HINDU ZOOLOGICAL BELIEFS. 249 



Crocodile is the vehicle of Varuna, the Jupiter Pluvius of Indian 

 mythology, who presides over the waters. It figures in the 

 following story : Uhu, a demigod, was one day diving in a tank 

 (pond) where a " rishi " (sage), Devala by name, was worshipping 

 the water. Uhu in sport pulled the riahi's legs, for he was 

 standing in the water while worshipping. The sage at first 

 thought that it was a Crocodile that had got hold of him, but, on 

 finding it was only a demigod that had played him the trick, he 

 cursed Uhu, and made him become a Crocodile in real earnest. 

 King Indraduma, the story continues, was an ardent worshipper 

 of Vishnu, and one day, when performing his devotions, he was 

 interrupted by the rishi Agastya,who came and asked the favour 

 of an interview. The king continued his worship, and paid no 

 attention to the request, whereupon the sage, highly offended, 

 remarked : " I see you are as proud as an Elephant. You shall 

 be one henceforth." Thus it came about that both Crocodile 

 and Elephant found themselves in the same pool. Indraduma, 

 as the Elephant, continued still to be devoted to Vishnu, and 

 daily used to enter the water, pick a lotus, and lay it as an 

 offering before the god in the temple near by. Once, when the 

 Elephant entered the tank, it was immediately seized by the 

 Crocodile (Uhu), and a very protracted fight, lasting for a 

 thousand years, ensued. Eventually the god himself came and 

 delivered his devotee, the Elephant. 



Such is the tale so well known throughout India as the 

 Gajenda moksha (the deliverance of the Lord of Elephants). 



Among Lizards the Gecko is of great importance. The day 

 of the week and the direction from which one hear its voice, also 

 the part of one's body upon 'which it may fall, are concerned. 

 The Gecko is one of the commonest animals in South India. It 

 is the only reptile with a voice which is easily heard. Since 

 Geckos are so very common inside houses, one can scarcely pass 

 a day without hearing them calling, while frequently they fall 

 from ceiling, wall, or pillar. 



The following tables are translated from the Hindu Almanack 

 (Panchangam), and explain — (1) what the Gecko's notes forbode ; 

 (2) the fortune resulting from the creature touching the body. 

 It is worth noting that in the first table the Hindu recognises 

 ten directions from which the sound may come. 



