DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.640#0307
190 THE HINDOO MYTHOLOGY.
shape from the curse of his father, and during the night he
should assume the hody of a man. Of his being the son of
Indru there could be no doubt.' The minds of the guests
were now changed, and they confessed, that though he had
the outside of an ass, he was unquestionably the son of
Indru; for it was never known that an ass could speak
Sungskritu. The king, therefore, gave his daughter to
him in marriage. By the time the guests were dismissed
night drew on, when Gundhurvu-senu assumed the form of
a handsome man, and, having dressed himself, respectfully
went into the presence of the king. All the people, seeing
so fine a man, and recollecting that in the morning he would
become an ass, felt both pleased and sorrowful. The king
brought the bride in great state to the palace, and the next
day gave her servants, camels, jewels, &c. and dismissed the
guests with many presents. Dhara, however, in the midst
of his other cares, could not but feel anxious that Gund-
hurvii-se'nu should throw off his ass's body. After a thou-
sand contrivances, he said to himself, ' Gundhurvu-se'nu is
the son of Indrii; therefore he can never die: at night he
casts off his ass's body, and it lies like a dead body : I will
therefore burn this body, and thus keep him constantly in
the shape of a man.' Accordingly, one night, he caused
the ass's body to be burnt,—when Gundhurvu-senu ap-
peared in his presence, told him that now the curse was
removed, and that he should immediately ascend to heaven.
After saying this he withdrew, and the king saw him no
more.
Nayikas.—These are female companions of Doorga, and
are worshipped at the festivals of this goddess. Eight of
them have a preeminence over the rest. The Tuntru-
shastriis declare, that these females visit the worshippers
either as their wives, or as mothers; and declare to them
shape from the curse of his father, and during the night he
should assume the hody of a man. Of his being the son of
Indru there could be no doubt.' The minds of the guests
were now changed, and they confessed, that though he had
the outside of an ass, he was unquestionably the son of
Indru; for it was never known that an ass could speak
Sungskritu. The king, therefore, gave his daughter to
him in marriage. By the time the guests were dismissed
night drew on, when Gundhurvu-senu assumed the form of
a handsome man, and, having dressed himself, respectfully
went into the presence of the king. All the people, seeing
so fine a man, and recollecting that in the morning he would
become an ass, felt both pleased and sorrowful. The king
brought the bride in great state to the palace, and the next
day gave her servants, camels, jewels, &c. and dismissed the
guests with many presents. Dhara, however, in the midst
of his other cares, could not but feel anxious that Gund-
hurvii-se'nu should throw off his ass's body. After a thou-
sand contrivances, he said to himself, ' Gundhurvu-se'nu is
the son of Indrii; therefore he can never die: at night he
casts off his ass's body, and it lies like a dead body : I will
therefore burn this body, and thus keep him constantly in
the shape of a man.' Accordingly, one night, he caused
the ass's body to be burnt,—when Gundhurvu-senu ap-
peared in his presence, told him that now the curse was
removed, and that he should immediately ascend to heaven.
After saying this he withdrew, and the king saw him no
more.
Nayikas.—These are female companions of Doorga, and
are worshipped at the festivals of this goddess. Eight of
them have a preeminence over the rest. The Tuntru-
shastriis declare, that these females visit the worshippers
either as their wives, or as mothers; and declare to them