Birds in Sanskrit Literature gazelles etc. in their natural way. They also carry off lambs and kids from the sub-Himalayan villages. They are to be met with along the Sutlej water-shad, from Kotgarh to the Kailas range in suitable localities, also in parts of Kashmir, Chamba, Simla district and in Tehri-Garhwal as far up as Hursil (fr) within two marches of Gangotri¹. C.H. Donald remarks that the Golden Eagle in flight "shows a large expanse of chest" and this fact has been beautifully recorded by the great poet wreft. Describing the magnificent flight of a number of Golden Eagles soaring higher and higher, he says that the sky, being pushed back as it were by their broad chests, appears to be retreating before them : 204 मनः शिलाभङ्गनिभेन पश्चात् निरुध्यभानं निकरेण भासाम् । व्यूढैरुरोभिश्च विनुद्यमानं नभः ससपेंव पुरः खगानाम् ॥ (facrandf-frare) In the proceding verses the poet has named the birds ताक्ष्यं, गरुत्मत् and सुपर्ण which is perfectly correct. The Golden Eagle, the noblest of all Eagles, is also called gr ("महावीरस्तु गरुडे" मेदिनी) probably for two reasons : (i) for his mythological exploit in successfully bringing away the w from heaven and (ii) as a compliment to his courage and boldness in a state of nature and also as t a trained bird in capturing fawns, gazelles, wild goats, etc., for his keeper. The Chinese practised the art of falconry so far back as 2000 B.C., and even at the present day the nomads of Central Asia train a certain species of Eagle to take large game, such as antelopes and wolves, and tribes in the neighbourhood of Yarkand use the Golden Eagle for hawking purposes and so too the Kirghiz Tartars. A Golden Eagle returning to the fist of his master is illustrated in the Encyclopaedia Britannica. That the ancient Indo-Aryans also were equally familiar with this sport and actually trained the Golden Eagle for the chase is clearly stated in the letter-press to the illustration of the bird opp. p. 822, Vol. 7, Ibid. It runs, "It is the largest bird of prey trained for falconry, and has been used in Asia, especially in India, for taking bustards, antelopes, hares, foxes, and, it is said, even larger animals, such as wild goats and wolves." It is, therefore submitted that many of the metaphors and similes in which gf or figures 1. C. H. Donald. F.Z.S., in the Journal of B.N.H.S. Vol. XXVI, 247 ff. 2. 16.45. 3. "Falconry", Enc. Brit. 14th Edn. The Golden Eagle is still trained in Eastern Turkistan "for hawking and flown at deer, hares, wolves, and even wild boar; and as one can imagine, the eagle's dash and courage is magnificent"-F. Martin Duncan in Birds, Trees and Flowers (Odhans, London, 1947). 4. "Eagle" and "Falconry". Enc. Brit. 14th Edn. 5. Opp. p. 44 of Vol. 9, 14th Edn. 205 Eagles, Falcons and Allied Birds in the Rgveda are actually based on the practice of the art. Panini mentions the art of Falconry as "a" in 4.2.58 and Manu (3.164) debars Brahmans living by falconry or dealing in Falcons from ceremonial feasts. H. Kirke Swann, E. Z. S., has also traced in A Monograph of the Birds of Prey, Part I the art of falconry back to 1700 B.C. in Persia and earlier still in China. Thus the commonest picture of bringing away (rendered at places by as food or ) from the moun- tain heights unaided (RV. IV. 26. 4-7) would seem to be based on a trained Golden Eagle capturing a mountain goat or fawn and holding it. down until his keeper took it from him. The pictures depicted in RV. IV. 26.4-7 and IV 27 would seem to be based on the performance of a trained Eagle. Take again similes like the following:- सीदंछ्येनो न योनिमा – RV. 9.61.21. श्येनो न योनिमासदत्- RV. 9.62.4. श्येनो न वंसु षीदति - RV. 9.57.3. श्येनो भूत्वा परापत यजमानस्य गृहान् गच्छ तन्नौ संस्कृतम्-वाज संहिता 4.34. and several others which compare , flowing into its proper vessel, with a getting back to the wooden perches (g) or stands meant for hunting Eagles and Falcons in their master's house. The Lugger Falcon, for instance, released for the chase, returns to his master's fist. The f ang relates a story that once left the gods and kept flying high up as a g or Golden Eagle and returned to them only when he was invited. back with the af. This is clearly based upon the art of falconry where a bird flown from the wrist often returns to his master when called back. A tame Golden Eagle will at once perch on the arm extended for him, and he frequently alights on the trees and follows his master from tree to tree keeping him in sight. The female of an Eagle or Falcon is larger and more powerful than the male and it is she who is always the more efficient hunter. For this reason it is invariably the female that is preferred and trained for the chase. This fact has been recognized in गायत्री as the female and गायन as the male Eagle :- 3.4.1.12. यद्गायत्त्री श्येनो भूत्वा दिवः सोममाहत् तेन सा श्येनः- शत. ब्राह्म गायत्रीं हरिणीं ज्योतिष्पक्षां...Ibid. 11.4.1.8. गायवचितं पक्षिणं चिन्वीत स्वर्गकामः कपिष्ठल कठसंहिता 21, 19. 1. Sale of Eagles (gut) and Hawks (v) and theft of these, presumably trained, birds is mentioned in चतुर्वर्गचिन्तामणि of हेमाद्रि Vol. 4, pp. 176 & 244, respectively. 2. See C. H. Donald on the Monograph in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. XXX, p. 895. 3. Jerdon; See also section B of this Art. 4. 14.3.10. 5. British Birds, Part I. Vol. IX, Birds of Prey.
