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Review
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The third chapter deals with the cow as related to the Vedic ritual. The learned writer has taken great pains to explain how 'go' as 'the supplier of milk', as oblation to gods, as food, as 'a mixing material for Soma', as 'wealth', craved for both by the priest and the patron, as 'the hide for Soma preparation spreads through the sacerdotal activities of the Aryans.
The fourth chapter, dealing with 'cow' in the Vedic Mythology, is the longest and the most important part of this work. It aims, inter alia at resolving the two major myths : the Indravştra myth (i.e. the creation myth) and the myth of the Paņis. The author has given an erudite explapation of the myths, she has enumerated the narrative and symbolic divergencies between these two hymns and has very correctly suggested that the hymn of Panis, the withholders of sacrifice, would assume meaning against the general background viz. that even after creation the evil forces were not curbed. This latter work was achieved by sacrifice which was possible only after the discomfiture of the anti-sacrifice demons, the Panis. The word 'go' in this connection signifies not merely waters/light but also the bovine animal highly prized by the Vedic Aryans. The author has tried to connect Vala with the Paņi myth and even suggested that Vala is the leader of Paņis.
The fifth chapter contains a list of epithets of gods like Indra etc., goddesses like Aditi etc. and the dual divinity Rodasi.
The author deserves congratulations from her readers for the 366 learned and instructive footnotes which she has given to corroborate her text.
The two indices at the end are also a very useful part of the work showing the care the author has taken to facilitate reference work for her readers.
The proof reading is scrupulously done as is testified by the almost completely spotless text which is except for once (see p. 63, 9th line from the bottom) totally free from printing errors.
It would not be out of place to suggest that since the book is printed and published in India, the author should have given the translation of the French and German quotations (extending over more than 30 lines) for the benefit of her Indian readers many of whom know *small French and little German".
P. R. Vora
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