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INTRODUCTION 



The horse has played an important part in the history of tlie 

 various races to whom the civilization of India is due, and it is 

 therefore natural that it should also have played an important part 

 in the mythology of those races. The legends of the Hindus 

 naturally differ from the legends of the Muslims, but many of the 

 old ideas and quaint superstitions of the two great divisions of the 

 peoples of India have become mingled. Although, therefore, it is 

 often possible to distinguish some superstition as regards the horse 

 as definitely Hindu or definitely Muslim, in many cases it may be 

 assumed, or even demonstrated, that the belief is of mixed origin. 



No Eastern treatise on the horse would be complete without a 

 reference to some of the traditions regarding its origin. The 

 present treatise, written by an Indian Muslim, deals with the Indian 

 horse chiefly from a Muslim point of view. But, before giving an 

 account of Muslim traditions regarding the horse, I am tempted to 

 say something gathered from Hindu writings. 



Hindu Legends. — Hindu mythology relates that when the gods ^ 

 and demons ^ churned the ocean of milk ^ to obtain the nectar, the 

 first horse, the King of the horses,* rose out of the churning together 

 with the Moon, the Goddess of Fortune,^ the King of the elephants'^ 

 and certain other acquisitions. To Indra, King of the Gods, was 

 awarded the beautiful milk-white long-eared animal. 



In the astronomy of the Hindus, the first of the twenty-seven 

 lunar mansions ^ is called Asvini, the Sanskrit for mare. The third 

 sign of the Zodiac is called the " Sons of the Mare," the twin 

 off'spring^ of Surya, the sun, and a nymph ^ named ISanjnd, who 

 metamorphosed herself into a mare. Hindu nymphs, to escape the 

 unwelcome attentions of a suitor, not infrequently assume the form 

 of animals and seek the protection of the being they prefer, and it 

 was presumably for some such reason that Sanjnd became a mare. 



^ Deva. 2 jistira ^ Supposed to be the Indian Ocean. 



* JJchchraissravas. '" LaksJimi. ^ Airdvata. 



'' Nahshatra. ^ Identified with Castor and Pollux. 

 ^ Apsard. 



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