (11.) samba, (12.) Nandi, (13.) Saura, (14‐) Para‐sara, (15.) Aditya, (16.) Maheswara, (17.)
Bhagavata, (18.) Vasishtha. These works are not common. Other modern works exist to which the term
purana has been applied. An account of each of the eighteen great Puranas is given under its own
name.
Theseus Gk. The greatest hero of Athens
Thessaly Gk. Of or pertaining to Thessaly, a region of northeastern Greece famous for its horses
Thestius Gk. A son of Ares and Demonice or Androdice, and, according to others, a son of Agenor and a
grandson of Pleuron, the king of Aetolia; He was the father of Iphiclus, Euippus, Plexippus, Eurypylus,
Leda, Althaea, and Hypermnestra; His wife is not the same in all traditions, some calling her Leucippe or
Laophonte, a daughter of Pleuron, and others Deïdameia; His daughters Leda and Althaea are
sometimes designated by the patronymic Thestias, and his son Iphiclus by the name Thestiades
Thetis Gk. A goddess of the sea and the leader of the fifty Nereides; like many other sea gods she possessed
the gift of prophesy and power to change her shape at will
Thialfi & Roskva N. They became Thor's bondservants after laming his goat by taking its bone‐marrow.
Thiassi, Thjatsi, Thiazi N. "Water". Thjatsi is a very rich and very stingy Giant. He is father of Skadi and they live
together with his father Olvalde. Gang and Ide are his brothers.Thjatsi is a shapeshifter. In eagle form
he kidnapped Idunn and took her to Thrymheim. Loki took Freyia's falcon‐form and kidnapped Idunn
back again (by turning her into a nut). The Æsir killed Thjatsi in fire and Odin threw Tjatsi's eyes to sky
to make some stars. His daughter, Skadi, wanted to avenge her father, so as compensation the Æsir
said she could choose a husband based on his feet. She picked Niord thinking it was Balder.
Thicksole N. Thicksole is Odin's son Vidar's thick and heavy iron‐shoes. With these he manages to kill the
Fenrir wolf in Ragnarok. The shoes are made of left‐over leather pieces that shoemakers have thrown
away.
Thisbe Gk. A beautiful maiden at Babylon, was beloved by Pyramus; the lovers living in adjoining houses, often
secretly conversed with each other through an opening in the wall, as their parents would not sanction
their marriage. Once they agreed upon a rendezvous at the tomb of Ninus; Thisbe arrived first, and
while she was waiting for Pyramus, she perceived a lioness that had just torn to pieces an ox, and took
to flight. While running she lost her garment, which the lioness soiled with blood. In the mean time
Pyramus arrived, and finding her garment covered with blood, he imagined that she had been
murdered, and made away with him under a mulberry tree, the fruit of which henceforth was as red as
blood. Thisbe, who afterwards found the body of her lover, likewise killed herself
Thjodrerir N. A Dwarf mentioned in passing in one of the Runatál charms.
Thokk N. Loki in disguise as a Giantess, who would not weep for Balder, thus preventing his return from Hel
270
Thor, Thorr, Thunar, Donar N. "The Thunderer".

Asa‐God, son of Odin and Jord, Hammer‐
God of thunder and lightening, agriculture
and craftsmanship; Thor also is the God of
defense and strength. His magic hammer
is known as Mjöllnir ("Destroyer"). He is
champion of the Gods and enemy of the
Giants and Trolls; protector of the
common man. He has a magic belt called
Megingjardar ("Strength Increaser") and
drives a chariot pulled by two Giant male
goats. Thor is a size‐shifter. He is terribly
heavy and hot, and he cannot cross the
Bifrost Bridge. He must wade through the
North Sea and come around the long
way.His wife is Sif. Although he is
sometimes over‐hasty in judgment, he is a
totally reliable friend and battle
companion. He has wild red hair and
beard, always dresses in battle dress.
Thor and the Fire Trolls
Thorgerd, Thorgerdr N. A Finnish Goddess later called aTroll. She used magic to call thunder, lightning and
hail. Fertility goddess of Halogaland, north Norway
Thorin, Throin, Thror N. Names of Dwarves.
Thoth Eg. An ibis headed god; Thoth was said to be mighty in knowledge and divine speech; The inventor of
spoken and written language; As the lord of books he was the scribe of the gods and patron of all
scribes; He is credited with inventing astronomy, geometry, and medicine; Thoth was the measurer of
the earth and the counter of the stars, the keeper and recorder of all knowledge; It was Thoth who was
believed to have written important religious texts such as The Book of the Dead.
Thrace Gk. A historical and geographic area in southeast Europe
Thracians Gk. The indigenous population of Thrace
Thrinacia Gk. The island home of Helios's cattle, guarded by his eldest daughter, Lampetia; It is sometimes said
to have been Sicily, since the name Thrinacia could be taken to imply a connection to the number three
(Greek treis, tria sounds vaguely similar to Thri‐) and Sicily has three corners
Thrud, Thrudr N. "Power" or "Strength"; A Valkyrie who serves ale to the Einheriar in Valhalla; Thrud is Thor
and Sif's very strong daughter. The Dwarf Alvis demanded to marry her, but Thor tricked him.
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Thrudgelmir N. The father of all Giants. His father is Ymir, the prehistoric Giant who was created when the
cow Audhumbla licked at a saltstone. He is the father of Bergelmir.
Thrudheim, Trudvang N. "Land of Strength". Thor's realm in Asgard and site of his hall Bilskirnir
Thrym N. The ruler of the Giants, who is utterly hard‐hearted and an avowed enemy of Thor. He is the Giant
who stole Mjollnir and demanded Freya as his wife.
Thrymheim N. Stronghold of the giant Thiazi which was passed on to his daughter Skadi
Thunor N. Saxon name for Thor
Thurs N. A "giant" characterized by great strength and age, e.g., the rime‐thurses or "frost giants".Giants
renowned for their witlessness and strength. They were antagonistic, destructive, and stupid.
Thurses N. The race of Giants.
Thyestes Gk. The son of Pelops, King of Olympia, and Hippodamia and father of Pelopia and Aegisthus;
Thyestes and his twin brother, Atreus, were exiled by their father for having murdered their half‐
brother, Chrysippus, in their desire for the throne of Olympia; They took refuge in Mycenae, where
they ascended to the throne upon the absence of King Eurystheus, who was fighting the Heracleidae;
Eurystheus had meant for their lordship to be temporary; it became permanent due to his death in
conflict
Thyiades Gk. The daughter of Deucalion and Pyrrha and mother of Magnes and Makednos(the claimed
ancestor of the Macedonians) by Zeus.
Tiber Gk. The god of the river
Tiet Eg. The exact origin of the tiet is unknown; In many respects it resembles an ankh except that its arms
curve down; Its meaning is also reminiscent of the ankh, it is often translated to mean welfare or life;
As early as the Third Dynasty we find the tiet being used as decoration when it appears with both the
ankh and the djed column, and later with the was scepter; The tiet is associated with Isis and is often
called "the knot of Isis" or "the blood of Isis."; It seems to be called "the knot of Isis" because it
resembles a knot used to secure the garments that the gods wore; The meaning of "the blood of Isis" is
more obscured but it was often used as a funerary amulet made of a red stone or glass; In the Late
Period the sign was associated with the goddesses Nephthys, Hathor, and Nut as well as with Isis; In all
these cases it seems to represent the ideas of resurrection and eternal life.
Tilottama Name of an Apsaras She was originally a Brahman female, but for the offence of bathing at an
improper season she was condemned to be born as an Apsaras, for the purpose of bringing about the
mutual destruction of the two demons Sunda and Upasunda
Timin, Timin‐Gila In. The Timin is a large fabulous fish. The Timin‐gila, ‘swallower of the Timin,’ is a still larger
one; and there is one yet larger, the Timin‐gila‐gila or Timi‐timin‐gila, ‘swallower of the Timin‐gila.’ Cf.
the Arabic Tinnin, sea‐serpent. It is also called Samudraru
Tishya In. The Kali Yuga or fourth age
Tisiphone Gk. One of the Erinyes or Furies, and sister of Alecto and Megaera; she was the one who punished
crimes of murder: parricide, fratricide and homicide
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Titans Gk. A race of powerful deities, descendants of Gaia and Uranus, that ruled during the legendary Golden
Age; In the first generation of twelve Titans, the males were Oceanus, Hyperion, Coeus, Cronus, Crius
and Iapetus and the females were Mnemosyne, Tethys, Theia, Phoebe, Rhea and Themis. The second
generation of Titans consisted of Hyperion's children Eos, Helios, and Selene; Coeus's daughters Leto
and Asteria; Iapetus's sons Atlas, Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Menoetius; and Crius's sons Astraeus,
Pallas, and Perses;the role of the Titans as Elder Gods was overthrown by a race of younger gods, the
Olympians, in the Titanomachy ("War of the Titans") which affected a mythological paradigm shift that
the Greeks may have borrowed from the Ancient Near East
Tithonus Gk. The lover of Eos
Tittiri In. ‘A partridge.’ An ancient sage who was the pupil of Yaska, and is an authority referred to by Panini
Some attribute the Taittiriya Sanhita of the Yajur‐veda to him. See Veda
Tityus. Gk. The son of Elara; his father was Zeus
Tiver N. A magically prepared coloring material used to stain runes. It can be made by grinding natural red
ocher or rust. It can also be made from the root of the Madder plant (Rubia tinctura).
Tiwaz N. Saxon god of battle and victory, also known as Tyr, Tig, Teiwa
Tjalfi N. "The Little Tell". A skillful runner, Tjalfi is not an Æsir, but a human boy. He lives in Bilskirnir with Thor
and Sif. Roskva is his sister, and Groa and Egil Skytten, his parents. Tjalfi personifies the arrow.
Tmolus Gk. The god of Mount Tmolus in Lydia, is described as the husband of Pluto (or Omphale) and father of
Tantalus, and said to have decided the musical contest between Apollo and Pan
Tosalaka In. An athelete and boxer who was killed by Krishna in the public arena in the presence of Kansa
Traigarttas In. The people of Tri‐gartta
Trasadasyu In. A royal sage and author of hymns. According to Sayana, he was son of Purukutsa; When
Purukutsa was a prisoner, “his queen propitiated the seven Rishis to obtain a son who might take his
father's place; They advised her to worship Indra and Varuna, in consequence of which Trasadasyu was
born.” He was renowned for his generosity; According to the Bhagavata Purana he was father of
Purukutsa
Treta Yuga In. The second age of the world, a period of 1,296,000 years. See Yuga
Tri‐Bhuvana, Tri‐Loka In. The three worlds, Swarga, Bhumi, Patala‐heaven, earth, and hell
Tri‐Dasa In. ‘Three times ten, thirty.’ In round numbers, the thirty‐three deities – twelve Adityas, eight Vasus.
eleven Rudras, and two Aswins
Tri‐Gartta In. ‘The country of the three strongholds,’ lately identified with the northern hill state of Kotoch,
which is still called by the people “the country of Traigart.” –Wilson; General Cunningham, however,
clearly identifies it with the Jalandhar Doab and Kangra
Tri‐Jata In. An amiable Rakshasi who befriended Sita when she was the captive of Ravana in Ceylon; She is
also called Dharma‐jna.
Tri‐Kanda Sesha In. A Sanskrit vocabulary in three chapters, composed as a supplement to the Amara‐kosha; It
has been printed in India
273
Tri‐Kuta In. ‘Three peaks; The mountain on which the city of Lanka was built; A mountain range running south
from Meru
Tri‐Lochana In. ‘Three‐eyed,’ i.e., Siva; The Maha‐bharata relates that the third eye burst from Siva's forehead
with a great flame when his wife playfully placed her hands over his eyes after he had been engaged in
austerities in the Himalaya; This eye has been very destructive. It reduced Kama, the god of love, to
ashes.
Tri‐Murti In. ‘Triple form.’ The Hindu triad; This was foreshadowed in the Vedic association of the three gods
Agni, Vayu, and Surya; The triad consists of the gods Brahma, Siva, and Vishnu, the representatives of
the creative, destructive, and preservative principles; Brahma is the embodiment “of the Rajo‐guna, the
quality of passion or desire, by which the world was called into being; Siva is the embodied Tamo‐guna,
the attribute of darkness or wrath, and the destructive fire by which the earth is annihilated; and
Vishnu is the embodied Satwa‐guna, or property of mercy and goodness by which the world is
preserved; The three exist in one and one in three, as the Veda is divided into three and is yet but one;
and they are all Asrita, or comprehended within that one being who is Parama or ‘supreme,’ Guhya or
‘secret,’ and Sarvatma, ‘the sow of all things.’ ”‐Wilson; The Padma purana, which is a Vaishnava work
and gives the supremacy to Vishnu, says, “In the beginning of creation, the great Vishnu, desirous of
creating the whole world, became three‐fold: creator, preserver, and destroyer; In order to create this
world, the supreme spirit produced from the right side of his body himself as Brahma; then in order to
preserve the world he produced from the left side of his body Vishnu; and in order to destroy the world
he produced from the middle of his body the eternal Siva; Some worship Brahma, others Vishnu, others
Siva; but Vishnu, one yet threefold, creates, preserves, and destroys, therefore let the pious make no
difference between the three. "; The representation of the Tri‐murti is one body with three heads : in
the middle Brahma, on the right Vishnu, and on the left Siva. The worship of Brahma is almost extinct,
but Vishnu and Siva receive unbounded adoration from their respective followers, and each is elevated
to the dignity of the supreme being
Trinacria Gk. The island home of Helios's cattle, guarded by his eldest daughter, Lampetia
Trinavartta In. A demon who assumed the form of a whirlwind and carried off the infant Krishna, but was
over‐powered and killed by the child
Tri‐Pada In. ‘Three‐footed.’ Fever personified as having three feet, symbolising the three stages of fever‐heat,
cold, and sweat
Triptolemus Gk. A demi‐god of the Eleusinian mysteries who presided over the sowing of grain‐seed and the
milling of wheat; his name means "He who Pounds the Husks."
Tri‐Pura In. ‘Triple city.’ 1. According to the Hari‐vansa it was aerial, and was burnt in a war with the gods; A
name of the demon Bana, because he received in gift three cities from Siva, Brahma and Vishnu; He
was killed by Siva; His name at full length is Tripur8sura; The name is also applied to Siva
Tri‐Puri In. The capital city of the Chedis, now traceable an the insignificant village of Tewar, on the banks of
the Narmada
Tri‐Sanku In. See Satya‐vrata
Tri‐Siras ‘Three‐headed.’; In the Vedas, a son of Twashtri; also called Viswa‐rupa; Fever personified as a demon
with three heads, typical of the three stages of heat, cold, and sweating; Kuvera, god of wealth; An
Asura killed by Vishnu; A son or a friend of Ravana killed by Rama
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Triskele. Triskelion N. A three‐legged good luck symbol.
Tri‐Sula In. ‘A trident.’ The trident of Siva
Trita, Trita Aptya In. A minor deity mentioned occasionally in the Rig‐veda, and generally in some relation to
Indra; Thus “Indra broke through the defences of Vala, as did Trita through the coverings (of the well).”
In explanation of this and similar allusions, a legend is told by the commentator to the effect, that
Ekata, Dwita, and Trita (first, second, and third), were three men produced in water by Agni, for the
purpose of rubbing off the remains of an oblation of clarified butter; Agni threw the cinders of the
offerings into water, and from them sprang the three brothers, who, from their origin in water (ap),
were called Aptyas. Trita went one day to draw water from a well and fell into it; The Asuras than
heaped coverings over the mouth of it to prevent his getting out, but he broke through them with ease;
The Niti‐manjari tells the story differently. Ekata, Dwita, and Trita were travelling in a desert and
suffered from thirst. They came to a well from which Trita drew water and gave it to his brothers; In
order to appropriate his property the two brothers threw him into the well, placed a cart‐wheel over it,
and there left him. Trita prayed earnestly to the gods, and with their help he escaped
Tritogenea Gk. A surname of Athena which is explained in different ways
Triton Gk. A fish‐tailed sea god, the son and herald of Poseidon, king of the seas; he stilled the waves with the
blow of a conch‐shell trumpet; was also described as the god of the giant, Libyan, salt‐lake Tritonis;
when the Argonauts were stranded in the desert he assisted them in finding passage from the lake back
to the sea.
Tritsus In. A people frequently mentioned in the Veda. Sayana says they were “priests who were Vasishtha's
disciples.” Vasishtha himself is said to have belonged to the tribe
Trivaldi N. "Triple Mighty". A Giant with nine heads and three necks; He was killed by Thor, who split each his
heads with an axe.
Tri‐Veni In. ‘The triple braid.’ A name of Prayaga; It is so called because the Ganges and Jumna here unite, and
the Saraswati is supposed to join them by an underground channel
Trivia Rom. Goddess of the crossroads
Tri‐Vikrama In. A name of Vishnu used in the Rig‐veda, and referring to three steps or paces which he is
represented as taking. These steps, according to the opinion of a commentator, are “the three periods
of the sun's course, his rising, culminating, and setting.” An old commentator says, “Vishnu stepped by
separate strides over the whole universe; In three places he planted his step, one step on the earth, a
second in the atmosphere, and a third in the sky, in the successive forms of Agni, Vayu, and Surya.” The
great commentator Sayana, a comparatively modern writer, understands these steps as being the three
steps of Vishnu in the Vamana or dwarf incarnation, and no doubt they were the origin of this fiction
Troezen Gk. The place where Aethra, a princess of Troezen, slept with both Aegeus and Poseidon the same
night, and fell pregnant with the great Greek hero Theseus
Troilus Gk. Young Trojan prince, one of the sons of King Priam and Hecuba; ambushed and murdered by
Achilles
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Trojan Horse Gk. hollow horse made
of wood used by the Greeks
to win the Trojan War. The
resourceful Odysseus had
come up with the plan for the
horse. The Greeks hid soldiers
inside it and left it outside the
gates of Troy. They anchored
their ships just out of sight of
Troy and left a man behind to
say that the goddess Athena
would be pleased if the
Trojans brought the horse
inside the city and honored it.
The Trojans took the bait,
against the advice of
Cassandra and Laocoon. That
night the Greek army
returned to Troy. The men
inside the horse emerged and
opened the city gates for their
companions. The Greeks
sacked the city, thus winning
the war.
Trojan War Gk. Waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans after Paris of Troy took Helen from her
husband Menelaus, the king of Sparta
Troll N. A malevolent Earth spirit, an ugly, mean‐spirited being with magical powers.
Troll Rune N. The troll‐rune is Thurisaz, and its use was thought to evoke demons from the nether‐world. The
cutting of three Thurisaz staves perverts or inverts the meanings of those runes which follow it. See
also Svart runes; Troll runes are runes that can be used for divination. This name comes from an old
belief that prophecy comes from Trolls, who have knowledge of the future.
Tryambaka In. ‘Three‐eyed,’ or ‘Having three wives or sisters.’ ;A name of Siva; One of the Rudras; Name of
one of the twelve great Lingas. See Linga
Tryaruna In. A king, son of Trivrishan, of the race of Ikshwaku; He was riding in a chariot which Vrisa, his
purohita or family priest, was driving; The vehicle passed over and killed a Brahman boy, and a question
arose as to who was responsible for the death; The question was referred to an assembly of the
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Ikshwakus, and they decided it against Vrita; The purohit by his prayers then restored the boy to life,
and being very angry with them for what he deemed partiality, “fire henceforth ceased to perform its
functions in their dwellings, and the cooking of their food and other offices ceased.”; The Ikshwakus
appeased him, and upon his prayers the use of fire was restored to them; This story is told by Sayana in
elucidation of a Vedic allusion, and he quotes the Satyayana Brahmana as the authority
Trym N. "The Noisy One"; Trym is a Giant who once stole Mjollnir and held it hostage, demanding to have
Freya as his bride. Thor fooled him, freed Freya, and got Mjollnir back.
Tuat Eg. The land of the dead; It Iies under the earth and is entered through the western horizon
Tukharas In. A northern tribe from whom Tukharistan obtained its name; They are probably the tribe of
Sakas, by whom Bactria was taken from the Greeks; They are also called Tusharas
Tuladhara In. A trading Vaisya mentioned in the Maha‐bharata as very virtuous and learned, to whom Jajali,
an arrogant Brahman, was sent by a voice from the sky to learn wisdom
Tulunga In. Tuluva, or the country where the Tulu language is spoken, on the western coast below Goa.
Tumburu In. Name of a Gandharva. See Viradha
Tunda In. A demon slain by Nahusha, the son of Ayus. He had a son named Vitunda, who was killed by
Bhagavati (Durga)
Turanga‐Vaktra In. ‘Horse‐faced people.’ See Kinnaras
Turushkas In. Turks; the people of Turkistan. The Indo‐Scythians, who, under Kanishka and other kings of the
race, held Northern India
Turvasa, Turvasu In. Son of Yayati by Devayani. He refused to bear the curse of premature decrepitude
passed upon his father, and so his father cursed him that his posterity should “not possess dominion.”
His father gave him a part of his kingdom, but after some generations, his line merged into that of his
brother Puru, who bore for a time the curse passed upon his father
Tushara In. See Tukhara
Tushitas In. A gana or class of subordinate deities, thirty‐six in number, but sometimes reduced to twelve, and
identified with the Adityas
Tvisto N. Saxon ancestor god of northern Europeans
Twashtri In. In the Rig‐veda this deity is the ideal artist, the divine artisan, the most skilful of workmen, who is
versed in all wonderful and admirable contrivances, and corresponds in many respects with Hephaistos
and Vulcan; He sharpens and carries the great iron axe, and he forges the thunderbolts of Indra; He is
the beautiful, skilful worker, the omniform, the archetype of all forms, the vivifier and the bestower of
long life; He imparts generative power and bestows offspring; He forms husband and wife for each
other, even from the womb; He develops the seminal germ in the womb, and is the shaper of all forms,
human and animal; He has generated a strong man, a lover of the gods, a swift horse, and has created
the whole world; As the Satapatha Brahmana expresses it, “He has produced and nourishes a great
variety of creatures; all worlds (or beings) are his, and are known to him; he has given to heaven and
earth and to all things their forms.”; He created Brahmanas‐pati above all creatures, and generated
Agni along with heaven and earth, the waters and the Bhrigus. He is master of the universe, the first‐
born protector and leader, and knows the region of the gods; He is supplicated to nourish the
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worshipper and protect his sacrifice; He is the bestower of blessings, and is possessed of abundant
wealth, and grants prosperity; He is asked, like other gods, to take pleasure in the hymns of his
worshippers and to grant them riches; He is associated with the Ribhus, and is represented as
sometimes envying and some times admiring their skill He is represented as being occasionally in a
state of hostility with Indra, and he had a son named Viswa‐rupa (omniform) or Tri‐siras, who had three
heads, six eyes, and three mouths, who was especially obnoxious to Indra, and was slain by him. He had
a daughter, Saranyu, whom he married to Vivaswat, and she was the mother of the Aswins; In the
Puranas Twashtri is identified with Viswa‐ karman, the artisan of the gods, and sometimes also with
Praja‐pati One of the Adityas and one of the Rudras bear this name, as also did a prince descended
from Bharata
Tyche Gk. Was the presiding tutelary deity that governed the fortune and prosperity of a city, its destiny
Tydeus Gk. He was one of the Seven Against Thebes and was mortally wounded by Melanippus before the
walls of the city in Trojan War; He was the father of the Greek warrior Diomedes, who is frequently
known by the patronymic Tydides
Tydides Gk. Son of Tydeus
Tyndareus Gk. Spartan king, son of Oebalus (or Perieres) and Gorgophone (or Bateia); Husband of Leda and
father of Helen
Tyndaris Gk. Daughter of King Tydareus
Typhoeus Gk. Monstrous, serpentine giant that battled Zeus
Tyr, Tiu, Tiwaz, Tiw, Ziu N. "The One‐Handed". Asa‐God

