Miscellaneous Fetishes.
We have already referred to the Sâlagrâma fetish. Akin to this is the Vishnupada, the supposed footmark of Vishnu, which is very like the footmark of Hercules, of which Herodotus speaks.[155]
There is a celebrated Vishnupada temple at Gaya, where the footprint of Vishnu is in a large silver basin under a canopy, inside an octagonal shrine. Pindas or holy balls and various kinds of offerings are placed by the pilgrims inside the basin and around the footprint.[156] It was probably derived from the footmark of Buddha, which is a favourite subject in the early Buddhistic sculptures. Dr. Tylor, curiously enough, thinks that it may have some connection with the footmarks of extinct birds or animals imprinted on the strata of alluvial rocks.[157]
Even among Muhammadans we have the same idea, and the Qadam-i-Rasûl, or mosque of the footprint of the Prophet at Lucknow, used to contain a stone marked with his footmarks, which was said to have been brought by some pilgrim from Arabia. It disappeared during the Mutiny.[158] There is another in a mosque at Chunâr and at many other places.
The same respect is paid to the footprint of Râmanand in his monastery at Benares, and the pin of Brahma’s slipper is now fixed up in the steps of the bathing-place at Bithûr, known as the residence of the infamous Nâna Sâhib, where it is worshipped at an annual feast.
[1] Frazer, “Totemism,” 1; and his article on “Totemism,” in “Encyclopædia Britannica,” 9th Edition.
[2] “Principles of Sociology,” i. 367.
[3] “Origin of Civilization,” 260, and Mr. Frazer’s criticism, loc. cit.
[4] “Tribes and Castes,” Introduction.
[5] Frazer, “Golden Bough,” i. 13, note.
[6] Robertson-Smith, “Kinship,” 17.
[7] Leland, “Etruscan Roman Remains,” 90.
[8] Quoted by McLennan, “Fortnightly Review,” 1869, p. 419.
[9] O’Brien, “Multâni Glossary,” 260 sq.
[10] “Tribes and Castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh,” s.v.v.
[11] Dalton, “Descriptive Ethnology,” 254; Risley, “Tribes and Castes,” ii. 327.
[12] “Panjâb Notes and Queries,” ii. 91.
[13] Frazer, “Golden Bough,” ii. 95.
[14] “Dissertation on the Proper Names of Panjâbis,” 155 sq.
[15] “Totemism,” 3 sqq.
[16] Yule, “Marco Polo,” i. 52.
[17] Hardy, “Manual of Buddhism,” 251.
[18] Max Müller, “Ancient Sanskrit Literature,” 290.
[19] “North Indian Notes and Queries,” i. 10; ii. 215; iii. 144; Ball, “Jungle Life,” 455 sqq.
[20] Dalton “Descriptive Ethnology,” 126, 162, 165 sq., 179, 185, 209, 231, 265.
[21] “Jungle Life,” 600.
[22] Campbell, “Notes,” 7.
[23] “Râjputâna Gazetteer,” i. 223.
[24] Rhys, “Lectures,” 508.
[25] Dalton, loc. cit., 327.
[26] Risley, “Tribes and Castes,” Introduction, xlvii.
[27] Conway, “Demonology,” i. 27; “Herodotus,” ii. 73.
[28] Dalton, loc. cit., 131, note; Ball, loc. cit., 89; Robertson-Smith, “Kinship,” 306 sq.
[29] “Berâr Gazetteer,” 187.
[30] Campbell, “Notes,” 8 sqq.
[31] Gubernatis, “Zoological Mythology,” ii. 68; and see Lang, “Custom and Myth,” 113.
[32] Conway, “Demonology,” i. 144.
[33] Tod, “Annals,” i. 599.
[34] Gubernatis, loc. cit., ii. 13.
[35] “Golden Bough,” ii. 26 sqq., 58.
[36] “Asiatic Studies,” 264.
[37] “Archæological Reports,” vi. 137.
[38] Führer, “Monumental Antiquities,” 88.
[39] “Tribes and Castes,” ii. Appendix; Dalton, loc. cit., 162, note, 213, 254.
