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THE SURYASATAKA OF MAYURA
MYTHOLOGICAL ALLUSIONS
The Suryaśataka is replete with mythological allusions drawn
from the whole range of Hindu mythology. Among them-to
name only a few-are included references to the churning of the
ocean, and to all the objects produced by the churning; to
Brahma's birth from the lotus of Vişnu's navel; to the mundane
egg, Vişnu's 'three steps,' and Garuda's enmity to the snakes; to
Mts. Meru, Asta, Lokāloka and Käilāsa; to Kṛṣṇa's conquering
of the Kaliya snake, and the slaying of Taraka by Kārttikeya; to
the Aurva fire, Nārada and the other sages, Aruna's mutilated
condition, the semi-divine beings, and so on. The wide range and
great number of these allusions make it very evident that
Mayūra-as Sarasvatī said in the Jaina tale-was well versed
in the śästras.¹
Most of the mythological allusions may be readily traced to
their source in the Vedas, Epics and Purāņas. In most cases I
have given such sources in the notes to the stanzas, omitting, how-
ever, reference to some of the better-known legends, and indica-
ting the few instances where I have been unable to trace an anec-
dote to its starting-place in śruti or śästra.
In the matter of the references to Sürya, it seems almost cer-
tain that Mayura must have been familiar with the hymns to
Sürya, or with the accounts of that god, found in the Mahabharata,²
in the Markandeya Purana, and in the Visnu Purana, for so
many of the things that are there said about Sürya find their echo
in the stanzas of the Süryaśataka. The author, however, by no
means confined himself to these hymns and accounts, for the
reader will find scattered through the notes references to other
Sanskrit works, including other Purāṇas, the Ramayana, the
Vedas, the Sürya Upanişad, etc.
1 See above, p. 22.
* Mahabharata, 3. 3. 15-79.
3 Markandeya Purana, 107-110; cf. Pargiter's translation, p. 572-587.
Vişnu Purana, 2.8-11; cf. Wilson's translation, vol. 2, p. 237-298.
THE SURYASATAKA OF MAYURA
MYTHOLOGICAL ALLUSIONS
The Suryaśataka is replete with mythological allusions drawn
from the whole range of Hindu mythology. Among them-to
name only a few-are included references to the churning of the
ocean, and to all the objects produced by the churning; to
Brahma's birth from the lotus of Vişnu's navel; to the mundane
egg, Vişnu's 'three steps,' and Garuda's enmity to the snakes; to
Mts. Meru, Asta, Lokāloka and Käilāsa; to Kṛṣṇa's conquering
of the Kaliya snake, and the slaying of Taraka by Kārttikeya; to
the Aurva fire, Nārada and the other sages, Aruna's mutilated
condition, the semi-divine beings, and so on. The wide range and
great number of these allusions make it very evident that
Mayūra-as Sarasvatī said in the Jaina tale-was well versed
in the śästras.¹
Most of the mythological allusions may be readily traced to
their source in the Vedas, Epics and Purāņas. In most cases I
have given such sources in the notes to the stanzas, omitting, how-
ever, reference to some of the better-known legends, and indica-
ting the few instances where I have been unable to trace an anec-
dote to its starting-place in śruti or śästra.
In the matter of the references to Sürya, it seems almost cer-
tain that Mayura must have been familiar with the hymns to
Sürya, or with the accounts of that god, found in the Mahabharata,²
in the Markandeya Purana, and in the Visnu Purana, for so
many of the things that are there said about Sürya find their echo
in the stanzas of the Süryaśataka. The author, however, by no
means confined himself to these hymns and accounts, for the
reader will find scattered through the notes references to other
Sanskrit works, including other Purāṇas, the Ramayana, the
Vedas, the Sürya Upanişad, etc.
1 See above, p. 22.
* Mahabharata, 3. 3. 15-79.
3 Markandeya Purana, 107-110; cf. Pargiter's translation, p. 572-587.
Vişnu Purana, 2.8-11; cf. Wilson's translation, vol. 2, p. 237-298.