of defense and victory, the bravest of the Gods;
Giver of victory in battle against odds; he is never
deceitful. He presides over law, legal contracts,
and assemblies of the people for judicial matters.
He lost his hand in the jaws of Fenrir wolf. He is
sometimes referred to as the son of Odin and
Frigga, but sometimes is referred to as an older
God who preceeded Odin.
Tyrfing N. "Magic Sword"; A magic sword forged by the

Dwarves Durin and Dvalin. The sword killed most
of the people who have owned it.
Tyro Gk. daughter of Salmoneus and married Cretheus,

but loved Enipeus; gave birth to Pelias and Neleus,
the twin sons of Poseidon
Tyr
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U
Uchchaih‐Sravas In. the white model horse of Indra produced at the churning of the ocean;It is fed on
ambrosia, and is held to be the king of horses
Uchchhista In. the remains of a sacrifice, to which divine powers are ascribed by the Rig‐veda
Udaya‐Giri Parvata In. the eastern mountain from behind which the sun rises
Udayana In. a prince of the Lunar race, and son of Sahas‐ranika, who is the hero of a popular stoyr; He was
king of Vatsa, and is commonly called Vatsa‐raja; His capital was Kausambi Vasava‐datta, princess of
Ujjayini, saw him in a dream and fen in love with him; He was decoyed to that city, and there kept in
captivity by the king, Chandasena; but when he was set at liberty by the minister, he carried off Vasava‐
datta from her father and a rival suitor; A name of Agastya
Uddhava In. the friend and counsellor of Krishna; According to some he was Krishna's cousin, being son of
Devabhaga, the brother of Vasu‐deva; He was also called Pavana‐vyadhi
Udgatri In. a priest whose duty it is to chaunt the prayers or hymns from the Sama‐veda
Udjat Eg. This important symbol is named after the "sound eye" of Horus; According to one version of the
legend Seth, the god of evil intentions, snatched away the eye of Horus which then fell to pieces; Thoth
found it and put it together again; The udjat was regarded as a powerful protective amulet; it is
frequently found in tombs, on coffins and on the seal which was placed over the incision in the mummy
through which the internal organs were removed
Udranka In. Haris‐chandra's aerial city
Ugra In. a name of Rudra, or of one of his manifestations
Ugrasena In. a king of Mathura, husband of Karni, and father of Kansa and Devaka; He was deposed by Kansa,
but Krishna, after killing the latter, restored Ugrasena to the throne
Ujjayani In. the Greek origin and the modern Oujein or Ujjein; It was the capital of Vikramaditya and one of
the seven sacred cities; Hindu geographers calculate their longitude from it, making it their first
meridian
Ulfdalir N. "Wolf‐Dales". The northernmost edge of the world, not far from one of the tunnels which lead
down into the Underworld; The Gods never go here. Volund, Aurvandil and Slagfinnur, sons of Ivaldi,
chose to become outlaws, and travelled to live here.
Úlfhednar N. Warriers who took the shape of wolves in battle; See Berzerker
Ullr, Uller, Ull, Wulder N. Winter God of archery, skiing and yew magic; Stepson of Thor, from a previous
union between Sif and Orvandil, a star hero; this puts Ullr among the Vanir. His name means "The
Brilliant One" and he is associated with the Aurora Borealis. He has been identified as a very archaic
God of death in Norway. At some time in history, Ullr was held to be just as important as Odin, and in
winter he was considered to be the ruler in Asgard.
Uluka In. an owl’ Son of Kitava; He was king of a country and people of the same name; He was an ally of the
Kauravas, and acted as their envoy to the pandavas
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Ulupi In. a daughter of Kauravya, Raja of the Nagas, with whom Arjuna contracted a kind of marriage; She was
nurse to her step‐son, Babhru‐vahana, and had great influence over him. According to the Vishnu
purana she had a son named Iravat
Ulysses Gk. Latin name for Odysseus
Uma In. ‘Light.’ a name of the consort of Siva; The earliest known mention of the name is in the Kena
Upanishad, where she appears as a mediatrix between Brahma and the other gods, and seems to be
identified with Vach. See Devi
Uma‐Pati In. ‘Husband of Uma,’ that is to say, Siva
Underworld book Eg. A textual and pictorial compositions that is found in New Kingdom tombs; It follows the
daily passage of the sun god across the sky and through the underworld
Underworld Gk. Place where all the souls of the dead went to
Unn N. "Billow". One of Aegir and Ran's nine wavedaughters who are said to be the mothers of Heimdall, the
guardian of the Bifrost bridge.
Upanishads In. ‘Esoteric doctrine.’ The third division of the Vedas attached to the Brahmana portion, and
forming part of the Sruti or revealed word; The Upanishads are generally written in prose with
interspersed verses, but some are wholly in verse; There are about 150 of these works, probably even
more; They are of later date than the Brahmanas, but it is thought that the oldest may date as far back
as the sixth century B.C. The object of these treatises is to ascertain the mystic sense of the text of the
Veda, and so they enter into such abstruse questions as the origin of the universe, the nature of the
deity, the nature of soul, and the connection of mind and matter; Thus they contain the beginnings of
that metaphysical inquiry which ended in the full development of Hindu philosophy; The Upanishads
have "one remarkable peculiarity, the total absence of any Brahmanical exclusiveness in their doctrine;
They are evidently later than the older Sanhitas and Brahmanas, but they breathe an entirely different
spirit, a freedom of thought unknown in any earlier work except the Rig‐veda hymns themselves
Upaplavya In. Matsya, the capital of the king of Virata
Upa‐Puranas In. secondary or subordinate puranas
Uparichara In. a Vasu or demigod, who, according to the Maha‐bharata, became king of Chedi by command of
Indra; He had five eons by his wife; and by an Apsaras, named Adrika, condemned to live on earth in
the form of a fish, he had a son named Matsya (fish), and a daughter, Satya‐vati, who was the mother
of Vyasa
Upasruti In. a supernatural voice which is heard at night revealing the secrets of the future
Upasunda In. a Daitya, Son of Nisunda, brother of Sunda, and father of Muka
Upa‐Vedas In. subordinate or inferior Vedas; These are sciences which have no connection whatever with the
Sruti or revealed Veda; They are four in number‐ (1.) Ayur‐veda, medicine; (2.) Gandharva‐veda, music
and dancing; (3.) Dhanur‐veda, archery, military science; (4.) Sthapatya‐veda, architecture
Upendra In. a title given to Krishna by Indra
Uraeus Eg. A symbol of kingship; A rearing cobra was worn on the king's forehead or crown; The cobra was
associated with the "eye" of the sun; It was a protector of the king, spitting out fire
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Uragatas In. the Nagas or serpents inhabiting Patala
Urania Gk. Muse of astronomy
Uranus Gk. Father of sky
Urdarbrunnur N. Urda Well.
Urdawell, Urda Well, Urdhr's Well N. The where the Gods have their court. The Norns use its water to keep
Yggdrasil's branches from rotting.
Urdhr, Urdu, Urd N. "Destiny". One of the Great Norns; Urdhr, the oldest Fate, sits at the Urdawell by
Yggdrasil's root to the south, and spins life‐threads with a silver distaff. Her threads involve the humans
past. Urdhr (OE Wyrd) is simply the past participle of the verb verda, "to become". (OE wyrd is similarly
formed from the verb weordhan). So Urdhr really means "that which was", "the past". Urdhr answered,
"Ragnarok", when Odin when he asked what the future would be. She knew that his eye lay deep in
Mimir's Well of Wisdom, so he already knew the answer to all his questions. But Odin laid all manner of
treasures at her feet and begged for an answer. Then she chanted the fearsome, but somehow
comforting lay, which tells of Ragnarok and the renewal of the world.
Urdhr, Verdhandi, Skuld N. the Great Norns who shape men's lives for better or worse
Urmila In. daughter of Janaka; sister of Sita,;wife of Lakshmana, and mother of Gandharvi Somada
Urva In. father of Richika and grandfather of Jamad‐agni
Urvasi In. a celestial nymph, mentioned first in the Rig‐veda; The sight of her beauty is said to have caused the
generation, in a peculiar way, of the sages Agastya and Vasishtha by Mitra and Varuna; She roused the
anger of these two deities and incurred their curse, through which she came to live upon the earth, and
became the wife or mistress of Pura‐ravas; The story of her amour with Pura‐ravas is first told in the
Satapatha Brahmana; The loves of Pura‐ravas, the Vikrama or hero, and of Urvasi, the nymph, are the
subject of Kali dasa's drama called Vikramorvasi
Usanas In. the planet Venus or its regent, also called Sukra ; author of a Dharma‐sastra or law‐book
Usha In. a Daitya princess; daughter of Bana and grand‐daughter of Bali; She is called also Priti‐jusha.;She fell
in love with a prince whom she saw in a dream, and was anxious to know if there were such a person;
Her favourite companion, Chitra‐lekha, drew the portraits of many gods and men, but Usha's choice fell
upon Aniruddha, son of Pradyumna and grandson of Krishna. Chitra‐lekha, by her magic power,
brought Aniruddha to Usha; Her father, on hearing of the youth's being in the palace, endeavoured to
kill him, but he defended himself successfully. Bana, however, kept Aniruddha, “binding him in serpent
bonds.” Krishna, Pradyumna, and Bala‐rama went to the rescue; and although Bana was supported by
Siva and by Skanda, god of war, his party was defeated, and Aniruddha was carried back to Dwaraka
with his wife Usha
Ushabti Eg. Literally translated it means "to answer."; It is a small mummiform figure placed in tombs to do
work in the afterlife on behalf of the deceased; In some tombs of the late New Kingdom whole gangs of
ushabti workers were included with different tools for doing different work; A complete collection
would consist of 401 Ushabti; one for each day of the year, 365 plus 36 foreman
Ushas In. the dawn, of the Greeks and Aurora of the Latins; She is the daughter of heaven and sister of the
Adityas; This is one of the most beautiful myths of the Vedas, and is enveloped in poetry; Ushas is the
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friend of men; she smiles like a young wife; she is the daughter of the sky; she goes w every house; she
thinks of the dwellings of men; she does not despise the small or the great; she brings wealth : she is
always the same, immortal, divine, age cannot touch her; she is the young goddess, but she makes men
grow old
Ushmapas In. The Pitris or a class of Pitris
Usij In. mentioned in the Rig‐veda as the mother of Kakshivat; A female servant of the queen of the Kalinga
Raja. The king desired his queen to submit to the embraces of the sage Dirgha‐tamas, in order that be
might beget a son; The queen substituted her bondmaid Usij; The sage, cognisant of the deception,
sanctified Usij, and begat upon her a son, Kakshivat, who, through his affiliation by the king, was a
Kshatriya, but, as the son of Dirgha‐tamas, was a Brahman; This story is told in the Maha‐bharata and
some of the Puranas
Utangardhr, Utangardhs N. The ring of the elemental worlds ouside Midgardhr. Wild magical unordered
space; outside of human society
Utathya In. a Brahman of the race of Angiras, who married Bhadra, daughter of Soma, a woman of great
beauty; The god Varuna, who had formerly been enamoured of her, carried her off from Utathya's
hermitage, and would not give her up to Narada, who was Bent to bring her back; Utathya, greatly
enraged, drank up all the sea, still Varuna would not let her go; At the desire of Utathya, the lake of
Varuna was then dried up and the ocean swept away; The saint then addressed himself to the countries
and to the river:‐ “Saraswati, disappear into the deserts, and let this land, deserted by thee, become
impure.” “ After the country had become dried up, Varuna submitted himself to Utathya and brought
back Bhadra. The sage was pleased to get back his wife, and released both the world and Varuna from
their sufferings.”
Utgardh‐Loki N. Giant King of a castle in Utgard, who tested Thor and companions in competitions and
cheated. Utgardaloki is Elli's grandson.
Útiseta N. "Sitting‐out"; A technique used in seid, where a person "sits out" under the stars to hear inner
voices and commune with the universe.The traditional rite of sitting‐out is an act of Seid for making
contact with your own personal fetch or fylgja and for gaining an ongoing interaction with it. Útiseta is
a kind of shamanic vision‐quest working. This type of working can be undertaken for a variety of
magical purposes. See also: Sitting Out.
Utkala In. the modern Orissa; It gives its name to one of the five northern nations of Brahmans
Uttamaujas In. a warrior of great strength, and an ally of the pandavas
Uttana‐ Pad In. Outstretched, supine.’ In the Vedas, a peculiar creative source from which the earth sprang
supposed to refer to the posture of a woman in parturition
Uttana‐PAda In. a son of Manu and Sata‐rupa; By his wife Su‐nrita he had four sons, Dhruva, Kirtiman,
Ayushman, and Vasu; Some of the Puranas gave him another wife, Su‐ruchi, and a son, Uttama
Uttara (mas.), Uttara (fem.) In. A son and daughter of the Raja of Virata. Uttara was killed in battle by Salya;
The daughter married Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna
Uttara Mimansa In. a school of philosophy
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Uttara –Naishada‐ Charita In. A poem on the life of Nala; king of Nishada, written about the year 1000 A.D. by
Sri Harsha, a celebrated sceptical philosopher; It has been printed in the Bibliotheca Indica
Uttara‐ Rama‐ Charita In. ‘The later chronicle of Rama; A drama by Bhava‐bhuti on the latter part of Rama's
life; The second part of King Rama, as the Maha‐vira‐charita is the first. The drama is based on the
Uttara Ka1uia of the Ramayana, and quotes two or three verses from that poem; It was probably
written about the beginning of the eighth century. It has been translated in blank verse by Wilson, and
more literally by Professor C. H. Tawney
Uttara‐Kuru In. a region lying far to the north; (Plural.) The inhabitants of this region
V
Va In. a name of Varuna; also name of his dwelling
Vach In. ‘Speech.’ In the Rig‐veda, Vach appears to be the personification of speech by whom knowledge was
communicated to man; Thus she is said to have “entered into the Rishis,” and to make whom she loves
terrible and intelligent, a priest and a Rishi; She was “generated by the gods,” and is called “the divine
Vach,” “queen of the gods,” and she is described as “the melodious cow who milked forth sustenance
and water,” “who yields us nourishment and sustenance.” The Brahmanas associate her with Prajapati
in the work of creation. In the Taittiriya Brahmana she is called “the mother of the Vedas,” and “the
wife of Indra, who contains within herself all worlds.” In the Satapatha Brahmana she is represented as
entering into a sexual connection with Prajapati, who, “being desirous of creating, connected himself
with various spouses,” and among them, “through his mind, with Vach,” from whom “he created the
waters;” or, as this last sentence is differently translated, “He created the waters from the world [in the
form ] of speech (Vach).” In the Kathaka Upanishad this idea is more distinctly formulated : “Prajapati
was this universe. Vach was a second to him. He associated sexually with her; she became pregnant;
she departed from him; she produced these creatures; she again entered into Prajapati.”
Vacuna Rom. Goddess of agriculture
Vadava, Vadavanala In. The submarine fire which “devours the water of the ocean,” causing it to throw off
the vapours which are condensed into rain and snow. The word is also written Vadava and Badava
Vafthruthnir N. "The one who knows answers'". Wisest of the Giants; Odin visited him to see if he really was
that smart. Vavtrudnir failed the last question and lost his head.
Vahana In. ‘A vehicle.’ Most of the gods are represented as having animals as their vahanas. Brahma has the
Hansa, swan or goose; Vishnu has Garuda, half eagle, half man; Siva, the bull Nandi, Indra, an elephant;
Yama, a buffalo; Karttikeya, a peacock; Kama‐deva, the marine monster Makara, or a parrot; Agni, a
ram; Varuna, a fish; Ganesa, a rat; Vayu, an antelope; Sani, or Saturn, a vulture; Durga, a tiger
Vahara Mihira In. An astronomer who was one of “the nine gems” of the court of Vikramaditya. (See Nava‐
ratna.); He was author of Brihat‐sanhita and Brihaj‐jataka. His death is placed in Saka 509 (A.D. 587)
Vahuka In. ‘Charioteer.’ A name and office assumed by Nala in his time of disguise
Vaibhojas In. The Maha‐bharata says, “The descendants of Druhyu are the Vaibhojas.” “A people
unacquainted with the use of cars or beasts of burthen, and who travel on rafts; they have no kings
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Vaibhraja In. AIBHRAJA A celestial grove; the grove of the gods on Mount Suparswa, west of Meru
Vaidarbha In. belonging to the country of Vidarbha or Birar; The people of that country
Vaideha In. belonging to the country of Videha or Tirhoot; The king or the people of the country. Janaka was
called Vaideha and Sita was Vaidehi
Vaidya‐ Natha In. ‘Lord of physicians.’; A title of Siva. Name of one of the twelve great Lingas
Vaijayanta In. The palace or the banner of Indra
Vaijayanti In. The necklace of Vishnu, composed of five precious gems, pearl, ruby, emerald, sapphire, and
diamond; it “is the aggregate of the five elemental rudiments.” ; A law‐book current in the south; It is a
commentary by Nanda Pandita on the Vishnu Smriti
Vaikarttana In. a name of Karna from his putative father, Vikarttana, the sun
Vaikuntha In. the paradise of Vishnu, sometimes described as on Mount Meru, and at others as in the
Northern Ocean.; It is also called Vaibhra. Vishnu himself is sometimes designated by this term
Vainateya In. a name of Vishnu's bird Garuda
Vairaj In. Manu the son of Viraj
Vairajanas In. Semi‐divine beings or Manes unconsumable by fire, who dwell in Tapo‐loka, but are capable of
translation to Satya‐loka; The Kasi‐khanda explains this term as the Manes of “ascetics, mendicants,
anchorets, and penitents, who have completed a course of rigorous austerities.” See Pitris
Vairochana In. a name of Bali
Vaisali In. A city founded by Visala, son of Trinabindu; This is “a city of considerable renown in Indian tradition,
but its site is a subject of some uncertainty.” ; It was a celebrated place among the Buddhists, and
would seem to have been situated on the left bank of the Ganges. General Cunningham places it about
27 miles north of Patna; It is frequently confounded with Visala, i.e., Ujjayini
Vaisampa Yana In. a celebrated sage who was the original teacher of the Black Yajur‐veda. He was a pupil of
the great Vyasa, from whom he learned the Maha‐bharata, which he afterwards recited to King
Janamejaya at a festival; The Hari‐vansa is also represented as having been communicated by him
Vaiseshika In. The Atomic school of philosophy
Vaisravana In. Patronymic of Kuvera
Vaiswanara In. A name by which Agni is occasionally known in the Rig‐veda
Vaisya In. The third or trading and agricultural caste
Vaitana Sutra In. The ritual of the Atharva‐veda; The text has been published by Dr. Garbe
Vaitarani In. ‘(The river) to be crossed,’ it is, the river of hell, which must be Crossed before the infernal
regions can be entered; This river is described as being filled with blood, ordure, and all sorts of filth,
and to run with great impetuosity. A second river stated by the Maha‐bharata to be in the country of
the Kalingas; it must be the river of the same name (vulg. "Byeturnee”) somewhat higher up in Cuttack
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Vaivaswata In. Name of the seventh Manu; he was son of Surya and father of Ikshwaku, the founder of the
Solar race of kings
Vajasaneyi‐pratisakhya Belonging to the White Yajur. It is attributed to Katyayana, and has been edited and
translated by Weber
Vajasaneyi‐Sanhita In. The body of hymns forming the White Yajur‐veda
Vajin In. A priest of the White Yajur‐veda
Vajra In. The thunderbolt of Indra, said to have been made of the bones of the Rishi Dadhichi; It is a circular
weapon, with a hole in the centre, according to some, but others represent it as consisting of two
transverse bars. It has many names:‐ Asani, Abhrottha, ‘sky‐born;’ Bahu‐dara, ‘much cleaving;’ Bhidira
or Chhidaka, ‘the splitter;’ Dambholi and Jasuri, ‘destructive;’ Hradin, ‘roaring;’ Kulisa, ‘axe;’ Pavi,
‘pointed;’ Phena‐vahin, ‘foam‐bearing;’ Shat‐kona, ‘hexagon;’ Sambha and Swaru. ; Son of Aniruddha.
His mother is sometimes said to be Aniruddha's wife Su‐bhadra, and at others the Daitya princess Usha.
Krishna just before his death made him king over the Yadavas at Indra‐prastha.
Vajra‐ Nabha In. The celebrated chakra (discus) of Krishna; According to the Maha‐bharata it was given to him
by Agni for his assistance in defeating Indra and burning the Khi1ulava forest.
Vaka In. ‘A crane.’ A great Asura who lived near the city of Eka‐chakra, and forced the Raja of the place to
send him daily a large quantity of provisions, which he devoured, and not only the provisions, but the
men who carried them. Under the directions of Kunti, her son Bhima took the provisions, and when the
demon struck him, a terrific combat fo1Wwed; each one tore up trees by the roots and be laboured the
other, till Bhima seized the demon by the legs and tore him asunder. Kuvera is sometimes called by this
name.
Vala‐ Khilyas In. Eleven hymns of an apocryphal or peculiar character interpolated in the Rig‐veda; Pigmy
sages no bigger than a joint of the thumb, chaste, pious, resplendent as the rays of the sun.” So
described by the Vishnu Purana, which says that they were brought forth by Samnati (humility), wife of
Kratu, and were 60,000 in number; They are able to fly swifter than birds. The Rig‐veda says that they
sprang from the hairs of Prajapati (Brahma). They are the guards of the chariot of the sun; They are also
called Kharwas. Wilson says “they are not improbably connected with the character of Daumling,
Thaumlin, Tamlane, Tom‐a‐lyn, or Tom Thumb.”
Valaskialf N. "Seat of the Slain". Odin's silver‐roofed hall in Asgard, where his high throne, Hlidskjalf; from it
Odhinn can see into all the nine worlds.
Valfather N. – “God of the Slain". By‐name of Odin
Valhalla N. "Hall of the Slain"; Valhalla is one of Odin's halls in Asgard, where those who have fallen in battle,
the Einherjar, go after death. (The other great hall is Vingolf.) It has five hundred and forty doors.
Behind each door is a room for 800 warriors. The hall is roofed rafters of huge shining spear shafts and
tiles of golden shields. Here the warriors gather to prepare for the final battle and the end of the world,
Ragnarok. Each day the Odin's cook boils the flesh of a boar in a great kettle The boar's flesh suffices for
all the warriors. The boar is resurrected each evening to be cooked again the next morning. The
warriors spend their days fighting and killing each other, to be revived at night for feasting and drinking
four different kinds of mead and ale.
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Valhalla

