35- An Illustrated Note on an Indian Deity called 
Révanta. 
By Panpir Brnopa Braart BIDYABINODA. 
We learn from Varahamihira’s Brhat-Samhita that at his 
time a deity called ‘‘ Révanta’’ was worshipped in North- 
Eastern India. In the 58th chapter, which contains the rules 
for preparing images of Indian gods, in the second half of verse 
56 we read as follows :— 
Daaisaiest waaaterfeufeate: | 
“Révanta (should be represented) on horseback surrounded by 
“a hunting party.” 
So to speak, stood only on the lower platform of the Hindu 
? 
However, the mere fact of his finding a place in 
the Asvini-kumara-dvaya,' and thereafter Révanta 
_ It is a remarkable fact that among the many medieval 
mages of Hindu gods from Magadha or Bihar, we find some 
equestrian statues closely resembling the description given by 
| Varahamihira of the images of Révanta. This fact becomes all 
be represented in a similar manner riding on_ horseback. 
ee 
Lt 1 Probably morning and evening stars are meant by this pair of 
heavenly twins.’’—T. Brocu. ce Th 
. Kern’s Preface tohis edition of the Brhat-Samhita, page 1. The 
Second part of the name, mihira, the well-known Persian word for Sun, 
Suegests that Varahamihira was a Maga or Sakadvipiya Brahmana, a 
class of Brahmanas of Persian or Scythian origin whom we meet wi 
frequently in Magadha or Bihar during the Middle Ages—T. Brocn. 
