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JUNE, 1895.]
SPIRIT BASIS OF BELIEF AND CUSTOM.
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sheltering a guardian by placing it in the centre of an end-guarded cross occurs in a Cretan coin, where a central crescent moon is surrounded by a cross-shaped fret or labyrinth. So the end-guarding motive of the svastika works into the fret and the fret is developed into the meander maze, or labyrinth, with which in so many ceremonies the Hindus are careful to surround their guardians. That the connection between the end-guarded cross and the guardian fret is not solely Indian is shewn by two remarks in the Migration of Symbols: one (p. 42) suggesting that the svastiku, or Nandi-house, is a form of labyrinth, which, in the manner of a Greek meander, may be connected with a gammadion; the other (p. 83) noticing that the fret, or svastikx, is associated with the meander in the New World, as well as in the Old.
Crown. - The orown is a guardian. So Saul wore his crown in battle, and most Hindu brides and bridegrooms in Western India, at their wedding, wear wedding coronets called báshings, or brow-horns. Egyptian crowns were adorned with figures of lions and balls, branches of trees and representations of flames. The early Egyptians used feathers in making crowns.10 The Jewish high-priest wore a crown, or a gold band round the crown, with the words "Holiness to Jehovah." 1 A crown of gold topped the Jewish ark,' and crowns were worn at Jewish weddings.13 A holy crown was set on the top of Aaron's mitre. The crowns found by Schliemann at Troy are on the heads of the dead. 15 Formerly, crowns 'used to be. made of the following sacred leaves, clover, oak, strawberry, roses and lilieg.16 Among the Cimbri, the priests went to the prisoners, orowned them, and cut their throats,17 The imperial diadem at Rome was a broad white fillet studded with pearls.18 The Romane had olive crowns. One form of radiated crown worn by the later Roman emperors was the same as the crowns worn by the gods.19 Roman high priests wore crowns of olive leaves, or ears of corn and gold. According to Pliny, the Romans made crowns of violets and roses. They wore crowns, not only in honouring the gods and the lares, but also at funerals.20 Among the Greeks, as well as among the Romans, crowns were placed at the door of the house where a child was born. In Athens the crown was of olive leaves; in Rome it was of laurel or ivy.21 Roman Catholic Bishops put on the mitre when they go to confirm.22 In Russia, and formerly in England, crowns were worn at weddings.23 King Alfred's crown had two little bells.2 In England, in 1420, a crown was borne on a cushion in the front of the army.86 Henry the Seventh, before patting on Edward's crown, had it sprinkled with holy water, and censed.20 James the Fifth of Scotland was presented with a hat blessed by Pope Clement on Christmas Eve, that it might strike fear into Henry the Eighth.27
Dancing. - Dancing is a phase of spirit worship. The excitement of dancing makes the dancera tempting lodging alike for the unhoused spirit, the familiar, and the early guardian The early tribes of India are great dancers. In Western India, among the early tribes who are fondest of dancing, are Kolis, Bhils, Katkaris, Thakurs and Vårlis. These early tribe hold their dances, especially in the month of Asvin, 29 during the Divali holidays. In Thânâ during the Divali in October and the Holi holidays in April, Kôli and Varli ser yants dance at the houses of their employers. In Bombay, Kolf and Kunbi women are called by Prabhus to dance before the goddess Gavri,29
Among the Marathas the worship of the chief goddess of the Dekhan, TaljÀ Bhavani, is celebrated by a set of dancing devotees, called Gôndhâlis, whose leader becomes possessed by the goddess. The details of the ceremonies connected with the dance are interesting. A high
1 Count D'Alviella's Migration of Symbols, p. 71. • Op. cit. p. 4.
10 Op. cit. p. 6. 12 Ecodus, xxv. 11.
15 Jonea' Crowns, p. 478. 18 Jones' Crowns, p. 15.
16 Op. cit. pp. 34, 35, 36. 19 Gibbon's Decline and Fall, Vol. I. p. 457. n Op. cit. p. 478.
- Golden Manual, p. 690. 24 Jones' Crowns, p. 29.
26 Op. cit. p. 88. Op. cit. p. 92.
> October November.
& Jones' Crowns, p. 8. 11 Op. cit. p. 2. 14 Exodus, xxix. 6. 17 Grimm's Teuto, Myth. Vol. I. p. 56. 19 Jones' Crowns, p. 7. * Op. cit. p. 478. 25 Op. cit, p. 690. *6 Op. cit. p. 219. ** Information from Mr. P. B. Joshi, 1