Váli N. In some sources, the twin brother of

Vidar. In other sources, he is the youngest
of Odin's sons, by the Giantess Rind, and
was born for the express purpose of
avenging Balder's death since the Gods
could not kill one of their own. When he
was only one night old, he killed Hodur.
He is bold in battles, and an excellent
arcber. He will be one of the seven Æsir to
survive the Ragnarok. 2) A Dwarf.
Valkyrja, Valkyries N. "Chooser of the Fallen".

Disir sent by Odin into battle to select
those who would go to Valhalla, lead by
Freya. They are sometimes referred to as
"shield‐maidens" or "corpse‐goddesses".
They have ravens and swan forms, and
are sometimes seen by men as the Aurora
Borealiis, flickering light caused by
reflections on their armor. They choose
among the slain and bring fertility to the
earth. The Valkyries also serve as Odin'sm
messengers and servants. "Hrist and Mist
I desire should bring me a horn, Skeggjöld
and Skögul, Hildr and Thrûdr, Hlökk and
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Herfjötur, Göll and Geirahöd, Rándgridr and Reginleif. These serve ale to the Einheriar. Gunnr and Róta
and the youngest norn, called Skuld, always ride to choose who shall be slain and to govern the
killings." Other Valkyrie include Brynhildr, Sigrún, Kára, Sigdrifa, Sváva, Hildeberg, Hildegund, Kreimhildr
and Göndul and the other two norns, Urdhr and Verdhandi. N. See also Dis, Disir.
Valmiki In. the author of the Ramayana, which he in Vedic phrase is said to have “seen.”; He himself is
represented as taking part in some of the scenes he describes. He received the banished Sita into his
hermitage at Chitra‐kuta, and educated her twin sons Kusa and Lava;“Tradition has marked a hill in the
district of Banda in Bundlekand as his abode.” The invention of the sloka is attributed to him, but it
cannot be his, because the metre is found in the Vedas.
Vama‐ Deva In. a Vedic Rishi, author of many hymns. In one of his hymns he represents himself as speaking
before his birth, saying, “let me not come forth by this path, for it is difficult (of issue): let me come
forth obliquely from the side.” Sayana, the commentator, says in explanation; “The Rishi Vama‐deva,
whilst yet in the womb, was reluctant to be born in the usual manner, and resolved to come into the
world through his mother’s side; Aware of his purpose, the mother prayed to Aditi, who thereupon
came with her son Indra to expostulate with the Rishi.; A Vedic sage mentioned in the Maha‐bharata as
possessor of two horses of marvelous speed called Vamyas; A name of Siva; also of one of the Rudras.
Vamacharis In. Followers of the left‐hand sect.
Vamana In. the dwarf incarnation of Vishnu See Avatara.
Vamana Purana In. That in which the four‐faced Brahma taught
the three objects of existence, as subservient to the
greatness of Tri‐vikrama (Vishnu), which treats also of the
Siva kalpa, and which consists of 10,000 stanzas, is called
the Vimana Purina.”; It contains an account of the dwarf
incarnation of Vishnu, and “extends to about 7000
stanzas, but its contents scarcely establish its claim to the
character of a Purana.”; It is of a more tolerant character
than the (other) puranas, and divides its homage
impartially between Siva and Vishnu with tolerable
impartiality; It has not the air of any antiquity, and its
compilation may have amused the leisure of some
Brahman of Benares three or four centuries ago.” ‐Wilson. Vamana
Vana‐ Charas.(mas.), Vane‐ Charis (fem.) In. Wanderers of the woods; Fauns, Dryads, or sylvan guardians.
Vana‐ Prastha In A dweller in the worlds.’ A Brahman in the third stage of his religious life, passing his time as
an anchorite in the woods.
Vanadis N. Another title for Freya. See Dis, Vanir.
Vanaheim, Vanaheimr N. The world of the Vanir.
Vanir, Sg. Van N. The race of Gods corresponding to the fertility, prosperity, eroticism functions. The Old
Norse Gods and Goddesses of the family which centered around Njord, Freyr and Freya. They tend on
the whole to be more gentle and concerned with matters of nature and fertility than the Æsir. After a
long war with the Æsir, they all exchanged hostages and lived in peace. The Vanir who came to the Æsir
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camp became assimilated into the Æsir, while retaining their special characteristics. The Gods identified
as Vanir are: Holde, Nerthus, Njord, Freya, Freyr, Od, Hnoss, Aegir, Ran, Ullr, Ulla, Gerdh, Skirnir,
Heimdallr, Idunna, Bragi, Siofyn, Gefjon, Skadhi, Erde, the Undines, Svol, Ostara, Gullveig. The Vanir are
direct descendants of Holde by way of the mother, or are males that have married (female) Vans. Vanic
(not Vanir) are Mundilfari, Mundilfara, Mani, Sol; Freyr's servants: Byggvir, Beyla; Freya's Valkyries. The
Gods identified as Æsir are: Odin (Fjolnir), Fjorgyn, Loki, Thorr, Meili, Frigga (although she is sister to
Van Njord), Tyr, Hermodr, Baldr, Hodr, Sif, Thrudh, Nanna, Forseti, Sigyn, Magni, Modi, Vali, Vidar. The
Æsir are direct descendants of Odin by way of the father, or are females who have married (male) Æsir.
Aesic (not Æsir) Gods are: Frigga's servants: Vor, Hlin, Snotra, Vara, Saga, Gna, Syn, Eir, Fulla, Sjofn,
Lofn; Thórr's servants: Thjálfi, Roskva; and Odin's Valkyries. The following are not identified as either
Vanir
Vansa In. A race or family; Lists of the Rishis or successive teachers of the Vedas which are found attached to
some of the Brahmanas are called Vansas.
Vansa‐Brahmana In. The eighth Brahmana of the Sama‐veda; It has been edited by Burnell.
Vapushmat In. a man who killed King Marutta of the Solar race; Dama, son or grandson of Marutta, in
retaliation killed Vapushmat; With his blood he made the funeral offerings to the Manes of Marutta,
and with the flesh he fed the Brahmans who were of Rakshasa descent.
Vara‐ Da In. Bestower of boons.’ A name of Devi, also of Saraswati.
Varaha In. The boar incarnation of Vishnu.
Varaha‐ Kalpa In. The present kalpa or year of Brahma.
Varaha Mihira In. An astronomer who was one of “the nine gems” of the court of Vikramaditya. (See Nava‐
ratna.); He was author of Brihat‐sanhita and Brihaj‐jataka; His death is placed in Saka 509 (A.D. 587).
Varaha Purana In. “That in which the glory of the great Varaha is predominant, as it was revealed to Earth by
Vishnu, in connetion, wise Munis, with the Manava kalpa, and which contains 24,000 verses, is called
the Varaha Purana;” but this description differs so from the Purana which bears the name in the
present day, that Wilson doubts its applying to it. The known work “is narrated by Vishnu as Varaha, or
in the boar incarnation, to the personified Earth; Its extent, however, is not half that specified, little
exceeding 10,000 stanzas. It furnishes also itself evidence of the prior currency of some other work
similarly denominated.” “It may perhaps be referred to the early part of the twelfth century.”
Varanasi In. The sacred city of Benares; also called Kasi.
Varanavata In. The city in which the Pandavas dwelt in exile.
Vararuchi In. A grammarian who is generally supposed to be one with Katyayana; There was another
Vararuchi who was one of “the nine gems” at the court of Vikramaditya.
Varddha‐ Kshatri In. a patronymic of Jayad‐ratha.
Varkshi In. daughter of a sage, who is instanced in the Maha‐bharata as being a virtuous woman, and wife of
ten husbands.
Varkshi In. Daughter of a sage, who is instanced in the Maha‐bharata as being a virtuous woman, and wife of
ten husbands.
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Varna In. ‘Class or caste.’ The Chatur‐varna, or four castes, as found established in the code of Manu, are‐;
Brahman:The sacerdotal and learned class, the members of which may be, but are not necessarily
priests; Kshatriya. The regal and warrior caste; Vaisya. Trading and agricultural caste; Sudra. Servile
caste, whose duty is to serve the other three.
Varsha In. a region. Nine varshas are enumerated as situated between the great mountain ranges of the
earth; Bharata‐varsha, India; Kim‐purusha or Kin‐nara; Hari; Ramyaka; Hiran‐maya; Uttara‐kuru; Ilavrita;
Bhadraswa; Ketu‐mala.
Varshneya In. a name of Krishna as a descendant of Vrishni; Name of King Nala's charioteer.
Varttikas In. Supplementary rules or notes to the grammar of Panini by later grammarians, as Katyayana,
Patanja1i, &c. Katyayana is the chief of these annotators, and is called Varttika‐kara, ‘the annotator.’
Varuna In. Similar to ‘the universal encompasser, the all‐embracer.’; One of the oldest of the Vedic deities, a
personification of the all‐investing sky, the maker and up‐holder of heaven and earth; As such he is king
of the universe, king of gods and men, possessor of illimitable knowledge, the supreme deity to whom
especial honour is due; He is often associated with Mitra, he being the ruler of the night and Mitra of
the day; but his name frequently occurs alone, that of Mitra only seldom; In later times he was chief
among the lower celestial deities called Adityas, and later still he became a sort ofNeptune, a god of the
seas and rivers, who rides upon the Makara.
Varuna In. The universal encompasser, the all‐embracer.;’ One of the oldest of the Vedic deities, a
personification of the all‐investing sky, the maker and up‐holder of heaven and earth. As such he is king
of the universe, king of gods and men, possessor of illimitable knowledge, the supreme deity to whom
especial honour is due; He is often associated with Mitra, he being the ruler of the night and Mitra of
the day; but his name frequently occurs alone, that of Mitra only seldom; In later times he was chief
among the lower celestial deities called Adityas, and later still he became a sort ofNeptune, a god of the
seas and rivers, who rides upon the Makara; This character he still retains; His sign is a fish; He is a
regent of the west quarter and of one of the Nakshatras or lunar mansion; According to the Maha‐
bharata he was son of Kardama and father of Pushkara; The Maha‐bharata relates that he carried off
Bhadra, the wife of Utathya (q.v.), a Brahman, but Utathya obliged him to submit and restore her; He
was in a way the father of the sage Vasishtha (q.v.); In the Vedas, Varuna is not specially connected
with water, but there are passages in which he is associated with the element of water both in the
atmosphere and on the earth, in such a way as may account for the character and functions ascribed to
him in the later mythology.
Dr. Muir thus sums up in the words of the hymns the functions and attributes of Varuna; “The
grandest cosmical functions are ascribed to Varuna; Possessed of illimitable resources (or knowledge),
this divine being has meted out (or fashioned) and upholds heaven and earth, he dwells in all worlds as
Sovereign ruler; indeed the three worlds are embraced within him; He made the golden and revolving
sun to shine in the firmament; The wind which resounds through the atmosphere is his breath; He has
opened out boundless paths for the sun, and has hollowed out channels for the rivers, which flow by
his command. By his wonderful contrivance the rivers pour out their waters into the one ocean but
never fill it; His ordinances are fixed and unassailable; They rest on him unshaken as on a mountain;
Through the operation (of his laws) the moon walks in brightness, and the stars which appear in the
nightly sky mysteriously vanish in daylight; Neither the birds flying in the air, nor the rivers in their
ceaseless flow can attain a knowledge of his power or his wrath; His messengers behold both worlds;
He knows the flight of birds in the sky, the paths of ships on the ocean, the course of the far‐travelling
wind, and be‐ holds all the things; that have been or shall be done; No creature can even wink without
him. He witnesses men's truth and falsehood. He instructs the Rishi Vasishtha in mysteries; but his
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secrets and those of Mitra are not to be revealed to the foolish.” “He has unlimited control over the
destinies of mankind; He has a hundred thousand remedies, and is supplicated to show his wide and
deep benevolence and drive away evil and sin, to untie sin like a rope and remove it; He is entreated
not to steal away, but to prolong life, and to spare the suppliant who daily transgresses his laws; In
many places mention is made of the bonds or nooses with which he seizes and punishes transgressors.
Mitra and Varuna conjointly are spoken of in one passage a8 being barriers against falsehood, furnished
with many nooses, which the hostile mortal cannot surmount; and, in another place, Indra and Varuna
are described as binding with bonds not formed of rope; On the other hand, Varuna is said to be
gracious even to him who has committed sin; He is the wise guardian of immortality, and a hope is held
out that he and Yama, reigning in blessedness, shall be beheld in the next world by the righteous.”;
“The attributes and functions ascribed to Varuna impart to his character a moral elevation and
sanctity far surpassing that attributed to any other Vedic deity. ;”
The correspondence of Varuna with Ouranos has been already noted, but “the parallel will not hold
in all points; There is not in the Vedic mythology any special relation between Varuna and Prithivi (the
earth) as husband and wife, as there is between Ouranos and Gaia in the theogony of Hesiod; nor is
Varuna represented in the Veda, as Ouranos is by the Greek poet, as the progenitor of Dyaus (Zeus),
except in the general way in which he is said to have formed and to preserve heaven and earth” (Muir's
Texts, v. 58). Manu also refers to Varuna as “binding the guilty in fatal cords;”
In the Puranas, Varuna is sovereign of the waters, and one of his accompaniments is a noose, which
the Vedic deity also carried for binding offenders: this is called Naga‐pasa, Pula‐kanga, or Viswa‐jit; His
favourite resort is Pushpa‐giri, ‘flower mountain,’ and his city Vasudha‐nagara or Sukha. He also
possesses an umbrella impermeable to water, formed of the hood of a cobra, and called Abhoga. The
Vishnu Purana mentions an incident which shows a curious coincidence between Varuna and Neptune;
At the marriage of the sage Richika, Varuna supplied him with the thousand fleet white horses which
the bride's father had demanded of him; Varuna is also called Prachetas, Ambu‐raja, Jala‐pati, Kesa,
‘lord of the waters;’ Ud‐dama, ‘the surrounder;’ Pasa‐bhrit, ‘the noose‐carrier;’ Viloma, Vari‐loma,
‘watery hair;’ Yadah‐pati, ‘king of aquatic animals.’ His son is named Agasti.
Varunani, VAruni In. wife of Varuna and goddess of wine; She is said to have sprung from the churning of the
ocean. The goddess of wine is also called Mada and Sura.
Vasanta In. spring and its deified personification.
Vasanta‐ Sena In. the heroine of the drama called Mrich‐chhakati; ‘the toy cart.’
Vasava‐Datta In. A princess of Ujjayini, who is the heroine of a popular story by Subandhu; The work has been
printed by Dr. F. Hall in the Bibliotheca Indica. He considers it to have been written early in the seventh
century. See Udayana.
Vasishtha In. ‘Most wealthy.’ A celebrated Vedic Rage to whom many hymns are ascribed; According to Manu
he was one of the seven great Rishis and of the ten Prajapatis; There was a special rivalry between him
and the sage Viswa‐ mitra, who raised himself from the Kshatriya to the Brahman caste; Vasishtha was
the Possessor of a “cow of plenty,” called Nandini, who had the power of granting him all things (vasu)
he desired, hence his name; A law‐book is attributed to him, or to another of the same name. Though
Vasishtha is classed among the Prajapatis who sprang from Brahma, a hymn in the Rig‐veda and the
commentaries thereon assign him a different origin, or rather a second birth, and represent him and
the sago Agastya to have sprung from Mitra and Varuna; The hymn says, “Thou, O Vasishtha, art a son
of Mitra and Varuna, born a Brahman from the soul of Urvasi; All the gods placed in the vessel thee the
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drop which had fallen through divine contemplation.” The comment on this hymn says, “When these
two Adityas (Mitra and Varuna) beheld the Apsaras Urvasi at a sacrifice their seed fell from them.... It
fell on many places, into a jar, into water, and on the ground. The Muni Vasishtha was produced on the
ground, while Agastya was born in the jar.”
Vastoshpatl In. ‘House protector.’ One of the later gods of the Veda, represented as springing from Brahma's
dalliance with his daughter; He was the protector of sacred rites and guardian of houses.
Vasu‐ Dava In. A name of Krishna, derived from that of his father, Vasu‐deva; but as that is incompatible with
his claims to divinity, the Maha‐bharata explains that he is so called “from his dwelling (vasanat) in all
beings, from his issuing as a Vasu from a divine womb.”; The name was assumed by an impostor named
Paundraka, who was killed by Krishna.
Vasu In. is a class of deities, eight in number, chiefly known as attendants upon Indra. They seem to have been
in Vedic times personifications of natural phenomena; They are Apa (water), Dhruva (pole‐star), Soma
(moon), Dhara (earth), Anila (wind), Anala (fire), Prabhasa, (dawn), and Pratyusha (light); According to
the Ramayana they were children of Aditi.
Vasu‐ Sena In. A name of Karna.
Vasu In. The Vasus are a class of deities, eight in number, chiefly known as attendants upon Indra; They seem
to have been in Vedic times personifications of natural phenomena; They are Apa (water), Dhruva
(pole‐star), Soma (moon), Dhara (earth), Anila (wind), Anala (fire), Prabhasa, (dawn), and Pratyusha
(light). According to the Ramayana they were children of Aditi.
Vasu‐Dava In. Son of Sura, of the Yadava branch of the Lunar race. He was father of Krishna, and Kunti, the
mother of the pandava princes, was his sister;He married seven daughters of Ahuka, and the youngest
of them, Devaki, was the mother of Krishna. After the death of Krishna and Bala‐rama he also died, and
four of his wives burnt themselves with his corpse. So says the Maha‐bharata, but according to the
Vishnu Purana he and Devaki and Rohini burnt themselves at Dwaraka; He received the additional
name of Anaka‐dundubhi, because the gods, conscious that he was to be the putative father of the
divine Krishna, sounded the drums of heaven at his birth; He was also called Bhu‐kasyapa and Dundu,
‘drum.’
Vasu‐Deva (1) In. A name of Krishna, derived from that of his father, Vasu‐deva; but as that is incompatible
with his claims to divinity, the Maha‐bharata explains that he is so called “from his dwelling (vasanat) in
all beings, from his issuing as a Vasu from a divine womb.” The name was assumed by an impostor
named Paundraka, who was killed by Krishna. See Paundraka.
Vasu‐Deva (2) In. Son of Sura, of the Yadava branch of the Lunar race; He was father of Krishna, and Kunti, the
mother of the pandava princes, was his sister; He married seven daughters of Ahuka, and the youngest
of them, Devaki, was the mother of Krishna; After the death of Krishna and Bala‐rama he also died, and
four of his wives burnt themselves with his corpse. So says the Maha‐bharata, but according to the
Vishnu Purana he and Devaki and Rohini burnt themselves at Dwaraka; He received the additional
name of Anaka‐dundubhi, because the gods, conscious that he was to be the putative father of the
divine Krishna, sounded the drums of heaven at his birth; He was also called Bhu‐kasyapa and Dundu,
‘drum.’
Vasuki In. King of the Nagas or serpents who live in patala; He was used by the gods and Asuras for a coil
round the mountain Mandara at the churning of the ocean; See Sesha.
Vasu‐Sena In. A name of Karna.
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Vata In. ‘Wind.’ Generally the same as vayu, but the name is sometimes combined in the Veda with that of
Parjanya, and Parjanya‐vata and Vayu are then mentioned distinctively.
Vata‐ Vasin In. ‘Dwelling in fig‐trees’ (vata); Yakshas.
Vata In. ‘Wind.’ Generally the same as vayu, but the name is sometimes combined in the Veda with that of
Parjanya, and Parjanya‐vata and Vayu are then mentioned distinctively.
Vatapi In. Vatapi and Ilwala, two Rakshasas, sons either of Hrada or Viprachitti. They are mentioned in the
Ramayana as dwelling in the Dandaka forest; Vatapi assumed the form or a ram which was offered in
sacrifice and afterwards eaten by Brahman; lwala then called upon him to come forth, and accordingly
he tore his way out of the stomachs of the Brahmans; He tried the same trick upon Agastya, but that
austere sage ate and digested him. Ilwala, as before, called his brother to come forth, and assaulted the
sage, who told him that his brother would never return. Then Ilwala was burnt up by fire from the eyes
of Agastya; The Maha‐bharata's story Varies slightly.
Vata‐Vasin In. ‘Dwelling in fig‐trees’ (vata); Yakshas.
Vatoshpati In. ‘House protector.’ One of the later gods of the Veda, represented as springing from Brahma's
dalliance with his daughter; He was the protector of sacred rites and guardian of houses.
Vatsa, Vatsa‐Raja In. King of Vatsa, the capital of which was Kausambi; A title of the prince Udayana; There are
many persons named Vatsa.
Vatsyayana In. a sage who wrote upon erotic subjects, and was author of the Kama‐sutras and Nyaya‐bhasha;
He is also called Malla‐naga.
Vayu In. ‘Air, wind.’ The god of the wind, Eolus. In the Vedas he is often associated With Indra, and rides in
the same car with him, Indra being the charioteer; The chariot has a framework of gold which touches
the sky, and is drawn by a thousand horses; There are not many hymns addressed to him; According to
the Nirukta there are three gods specially connected with each other; “Agni, whose place is on earth;
vayu or Indra, whose place is in the air; and Surya, whoso place is in the heaven.”; In the hymn Purusha‐
sukta vayu is said to have sprung from the breath of Purusha, and in another hymn he is called the son‐
in‐law of Twashtri; He is regent of the north‐west quarter, where he dwells; Vayu is the reputed father
of Bhima and of Hanumat, and be is said to have made the hundred daughters of King Kusanabha
crooked because they would not comply with his licentious desires, and this gave the name Kanya‐
kubja, ‘hump‐backed damsel,’ to their city.
Vayu Purana In. “The purana in which vayu has declared the laws of duty, in connection with the Sweta kalpa,
and which comprises the Mahatmya of Rudra, is the Vayu purana; it contains twenty‐four thousand
verses.” No MS. containing this number of verses has yet been discovered, but there are indications of
the work being imperfect; The purana is divided into four sections, the first beginning with the creation,
and the last treating of the ages to come; It is devoted to the praise of Siva, and is connected with the
Siva purana, for when one of them is given in a list of puranas the other is omitted.
Vayu In. ‘Air, wind.’ The god of the wind, Eolus. In the Vedas he is often associated With Indra, and rides in the
same car with him, Indra being the chariotee; The chariot has a framework of gold which touches the
sky, and is drawn by a thousand horses; There are not many hymns addressed to him. According to the
Nirukta there are three gods specially connected with each other; “Agni, whose place is on earth; vayu
or Indra, whose place is in the air; and Surya, whoso place is in the heaven.”; In the hymn Purusha‐
sukta vayu is said to have sprung from the breath of Purusha, and in another hymn he is called the son‐
in‐law of Twashtri; He is regent of the north‐west quarter, where he dwells;
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According to the Vishnu Purana he is king of the Gandharvas; The Bhagavata purana relates that

