Identifier: indianmythlegend00inmack 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

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Text Appearing Before Image: save the world from destruction, Shiva swallowed thepoison and held it in his throat. From that time he wascalled Nilakantha, the blue-throated. Meanwhile the demons desired to combat against thegods for the possession of the beautiful goddess Lakshmiand the amrita. But Vishnu assumed a bewitching femaleform, and so charmed the Asuras that they presented theamrita to that fair woman. Vishnu immediately gave the amrita to the gods, butsoon it was discovered that a demon named Rahu hadassumed Celestial form with purpose to drink it. Theamrita had only reached his throat when the sun andmoon discovered him and informed Vishnu. The divinePreserver then flung his discus and cut ofi^ Rahus hugehead, which resembled a mountain peak. Renderedimmortal by the amrita the head soared to the sky, roar-ing loud and long. From that day Rahus head, withmouth agape, has followed sun and moon, and when heswallows one or the other he causes the eclipses. Meanwhile the demons fought against the gods, but

Text Appearing After Image: LAKSHMI ARISING FROM THE SEA OF MILK From a sculpture at Mamallapuram DIVINITIES OF THE EPIC PERIOD 145 were defeated, although they flung rocks and mountains.Thousands were slain by the sky - scouring discus ofVishnu, and those who survived concealed themselves inthe bowels of the earth and the depths of the ocean ofsalt waters. Once upon a time the ambrosia was robbed from thegods by Garuda, half giant and half eagle, the enemy ofserpents. This lord of birds was hatched from anenormous egg five hundred years after it had been laid byDiti, mother of giants; his father was Kasyapa, a Brahmanidentified with the Pole Star, who had sacrificed withdesire for offspring. It happened that Diti, having losta wager, was put under bondage by the demons, and couldnot be released until she caused the amrita to be takenfrom a Celestial mountain where it was surrounded byterrible flames, moved by violent winds, which leapt upto the sky. Assuming a golden body, bright as the sun,Garuda drank up many

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