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ASTRONOMY-ASURAS
tions of the sky, 20, 292-4; definitions of new and full moon days, 30, 25-7; a king must show honour to astronomers before entering the court, 33, 280; astronomical tables, 37, xlvi sq. (correction to 18, 333 sq.); knowledge of a. one of the principal accomplishments of a priest, 45, 137, 137 n. See also Nakshatras, Stars, and Time. Astvat-ereta, i. e. Saoshyant, 23, 211, 215, 220, 307 sq. Ast-vidâd, see Astô-vidhôtu. Asu, expiatory oblation to A. (breath of life) at a Soma-sacrifice, 44, 210. Asura, Varuna the A., 42, 11, 241; the king or Indra, the manly A., 42, 111, 380; Rudra the A. of the highest heaven, 46, 187, 191; Agni born from the A.'s belly, 46, 303; as the A.'s germ, Agni is called Tanûnapât, 46, 303; Agni, the A., 46, 399; a liberal giver called A., 46, 420.
Asura, an unbeliever is called so, 1,
137.
Asura-Rakshas, Pûru was an A., 41, 292; the Asuras are often called A., 44, 95, see Asuras; are the niggards and scorners of the gods, 44, 430. Asuras or Demons.
(a) Their nature, character, and abodes. (b) Stories about the A.
(c) Gods and A.
(d) Worship of A.
(a) THEIR NATURE, CHARACTER,
AND ABODES.
The A. are the cause of evil breath, evil speech, &c., 1, 4 sq.; are created, 7, 4; 8, 387; 25, 15; Pragâpati the father of gods and A., 12, 54, 54 n., 59, 110, 144, 153, 198, 265, 279, 286 sq., 310, 370; 15, 189; 26, 30, 105, 135, 142, 301; 41, 1, 254, 256, 289, 387; 43, xvii, 193, 257; 44, 22, 423, 429; created by the downward breathing of Pragapati, 44, 13;-delusive nature of A. and Râkshasas, 8, 83; dwell beneath Meru, 12, 110 n.; part of the belly relating to the A., 12, 172; to them Pragâpati gave darkness and illusion, 12, 362; try to tamper with the food offered to the fathers, 12, 365;
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14, 53, 269; 25, 117; carried by a runner, 15, 74; 43, 401; are liable to destruction, 15, 289; suffer for their deeds and are subject to transmigration, 45, 250, 318; mentioned along with other superhuman beings, 19, 348; 36, 130; 45, 225 sq., 382; 49 (ii), 30, 70; dwell in the ocean, 20, 302, 305; 35, 175; marriage rite of the A., 25, 79-82; wealth of those who perform no sacrifices is called property of the A., 25, 434; speak barbarous language, 36, 31 sq.; voice of the A. in the cart wheels, 26, 132; among the pankaganâb, 34, 262; metres of the A., i.e. metres of less than ten syllables, 38, 228, 228 n.; sacrifice into their own mouths, 41, 1; 44, 22; the wile of the A., 42, 67, 341; sorceries coming from the A., 42, 80; know wisdom, 42, 268; in the Atharvaveda, 42, 268 sq.; magic art the Veda of the A., 44, 368; relinquish truth, 43, 257 sq.; serve the Purusha as mâyâ, 43, 373; burial rites of people of A. nature (Easterns and others), 44, 423, 430; the weapons of A. are real, 48, 125; souls of A., 48, 198; have bodies and senseorgans, 48, 330;-those who have not arrived at the highest knowledge, go after death to the worlds of the A. covered with blind darkness, 1, 311; heretics and sinners are reborn in the world of the A., the dark place, 19, 304; 45, 15, 28, 34, 231, 246, 259, 363, 367, 430; no A. in a Buddha country, 49 (ii), 12, 33; Asuraloka, realm of evil spirits, 49 (ii), 97 n.
(b) STORIES ABOUT THE A. The A. worshipped breath as Abhûti or not-being, and thus they were defeated, 1, 213; the A. cried out against the injustice of killing animals for sacrificing, 10 (ii), 51; Manu's bull with the A.-killing voice, 12, 29 sq.; Araru was an Asura and Rakshas, 12, 57; Parâvasu, Hotri of the A., 12, 137; the A. have perished, but there are creatures living like them still, 12, 362; the A. pierced speech, breath, eye, car, and mind with evils, but were finally conquered by the
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