2 JACKSON, The Aztec Moon-cult. 



In Professor Seler's monograph on the Codex Vati- 

 canus and elsewhere, the Mexican Moon God is repre- 

 sented associated with a large marine snail shell as its 

 symbol. 



As the emblem of the moon the snail's shell is also 

 shown with the figure of a man, or merely a hand, 

 emerging from the mouth — the God in the Shell — which 

 might have reference to the waters being pent up, or 

 possibly to different phases of the moon. The Rain God, 

 Tlaloc, is thus seen emerging, and holding lightning in 

 both hands. The snail was also brought into association 

 by the Aztecs with conception, pregnancy, and birth. 

 Snail shells were also connected with the cult of Chantico, 

 the Fire Goddess, and are figured as breast ornaments of 

 Quetzalcouatl, the Wind God, Tepeyollotli, the Heart of 

 the Mountains, etc. 



In one place the Moon God appears as another form 

 of Xochipilli, the God of Flowers and Food Supplies, and 

 in another place he appears as the God of the Dance and 

 Music. 



Turning to India, we find the same general ideas 

 prevailing in the chank-cult of the Hindus. 



The Chank (Turbinella pyrum) is one of the two 

 important symbols associated by Hindus with Vishnu 

 and his many avatars or incarnations. Siva, also, is 

 sometimes represented holding the chank. Such an 

 association is of peculiar interest when one considers the 

 worship of the chank in the daily liturgy of the Brahmans. 

 Taking the shell in his hand, the Brahman recites the 

 following prayer : — 



" At the mouth of this shell is the God of the Moon, 

 on its sides is Varuna, on its back Prajapati, and on its 

 apex, the Ganges, the Sarasvati, and all the other sacred 

 rivers of the three worlds in which they make ablutions 



