384 Birds in Sanskrit Literature papillated head of the bird resembling the rough and grannular shell of a turtle; cf. कालकण्टक), and (iii) पक्ष-बिन्दु (वक) from the white patch on the wing. The first two names are evidently in opposition to जलकाक (i.e. शराटि ) and wg (implying a bald and smooth head) for the White Ibis. 9. The Pali for आटि is आट or आटा mentioned in वेस्संतर जातक, 2106 where the White Ibis with a booming call is distinguished as "arrerafcarefas". The Commentator's rendering of are as afgereg is, however, incorrect, for दबिमुख is the same as दविकोच, the Spoonbill (Art.79). आडि is really form of anfe and is given by Hemachandra in his far, 8.24 along with साराडि for शराटि. The निघण्टुरलाकर translates आटी as a kind of Heron (बगली). Prakrit 10. fyr for a kind of water Crow should really signify the White Ibis as fe means 'Cotton' and the name implies the white cotton-like plumage of the bird. आढा सेतीय of प्रश्नम्याकरण and आडा सेतीक of पाश्यसद्दमहृष्णवो are from Sanskrit we+arrer i.e. the White Ibis. anfe or art is thus both a general name for any Ibis and specific for the Black Ibis as will appear presently. 11. The struggle between the Brähmaṇas and Kşatriyas for social and political supremacy in ancient India has been beautifully allegorised as a duel between their leaders, sage afas and sage farfa, transformed by mutual or curse into the art and birds मार्कण्डेय पुराण, styled as "art--". The combatants, art and , are described as brothers, being sons of (probably formed form for a 'Heron' or ) in मत्स्य पुराण- "बकभ्राता रणोत्कट: आडिर्नामा"-156.12 and also in स्कन्दपुराण, कौमारिका खण्ड, ch. 28. This relationship indicates similarity of form and family affiliation, and the inconclusive fight shows practical equality in size and strength as well; Cf.-- तुल्ये बले तु बलवान्परिकोपमेति-पंचतंत्र पराक्रमन्ते युद्धेषु सममेवोभये भटाः सभारज्जन शतक The birds, therefore, are the Black and the White Ibis. The import- ance of the fact that afers, the Brahmaņa sage, possessed of war, i.e. spiritual power or lustre, assumes the form of art would be clear from what follows. 12. The flesh of the Black Ibis (anfe), must be given to a baby-boy. at the अन्नप्राशन ceremony according to पारस्कर गृह्यसूत्र, 1.19; if the father wants the child to acquire wpr (holy lustre) when he grows to manhood. Why should the Black Ibis typify agrade? First, because it has a white wing- 1. दात्यूह अन्धकाक in अष्टाङ्गहृदयकोश. 2. The White Ibis is "execrable to eat" while the flesh of the Black Ibis is "very good" (Jerdon ). The हारीत संहिता, मांस वर्ग, Ch. 11 also recommends the flesh of बाढी-"आडी वातविकारकासहूननी बल्या तथा दीपनी." Ibises patch on a dark body signifying the sun against a deep blue sky.¹ Second, because the bird has a bald head indicative of spiritual wisdom, and third, it wears an auspicious triangular patch of red papillae on the back of the head representing the sacrificial fire. The last two characteristics and the metallic gloss on the plumage are acquired by the bird in adult life only and these strange features, unique in the bird world, would seem to invest it with special spiritual significance The above points are, perhaps, borne out by the following few extracts from sacred literature :- 385 (i) मयि अग्निस्तेजो दधातु... मयि सूर्यो भ्राजो दधातु । - आश्वलायन गृह्यसूत्र, 1.21.4 (ii) अथ यतैतदङ्गाराचाऽऽकश्यन्त इव तहि हैष भवति ब्रह्म स यः कामयेत ब्रह्मवर्चसी स्यामिति तह ह स जुहुयात्... - शतपथ ब्राह्मण, 2.3.2.13 (iii) पसिस्रजी होता भवति... एतद्वै ब्रह्मवर्चसस्य रूपम् । - कृष्णयजुर्वेदीय तैत्तिरीय ब्राह्मण, 2.7.1 Sāyana comments परिस्रजी खलतिः शिरसि सगाकारेण परित एव केशा न तु मध्ये यदेतद् द्विजवेशस्य लक्षणं खलत्यादि तद् ब्रह्मवर्चसस्वरूपम् । अतः तदनुकूलेन रूपेण ब्रह्मवर्चसं प्राप्नोति । (iv) स्वस्तिकस्तु त्रिकोणक:-वैजयन्ती, i.e. स्वस्तिक is an auspicious triangular mark, a triangular crest-jewel (M.W.). It is interesting to note that the Glossy and the White Ibises were held sacred in Egypt. 13. The Black Ibis, found in the open and away from water, was favourite quarry for purposes of hawking with the Peregrine or Shaheen and is mentioned by the name of दात्यूह (=कालकण्ठदात्यूह) in a book on Falconry: अतिदूरगतानान्तु कङ्कदात्यूहपक्षिणाम् । लक्ष्ये मोको बर्या हि जनयत्यद्भुतं रसम् ॥ – श्यैनिक शास्त्र, 6.37. The quarry tries out-wit the Falcon by mounting higher and higher but the latter rises still higher and finally makes her stoop and brings the bird down. The Ibis often escapes by rising very high into the sky. It is this flight of the bird which has probably given it the name of (flying high into the sky). This is, however, subject to M.W.'s rendering as a gallinule' being correct. It has also inspired a beautiful simile where 1. Cf. Dr. A. B. Keith's observation in his introduction to the translation of the afer. afgat, "white of course is the Vedic symbol of the Sun as in the round white skin which represents the Sun at the gre..." p. cxxxvi. 2. In the alternative खेगमन (= कालकष्ठ) would be a White Wagtail which is sup posed to disappear into the sky and descend again to the earth from there. Cf. a in Art, 26; Cf. also at the magical power of flying into the sky. or
