102 BULLETIN 148, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Island, at its mouth, is the most hallowed. Priests, called "Sons of 

 the Ganges," sit on the edge of its streams to aid the ablutions of the 

 conscience-stricken bathers, and those who have thus purified them- 

 selves carry bottles of its waters to far-off Provinces. The pilgrim- 

 age from its source to its mouth and back again, which lasts six years 

 and is called Pradakshina or Parikrama, is considered most merito- 

 rious, and to die and be cremated on the river bank is the last wish of 

 many Hindus. Among other rivers regarded as sacred by the Hindus, 

 the worship of and bathing in which is believed to be productive of 

 great blessings, are the Sona, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Kaviri, and 

 Bahnda. Height, 10}^ inches. India. (Cat. No. 154899, U.S.N.M.) 



37. Anapurna. — Statuette of marble, painted and gilded. Repre- 

 sented standing. The right arm raised, holding a waterpot (?), the 

 left, handing down some fruit. 



Anapurna, literally, "one who is full of food," is in Hindu mythol- 

 ogy the goddess of plenty. She is sometimes represented holding in 

 one hand a jeweled vessel containing food and in the other a spoon 

 to distribute the same. She is considered by some to be a form of 

 Parvati, the consort of Siva. Height, 12 inches. India. (Cat. No. 

 154891, U.S.N.M.) 



38. Hanuman. — Statuette of marble, painted and gilded. Rep- 

 resented standing, with the head of an ape, the right hand holding a 

 club, the left a lotus bud, with the left foot on a prostrated figure. 



Hanuman in Hindu mythology is the son of the wind god Vayu, 

 by a monkey mother, and the devoted ally of Rama (the seventh 

 incarnation of Vishnu), against the demon tyrant Ravana. He 

 with his army of monkeys invaded Ceylon, tore up trees, carried 

 away the Himalayas, and performed other wonderful exploits. He 

 is largely worshiped, especially in the Marathi country, where he is 

 said to have established a kingdom. His images are smeared with 

 the sacred vermilion color. Many temples harbor living monkeys, 

 which are considered as his representatives. Height, 14 inches. 

 India. (Cat. No. 154887, U.S.N.M.) 



39. Hanuman. — Statuette of bronze. Represented standing, with 

 the hands in the posture of devotion. Height, 11}^ inches. India. 

 (Cat. No. 155156, U.S.N.M.) 



40. Hanuman. — Statuette of gilt brass. Represented standing, 

 with right foot on a mountain, holding in his hands a club and a 

 stone. Height, 3}^ inches. India. (Cat. No. 311800, U.S.N.M.) 

 Bequest of Miss Elizabeth S. Stevens. 



41. Votive stele. — Carved wood. Representing Rama, Sita, Hanu- 

 man, and two attendants. Height, 6)2 inches; width, 4 inches. 

 India. (Cat. No. 317652, U.S.N.M.) Bequest of Miss Nettie 

 Lovisa White. 