the sage Narada in‐cited the wind to break down the summit of Mount Meru; He raised a terrible
storm, which lasted for a year, but Vishnu's bird, Garuda, shielded the mountain with his wings, and all
the blasts of the wind‐god were in vain; Narada then told him to attack the mountain in Garuda's
absence; He did so, and breaking off the summit of the mountain, he hurled it into the sea, where it
became the island of Lanka (Ceylon);
Vayu is the reputed father of Bhima and of Hanumat, and be is said to have made the hundred
daughters of King Kusanabha crooked because they would not comply with his licentious desires, and
this gave the name Kanya‐kubja, ‘hump‐backed damsel,’ to their city;
Other names of Vayu (Wind) are Anila, Marut, Pavana Vata, Gandha‐vaha, ‘bearer of perfumes;’
Jala‐kantara, ‘whose garden is water;’ Sada‐gata, Satata‐ga, ‘ever moving,’ &c.
Veda Vati In. The 'vocal daughter' of the ltishi Kusa‐dhwaja, son of Brihaspati; When Ravana was passing
through a forest in the Himalaya he met with Vedavati, a damsel of great beauty dressed in ascetic
garb; He fell in love and tried to win her. She told him that gods and Gandharvas had sought to woo
her, but her father would give her to no one but Vishnu, whom he desired for his son‐in‐law; Provoked
at this resolution,Sam‐bhu, king of the Daityas, slew her father; but she remained firm to her father's
wish, and practised austerities to gain Vishnu for her spouse. Nothing daunted, Ravana urgently
pressed his suit, and boasted that he was superior to Vishnu. He then touched her hair with the tip of
his finger; This greatly incensed her, and she forthwith cut off her hair, and said she would enter into
the fire before his eyes, adding, "Since I have been insulted in the forest by thee who art wicked‐
hearted, I shall be born again for thy destruction.”; So she entered the blazing fire, and celestial flowers
fell all around; It was she who was born again as Sita, and was the moving cause of Ravana's death,
though Rama was the agent. ‐ Muir's Texts, ii. 498, iv. 458.
Veda In. Root, vid; ‘know.’ ‘Divine knowledge.’ The Vedas are the holy books which are the foundation of the
Hindu religion; They consist of hymns written in an old form of Sanskrit; and according to the most
generally received opinion they were composed between 1500 and 1000 B.C. ; But there is no direct
evidence as to their age, and opinions about it vary considerably; Some scholars have thought that the
oldest of the hymns may be carried back a thousand years farthest It seems likely that some of the
hymns were composed before the arrival of the Aryan immigrants in India, and there is no doubt that
the hymns vary greatly in age and spread over a very considerable period;
There are various statements as to the origin of the Vedas; One is that the hymns emanated like
breath from Brahma, the soul of the universe; It is agreed that they were revealed orally to the Rishis or
sages whose names they bear; and hence the whole body of the Veda is known as Sruti, ‘what was
heard;’
The Vedas are now four in number;Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva; but the Atharva is of comparatively
modern origin; The other three are spoken of by Manu as the “three Vedas,” and are said by him to
have been “milked out as it were,” from fire, air, and the sun; In reality the Rig‐veda is the Veda, the
original work; for the Yajur and the sama are merely different arrangements of its hymns for special
purposes;
Each Veda is divided into two parts, Mantra and Brahmana; The Mantra, or ‘instrument of
conveying thought,’ consists of prayer and praise embodied in the metrical hymns. The Brahmana, a
collective term for the treatises called Brahmanas, is of later date than the Mantra. It is written in
prose, and contains liturgical and ritualistic glosses, explanations, and applications of the hymns
illustrated by numerous legends. To the Brahmanas are added the Aranyakas and Upanishads, mystical
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treatises in prose and verse, which speculate upon the nature of spirit and of God, and exhibit a
freedom of thought and speculation, which was the beginning of Hindu philosophy; All the Vedic
writings are classified in two great divisions, exoteric and esoteric: the Karma‐kanda, ‘department of
works,’ the ceremonial; and the Jnana‐kanda, ‘department of knowledge.’ The hymns and prayers of
the Mantra come under the first, the philosophical speculations of the Brahmanas, and especially of the
Upanishads, under the second division; All are alike Sruti or revelation; See Brahmana, Upanishad, &c.
The Mantra or metrical portion is the most ancient, and the book or books in which the are
collected are called Sanhitas; The Rig‐veda and the Sama‐veda have each one Sanhita the Yajur‐veda
has two Sanhitas.
As before stated, the Rig‐veda is the original Veda from which the Yajur and Saman are almost
exclusively derived; It consists of 1017 Suktas or hymns, or with eleven additional hymns called
Valakhilyas of an apocryphal character, 1028; These are arranged in eight Ashtakas, ‘octaves,’ or
Khandas, ‘sections,’ which are again subdivided into as many Adhyayas, ‘chapters,’ 2006 Vargas or
‘classes,’ 10,417 Riks or ‘verses,’ and 153,826 Padas or ‘words.’; There is another division, which runs
on concurrently with this division, in ten Mandalas, ‘circles’ or ‘classes,’ and 85 Anuvakas or ‘sections.’;
The total number of hymns is the same in both arrangements; It is a generally received opinion that the
hymns of the tenth Mandala are later in date than the others.
A few hymns of the Rig‐veda; more especially some of the later hymns in the tenth Mandala,
appear to contain some vague, hazy conception of one Supreme Being; but as a whole they are
addressed directly to certain personifications of the powers of nature, which personifications were
worshipped as deities having those physical powers under their control From these powers the Vedic
poets invoked prosperity on themselves and their flocks; they extolled the prowess of these elemental
powers in the struggles between light and darkness, warmth and cold, and they offered up joyous
praise and thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and personal protection. Chief among the deities so
praised and worshipped were Agni, Indra, and Surya; More hymns are addressed to Agni (Ignis), ‘fire,’
than to any other deity, and chiefly in its sacrificial character, though it receives honour also for its
domestic uses. Indra was honoured as the god of the atmosphere, who controlled the rains and the
dew, so all‐important to an agricultural people. Surya, ‘the sun,’ was ‘the source of heat,’ but he shared
this honour with Agni, the sun being considered a celestial fire. Among the most ancient of the myths
was that of Dyaus‐pitar, ‘heavenly father,’ the regent of the sky. Others were Aditi, ‘the infinite
expanse;’ Varuna (**), ‘the investing sky,’ afterwards god of the waters; Ushas (**), ‘the dawn,’
daughter of the sky: the two Aswins, ‘twin sons of the sun,’ ever young and handsome, and riding in a
golden car as precursors of the dawn. Prithivi, ‘the broad one,’ as the earth was called, received honour
as the mother of all beings. There were also the Maruts or storm‐gods, personifications of the wind, the
especial foes of Vritra, the spirit of drought and ungenial weather, who was in constant conflict with
Indra; Rudra, the howling, furious god, who ruled the tempest and the storm; Yama, the god of the
dead and judge of departed spirits, also received his meed of reverence; last, though apparently not
least in the estimation of the Aryan worshippers, was Soma, the personification of the fermented juice
of the plant so named; This exhilarating liquid was alike acceptable to the gods and their worshippers,
and many hymns are addressed to it as a deity.
To each hymn of the Rig‐veda there is prefixed the name of the Rishi to whom it was revealed, as
Vasishtha, Viswamitra, Bharadwaja, and many others; and these sages are frequently spoken of as
authors of the hymns bearing their names; It is quite unknown when the hymns were first committed
to writing; They were transmitted orally from generation to generation, and continued to be so handed
down even after they had been collected and arranged by Krishna Dwaipayana, ‘the arranger.’ The oral
teaching of the Vedas produced what are called the Sakhas or ‘schools’ of the Vedas. Different learned
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men, or bodies of men, became famous for their particular versions of the text, and taught these
versions to their respective pupils. These different versions constitute the Sakhas; they present; as
might be expected, many verbal variations, but no very material discrepancies.
“The poetry of the Rig‐veda,” says Professor Cowell, “is remarkably deficient in that simplicity and
natural pathos or sublimity which we naturally look for in the songs of an early period of civilisation.
The language and style of most of the hymns is singularly artificial…. Occasionally we meet with fine
outbursts of poetry, especially in the hymns addressed to the dawn, but these are never long sustained;
and as a rule we find few grand similes or metaphors.” A similar opinion is expressed by Professor
Williams, who finds them “to abound more in puerile ideas than in striking thoughts and lofty
conceptions.”
The Yajur or second Veda is composed almost exclusively of hymns taken from the Rig, but it
contains some prose passages which are new; Many of the hymns show considerable deviations from
the original text of the Rig. These differences may perhaps be attributable either to an original
difference of the traditional text or to modifications required by the ritualistic uses of the Yajur; The
Yajur‐veda is the priests' office‐book, arranged in a liturgical form for the performance of sacrifices. As
the manual of the priesthood, it became the great subject of study, and it has a great number of
different Sakhas or schools. It has two Sanhitas, one called the Taittiriya Sanhita, the other Vajasaneyi
Sanhita, commonly known as the Black and White Yajur; Of these, the former is the more ancient, and
seems to have been known in the third century B.C. These Sanhitas contain upon the whole the same
matter, but the arrangement is different. The White Yajur is the more orderly and systematic, and it
contains some texts which are not in the Black;
The Sanhita of the Taittiriya or Black Yajur is arranged in 7 Kandas or books, 44 Prasnas or chapters,
651 Anuvakas or sections, and 2198 Kandikas or pieces, “fifty words as a rule forming a Kandika.” ; The
Sanhita of the Vajasaneyi or White Yajur is in 40 Adhyayas or chapters, 303 Anuvakas, and 1975
Kandikas;
How the separation into two Sanhitas arose has not been ascertained; It probably
originated in a schism led by the sage Yajnawalkya; but if it did not, it produced one, and
the adherents of the two divisions were hostile to each other and quarrelled like men of
different creeds; In later days a legend was invented to account for the division, which is
thus given by, the Vishnu and vayu puranas: The Yajur‐veda, in twenty‐seven branches
(Sakhas), was taught by Vaisampayana to his disciple Yajnawalkya. Vaisampayana had the
misfortune to kill his sister's child by an accidental kick, and he then called upon his
disciples to perform the appropriate expiatory penance. Yajnawalkya refused to join the
“miserable inefficient Brahmans,” and a quarrel ensued; The teacher called upon the
disciple to give up all that he had learnt from him; and the disciple, with the same quick
temper, vomited forth the Yajur texts which he had acquired, and they fell upon the
ground stained with blood; The other pupils were turned into partridges (Tittiri), and they
picked up the disgorged texts; hence the part of the Veda which was thus acquired was
called Taittiriya and Black. Yajnawalkya sorrowfully departed, and by the performance of
severe penances induced the Sun to impart to him those Yajur texts which his master had
not possessed; The Sun then assumed the form of a horse (Vajin), and communicated to
him the desired texts. The priests of this portion of the Veda were called Vajins, while the
Sanhita itself was called Vajasaneyi, and also White (or bright), because it was revealed by
the sun; The statement that Yajnawalkya received this Veda from the sun is, however,
earlier than the puranas, for it is mentioned by the grammarian Katyayana. A more
reasonable and intelligible explanation is, that Vajasaneyi is a patronymic of Yajnawalkya,
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the offspring of Vajasani, and that Taittiriya is derived from Tittiri, the name of a pupil of
Yaska's. Weber, the man best acquainted with this Veda, says, “However absurd this
legend (of the puranas) may be, a certain amount of sense lurks beneath its surface. The
Black Yajur is, in fact, a motley undigested jumble of different pieces; and I am myself more
inclined to derive the name Taittiriya from the variegated partridge (Tittiri) than from the
Rishi Tittiri.” Goldstucker's view is, that the “motley character of the Black Yajur‐veda
arises from the circumstance that the distinction between the Mantra and Brahmana
portions is not so clearly established in it as in the other Vedas, hymns and matter properly
belonging to the Brahmanas being there intermixed; This defect is remedied in the White
Yajur‐veda, and it points, therefore, to a period when the material of the old Yajur was
brought into a system consonant with prevalent theories, literary and ritualistic.” ;
The Sama‐veda Sanhita is wholly metrical It contains 1549 verses, only seventy‐eight of which have
not been traced to the Rig‐veda; The readings of the text in this Veda frequently differ, like those of the
Yajur, from the text as found in the Rig, and Weber considers that the verses “occurring in the Sama
Sanhita generally stamp themselves as older and more original by the greater antiquity of their
grammatical forms.” But this opinion is disputed; The verses of the Sama have been selected and
arranged for the purpose of being chaunted at the sacrifices or offerings of the Soma; Many of the
invocations are addressed to Soma, some to Agni, and some to Indra; The Mantra or metrical part of
the Sama is poor in literary and historical interest, but its Brahmanas and the other literature belonging
to it are full and important;
There were different sets of priests for each of the three Vedas. Those whose duty it was to recite
the Rig‐veda were called Hotris or Bahvrichas, and they were required to know the whole Veda; The
priests of the Yajur, who muttered its formulas in a p6culiar manner at sacrifices, were called
Adhwaryus, and the chaunters of the verses of the Saman were called Udgatris;
The Atharva‐veda, the fourth Veda, is of later origin than the others; This is acknowledged by the
Brahmans, and is proved by the internal evidence of the book itself. It is supposed to date from about
the same period as the tenth Mandala of the Rig‐veda, and as Manu speaks of only “the three Vedas,”
the Atharva could hardly have been acknowledged in his time; Professor Whitney thinks its contents
may be later than even the tenth Mandala of the Rig, although these two “stand nearly connected in
import and origin.” There are reasons for supposing it to have had its origin among the Saindhavas on
the banks of the Indus; One‐sixth of the whole work is not metrical, “and about one‐sixth (of the
hymns) is also found among the hymns of the Rig‐veda, and mostly in the tenth book of the better; the
rest is peculiar to the Atharva.” The number of the hymns is about 760, and of the verses about 6000.
Professor Whitney, the editor of the Atharva, speaks of it thus: “As to the internal character of the
Atharva hymns, it may be said of them, as of the tenth book of the Rig, that they are productions of
another and a later period, and the expressions of a different spirit from that of the earlier hymns in
the other Vedas; In the latter, the gods are approached with reverential awe indeed, but with love and
confidence also; a worship is paid them that exalts the offerer of it; the demons embraced under the
general name Rakshasa are objects of horror whom the gods ward off and destroy; the divinities of the
Atharva are regarded rather with a kind of cringing fear, as powers whose wrath is to be deprecated
and whose favour curried, for it knows a whole host of imps and hobgoblins, in ranks and classes, and
addresses itself to them directly, offering them homage to induce them to abstain from doing harm.
The Mantra prayer, which in the older Veda is the instrument of devotion, ill here rather the tool of
superstition; it wrings from the unwilling hands of the gods the favours which of old their good‐will to
men induced them to grant, or by simple magical power obtains the fulfilment of the utterer's wishes;
The most prominent characteristic feature of the Atharva is the multitude of incantations which it
contains; these are pronounced either by the person who is himself to he benefited, or more often by
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the sorcerer for him, and are directed to the procuring of the greatest variety of desirable ends; most
frequently perhaps long life or recovery from grievous sickness is the object sought; then a talisman,
such as a necklace, is sometimes given, or in very numerous cases some plant endowed with
marvellous virtues is to he the immediate external means of the cure; farther, the attainment of wealth
or power is aimed at, the downfall of enemies, success in love or in play, the removal of petty pests,
and so on, even down to the growth of hair on a bald pate; There are hymns, too, in which a single rite
or ceremony is taken up and exalted, somewhat in the same strain as the Soma in the Pavamanya
hymns of theRig; Others of a speculative mystical character are not wanting; yet their number is not so
great as might naturally he expected, considering the development which the Hindu religion received in
the periods following after that of the primitive Veda. It seems in the main that the Atharva is “popular
rather than of priestly origin; that in making the transition from the Vedic to modern times, it forms an
intermediate step rather to the gross idolatries and superstitions of the ignorant mass than to the
sublimated Pantheism of the Brahmans.” Such is the general character of the fourth Veda, but Max
Muller has translated a hymn in his Ancient Sanskrit literature, of which Professor Wilson said in
the Edinburgh Review, “We know of no passage in Vedic literature which approaches its simple
sublimity.” This hymn is addressed to Varuna, “the great one who rules over these worlds, and beholds
all as if he were close by; who sees all that is within and beyond heaven and earth,” &c.
This Veda is also called the Brahman Veda, “because it claims to be the Veda for the chief sacrificial
priest, the Brahman.” It has a Brahmana called Gopatha and many Upanishads. An entirely new
recension of this Veda has lately been found in Kashmir; It is in the hands of Professor Roth, and ii
believed to show many important variations.
The whole of the Rig‐veda, with the commentary of Sayana, has been magnificently printed in six
large quarto vols. under the editorship of Max Muller, at the expense of the Government of India;
Editions of the text separately in the Sanhita and in the Pada forms have been published by him; also
another edition with the Sanhita. and Pada texts on opposite pages. There is also a complete edition of
the text in Roman characters by Aufrecht, and a portion of the text was published by Roer in
the Bibliotheca Indica. Dr. Rosen published the first .Ashtaka of the text, with a Latin translation, in
1838. Four volumes of Wilson's incomplete translation have appeared; There is a French translation by
Langlois, and Max Muller has printed a critical translation of twelve hymns to the Maruts; There are
other translations of portions. Translations by Ludwig and by Grassmann have also lately appeared. The
text, with an English and Marathi translation, is appearing in monthly parts at Bombay.
The Sanhita of the Black Yajur‐veda has been published by Roer and Cowell in the Bibliotheca
Indica.The White has been printed‐ by Weber, and another edition has been published in Calcutta.
Of the Sama Sanhita, the text and a translation have been published by Dr. Stevenson. Benfey has
also published the text with a German translation and a glossary; and an edition with the commentary
of Sayana is now coming out in the Bibliotheca Indica (vol i);
The text of the Atharva‐veda Sanhita has been printed by Roth and Whitney, and a part of it also by
Aufrecht.
Veda‐Matri In. ‘Mother of the Vedas.’ ; The Gayatri.
Vedangas In. (Veda + angas.) ‘Members of the Veda.’ The Shad‐angas or six subjects necessary to be studied
for the reading, understanding, and proper sacrificial employment of the Vedas; Siksha Phonetics or
pronunciation, embracing accents, quantity, and euphony in general; Chhandas. Metre;
Vyakarana. Grammar. Said to be represented by Panini, but rather by older grammars culminating in
his great work; Nirukta. Etymology or glossary, represented by the glossary of Yaska;
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Jyotisha. .Astronomy. Such knowledge of the heavenly bodies as was necessary for compiling a
calendar fixing the days and hours suitable for the performance of Vedic sacrifices and
ceremonies; Kalpa. Ceremonial Rules for applying the Vedas to the performance of sacrifices. These
rules are generally written in the form of Sutras or short aphorisms, and so they are known as the
Kalpa‐sutras or Srauta‐sutras.
Vedanta In. The orthodox school of philosophy; See Darsana.
Vedanta‐Paribhasha In. A modern text‐book on the Vedanta philosophy.
Vedanta‐Sara In. ‘Essence of the Vedinta.’; A short Popular work on the Vedanta philosophy; It has been
translated by Ballantyne, and also by Bohtlingk, Roer, and Frank.
Vedanta‐Sutra In. The aphorisms of Badarayana on the Vedanta philosophy; They are commonly called
Brahma‐sutras, and a translation under that name by the Rev. K. M. Banerjee is progressing in
the Bibliotheca Indica; There is a French translation by Poley.
Vedartha‐Prakasa In. ‘Elucidation of the meaning of the Veda.’ This is the name of Sayana's great commentary
on the Rig‐veda. Also of a commentary on the Taittiriya Sanhita by Madhavacharya.
Veda‐Vyasa ‘The arranger of the Vedas.’; See Vyasa.
Vedodaya In. ‘Source of the Veda.’; An epithet of the sun as the source of the Sama‐veda.
Vegavat In. ‘Swift.’ son of Krishna; A Danava who fought on the side of the Salwas against Krishna, and was
killed by Samba.
Veiovis Rom. God of healing.
Vena In. Son of Anga, and a descendant of Manu Swayam‐bhuva; When he became king he issued this
proclamation:‐ “Men must not sacrifice or give gifts or present oblations; Who else but myself is the
enjoyer of sacrifices, I am for ever the lord of offerings.” The sages remonstrated respectfully with him,
but in vain; they admonished him in stronger terms; but when nothing availed, they slew him with
blades of consecrated grass. After his death the sages beheld clouds of dust, and on inquiry found that
they arose from bands of men who had taken to plundering because the country was left without a
king. As Veda was childless, the sages, after consultation, rubbed the thigh (or, according to the Hari‐
vansa, the right arm) of the dead king to produce a son. From it there came forth “a man like a charred
lost with flat face, and extremely short.” The sages told him to sit down (Nishida). He did so, and thus
became a Nishada, from whom “sprang the Nishadas dwelling in the Vindhya mountains, distinguished
by their wicked deeds.” The Brahmans then rubbed the right hand of Vena, and from it “sprang the
majestic Prithu, Vena's son, resplendent in body, glowing like the manifested Agni.” The above is the
story as told, with little variation, in the Maha‐bharata, the Vishnu and Bhagavata Puranas, and the
Hari‐vansa. The Padma Purana says that Vena began his reign well, but fell into the Jaina heresy. For
this the sages pummelled him until the first of the Nishadas came forth from his thigh and Prithu from
his right arm. Being freed from sin by the birth of the Nishada, he retired to a hermitage on the
Narmada, where he engaged in penance. Vishnu was thus conciliated, and granted him the boon of
becoming one with himself. See Prithi.
Venkata, Venkatadri In. A hill which was a seat of the worship of Vishnu; It is the modern Tripati.
Venl‐sanhara In. ‘The binding of the braid.’ A drama by Bhatta Narayana. The plot is taken from the Maha‐
bharata. Draupadi, the wife of the Pandu princes, was dragged by the hair of her head into the hall of
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the Kauravas by Duh‐sasana, and she vowed that it should remain dishevelled until the insult was
avenged. After the death of the Kauravas she again braided her hair. Wilson has given an analysis of the
drama. There are several editions of the text.
Venus Rom. goddess of love and beauty; Originally a Goddess of Gardens and Vinyards, Venus became the
major deity of love and beauty after the influx of Greek deities; On August 18 the Vinalia Rustica was
observed.