[40] Lyall, “Asiatic Studies,” 9 sq.
[41] Ferrier, “Caravan Journey,” 186.
[42] Muir, “Ancient Sanskrit Texts,” v. 425 sq.; Lâl Bihâri Dê, “Folk-tales of Bengal,” 193 sq., 277; Temple, “Legends of the Panjâb,” 48 sqq.; “Wideawake Stories,” 277 sqq.; Campbell, “Popular Tales,” i. 2; Tawney, “Katha Sarit Sâgara,” ii. 323; and for fidelity tests, Grimm, “Household Tales,” i. 453; Tawney, loc. cit., ii. 601; Clouston, “Popular Romances,” i. 43, 173.
[43] Tylor, “Primitive Culture,” i. 352, note; “Wideawake Stories,” 419 sqq.; “Panjâb Notes and Queries,” iv. 201; Knowles, “Folk-tales of Kashmîr,” 192; Tawney, loc. cit., i. 123; Grimm, loc. cit., ii. 400; Hunt, “Popular Romances,” 178.
[44] Also see Rhys, “Lectures,” 206; Lang, “Custom and Myth,” 52.
[45] “Notes,” 163.
[46] Hunt, “Popular Romances,” 418.
[47] “Modern Egyptians,” i. 325.
[48] “Popular Romances,” 177.
[49] “Popular Romances,” 412, 415.
[50] Führer, “Monumental Antiquities,” 173.
[51] “Bombay Gazetteer,” xi. 56; xvii. 698.
[52] Robertson-Smith, “Kinship,” 49; Lubbock, “Origin of Civilization,” 306; Tylor, “Primitive Culture,” ii. 164; Conway, “Demonology,” ii. 284.
[53] Spencer, “Principles of Sociology,” i. 268; Lang, “Custom and Myth,” i. 270.
[54] “Indo-Aryans,” ii. 70 sqq.; “Journal Asiatic Society, Bengal,” 1876; Max Müller, “Ancient Sanskrit Literature,” 408 sq.; Muir, “Ancient Sanskrit Texts,” i., ii., passim; Wilson, “Rig Veda,” i. 59, 63; “Essays,” ii. 247 sqq.; Atkinson, “Himâlayan Gazetteer,” ii. 800, 867.
[55] Tawney, “Katha Sarit Sâgara,” i. 336; ii. 253, 338; Temple, “Wideawake Stories,” 147; Lâl Bihâri Dê, “Folk-tales,” 194; Miss Frere, “Old Deccan Days,” 6; “North Indian Notes and Queries,” ii. 111, 129; iii. 105.
[56] Burton, “Arabian Nights,” iv. 376.
[57] Tawney, loc. cit., i. 212; ii. 616.
[58] “North Indian Notes and Queries,” iii. 65.
[59] Ibid., ii. 22.
[60] “Central India,” ii. 210.
[61] Campbell, “Khondistân,” passim; Frazer, “Golden Bough,” i. 384 sqq.; “Râjputâna Gazetteer,” ii. 47; Dalton, “Descriptive Ethnology,” 130, 147, 176, 285 sq., 281.
[62] Chevers, “Medical Jurisprudence,” 406, 411.
[63] Campbell, “Notes,” 339: Wilson, “Indian Caste,” ii. 22 sq.; “Bombay Gazetteer,” x. 114.
[64] Wright, “History,” 11, note.
[65] Ball, “Jungle Life,” 580.
[66] “North Indian Notes and Queries,” i. 112, 148. And for other instances, see Balfour, “Cyclopædia,” iii. 477 sqq.
[67] “Panjâb Notes and Queries,” iii. 75.
[68] Tawney, “Katha Sarit Sâgara,” i. 157, 214.
[69] Knowles, “Folk-tales,” 2.
[70] Leland, “Etruscan Roman Remains,” 294; Grimm, “Household Tales,” i. 396; Hartland, “Legend of Perseus,” i. 98.
[71] “Report Inspector-General Police, N.-W.P., 1870,” page 93; “Panjâb Notes and Queries,” ii. 205; iii. 74, 162; Chevers, “Medical Jurisprudence,” 842, 396; Campbell, “Notes,” 338.
