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Haraprasad Shastri 
Visnupur Circular Cards. [No. 3> 
Note on Visnivpur Circular Cards .— By Haraprasad Shastri. 
A pack of the circular Visnupur Cards consists of 120 pieces, divided 
into 10 groups of 12 each. The groups are named after the ten incar¬ 
nations of Visnu; viz : —(1) the Fish, (2) the Tortoise, (3) the Boar, 
(4) the Man-lion, (5) Buddha, (6) the Dwarf, (7) Para^rama, (8) Kama, 
(9) Vala-rama, (10) Kalki. The first five of these incarnations have 
four hands, and the other five two hands. The kings, or rather the 
Avatdras , are distinguished from their ministers by having two attend¬ 
ants and being set in a ‘ room ’ or frame. The ministers are repre¬ 
sented by the Avatdras without these accompaniments. Besides kings 
and ministers there are ten plain cards in each group, with one to ten 
‘ pips ’ on each. In groups presided over by four-handed Avatdras the 
highest value is given to the ten, and so downwards, the ace having the 
lowest value. In groups presided over by two-handed Avatdras , the 
reverse order prevails, the ace being the highest card and the ten the 
lowest. 
Of all the incarnations Rama is regarded as the most powerful; 
and he wins in a group of five players ten cards, two from each player, 
as explained below. 
The minor cards of the Fish incarnation are marked with fish, 
those of the Tortoise with tortoises, those of the Boar with couches, 
those of the Man-lion with discs (chakra), those of Buddha with lotuses, 
those of the Dwarf with waterpots ( kamandalu ), those of Rama with 
arrows, those of Bala-rama with clubs, and those of Kalki with swords. 
The number of players is five. The pack is first shuffled by the 
dealer, and the cards are cut by the right hand player. The dealer deals 
four cards at a time, beginning with his right hand player, and six 
rounds are dealt. If there is no misdeal, that is, if all the five get 24 
cards each, the play commences; if not there is a fresh deal. 
The player who has got Rama leads. He plays‘along with Rama 
a plain card, and such is the power of Rama that he wins both the 
tricks, that is ten cards. He has the privilege of leading again or 
ordering some other person to lead. Whoever wins always enjoys this 