Venus
Veritas Rom. Goddess of truth.
Vertumnus Rom. God of the changing seasons and the ripening of fruits and grains.
Vesta Rom. Goddess of the Fire (both sacred and domestic) and the Hearth; Daughter of Saturn and Ops; Her
sacred animal was the ass; Patroness of bakers; Her chief festival was the Vestalia on June 7; One of the
most worshipped of the Roman deities.
Vetala In. A ghost or goblin; a sprite who haunts cemeteries and animates dead bodies.
Vetala‐Panchavinsati In. The twenty‐five stories of the Vetala. It is the Baital Pachisi of Hindustani, and has
been translated into all the languages of India. The work is ascribed to an author named Jambhala‐
datta.
Vetra Vati In. The river Betwa, which rises in the Vindhyas and falls into the Jumna below Kalpi.
Vibhishana In. ‘Terrible.’ A younger brother of Ravana; He, like his brother, propitiated Brahma, and obtained
a boon; His was that he should never commit an unworthy action even in the greatest extremity. He
was virtuous, and opposed to the practices of the Rakshasas; This led to a quarrel between him and
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Ravana, who kicked him from his seat. He flew off to Kailasa, and under the advice of Siva he went and
allied himself with Rama‐chandra, who received and embraced him as a friend; After the defeat and
death of Ravana he was raised by Rama to the throne of Lanka.
Vichitra‐Virya In. Name of a king. See Maha‐bharata.
Victoria Rom. Goddess of victory.
Vidagdha‐Madhava In. A drama in seven acts by Rupa on the loves of Krishna and Radha, written in 1533 A.D.
“It is weak as a drama, and its literary merits are small.”
Videha In. An ancient country, of which the capital was Mithila; It corresponds with the modem Tirhut or
North Bihar.
Vidhatri In. ‘Creator.’ A name of Brahma, of Vishnu, and of Viswa‐karma.
Vidura In. A mountain in Ceylon, probably Adam's Peak.
Vidura In. A son of Vyasa by a Sudra slave girl, who took the place of his consort. Vidura was called Kshattri, a
term ordinary applied to the child of a Sudra father and Brahman mother; He enjoyed the character of
the “wisest of the wise,” and gave good advice to both Kauravas and Pandavas, but in the war he sided
with the latter. See Maha‐bharata.
Viduus Rom. God who separated the soul and the body after death.
Vidvan‐Moda‐Taranginl In. ‘Fountain of pleasure to the learned.’ A philosophical work by Rama‐deva,
translated into English by Raja Kali Krishna.
Vidya‐Dhara (mas.), Vidya‐Dhari (fem.) In. ‘Possessors of knowledge.’ A class of inferior deities inhabiting the
regions between the earth and sky, and generally of benevolent disposition; They are attendants upon
Indra, but they have chiefs and kings of their own, and are represented as inter‐marrying and having
much intercourse with men; They are also called Kama‐rupin, ‘taking shapes at will;’ Khechara and
Nabhas‐chara, ‘moving in the air;’ Priyam‐vada, ‘sweet‐spoken.’
Vidyaranya, Vidyaranya‐Swaml In. ‘Forest of learning.’ A title of Madhavacharya, as patron of the city of
Vidya‐nagara, afterwards altered to Vijaya‐nagara, the capital of the last great Hindu dynasty of the
Dakhin.
Vija‐Ganita In. A work on algebra, translated by Cole‐brooke and by Strachey; It is a chapter of the work called
Siddhanta‐siromani, written by Bhaskaracharya; There are several editions of the text.
Vijaya‐Nagara In. The capital of the last great Hindu dynasty of the south. It was originally called Vidya‐nagara,
‘city of learning,’ after the great scholar and minister Madhavacharya, entitled Vidyaranya, ‘forest of
learning.’ But in the days of its glory the Vidya was altered to Vijaya, ‘victory.’
Vijnaneswara In. Author of the law‐book called Mitakshara.
Vikarna In. A son of Dhrita‐rashtra.
Vikramaditya In. A celebrated Hindu king who reigned at Ujjayini. He is said to have been the son of a king