[72] “North Indian Notes and Queries,” i. 148; iii. 71.
[73] Robertson-Smith, “Kinship,” 48 sq.
[74] Risley, “Tribes and Castes,” i. 456; Dalton, “Descriptive Ethnology,” 220.
[75] “Folk-lore,” iv. 260.
[76] “North Indian Notes and Queries.” iii. 40.
[77] Ibid., 106.
[78] “Bombay Gazetteer,” ii. 349; xiv. 49.
[79] Führer, “Monumental Antiquities,” 194.
[80] For similar instances see “Archæological Reports,” v. 98; “Bombay Gazetteer,” xx. 144; “Folk-lore Records,” iii. Part II. 182; “Oudh Gazetteer,” iii. 253; “Indian Antiquary,” xi. 117; “Calcutta Review,” lxxvii. 106; Lâl Bihâri Dê, “Folk-tales,” 130; “Panjâb Notes and Queries,” iii. 110; “North Indian Notes and Queries,” ii. 27, 63, 93; Campbell, “Santâl Folk-tales,” 106.
[81] “Bombay Gazetteer,” iv. 276.
[82] Campbell, “Notes,” 348.
[83] “Settlement Report,” 126.
[84] Dalton, “Descriptive Ethnology,” 146, 281; Risley, “Tribes and Castes,” i. 115.
[85] Wright, “History,” 35 sq., 156, note, 126, 205, 265.
[86] Tawney, “Katha Sarit Sâgara,” ii. 594.
[87] Ibid., i. 306.
[88] Yule, “Marco Polo,” ii. 165.
[89] Henderson, “Folk-lore of the Northern Counties,” 54, 200 sqq.
[90] “North Indian Notes and Queries,” i. 190.
[91] Miss Cox, “Cinderella,” 485; Knowles, “Kashmîr Tales,” 199; Clouston, “Popular Tales,” i. 88; Rhys, “Lectures,” 241; Tawney, “Katha Sarit Sâgara,” ii. 612.
[92] “Folk-lore Record,” iii. Part II. 283. For the commonplace Momiâî which is used as an application by women before parturition, see Watt’s “Dictionary of Economic Products,” ii. 115.
[93] Führer, “Monumental Antiquities,” 284.
[94] Buchanan, “Eastern India,” i. 526.
[95] “Oudh Gazetteer,” i. 303; ii. 415.
[96] Atkinson, “Himâlayan Gazetteer,” ii. 311, note, 792 sq.
[97] “Oudh Gazetteer,” i. 61.
[98] “Himâlayan Gazetteer,” ii. 282.
[99] Macaulay, “Battle of Lake Regillus,” Introduction.
[100] Dalton, “Descriptive Ethnology,” 220.
[101] “North Indian Notes and Queries,” iii. 2.
[102] Campbell, “Notes,” 30.
[103] Rhys, “Lectures,” 193.
[104] Hunt, “Popular Romances,” 427.
[105] Forbes, “Wanderings of a Naturalist,” 103.
[106] Henderson, “Folk-lore of the Northern Counties,” 165; Brand, “Observations,” 621.
[107] “Principles of Sociology,” i. 109 sq., 310; Tylor, “Primitive Culture,” i. 353.
[108] “Asiatic Studies,” 16.
[109] “Illustrations of the History and Practice of the Thags.” 46 sqq.
[110] Tod, “Annals,” i. 615; “Panjâb Notes and Queries,” iii. 221.
[111] Oldfield, “Sketches,” 344, 352.
[112] “North Indian Notes and Queries,” iii. 54.
[113] Wilson, “Essays,” ii. 188; Risley, “Tribes and Castes,” i. 16, 67, 93, 451.
[114] Campbell, “Notes,” 9.
[115] “Panjâb Notes and Queries,” ii. 20 sq., 93.
[116] Tod, “Annals,” ii. 320.
[117] [Habakkuk i. 16]; [Isaiah xxi. 5].
[118] Dyer, “Popular Customs,” 400; Brand, “Observations,” 209, 773; Aubrey, “Remaines,” 25.
