File:Indian myth and legend (1913) (14597528668).jpg

Identifier: indianmythlegend00inmack (find matches)
Title: Indian myth and legend
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Mackenzie, Donald Alexander, 1873-1936
Subjects: Hindu mythology
Publisher: London, Gresham
Contributing Library: Indiana University
Digitizing Sponsor: Indiana University

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
entered topartake of the sacrifices and libations. Indra, who iscalled an accomplished artisan , is lauded as the godwho firmly secured the dominion of air in the frame ofheaven and earth. In another hymn it is told: Indrameasured six broad spaces, from which no existing thingis excluded: he it is who made the wide expanse of earthand the lofty dome of the sky, even he. (V. i, 47. 3,4.) In the work of shaping the universe Indra is assistedby the shadowy deities Savitri, who merged with Surya,the sun god, Brihaspati, Lord of Prayer, who mergedwith Agni, god of fire, and Vishnu, god of grace. Hewas also aided by the Ribhus, the artisans of the gods,who dwelt in the region of mid-air. Their number isgiven variously as three or the multiples of three; theywere the sons of Sudhanvan, who was apparently iden-tical with Indra, because Indra is a Ribhu when heconfers gifts; indeed, the artisans are referred to asthe children of the Thunder god. They make grass ^ Cotmologv of Rig-veda, Wallis.
Text Appearing After Image:
INDRA, KING OF THE GODS ii and herbs, and also channels for streams. In some re-spects they resemble the earth-gnomes, the Khnumu, the modellers , the helpers of the Egyptian artisan godPtah, who shaped the world. Countless little figuresof these gods are found in Egyptian tombs; for even asonce the Khnumu had helped in the making of the world,so would they help to reconstruct in all its members thebody of the dead man in whose tomb they were laid.*The Ribhus similarly renovated aged and decrepit parents;they reunited the old cow to the calf; they are alsocredited with having shaped the heavens and the earth,^and with having fashioned the cow of plenty , and alsoa man named Vibhvan. According to the Oxford Dictionary^ they are the threegenii of the seasons in Hindu mythology . The Sanskritword Ribhu is sometimes compared with the Germanicword Elf. Professor Macdonell considers it likelythat the Ribhus were originally terrestrial or aerial elves.*They are evidently of common origin wit

Note About Images