named Gardabhila. His name has been given to the Samvat era, commencing 57 B.C. He was a great
patron of learning, and his court was made illustrious by the Nava‐ratna, or nine gems of literature,
who flourished there; He is a great hero of romance, and many improbable stories are told of him. His
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real position is uncertain. He appears to have driven out the Sakas, and to have established his
authority over Northern India; He is said to have fallen in battle with his rival Salivahana, king of the
Dakhin, who also has an era called Saka dating from 78 A.D.
Vikramorvasi In. ‘The hero and the nymph.’ A celebrated drama by Kalidasa, translated in Wilson's Hindu
Theatre; There are many editions and translations. See Puru‐ravas.
Vikukshi In. A king of the Solar race, who succeeded his father, Ikshwaku; He received the name of Sasada,
‘hare‐eater.’ He was sent by his father to hunt and obtain flesh suitable for offerings. Being weary and
hungry he ate a hare, and Vasishtha, the priest, declared that this act had defiled all the food, for what
remained was but his leavings.
Vimada In. In the Rig‐veda it is said the Aswins gave a bride to the youthful Vimada, and the commentator
explains that Vimada had won his bride at a swayam‐vara, but was stopped on the way home by his
unsuccessful competitors; The Aswins came to his succour, repulsed the assailants, placed the bride in
their chariot, and carried her to the home of the prince.
Vinata In. A daughter of Daksha, one of the wives of Kasyapa, and mother of Garuda; According to the
Bhagavata purana she was the wife of Tarkshya or Garuda.
Vinda In. Vinda and Anuvinda were joint kings of Avanti, and fought in the great war.
Vindhya Vali In. Wife of Bali the Asura.
Vindhya In. The mountains which stretch across India, and divide what Manu calls the Madhya‐desa or ‘middle
land,’ the land of the Hindus, from the south, that is, they divide Hindustan from the Dakhin; The
mountain is personified, and according to a legend he was jealous of the Himalaya, and called upon the
sun to revolve round him as he did round Meru; When the sun refused the mountain began to raise its
head to obstruct that luminary, and to tower above Himalaya and Meru. The gods invoked the aid of
Agastya, the spiritual guide of Vindhya; That sage called upon the mountain to bow down before him,
and afford him an easy passage to and from the south; It obeyed, and Agastya passed over. But he
never returned, and so the mountain remains in its humbled condition, far inferior to the Himalaya.
Vindhya‐Vasini In. ‘The dweller in the Vindhyas.’ The wife of Siva; See Devi.
Vipas, Vipasa In. The river Byas, the Hyphasis or Bibasis of the classical writers; A legend relates that it
obtained its name through the sage Vasishtha, who, wishing to commit suicide, bound his limbs with
cords and threw himself into the water; The river, declining to drown him, cast him
unbound (vipasa) on its bank.
Viprachitti In. Son of Kasyapa and Danu; He is chief of the Danavas.
Vira‐Bhadra In. A son or emanation of Siva, created from his mouth, and having, according to the Vayu
Purana, “ thousand heads, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet, wielding a thousand clubs, a thousand
shafts; holding the shell, the discus, the mace, and bearing a blazing bow and battle‐axe; fierce and
terrific, shining with dreadful splendour, and decorated with the crescent moon; clothed in a tiger's
skin, dripping with blood, having a capacious stomach and a vast mouth armed with formidable tusks,”
&c., &c. The object of his creation was to stop Daksha's sacrifice, and harry away the gods and others
who were attending. He is an especial object of worship in the Mahratta country, and there are
sculptures of him in the caves of Elephanta and Ellora, where he is represented with eight hands.
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Vira‐Charita In. A book of tales by Ananta, which describes the feuds between the descendants of
Vikramaditya and Salivahana.
Viradha In. A horrible man‐eating Rakshasa, son of Kala and Satahrada. By penance he had obtained from
Brahma the boon of invulnerability. He is described as “being like a mountain peak, a man‐cater, loud‐
voiced, hollow‐eyed, large‐mouthed, huge, huge‐bellied; horrible, rude, long, deformed, of dreadful
aspect, wearing a tiger's skin, dripping with fat, wetted with blood, terrific to all creatures, like death
with open mouth, bearing three lions, four tigers, two wolves, ten deer, and the great head of an
elephant with the tusks, and smeared with fat, on the point of an iron pike, shouting with a loud voice.”
Rama, with Lakshmana and Sita, encountered him in the Dandaka forest, when he foully abused and
taunted the brothers, and seized upon Sita; The brothers proved with their arrows that lie was not
invulnerable, but he caught them, threw them over his shoulders, and ran off with them as if they had
been children; They broke both his arms, threw him down, beat him with their fists, and dashed him to
the earth, but they could not kill him, so they dug a deep hole and buried him alive. After his burial
there arose from the earth a beautiful person, who said that he was a Gandharva who had been
condemned by Kuvera to assume the shape of a Rakshasa, from which Rama had enabled him to
escape; He was also called Tumburu.
Viraj In. Manu thus describes Viraj:‐ “Having divided hip body into two parts, the lord (Brahma)became with
the half a male, and with the (other) half a female; and in her he created Viraj; Know that I (Manu),
whom that male Viraj himself created, am the creator of all this world.” (See Manu.) One passage in the
Rig‐veda says, “From him (Purusha) sprang Viraj, and from Viraj (sprang) Purusha” (Muir's Texts, v. 50,
369), like as Aditi is said to have sprung from Daksha, and Daksha from Aditi Viraj, the male half of
Brahma, is sup‐ posed to typify all male creatures; and Sata‐rupa, the female half, all female forms.
Vira‐Mitrodaya In. A law‐book by Mitra‐misra, of authority in the Benares School It is in the form of a
commentary on the Mitakshara; The text is in print.
Virata In. A country in the vicinity of the modern Jaypur. The present town of Bairat is 105 miles south of
Delhi. Its king was called Raja of Virata or Raja Virata; It was at his court that the Pandava princes and
Draupadi lived in disguise. They rendered him great services against hi$ enemies, and he fought on
their side in the great war and was killed by Drona; See Matsya.
Viriplacaa Rom. Goddess of marital strife.
Virochana In. A Danava, son of Prahlada, and father of Bali. He is also called Drisana; When the earth was
milked, Virochana acted as the calf of the Asuras. See Prithi.
Virtus Rom. God of courage and military prowess.
Virupaksha In. ‘Deformed as to the eyes.’; A name of Siva, who has three eyes; Also one of the Rudras; Also a
Danava, Bon of Kasyapa.
Visakha‐Datta In. Author of the drama “Mudra‐rakshasa.” He is said to be of royal descent, but his family has
not been identified.
Visala In. A name of the city Ujjayini.
Vishnu In. Root, vish, ‘to pervade.’ The second god of the Hindu triad. In the Rig‐veda Vishnu is not in the first
rank of gods; He is a manifestation of the solar energy, and is described as striding through the seven
regions of the universe in three steps, and enveloping all things with the dust (of his beams); These
three steps are explained by commentators as denoting the three manifestations of light‐fire, lightning,
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and the sun; or the three places of' the sun‐its rising,
culmination, and setting; In the Veda he is occasionally
associated with lndra; He has very little in common with the
Vishnu of later times, but he is called “the unconquerable
preserver,” and this distinctly indicates the great preserving
power which he afterwards became;
In the Brahmanas Vishnu acquires new attributes, and is
invested with legends unknown to the Vedas, but still very far
distant from those of the Puranas; In Manu, the name is
mentioned, but not as that of a great deity; In the Maha‐
bharata and in the puranas he is the second member of the
triad, the embodiment of the Satwa‐guna, the quality of
mercy and good‐ ness, which displays itself as the preserving power, the self‐ existent, all‐pervading
spirit; As such, his votaries associate him with the watery element which spread everywhere before the
creation of the world; In this character he is called Narayana, ‘moving in the waters,’ and is represented
pictorially in human form slumbering on the serpent Sesha and floating on the waters; This, too, is the
position he assumes during the periods of temporary annihilation of the universe;
The worshippers of Vishnu recognise in him the supreme being from whom all things emanate. In
the Maha‐bharata and in the Puranas he is the Praja‐pati (creator) and supreme god; As such, he has
three Avasthas or conditions; That of Brahma, the active creator, who is represented as springing from
a lotus which grew from Vishnu's navel while he was sleeping afloat upon the waters; Vishnu himself,
the preserver, in an Avatara or incarnate form, as in Krishna; Siva or Rudra, the destructive power, who,
according to a statement of the Maha‐bharata, sprang from his forehead. But though the Maha‐
bharata generally allows Vishnu the supremacy, it does not do so invariably and exclusively; There are
passages, which uphold Siva as the greatest of the gods, and represent Vishnu as paying him homage.
The Saiva Puranas of course make Siva supreme;
Vishnu's preserving and restoring power has been manifested to the world in a variety of forms
called Avataras, literally ‘descents,’ but more intelligibly ‘incarnations,’ in which a portion of his divine
essence was embodied in a human or supernatural form possessed of superhuman powers. All these
Avataras became manifest for correcting some great evil or effecting some great good in the world. The
Avataras are ten in number, but the Bhagavata purana increases them to twenty‐two, and adds that in
reality they are innumerable; All the ten Avataras are honoured, but the seventh and eighth, Rama and
Krishna, are honoured as great mortal heroes and receive worship as great gods. Krishna is more
especially looked upon as a full manifestation of Vishnu, and M one with Vishnu himself, and he is the
object of a widely extended and very popular worship. See Avatara; The holy river Ganges is said to
spring from the feet of Vishnu;
As preserver and restorer, Vishnu is a very popular deity, and the worship paid to him is of a joyous
character. He has a thousand names (Sahasra‐nama), the repetition of which is a meritorious act of
devotion. His wife is Lakshmi or Sri, the goddess of fortune, his heaven is Vaikuntha, and his vehicle is
the bird Garuda; He is represented as a comely youth of a dark‐blue colour, and dressed like an ancient
king. He has four hands. One holds the Panchajanya (q.v.), a Sankha or conch‐shell; the Su‐darsana or
Vajra‐nabha, a chakra or quoit weapon; the third, a Gadi or club called Kaumodaki; and the fourth, a
Padma or lotus. He has a bow called Sarnga, and a sword called Nandaka; On his breast are the peculiar
mark or curl called Sri‐vatsa and the jewel Kaustubha, and on his wrist is the jewel Syamantaka. He is
sometimes represented seated on a lotus with Lakshmi beside him, or reclining on a leaf of that plant;
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Sometimes he is portrayed reclining on the serpent Sesha, and at others as riding on his gigantic bird
Garuda;
Of the thousand names of Vishnu the following are some of the most common:‐
Achyuta, ‘unfallen, imperishable;’ Ananta, ‘the endless;’ Ananta‐sayana, ‘who sleeps on the
serpent Ananta;’ Chatur‐bhuja, ‘four‐armed;’ Damodara, ‘bound round the belly with a rope,’
as Krishna; Govinda or Gopala, ‘the cowkeeper’ (Krishna); Hari; Hrishikesa, ‘lord of the organs
of sense;’ Jala‐sayin, ‘who sleeps on the waters;’ Janarddana, ‘whom men worship;’ Kesava,
‘the hairy, the radiant;’ Kiritin, ‘wearing a tiara;’ Lakshmipati, ‘lord of Lakshmi;’ Madhu‐
sudana, ‘destroyer of Madhu;’ Madhava, ‘descendant of Madhu;’ Mukunda, ‘deliverer;’
Murari, ‘the foe of Mura;’ Nara, ‘the man;’ Narayana, ‘who moves in the waters;’
Panchayudha, ‘armed with five weapons;’ Padma‐nabha, ‘lotus‐navel;’ Pitam‐bara, ‘clothed in
yellow garments;’ Purusha, ‘the man, the spirit;’ purushottama, ‘the highest of men, the
supreme spirit;’ Sarngin or Sarngi‐pani, ‘carrying the bow Sarnga;’ Vasudeva, Krishna, son of
Vasudeva; Varshneya, 'descendant of Vrishni;’ Vaikuntha‐natha, ‘lord of Vaikuntha
(paradise);’ Yajnesa, Yajneswara, ‘lord of sacrifice.’
Vishnu Purana In. This Purana generally stands third in the lists, and is described as “that in which Parasara,
beginning with the events of the Varaha Kalpa, expounds all duties, is called the Vaishnava, and the
learned know its extent to be 23,000 stanzas.” The actual number of stanzas does not amount to 7000,
and there is no appearance of any part being wanting the text in print.
Wilson, the translator of this Purana, says, “Of the whole series of Puranas the Vishnu most closely
corresponds to the definition of a Pancha‐lakshana Purana, or one which treats of five specified topics
(Primary Creation, Secondary Creation, Genealogies of Gods and Patriarchs, Reigns of the Manus,
History); It comprehends them all; and although it has infused a portion of extraneous and sectarial
matter, it has done so with sobriety and judgment, and has not suffered the fervour of its religious zeal
to transport it to very wide deviations from the prescribed path. The legendary tales which it has
inserted are few, and are conveniently arranged, so that they do not distract the attention of the
compiler from objects of more permanent interest and importance.”; The whole work has been
translated with numerous elucidatory notes by Wilson, and a second edition has been published with
additional valuable notes by Dr. F. Hall.
Vismapana In. ‘Astounding.’ The aerial city of the Gandharvas, which appears and disappears at intervals.
Visravas In. Son of the Prajapati Pulastya, or, according to statement of the Maha‐bharata, a reproduction of
half Pulastya himself; By a Brahmani wife, daughter of the sage Bharadwaja, named Idavida or llavida,
he had a son, Kuvera, the god of wealth. By a Rakshasi named Nikasha or Kaikasi, daughter of Sumali,
he had three sons, Ravana, Kumbha‐karna, and Vibhishana and a daughter named Surpa‐nakha; The
Vishnu Purana substitutes Kesini for Nikasha; The account given by the Maha‐bharata. is that Pulastya,
being offended with Kuvera for his adulation of Brahma, reproduced half of himself as Visravas, and
Kuvera to recover his favour gave him three Rakshasi handmaids: Pushpotkata, the mother of Ravana
and Kumbhakarna; Malini, the mother of Vibhishana; and Raka, the mother of Khara and Surpa‐nakha.
Viswa‐Devas, Viswe‐Devas In. ‘All the gods.’ In the Vedas they form a class nine in number; All the deities of
inferior order. They are addressed in the Veda as “preservers of men, bestowers of rewards.” In later
times, a class of deities particularly interested in exequial offerings; The accounts of them are rather
vague. They are generally said to be ten in number, but the lists vary, both as to the number and the
names. The following is one list; Vasu; Satya; Kratu; Daksha; Kala; Kama; Dhriti; Kuru; Puru‐ravas;
Madravas; Two others are sometimes added, Rochaka or Lochana and Dhuri or Dhwani. See Vishnu
Purana, Hall's edition, vol iii pp. 178, 188, 189.
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Viswa‐Karma, Viswa‐Karman In. ‘Omnificent.’ This name seems to have been originally an epithet of any
powerful god, as of Indra and Surya, but in course of time it came to designate a personification of the
creative power; In this character Viswa‐karma was the great architect of the universe, and is described
in two hymns of the Rig‐veda as the one “all‐seeing god, who has on every side eyes, faces; arms, and
feet, who, when producing heaven and earth, blows them forth (or shapes them) with his arms and
wings; the father, generator, disposer, who knows all worlds, gives the gods their names, and is beyond
the comprehension of mortals.”; In these hymns also he is said to sacrifice himself or to himself, and
the Nirukta explains this by a legend which represents that “Viswa‐karma, son of Bhu‐vana, first of all
offered up all worlds in a Sarva‐medha (general sacrifice), and ended by sacrificing himself.”;
In the Epic and puranic periods Viswa‐karma is invested with the powers and offices of the Vedic
Twashtri, and is sometimes so called; He is not only the great architect, but the general artificer of the
gods and maker of their weapons; It was he who made the Agneyastra or “fiery weapon,” and it was he
who revealed the Sthapatya‐veda, or science of architecture and mechanics; The Maha‐bharata
describes him as “the lord of the arts, executor of a thousand handicrafts, the carpenter of the gods,
the fashioner of all ornaments, the most eminent of artisans, who formed the celestial chariots of the
deities, on whose craft men subsist, and whom, a great and immortal god, they continually worship.”;
In the Ramayana, Viswa‐karma is represented as having built the city of Lanka for the Rakshasas,
and as having generated the ape Nala, who constructed Rama's bridge from the continent to Ceylon;
The Puranas make Viswa‐karma the son of Prabhasa, the eighth Vasu, by his wife “the lovely and
virtuous Yoga‐siddhi.” His daughter Sanjna was married to Surya, the sun; but as she was unable to
endure his effulgence, Viswa‐karma placed the sun upon his lathe and cut away an eighth part of his
brightness; The fragments fell to the earth, and from these Viswa‐karma formed “the discus of Vishnu,
the trident of Siva, the weapon of Kuvera the god of wealth, the lance of Karttikeya god of war, and the
weapons of the other gods.” Viswa‐karma is also represented as having made the great image of Jagan‐
natha;
In his creative capacity he is sometimes designated prajapati; He also has the appellations Karu,
‘workman;’ Takshaka, ‘woodcutter;’ Deva‐vardhika, ‘the builder of the gods;’ Su‐dhanwan, ‘having a
good bow.’
Viswamitra In. A celebrated sage, who was born a Kshatriya, but by intense austerities raised himself to the
Brahman caste, and became one of the seven great Rishis; According to the Rig‐veda he was son of a
king named Kusika, a descendant of Kusa, but later authorities make him the son of Gathin or Gadhi,
king of Kanya‐kubja, and a descendant of Puru; so Viswamitra is declared in the Hari‐vansa to be “at
once a Paurava and a Kausika” by lineage; According to some, Gadhi was of the Kusika race, descended
from Kusika. Viswamitra is called Gadhi‐ja and Gadhi‐nandana, ‘son of Gadhi.’ The story of Viswamitra's
birth, as told in the Vishnu Purana, is that Gadhi had a daughter named Satyavati, whom he gave in
marriage to an old Brahman of the race of Bhrigu named Richika; The wife being a Kshatriya, her
husband was desirous that she might bear a son having the qualities of a Brahman, and he gave her a
dish of food which he had prepared to effect this object. He also gave her mother a dish intended to
make her conceive a son with the character of a warrior; At the instigation of the mother the dishes
were exchanged, so the mother gave birth to Viswamitra, the son of a Kshatriya with the qualities of a
Brahman; and Satyavati bore Jamad‐agni, the father of Parasu‐rama, the warrior Brahman and
destroyer of the Kshatriyas;
The most noteworthy and important feature in the legends of Viswamitra is the active and
enduring struggle between him and the Brahman Rishi Vasishtha, a fact which is frequently alluded to
in the Rig‐veda, and is supposed to typify the contentions between the Brahmans and the Kshatriyas for
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the superiority; Both these Rishis occupy a prominent position in the Rig‐veda, Viswamitra being the
Rishi of the hymns in the third Mandala, which contains the celebrated verse Gayatri, and Vasishtha of
those of the seventh. Each of them was at different times the Purohita or family priest of King Su‐das, a
position of considerable importance and power, the possession of which stimulated if it did not cause
their rivalry. The two sages cursed each over, and carried their enmity into deeds of violence.
Viswamitra's hundred sons are represented as having been eaten or burnt up by the breath of
Vasishtha. On the other hand, the hundred sons of Vasishtha were, according to one legend, eaten up
by King Kalmasha‐pada, into whom a man‐eating Rakshasa had entered under the influence of Viswa‐
mitra, or, according to another legend, they were reduced to ashes by Viswamitra's curse “and reborn
as degraded outcasts for seven hundred births.”; The Aitareya Brahmana states that Viswamitra had a
hundred sons, but that when he adopted his nephew Sunah‐sephas he proposed to make him the
eldest of his sons; Fifty of them assented, and them Viswamitra blessed that they should “abound in
cattle and sons;” the other and elder fifty dissented, and them he cursed “that their progeny should
possess the furthest ends (of the country),” and from them have descended many of the border tribes
and most of the Dasyus. The Maha‐bharata has a legend of Viswamitra having commanded the river
Saraswati to bring his rival Vasishtha that he might kill him, and of having turned it into blood when it
flowed in another direction and carried Vasishtha out of his reach;
Viswamitra's relationship to Jamad‐agni naturally places him in a prominent position in the
Ramayana. Here the old animosity between him and Vasishtha again appears. He as a king paid a visit
to Vasishtha's hermitage, and was most hospitably entertained; but he wished to obtain Vasishtha's
wondrous cow, the Kama‐dhenu, which had furnished all the dainties of the feast; His offers were
immense, but were all declined; The cow resisted and broke away when he attempted to take her by
force, and when he battled for her, his armies were defeated by the hosts summoned Up by the cow,
and his “hundred sons were reduced to ashes in a moment by the blast of Vasishtha's mouth.”; A long
and fierce combat followed between Vasishtha and Viswamitra, in which the latter was defeated; the
Kshatriya had to submit to the humiliation of acknowledging his inferiority to the Brahman, and he
therefore resolved to work out his own elevation to the Brahmanical order;
While he was engaged in austerities for accomplishing his object of becoming a Brahman he
became connected with King Tri‐sanku; This monarch was a descendant of King Ikshwaku, and desired
to perform a sacrifice in virtue of which he might ascend bodily to heaven. His priest, Vasishtha,
declared it to be impossible, and that priest's hundred sons, on being applied to, refused to undertake
what their father had declined. When the king told them that he would seek some other means of
accomplishing his object, they condemned him to become a Chandala; In this condition he had resort to
Viswamitra, and he, taking pity on him, raised him to heaven in his bodily form, notwithstanding the
opposition of the sons of Vasishtha. The Hari‐vansa version of this story is different. Tri‐sanku, also
called Satya‐vrata, had attempted the abduction of the young wife of a citizen. For this his father
banished him, and condemned him to “the performance of a silent penance for twelve years.” During
his exile there was a famine, and Tri‐sanku succoured and supported the wife and family of Viswamitra,
who were reduced to the direst extremity in that sage's absence Vasishtha, the family priest, had done
nothing to assuage the wrath of the aggrieved father, and this offended Tri‐sanku. At the end of his
penance, being in want of meat, he killed Vasishtha's wonder‐working cow and partook of her flesh; for
this act Vasishtha gave him the name of Tri‐sanku, ‘guilty of three sins.’ Viswamitra was grateful for the
assistance rendered by Tri‐sanku, and gave him the choice of a boon; He begged that he might ascend
bodily to heaven. Viswamitra then installed Tri‐sanku in his father's kingdom, “and in spite of the
resistance of the gods and of Vasishtha he exalted the king alive to heaven.”
The Maha‐bharata and the Ramayana tell the story of Viswa‐ mitra's amour with Menaka. His
austerities had so alarmed the gods that Indra sent this Apsaras to seduce Viswamitra “by the display of
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her charms and the exercise of all her allurements.”; She succeeded, and the result was the birth of
Sakuntala. Viswamitra at length became ashamed of his passion, and “dismissing the nymph with
gentle accents, he retired to the northern mountains, where he practised severe austerities for a
thousand years.” He is said also to have had an amour with the nymph Rambha.
The result of the struggle between Vasishtha and Viswamitra is thus told in the Ramayana:‐
“Vasishtha, being propitiated by the gods, became reconciled to Viswamitra, and recognised his claim
to all the prerogatives of a Brahman Rishi... Viswa‐mitra, too, having attained the Brahmanical rank,
paid all honour to Vasishtha.”;
The Ramayana gives many particulars of Viswamitra's connection with Rama. It was Viswamitra
who prevailed upon King Dasa‐ratha to send his son Rama for the protection of the Brahmans against
the attacks of Ravana and his Rakshasa; He acted as his guru, and returned with Rama to Ayodhya,
where the prince obtained the hand of Sita;
In the Markandeya and other Puranas the story is told of Viswamitra's implacable persecution of
King Haris‐chandra (See Haris‐chandra), one result of which was that Vasishtha and Viswamitra cursed
each other so that they were turned into birds, and fought together most furiously till Brahma put an
end to the conflict, restored them to their natural forms, and compelled them to be reconciled.
Viswa‐Rupa In. ‘Wearing all forms, omnipresent, universal;’ a title of Vishnu.
Viswavasu In. A chief of the Gandharvas in Indra's heaven.
Visweswara In. ‘Lord of all.’ A name of Siva. The celebrated Lings. or emblem of Siva at Benares; See Linga.
Vita‐Havya In. A king of the Haihayas. His sons attacked and slew all the family of Divodasa, king of Kasi; A son,
named Pratardana (q.v.), was subsequently born to Divodasa, and he attacked the Haihayas and
compelled Vita‐havya to fly to the sage Bhrigu for protection. Pratardana pursued him, and demanded
that he should be given up. Then “Vita‐havya, by the mere word of Bhrigu, became a Brahman Rishi and
an utterer of the Veda” (Maha‐bharata); His son, Gritsa‐mada, was a highly honoured Rishi, and author
of several hymns in the Rig‐veda; He was the founder of the tribe of Haihayas called Vita‐havyas.
Vitasta In. The classic Hydaspes, the Behat of later days, and the modem Jhelam.
Vitumnus Rom. God who gave life to children in the womb.
Vivida‐Bhangarnava In. A code of Hindu law according to the Bengal school, composed by Jagan‐natha Tarka‐
lankara at the end of the last century. It has been translated by Colebrooke, and is commonly known as
Colebrooke's Digest.
Vivida‐Chandra In. A law‐book of the Benares school by Lakshmi Devi, a learned lady.
Vivida‐Chintamani In. A law‐book of the Mithila school by Vachaspati Misra; The text is in print.
Vivida‐Ratnakara In. A law‐book of the Benares school by Chandeswara, who lived about 1314 A.D.
Vivida‐Tandava In. A law‐book of the Benares school by Ratnakara.
Vlbhandaka In. Son of Kasyapa; An ascetic who retired from the world and lived in the forest with his infant
son Rishya‐sringa (q.v.). A sage of this name is sometimes classed among the great Rishis.
307
Vldarbha In Birar, and probably including with it the adjoining district of Beder, which name is apparently a
corruption of Vidarbha; The capital was Kundina‐pura, the modern “Kundapur,” about forty miles east
of Amaravati.
Vlddha‐Salabhanjika In. ‘The statue.’ A comedy of domestic intrigue by Raja Sekhara. It was probably written
earlier than the tenth century.
Vlvaswat In. ‘The bright one.’ The sun. (See Surya.); Used sometimes perhaps for the firmament.
Vlvindhaya In. A Danava killed in battle by Charudeshna, son of Krishna; See Maha‐bharata.
Volturnus Rom. God of the waters; His festival was the Volturnalia on August 27.
Volumna Rom. Goddess who protects the nursery.
Vopa‐Deva In. A grammarian of great repute, who lived about the thirteenth century A.D. at Deva‐giri, and
wrote the Mugdha‐bodha.
Vraja In. A pastoral district about Agra and Mathura, where Krishna passed his boyhood with the cowherds.
Vratya In. “Persons whom the twice‐born beget on women of their own classes, bolt who omit the prescribed
rites and have abandoned the Gayatri, are to be designated as Vratyas.” ‐Manu.
Vriddha In. ‘Old.’ An epithet frequently found prefixed to the books of ancient writers, and evidently implying
that there are one or more versions or recensions‐as Vriddha Manu, Vriddha Harita; See Dharma‐
sastra.
Vrihan Naradiya Purana In. An Upa‐purana; See Purana.
Vrihaspati In See Brihaspati.
Vrihat‐Katha In. ‘Great story.’; A large collection of tales from which the Katha‐sarit‐sagara was drawn. There
is a critical examination of this work by Dr. Buhler in the Indian Antiquary, vol i.
Vrihat‐Sanhita In. The astronomical work of Varaha Mihira.
Vrikodara In ‘Wolf belly.’ An epithet of Bhima.
Vrinda‐Vana In A wood in the district of Mathura where Krishna passed his youth, under the name of Gopala,
among the cowherds.
Vrishni In A descendant of Yadu, and the ancestor from whom Krishna got the name Varshneya.
Vrishnis, Vrishnayas In The descendants of Vrishni, son of Madhu, whose ancestor was the eldest son of
Yadu; Krishna belonged to this branch of the Lunar race.
Vritra In In the Vedas he is the demon of drought and ungenial weather, with whom Indra, the god of the
firmament, is constantly at war, and whom he is constantly overpowering, and releasing the rain.
Sometimes called Vritrasura.
Vritra‐Han In The slayer of Vritra. A title of Indra.
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Vulcan Rom. The god of fire, volcanoes and blacksmiths; he was
seen as a blacksmith in the roman Belife
Vulturnus Rom. God of the East Wind.
Vyadl In An old grammarian and lexicographer, somewhat later in
time than Panini. A story in the Vrihat‐katha represents him
as contemporary with Vararuchi.

