HINDU ZOOLOGICAL BELIEFS. 301 



enumerated, but unfortunately the Boar was not included in the 

 list. 



Narasiraha, the fourth avatar of Vishnu, was half man and 

 half lion. On the death of Hiranyaksha, the second demon 

 said that he was the god, and made his subjects worship him 

 and not Vishnu. Notwithstanding his father's commands, the 

 son Prachlada believed in Vishnu, and thus incurred his father's 

 enmity. One day Hiranykasipa challenged his son to prove 

 that Vishnu was the god, and the son replied that Vishnu was 

 everywhere. Then the father in derision asked if he were 

 inside a particular stone pillar near by. On the son saying 

 " Yes," the father got very angry with him, and out of contempt 

 kicked the pillar, from which Vishnu as Narasimha at once burst 

 forth and tore the impious wretch in pieces. 



In his early days Hiranykasipa had done penance, and the 

 boon granted him then was that he would not be killed by 

 anything dead or alive, inside or outside his house, by day or 

 by night, by man or by beast, and if a single drop of his blood 

 was spilled, a thousand men as strong as himself would imme- 

 diately spring forth to his assistance. He was slain by the claws 

 of Vishnu as Narasimha, half man, half lion, on the doorstep of 

 his house at sunset, and Narasimha drank up every drop of 

 blood so that nought was shed. Thus were all the conditions 

 of the boon evaded. To this day, in every Hindu house ac 

 sunset, all are asked to be quiet, for at this time Hiranykasipa 

 died, and it is the hour for evening worship. 



The common Shrew {Crocidura coerulea), known to the 

 Anglo-Indian as the " musk rat," is the vehicle of Ganesa. Its 

 voice is held to be very auspicious, and it is never killed because 

 it is considered so very harmless. 



The Bandicoot Eat is the largest one. "As stout as a Bandi- 

 coot" is a familar comparison in South India. The Squirrels took 

 part, along with the Monkeys under Hanuman, in the building 

 of the bridge over to Ceylon. The little Palm-Squirrel {Funajn- 

 bulus) is one of the commonest animals. It could not do much 

 to help, but it gathered a little sand on its bushy tail and threw 

 it into the sea. Eama, noticing this act, was very pleased, and 

 in blessing the tiny creature, stroked it with three of his fingers: 

 hence the origin of the three lines down its back to-day. *' And 



