Indian Antiquary Vol 56

SR No.: 032548
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 286
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 13 MB

Page 161

JULY, 1927]
MISCELLANEA
The characteristic that specially differentiates sphatika, rock crystal, from ordinary stone or rock (adri, aśman, parvata) is its transparency. In the last passage of those given above (1, 121, 10), the context is such that it is sufficient to note that the weapon is of stone; its transparency or otherwise is not material. In the other three passages, on the other hand, which mention the enclosure of crystal that imprisons the waters and cows, it would seem, to judge from 10, 68, 8, ásná' pinaddham má'dhu páry apasyan mátsyam ná dîná udáni kshiyántam | nish táj jabhara camasám ná vṛksha'd Br'haspátir viravená vikṛ'tya that the transparency of the walls of the enclosure should also be taken into consideration. For, in this verse we read: Brhaspati saw the sweet (water) enclosed in the stone, as (one sees) a fish in shallow water. Having with his roar, broken (the stone) open, he brought it out as (one does) a goblet from a tree.' Thus the water could be seen by Bṛhaspati through the enclosing stone as a fish in shallow water can be seen through the water; in other words, the stone was transparent, it was a sphatika or crystal.
139
The rock that imprisons the waters and cows, represents, as is well-known, the cloud; see Bergaigne, I, p. 257f. and Macdonnell, Vedic Mythology, p. 60. The author of the Nighantu has therefore rightly included this word, along with adri, grâvan, gotra, aśman, parvata, giri, upara and upala-all meaning 'stone', 'rock', etc., among the meghanâmâni.
(To be continued.)
MISCELLANEA.
DOM MARTIN, THE ARAKANESE PRINCE. The April number of the Journal of the Burma Research Society (vol. XVI, pt. I), 1926, contains an article of great interest on Dom Martin, 1606-1643, the first Burman to visit Europe, by Mr. M. S. Collis and San Shwe Bu. It is as romantic a story as one could wish and it might be said as one could find Dom even in Burma, the land of romance. Martin-observe the high Portuguese title-was born in 1606 as a son of Min Mangri, himself a younger son of Rajagri, king of Arakan. Min Mangri became Viceroy of Chittagong in 1610. His elder brother was Min Khamaung, afterwards a famous king of Arakan. The two brothers were not on good terms, and Min Mangri feared for his position. About 1610 the celebrated Portuguese corsair Gonsalves Tibau established himself in Sandwip and with him the disaffected Min Mangri consorted. Gonsalves saw his chance and sent Father Rafael of Santa Monica to convert Min Mangri's family to Christianity. In this errand Father Raphael succeeded and Min Mangri's daughter was married as a Roman Catholic to Gonsalves' son. All this naturally did not please Rajagri of Arakan, and Min Khamaung was sent against Chittagong in 1612. That was the end of Min Mangri, but his little children, a boy and a girl, were spirited away by Father Raphael to the convent of St. Nicholas at Hugli. Here they were brought up, the boy as a Christian prince named Dom Martin, and the girl as Princess Petionilla. In due course Min Khamaung became king of Arakan and the future looked black for Dom Martin, but he was sent to Goa, where he did well and became,
as an Oriental Christian of high standing, a Portuguese military cadet.
In 1622 Min Khamaung died and Thivithudhamma succeeded him, while Dom Martin was still a Portuguese officer. In 1627 he greatly distinguished himself in the defeat of the king of Achin off Malacca, and then continued to serve with distinction about the Indian coasts from Jacatra (Batavia) to Ormuz (Bandar Abbas) until 1640. In 1638 Narapatigri had usurped the throne of Arakan, and in 1641 the Duke of Braganza had recovered the Portuguese throne from the Spaniarda and ruled as John IV. So Dom Martin proceeded to Portugal to see if he too could get back his rights from the usurper of Arakan with the help of John IV. John knew his story and could feel for him, and thus he equipped Dom Martin for the purpose in 1642. Dom Martin duly set out with high hopes, but in 1643 he died on the voyage out and never even reached Goa. What a story!
R. C. TEMPLE.
NAUGAZA TOMBS TO THE WEST OF INDIA. Tombs known as naugaza, of inordinate length, more or less approximating nine yards, and dedicated to saints, are not uncommon in Upper India and have frequently been noticed by European observers e.g., ante, vols. XXV, pp. 146, 254; XXVIII, p. 28. They are no doubt a Semitic importation from lands to the West of India during the Muhammadan invasions.
In the course of some amusing notes on "discoveries" by Lord Curzon.in his Leaves from a Viceroy's Note-book, p. 363, occurs the following passage: "I had, I thought, already left Noah safely buried