Vulcan
Vyahritis In Three mystical words said by Manu to have been milked from the Vedas by Prajapati‐the
wordbhur, from the Rig‐veda; the word bhuvah, from the Yajur‐veda; and the word swar, from the
Sama‐veda(Manu, ii. 76). The Sata‐patha Brahmana defines them as “three luminous essences” which
Prajapati produced from the Vedas by heating them. “He uttered the word bhur, which became this
earth; bhuvah, which became this firmament; and swar, which became that sky.” A fourth
word, mahar, is sometimes added, and is probably intended to represent the Atharva‐veda. See Loka.
Vyakarana In ‘Grammar.’; One of the Vedangas. The science of grammar has been carefully studied among
the Hindus from very ancient times, and studied for its own sake as a science rather than as a means of
acquiring or regulating language; The grammar of Panini is the oldest of those known to survive, but
Panini refers to several grammarians who preceded himself. One of them was named Sakatayana, a
portion of whose work is laid to have been discovered lately.
Vyasa In. ‘An arranger.’ This title is common to many old authors and compilers, but it is especially applied to
Veda‐vyasa the arranger of the Vedas, who, from the imperishable nature of his work, is also called
Saswatas, ‘the immortal’ The name is given also to the compiler of the Maha‐bharata, the founder of
the Vedanta philosophy, and the arranger of the Puranas; all these persons being held to be identical
with Veda‐vyasa. But this is impossible, and the attribution of all these works to one person has arisen
either from a desire to heighten their antiquity and authority, or from the assumed identity of several
different “arrangers.” Veda‐vyasa was the illegitimate son of the Rishi Parasara and Satyavati, and the
child, who was of a dark colour, was brought forth on an island (dwipa) in the Yamuna. Being
illegitimate he was called Kanina, the ‘bastard;’ from his complexion he received the name Krishna, and
from his birthplace he was called Dwaipayana; His mother afterwards married King Santanu, by whom
she had two sons. The elder was killed in battle, and the younger, named Vichitra‐virya, died childless.
Krishna Dwaipayana preferred a life of religious retirement, but in accordance with law and at his
mother's request, he took the two childless widows of her son, Vichitra‐virya. By them he had two sons,
Dhrita‐rashtra and Pandu, between whose descendants the great war of the Maha‐bharata was fought;
The puranas mention no less than twenty‐eight Vyasas, incarnations of Vishnu or Brahma, who
descended to the earth in different ages to arrange and promulgate the Vedas.
Vyavahara‐Chintamani In. A law‐book of the Benares school by Vachaspati Misra.
Vyavahara‐Mayukha In. A law‐book of the Mahratta school by Nilakantha Bhatta. Translated by Borrodaile.
309
Vyavahara‐Tatwa In. A modern work on law according to the Bengal school by Raghunadana, who is also
called Smarta‐Bhattacharya.
W
Wabet Eg. A place where part of purification and mummification rites took place.
War Gk. Behavior pattern of organized violent conflict; Ares is the God of War.
Was scepter Eg. This is a symbol of power and dominion; The Was scepter is carried by deities as a sign of

their power; It is also seen being carried by kings and later by people of lesser stature in mortuary
scenes.
Wealth Gk. The abundance of valuable resources or material possessions, or the control of such assets; Pluto
was the Greek god of wealth.
Winged disk Eg. This is a form that the god Horus Behudety (Horus of Edfu) takes in his battles with Seth; The
god Thoth used his magic to turn Horus into a sun‐disk with splendid outstretched wings; The
goddesses Nekhbet and Uazet in the form of uraeus snakes joined him at his side; The earliest example
of this image is found in the Ist Dynasty; It is used widely in architecture, on ceilings, cornices and
stelae; It is an image that is often copied outside Egypt.

X
Xanthus Gk. Son of Phaenops who was killed by Diomedes; the name of one of Achilles' horses; one of
Hector's horses; one of the Mares of Diomedes; the gods' name for Scamander, the great river of Troy
and its patron god; son of Pan who was allied with Dionysus; a Theban king, the son of Ptolemy. He
was killed by Andropompus or Melanthus; the lover of Alcinoe, who left her family to be with him; son
of Erymanthus and father of Psophis.
Xuthus Gk. Son of Hellen and Orseis and founder (through his sons) of the Achaean and Ionian nations.
Y
Yadava In. A descendant of Yadu; The Yadavas were the celebrated race in which Krishna was born. At the
time of his birth they led a pastoral life, but under him they established a kingdom at Dwaraka in
Gujarat. All the Yadavas who were present in that city after the death of Krishna perished in it when it
was submerged by the ocean. Some few were absent, and perpetuated the race, from which many
princes and chiefs still claim their descent. The great Rajas of Vijaya‐nagara asserted themselves as its
representatives. The Vishnu Purina says of this race, “Who shall enumerate the whole of the mighty
men of the Yadava race, who were tens of ten thousands and hundreds of hundred thousands in
numbers?”
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Yadu In. Son of King Yayati of the Lunar race, and founder of the line of the Yadavas in which Krishna was
born. He refused to bear the curse of decrepitude passed upon his father by the sage Sukra, and in
consequence he incurred the paternal curse, “Your posterity shall not possess dominion.” Still he
received from his father the southern districts of his kingdom, and his posterity prospered.
Yaja In. A Brahman of great sanctity, who, at the earnest solicitation of King Drupada, and for the offer of ten
millions of kine, performed the sacrifice through which his “altar‐born” children, Dhrishta‐dyumna and
Draupadi, came forth from the sacrificial fire.
Yajna In. ‘Sacrifice.’ Sacrifice personified in the Puranas as son of Ruchi and husband of Dakshina. He had the
head of a deer, and was killed by Vira‐bhadra at Daksha's sacrifice. According to the Hari‐vansa he was
raised to the planetary sphere by Brahma, and made into the constellation Mriga‐siras (deer‐head).
Yajna‐Datta‐Badha In. ‘The death of Yajna‐datta.’ An episode of the Ramayana. It has been translated into
French by Chezy.
Yajna‐Paribhasha In. A Sutra work by Apastambha.
Yajna‐Sena In. A name of Drupada.
Yajnawalkya In. A celebrated sage, to whom is attributed the White Yajur‐veda, the Satapatha Brahmana, the
Brihad Aranyaka, and the code of law called Yajnawalkya‐smriti. He lived before the grammarian
Katyayana, and was probably later than Manu; at any rate, the code bearing his name is posterior to
that of Manu. He was a disciple of Bash‐kali, and more particularly of Vaisampayana. The Maha‐bharata
makes him present at the Raja‐suya sacrifice performed by Yudhi‐shthira; and according to the
Satapatha Brahmana he flourished at the court of Janaka, king of Videha and father of Sita. Janaka had
long contentions with the Brahmans, in which he was supported, and probably prompted, by
Yajnawalkya. This sage was a dissenter from the religious teaching and practices of his time, and is
represented as contending with and silencing Brahmans at the court of his patron. A Brahman named
Vidagdha Sakalya was his especial adversary, but he vanquished him and cursed him, so that “his head
dropped off, and his bones were stolen by robbers.” Yajnawalkya also is represented as inculcating the
duty and necessity of religious retirement and meditation, so he is considered as having been the
originator of the Yoga doctrine, and to have helped in preparing the world for the preaching of Buddha.
He had two wives, Maitreyi and Katyayani, and he instructed the former in his philosophical doctrine.
Max Muller quotes a dialogue between them from the Satapatha Brahmana (Ancient Sanskrit
Literature, p. 22), in which the sage sets forth his views;
The White Yajur‐veda originated in a schism, of which Yajnawalkya was a leader, if not the author.
He was the originator and compiler of this Veda, and according to some it was called Vajasaneyi
Sanhita, from his surname Vajasaneya. See Veda;
What share Yajnawalkya had in the production of the Sata‐ patha Brahmana and Brihad Aranyaka is
very doubtful. Some part of them may, perhaps, have sprung directly from him, and they were probably
compiled under his superintendence; but it may be, as some think, that they are so called because they
treat of him and embody his teaching. One portion of the Brihad Aranyaka called the Yajnawalkiya
Kanda, cannot have been his composition, for it is devoted to his glorification and honour, and
was probably written after his death;
The Smriti, or code of law which bears the name of Yajna‐walkya, is posterior to that of Manu, and
is more precise and stringent in its provisions. Its authority is inferior only to that of Manu, and as
explained and developed by the celebrated commentary Mitakshara, it is in force all over India except
311
in Bengal proper, but even there the original text book is received. The second century A.D. has been
named as the earliest date of this work. Like Manu, it has two recensions, the Brihad and Vriddha,
perhaps more. The text has been printed in Calcutta, and has been translated into German by Stenzler
and into English by Roer and Montriou.
Yajur Or Yajush In. The second Veda; See Veda.
Yajur‐veda Taittiriya‐pratisakhya belonging to the Black Yajur, printed in the Bibliotheca Indica and also in the
Journal of the Americal Oriental Society, with a translation by Professor Whitney.
Yaksha‐Loka In. See Loka.
Yakshas In. A class of supernatural beings attendant on Kuvera, the god of wealth; Authorities differ as to their
origin. They have no very special attributes, but they are generally considered as inoffensive, and so are
called Punya‐janas, ‘good people,’ but they occasionally appear as imps of evil; It is a Yaksha in whose
mouth Kali‐dasa placed his poem Megha‐duta (cloud messenger).
Yakshi, Yakshinl In. A female Yaksha; Wife of Kuvera; A female demon or imp attendant on Durga.
Yama In. ‘Restrainer.’ Pluto, Minos. In the Vedas Yama is god of the dead, with whom the spirits of the
departed dwell. He was the son of Vivaswat (the Sun), and had a twin‐sister named Yami or Yamuna.
These are by some looked upon as the first human pair, the originators of the race; and there is a
remarkable hymn, in the form of a dialogue, in which the female urges their cohabitation for the
purpose of perpetuating the species. Another hymn says that Yama “was the first of men that died, and
the first that departed to the (celestial) world.”; He it was who found out the way to the home which
cannot be taken away: “Those who are now born(follow) by their own paths to the place whither our
ancient fathers have departed.” “But,” says Dr. Muir, “Yama is nowhere represented in the Rig‐veda as
having anything to do with the punishment of the wicked.” So far &c is yet known, “the hymns of that
Veda contain no prominent mention of any such penal retribution.... Yama is still to some extent an
object of terror. He is represented as having two insatiable dogs with four eyes and wide nostrils, which
guard the road to his abode, and which the departed are advised to hurry past with all possible speed;
These dogs are said to wander about among men as his messengers, no doubt for the purpose of
summoning them to their master, who is in another place identified with death, and is described as
sending a bird as the herald of doom.”;
In the epic poems Yama is the son of the Sun by Sanjna (conscience), and brother of Vaivaswata

