Vikram and the Vampire

A highly insulting form of adjuration.

182

The British Islands – according to Wilford.

183

Literally the science (veda) of the bow (dhanush). This weapon, as everything amongst the Hindus, had a divine origin; it was of three kinds – the common bow, the pellet or stone bow, and the crossbow or catapult.

184

It is a disputed point whether the ancient Hindus did or did not know the use of gunpowder.

185

It is said to have discharged balls, each 6,400 pounds in weight.

186

A kind of Mercury, a god with the head and wings of a bird, who is the Vahan or vehicle of the second person of the Triad, Vishnu.

187

The celebrated burning springs of Baku, near the Caspian, are so called. There are many other ‘fire mouths.’

188

The Hindu Styx.

189

From Yaksha, to eat; as Rakshasas are from Raksha to preserve. See Hardy’s Manual of Buddhism, p. 57.

190

Shiva is always painted white, no one knows why. His wife Gauri has also a European complexion. Hence it is generally said that the sect popularly called ‘Thugs,’ who were worshippers of these murderous gods, spared Englishmen, the latter being supposed to have some rapport with their deities.

191

The Hindu shrine is mostly a small building, with two inner compartments, the vestibule and the Garbagriha, or adytum, in which stands the image.

192

Meaning Kali of the cemetery (Smashana); another form of Durga.

193

Not being able to find victims, this pleasant deity, to satisfy her thirst for the curious juice, cut her own throat that the blood might spout up into her mouth. She once found herself dancing on her husband, and was so shocked that in surprise she put out her tongue to a great length, and remained motionless. She is often represented in this form.

194

This ashtanga, the most ceremonious of the five forms of Hindu salutation, consists of prostrating and of making the eight parts of the body – namely, the temples, nose and chin, knees and hands – touch the ground.

195

‘Sidhis,’ the personified Powers of Nature. At least, so we explain them; but people do not worship abstract powers.

196

The residence of Indra, king of heaven, built by Wishwa-Karma, the architect of the gods.

197

In other words, to the present day, whenever a Hindu novelist, romancer, or tale writer seeks a peg upon which to suspend the texture of his story, he invariably pitches upon the glorious, pious, and immortal memory of that Eastern King Arthur, Vikramaditya, shortly called Vikram.