[119] Lady Wilde, “Legends,” 116.
[120] Grimm, “Teutonic Mythology,” 934; Frazer, “Golden Bough,” ii. 164.
[121] Dalton, “Descriptive Ethnology,” 187, note, 247.
[122] “Idylls,” iii. 31.
[123] Henderson, “Folk-lore of the Northern Counties,” 52; Gregor, “Folk-lore of North-East Scotland,” 43, 92.
[124] Dalton, loc. cit., 218.
[125] “Academy,” 23rd July, 1887; “Gentleman’s Magazine,” July, 1887; Henderson, loc. cit., 233; Brand, “Observations,” 233; Lady Wilde, “Legends,” 207.
[126] Brand, “Observations,” 354.
[127] “Calcutta Review,” xviii. 60.
[128] “Folk-lore,” i. 157; ii. 293.
[129] Campbell, “Notes,” 53.
[130] “Panjâb Notes and Queries,” iii. 202; Leland, “Etruscan Roman Remains,” 79.
[131] “Calcutta Review,” xviii. 51.
[132] Cox, “Mythology of the Aryan Nations,” ii. 119, note.
[133] Chambers, “Book of Days,” i. 94 sq.
[134] Dalton, loc. cit., 252, 258.
[135] “Primitive Culture,” ii. 277.
[136] “Principles of Sociology,” i. 158, 273.
[137] “Tribes and Castes of the N.-W. P. and Oudh,” s. v. “Agnihotri.”
[138] Grimm, “Household Tales,” ii. 547.
[139] Tawney, “Katha Sarit Sâgara,” i. 322.
[140] Oldfield, “Sketches,” ii. 242; Wright, “History,” 35; and compare Prescott, “Peru,” i. chap. 3; Lubbock, “Origin of Civilization,” 312.
[141] Lady Wilde, “Legends,” 126.
[142] Abul Fazl appears to have confused Sûraj Sankrânti or the entrance of the sun into a constellation with Sûrya-Kânta or “sun-beloved,” the sun-crystal or lens, which gives out heat when exposed to the rays of the sun.
[143] Blochmann, “Aîn-i-Akbari,” i. 48.
[144] Leland, “Etruscan Roman Remains,” 103.
[145] “Folk-lore,” iv. 359.
[146] Dyer, “Popular Customs,” 92.
[147] “North Indian Notes and Queries,” i. 199.
[148] Hugel, “Travels,” quoted by Jarrett, “Aîn-i-Akbari,” ii. 314.
[149] “Settlement Report,” 121.
[150] “North Indian Notes and Queries,” ii. 117; Hunt, “Popular Romances,” 81; Campbell, “Popular Tales,” ii. 82.
[151] Conway, “Demonology,” i. 225.
[152] Rajendra Lâla Mitra, “Indo-Aryans,” i. 146.
[153] Ferguson, “Tree and Serpent Worship,” 88; “History of Indian Architecture,” 60; Cunningham, “Bhilsa Topes,” 9; Spencer, “Principles of Sociology,” i. 254 sq.
[154] “Central Provinces Gazetteer,” 63; “Panjâb Notes and Queries,” ii. 8; “North Indian Notes and Queries,” ii. 93.
[155] iv. 82.
[156] Monier-Williams, “Hinduism and Brâhmanism,” 309.
[157] Tennent, “Ceylon, ii. 132; Ferguson, “Indian Architecture,” 184, with engraving; Tylor, “Early History,” 116.
[158] “Oudh Gazetteer,” ii. 370.
CHAPTER IV.
ANIMAL-WORSHIP.
Τῶ δέ καὶ Αὐτομέδων ὕπαγε ζυγὸν ὠκέας ἵππους
Χάνθον καὶ Βαλίον, τὼ ἅμα πνοιῆσι πετέσθην
Τούς ἔτεκε Ζεφύρω ἀνέμω Ἅρπυια Ποδάργη
Βοσκομένη λειμῶνι παρὰ ῥόον Ὠκεανοῖο.
Iliad, xvi. 148–51.