(Manu). Mythologically he was the father of Yudhi‐shthira. He is the god of departed spirits and judge
of the dead. A soul when it quits its mortal form repairs to his abode in the lower regions; there the
recorder, Chitra‐gupta, reads out his account from the great register called Agra‐sandhani, and a just
sentence follows, when the soul either ascends to the abodes of the Pitris (Manes), or is sent to one of
the twenty‐one hells according to its guilt, or it is born again on earth in another form; Yama is regent
of the south quarter, and as such is called Dakshinasa‐pati He is represented as of a green colour and
clothed with red. He rides upon a buffalo, and is armed with a ponderous mace and a noose to secure
his victims.
In the Puranas a legend is told of Yama having lifted his foot to kick Chhaya, the handmaid of his
father. She cursed him to have his leg affected with sores and worms, but his father gave him a cock
which picked off the worms and cured the discharge. Through this incident he is called Sirna‐pada,
‘shrivelled foot.’
312
Yama had several wives, as Hemamala, Su‐sila, and Vijaya. He dwells in the lower world, in his city
Yama‐pura. There, in his palace called Kalichi, he sits upon his throne of judgment, Vichara‐bhu. He is
assisted by his recorder and councillor, Chitra‐gupta, and waited upon by his two chief attendants and
custodians, Chanda or Maha‐chanda, and Kala‐pursusha; His messengers, Yama‐dutas, bring in the
souls of the dead, and the door of his judgment‐hall is kept by his porter, Vaidhyata;
Yama has many names descriptive of his office; He is Mrityu, Kala, and Antaka, ‘death;’ Kritanta,
‘the finisher;’ Samana, ‘the settler;’ Dandi or Danda‐dhara, ‘the rod‐bearer;’ Bhima‐sasana, ‘of terrible
decrees;’ Pasi, ‘the noose‐carrier;’ Pitri‐pati, ‘lord of the manes;’ Preta‐raja, ‘king of the ghosts;’
Sraddha‐deva, ‘god of the exequial offerings;’ and especially Dharma‐raja, ‘king of justice.’ He is
Audumbara, from Udumbara, ‘the fig‐tree,’ and from his parentage he is Vaivaswata There is a Dharma‐
sastra which bears the name of Yama.
Yama‐Vaivaswata In. Yama as son of Vivaswat.
Yami In. The goddess of the Yamuna river. Sister of Yama (q.v.).
Yamuna In. The river Jumna, which rises in a mountain called Kalinda (Sun); The river Yamuna is personified as
the daughter of the Sun by his wife Sanjna; So she was sister of Yama. Bala‐rama, in a state of inebriety,
called upon her to come to him that he might bathe, and as she did not heed, he, in a great rage, seized
his ploughshare‐weapon, dragged her to him and compelled her to follow him whithersoever he
wandered through the wood; The river then assumed a human form and besought his forgiveness, but
it was some time before she could appease him. Wilson thinks that “the legend probably alludes to the
construction of canals from the Jumna for the purposes of Irrigation.”; The river is also called Kalindi,
from the place of its source, Surya‐ja, from her father, and Tri‐yama.
Yaska In. The author of the Nirukta, the oldest known gloss upon the text of the Vedic hymns. Yaska lived
before the time of Panini, who refers to his work, but he was not the first author who wrote a Nirukta,
as he himself refers to several predecessors. See Nirukta.
Yasoda In. Wife of the cowherd Nanda, and foster‐mother of Krishna.
Yatus, Yatu‐Dhanas In. Demons or evil spirits of various forms, as dogs, vultures, hoofed‐animals, &c. In
ancient times the Yatus or Yatu‐dhanas were distinct from the Rakshasas though associated with them,
but in the epic poems and Puranas they are identified. Twelve Yatu‐dhanas are named in the Vayu
Purana, and they are said to have sprung from Kasyapa and Su‐rasa; They are associated with the
Dasyus, and are thought to be one of the native races which opposed the progress of the immigrant
Aryans.
Yava‐Krl, Yava‐Krita In. ‘Bought with barley.’ Son of the sage Bharadwaja. He performed great penances in
order to obtain a knowledge of the Vedas without study, and having obtained this and other boons
from Indra, he became arrogant and treated other sages with disrespect; He made love to the wife of
Paravasu, son of his father's friend, Raibhya; That sage in his anger performed a Sacrifice which brought
into being a fearful Rakshasa who killed Yava‐krita at his father's chapel Bharadwaja, in grief for his son,
burnt himself upon the funeral pile; Before his death he cursed Paravasu to be the death of his father,
Raibhya, and the son killed his father in mistake for an antelope; All three were restored to life by the
gods in recompense of the great devotions of Arvavasu, the other son of Raibhya (q.v.). ‐Maha‐
bharata.
Yavanas In. Greeks, **, the Yavans of the Hebrew. The term is found in Panini, who speaks of the writing of
the Yavanas. The puranas represent them to be descendants of Turvasu, but they are always associated
313
with the tribes of the north‐west frontier, and there can be no doubt that the Macedonian or Bactrian
Greeks are the people most usually intended by the term; In the Bactrian Pali inscriptions of King
Priyadarsi the word is contracted to Yona, and the term Yona‐ raja “is associated with the name of
Antiochus, probably Antiochus the Great, the ally of the Indian prince Sophagasenas, about B.C. 210.”
The puranas characterise them as “wise and eminently brave.” They were among the races conquered
by King Sagara, and “he made them shave their heads entirely.” In a later age they were encountered
on the Indus by Pushpa‐mitra, a Mauryan general, who dethroned his master and took the throne. In
modem times the term has been applied to the Muhammadans.
Yayati In. The fifth king of the Lunar race, and son of Nahusha. He had two wives, Devayani and Sarmishtha,
from the former of whom was born Yadu, and from the latter Puru, the respective founders of the two
great lines of Yadavas and Pauravas; In all he had five sons, the other three being Druhyu, Turvasu, and
Anu; He was a man of amorous disposition, and his infidelity to Devayani brought upon him the curse
of old age and infirmity from her father, Sukra; This curse Sukra consented to transfer to anyone of his
sons who would consent to bear it. All refused except Puru, who undertook to resign his youth in his
father's favour. Yayati, after a thousand years spent in sensual pleasures, renounced sensuality,
restored his vigour to Puru, and made him his successor. This story of Puru's assuming Yayati's
decrepitude is first told in the Maha‐bharata; The above is the version of the Vishnu Purina In the
Padma it is told in a different manner. Yayati was invited to heaven by Indra, who sent Matali, his
charioteer, to fetch his guest; On their way they held a philosophical discussion, which made such an
impression on Yayati that, when he returned to earth, he, by his virtuous administration, rendered all
his subjects exempt from passion and decay; Yama complained that men no longer died, and so Indra
sent Kama‐deva, god of love, and his 'daughter, Asruvindumati, to excite a passion in the breast of
Yayati He became enamoured, and in order to become a fit husband for his youthful charmer he made
application to his sons for an exchange of their youth and his decrepitude; All refused but Puru, whose
manly vigour his father assumed. After awhile the youthful bride, at the instigation of Indra, persuaded
her husband to return to heaven, and he then restored to Puru his youth. The Bhagavata Purana and
the Hari‐vansa tell the story, but with variations. According to the latter, Yayati received from Indra a
celestial car, by means of which he in six nights conquered the earth and subdued the gods themselves;
This car descended to his successors, but was lost by Jamamejaya through the curse of the sage Gargya;
Yayati, after restoring his youth to Puru, retired to tile forest with his wife and gave himself up to
mortification. Abstaining from food, he died and ascended to heaven. He and his five sons are all called
Rajarshis.
Yayati‐Charitra In. A drama in seven acts on the life of Yayati. It is attributed to Rudra‐deva; The subject is
Yayati's intrigue with Sarmishtha.
Yggdrasil N. The cosmic ash of Germanic mythology. Its branches overhung all the worlds and struck out above
the heavens. It had three mighty roots: one reached down to Giantland, where stood the wisdom well
of Mimir; the second ended in foggy Niflheim, close by the well of Hvergelmir, close by the ‘the roaring
cauldron’, and dragon Nidhoggr, ‘dread biter’, which gnawed the root from below; the last was
embedded in heaven and beneath it was the sacred well of Urdr, where the gods had their judgement
seat; ‘the horse of the terrible one’, Odin. Since this god discovered the secret of runic wisdom by
hanging himself on the cosmic ash—that is, sacrificing himself to himself—Yggdrasil must have been
regarded as a tree of knowledge. Parallel with the Cross, the death of Odin has a separate ancestry,
sacrificial trees have existed in northern Europe from earliest times.
314

Yggdrasil

Yoga In. A school of philosophy; See Darsana and Yajnawalkya.
Yoga‐Nidra In. ‘The sleep of meditation.’ Personified delusion; The great illusory energy of Vishnu and the
illusory power manifested in Devi as Maha‐maya, the great illusion.
Yoginl In. A sorceress. The Yoginis are eight female demons attendant on Durga; Their names are Marjani,
Karpura‐tilaka, Malaya‐gandhini Kaumudika, Bherunda, Matali, Nayaki, and Jaya or Subhachara; Su‐
lakshana, Su‐nanda.
Yoni In. The female organ. Alone, or in combination with the Linga, it is an object of worship by the followers
of the Saktis.
Yudhi‐Shthira. In. The eldest of the five Pandu princes, mythologically the son of Dharma, the god of justice;
With the Hindus he is the favourite one of the five brothers, and is represented as a man of calm,
passionless judgment, strict veracity, unswerving rectitude, and rigid justice; He was renowned as a
315
ruler and director, but not as a warrior. Educated at the court of his uncle, Dhrita‐rashtra, he received
from the family preceptor, Drona, a military training, and was taught the use of the spear; When the
time came for naming the Yuva‐raja or heir‐apparent to the realm of Hastina‐pura, the Maha‐raja
Dhrita‐rashtra selected Yudhi‐shthira in preference to his own eldest son, Dur‐yodhana; A long‐standing
jealousy between the Pandava and Kaurava princes then broke forth openly. Dur‐yodhana expostulated
with his father, and the end was that the pandava went in honourable banishment to the city of
Varanavata. The jealousy of Dur‐yodhana pursued them, and his emissaries laid a plot for burning the
brothers in their dwelling‐ house. Yudhi‐shthira's sagacity discovered the plot and Bhima frustrated it;
The bodies of a Bhil woman and her five sons were found in the ruins of the burnt house, and it was
believed for a time that the pandavas and their mother had perished; When Draupad had been won at
the swayam‐vara, Yudhi‐shthira, the eldest of the five brothers, was requested by his juniors to make
her his wife, but he desired that she should become the wife of Arjuna, by whose prowess she had
been won; Through the words of their mother, Kunti, and the decision of the sage Vyasa, the princess
became the common wife of the five brothers; An arrangement was made that Draupadi should dwell
in turn with the five brothers, passing two days in the separate house of each, and that under pain of
exile for twelve years no one of the brothers but the master of the house should enter while Draupadi
was staying in it. The arms of the family were kept in the house of Yudhi‐shthira, and an alarm of
robbery being raised, Arjuna rushed there to procure his weapons while Draupadi was present. He thus
incurred the pain of exile, and departed, though Yudhi‐shthira endeavoured to dissuade him by arguing
that the elder brother of a fatherless family stood towards his juniors in the position of a father. After
the return of the Pandavas from exile and their establishment at Indra‐prastha, the rule of Yudhi‐
shthira is described as having been most excellent and prosperous; The Raja "ruled his country with
great justice, protecting his subjects as his own sons, and subduing all his enemies round about, so that
every man was without fear of war or disturbance, and gave his whole mind to the performance of
every religious duty. And the Raja had plenty of rain at the proper season, and all his subjects became
rich; and the virtues of the Raja were to be seen in the great increase of trade and merchandise, in the
abundant harvests and the prolific cattle. Every subject of the Raja was pious; there were no liars, no
thieves, and no swindlers; and there were no droughts, no floods, no locusts, no conflagrations, no
foreign invasions, and no parrots to eat the grain; The neighbouring Rajas, despairing of conquering
Raja Yudhi‐shthira, were very desirous of securing his friendship. Meanwhile Yudhi‐shthira, though he
would never acquire wealth by unfair means, yet prospered so exceedingly that had he lavished his
riches for a thousand years no diminution would ever have been perceived." After the return of his
brother Arjuna from exile, Yudhi‐shthira determined to assert his supremacy by performing the Raja‐
suya sacrifice, and this led to a war with Jarasandha, Raja of Magadha, who declined to take part in it,
and was in consequence defeated and killed; The dignity which Yudhi‐shthira had gained by the
performance of the sacrifice rekindled the jealousy of Dur‐yodhana and the other Kauravas. They
resolved to invite their cousins to a gambling match, and to cheat Yudhi‐shthira of his kingdom. Yudhi‐
shthira ,vas very unwilling to go, but could not refuse his uncle's invitation. Sakuni, maternal uncle of
Dur‐yodhana, was not only a skilful player but also a dexterous cheat; He challenged Yudhi‐shthira to
throw dice with him, and Yudhi‐shthira, after stipulating for fair‐play, began the game; He lost his all,
his kingdom, his brothers, himself, and his wife, all of whom became slaves. When Draupadi was sent
for as a slave and refused to come, Duh‐sasana dragged her into the hall by the hair, and both he and
Dur‐yodhana grossly insulted her. Bhima was half mad with rage, but Yudhi‐shthira's sense of right
acknowledged that Draupadi was a slave, and he forbade Bhima and his brothers to interfere. When
the old Maha‐raja Dhrita‐rashtra was informed of what had passed, he came into the assembly, and
declaring that his sons had acted wrongfully, he sent Draupadi and her husbands away, imploring them
to forget what had passed. Duryodhana was very wroth, and induced the Maha‐raja to allow another
game to avoid war, the condition being that the losers should go into exile for thirteen years, and
should remain concealed and undiscovered during the whole of the thirteenth year. The game was
316
played, and loaded dice gave Sakuni the victory, so the Pandavas went again into exile. During that time
they rendered a service to Duryodhana by rescuing him and his companions from a band of marauders
who had made them prisoners. When Jayad‐ratha, king of Sindhu, was foiled in his attempt to carry off
Draupadi, the clemency of Yudhi‐shthira led him to implore his brothers to spare their ceptive's life. As
the thirteenth year of exile approached, in order to keep themselves concealed, the five brothers and
Draupadi went to the country of Virata and entered into the service of the Raja. Yudhi‐shthira's office
was that of private companion and teacher of dice‐playing to the king. Here Yudhi‐shthira suffered his
wife Draupadi to be insulted, and dissuaded his brothers from inter‐fering, lest by so doing they should
discover themselves. When the term of exile was concluded, Yudhi‐shthira sent an envoy to Hastina‐
pura asking for a peaceful restoration to the Pandavas of their former position. The negotiations failed,
and Yudhi‐shthira invited Krishna to go as his representative to Hastina‐pura; Notwithstanding Yudhi‐
shthira's longing for peace the war began, but even then Yudhi‐shthira desired to withdraw, but was
overruled by Krishna.
Yudhishthira fought in the great battle, but did not distinguish himself as a soldier; The version of
the Maha‐bharata given in Mr. Wheeler's work makes him guilty of downright cowardice. At the
instigation of Krishna he compassed the death of Drona by conveying to that warrior false intelligence
of the death of his son Aswatthaman, and his character for veracity was used to warrant the truth of
the representation. His son science would not allow him to tell a downright lie, but it was reconciled to
telling a lying truth in killing an elephant named Aswatthaman, and informing the fond father that
Aswatthaman was dead; He retreated from a fight with Kama, and afterwards reproached Arjuna for
not having supported him and Bhima. This so irritated Arjuna that he would have killed him on the spot
had not Krishna interposed; After the great battle was over Krishna saluted him king, but he showed
great disinclination to accept the dignity; His sorrow for those who had fallen was deep, especially for
Karna, and he did what he could to console the bereaved Dhrita‐rashtra and Gandhari, as well as the
many other sufferers; He was made king, and was raised to the throne with great pomp, he acting as
ruler under the nominal supremacy of the old King Dhrita‐rashtra; There, after an interval, he asserted
his universal supremacy by performing the great Aswa‐medha sacrifice; The death of Krishna at
Dwaraka and regrets for the past embittered the lives of the pandavas, and they resolved to withdraw
from the world; Yudhi‐shthira appointed Parikshit, grandson of Arjuna, to be his successor, and the five
brothers departed with Draupadi to the Himalayas on their way to Swarga; The story of this
journey is told with great feeling in the closing verses of the Maha‐bharata. See Maha‐bharata; Yudhi‐
shthira had a son named Yaudheya by his wife Devika; but the Vishnu Purana makes the son's name
Devaka and the mother's Yaudheyi.
Yugan‐Dhara In. A city in the Panjab. A people dwelling there and in the vicinity.
Yuvanaswa In. A king of the Solar race, father of Mandhatri; A legend represents this son as being conceived
by and born of his father.
Yuva‐Raja In. ‘Young king.’ The heir‐apparent to a throne.
Yuyudhana In. A name of Satyaki.
Yuyutsu In. A son of Dhrita‐rashtra by a Vaisya handmaid; On the eve of the great battle he left the side of the
Kauravas and joined the Pandavas. When Yudhi‐shthira retired from the world he established Yuyutsu
in the kingdom of Indra‐prastha.
Zephyrus Gk. One of the Anemoi and the Greek god of the west wind.
317
Zetes Gk. Son of Boreas and Oreithyia, and a brother of Calais; mentioned among the Argonauts, and generally
described as winged being
Zethus Gk. Twin brither o f Amphion by Zeus and Antiope.
Zeus Gk. The "Father of Gods and

men"; ruled the Olympians of
Mount Olympus as a father
ruled the family; he was the
god of sky and thunder;
symbols are the thunderbolt,
eagle, bull, and oak; husband
of Hera; the youngest in the
siblings of Crunos and Rhea
Zodiac Eg. The Babylonian and Greek signs of the zodiac were introduced into Egypt in the Greco‐Roman
Period; They were adapted into Egyptian imagery and used to decorate ceilings of tombs and temples,
and coffin lids.
318

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Ajax the Less Gk. A strong, brave Greek warrior in the Trojan War who kills himself when Achilles' armor is

Apsaras In. the Apsarases are the celebrated nymphs of

Artemis Gk. daughter of Titaness Leto and

Atalanta Gk. god of the hunt, travel and

Atlas Gk. primordial Titan who

Audhumla N. "Nourisher" or "Rich Hornless Cow";

Badarayana In. a name of Veda vyasa especially

Balder, Baldr, Baldur N. "The Bright

Brahmavartta In. between the two divine rivers, Saraswati and Drishadwati, lies the tract of land which the

Brihad aranyaka, brihad upanishad In. The brihad aranyaka Upanishad belongs to the satapatha Brahmana,

Buddha‐gotama buddha In. the founder of Buddhism. Vishnu’s ninth

Cerberus Gk. the three‐headed watch dog that

Chair of forgetfulness Gk. a chair in Hades, that

Chaitanya‐chandrodaya In. the rise of the moon of

Daphne Gk. Daphne was a daughter of Peneus and

Darbas In. tearers; Rakshasas and other destructive

Dhurta‐nartaka In. the rogue actors; afarce

Dhurta‐samagama In. assemblage of

Diana Rom. the goddess of the moon;

Fenrir, Fenris, Fenrisulven N.

Freyr N. "The Lord"; Vana‐God, brother‐consort of Freya;

Frodi N. A Vanir god whose name means "The Fruitful

Fródleikr N. wisdom or learning; Magical learning from

Fylgja N. A manifestation of a part of a person's soul that can take on independent action as it can contain

Ganesha (Gana + Isa), Gana‐Pati In. is one of the most popular deities in the Hindu pantheon; he is closely

Golden apples N. Every year Idunna gives each

Golden Fleece Gk. is the fleece of the

Grotte N. The "World Mill" belonging to the Danish kings Frode, a grind‐mill of gold and a controller of the

Hel, Helheim, Helgardh, Niflhel N.

Helblindi N. "The one who binds to

Helen Gk. Known as Helen of Troy

Heracles Gk. the greatest of

Hermod, Hermodh N. "Fast". Asa Messenger of the Gods; The brave Hermod is the son of Odin and Frigga.

Hydra Gk. a fabulous nine‐

Hylonome Gk. A female centaur who killed herself when her

Hyperboreans Giants Gk. (Gigantes Hyperboreioi) Three

Hyperboreans Gk. (Hyperboreoi) A tribe of blessed men

Hyperes Gk. (or HYPERENOR) A King of Troizenos in the

Idavoll, Idavollen N. "Field of Tides". The central plain of Asgard near the spring of Urda; Odin's a first task

Indra In. The god of the firmament, the personified

Io Gk. A Naiad nymph daughter of the river

Ismene Gk. a Naiad nymph

Janamejaya In. a great king who was son of Parikshit; great‐grandson of Arjuna. It was to this king that the

Jarnsaxa N. "Iron Sword". Giantess lover of Thorr and

Jasion Gk. (Iasion) aspring‐time consort of the goddess

Jason Gk. (Iason) a great Thessalian hero who led the

Jatasura In. a Rakshasa who disguised himself as a

Kahoda In. a learned Brahman, father of Ashtavakra; had an argument at the court of Janaka by a Buddhist

Kakshivat, Kakshivan In. a Vedic sage particularly connected with the worship of the Aswins; son of Dirgha‐

Labyrinth Gk. An elaborate structure designed

Loki, Loki Laufeyiarson N. A Giant who become the blood‐brother of Odin. Son of the Giant Farbauti (Cruel

Maya In. illusion personified as a female form of celestial

Minotaur Gk. A monster, half‐man, half‐bull, born of Queen Pasiphae's god‐inflicted infatuation with a bull;

Nibelunggold N. A treasure that was

Orion Gk. A giant huntsman in Greek mythology whom Zeus placed among the stars as the constellation of

Panchavati In. a place in the great southern forest near the sources of the Godavari, where Rama passed a

Paripatra In. The northern part of the Vindhya range of mountains; according to the Hari‐vansa, it was the

Poseidon Gk. (Latin: Neptūnus; Roman name

Prachanda‐Pandava In. 'The incensed

Pushan In. A deity frequently mentioned in the Vedas, but he is not of a distinctly defined character. Many

Rishya‐Muka In. A mountain in the Dakhin, near the source of the Pampa river and the lake Pampa. Rama

Sisyphus Gk. A king punished by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll

Swa‐Phalka In. Husband of Gandini and father of Akrura. He was a man of great sanctity of character, and