Studies in Indian Art c9.s4: 8. Cornucopia in Literature

Studies in Indian Art c9.s4

Language: English

8. Cornucopia in Literature

c9.s4.1

In my Review of Dr. A. S. Altekar's *Catalogue of the Bayānā Hoard* (J.N.S.I., XVII, Pt. I) I had pointed out that cornucopia was a well known motif in Indian literature. Here is that evidence.

c9.s4.2

1. *Mahābhārata*, Karṇaparva, Poona edn. 6. 37—

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तोयपूर्णविषाणैश्च द्वैपजंमहर्षभैः । मणिमुक्तामयैश्चान्यैः पुण्यगन्धैस्तथौषधैः ।।

Duryodhana anointed Karṇa to the office of his *Senāpati* (commander-in-chief of the army) by pouring water on his head filled in the *viṣāṇa* of elephants, rhinoceroses and bulls, and by scattering pearls and jewels, as also using fragrant lucky herbs. Here the word *viṣāṇa* means both a horn, as of a bull and a rhinoceros, and a tusk as of an elephant. Pouring holy water on the head of the person anointed was an ancient custom employed also in the Rājasūya ceremony.

c9.s4.5

In the above verse the Critical edn. reads *dvīpi*, a panther, which has no horn or tusk and is meaningless in this context, as against *dvipa*, an elephant, of the Vulgate text which gives excellent meaning and undoubtedly was the correct reading. MS. K 3 actually records the variant reading *dvaipa*, which I have adopted here, meaning 'of an elephant'.

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2. At the prospect of Rāma's coronation as crown-prince, Sītā expresses her joy as follows :

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दीक्षितं व्रतसम्पन्नं वराजिनधरं शुचिम् । कुरंगशृंगपाणिं च पश्यन्ती त्वां भजाम्यहम् ।।

c9.s4.8

—*Ayodhyā*, 16. 23.

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'I shall be by your side at the lucky time when you are consecrated, by taking the holy vow, putting on the excellent deer-skin, and holding the horn of a deer in your hand (*kuraṅga-śṛṅga-pāṇi*). Here Rāma is expected to hold the *kuraṅga-śṛṅga* or cornucopia as a lucky attribute in one of his hands.

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3. At the time of Sugrīva's coronation, it is stated that he was anointed with water poured from a bull's horn :

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आहृत्य च समुद्रभ्यः सर्वेभ्यो वानरर्षभाः । अपः कनककुम्भेषु निधाय विमलं जलम् ।।
शुभैर्ऋषभशृंगैश्च कलशैश्चैव काञ्चनैः । शास्त्रदृष्टेन विधिना महर्षिविहितेन च ।।

c9.s4.12

—*Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa* Ch. 26, Verses 33-34.

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'The monkey-chiefs collected water from all the seven oceans, having filled golden pitchers with it; and then with ceremonies prescribed by the texts and as directed by the sages, they bathed him with the auspicious bull-horns and golden jars'.

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Here the word is *ṛṣabha-śṛṅga*, the horn of a bull, expressly stated as a lucky object (*śubha*).

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4. In the Atharva Veda there is mention of spirits holding horns in their hands preceding on her way the newly wedded bride:

c9.s4.16

ये पूर्वं वध्वो ३ यन्ति हस्ते शृंगाणि विभ्रतः ।

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This must have been some old custom, probably because even at that ancient period the horn was believed to be a lucky object. Perhaps they filled it with holy water for sprinkling on the way to ward off evil spirits.

c9.s4.18

I am indebted to Dr. Moti Chandra for the information that in Central Asia they still hang ibex goat horns in the mosques, as remnants of an old custom of using such horns in the temples of Śiva by the primitive tribes there. Probably the people were the Mahāvṛiṣas (Atharva, V. 22. 5) who are stated to be neighbours of the Balhikas and the Mūjavatas.

c9.s4.19

Pandit Shri Ambika Prasad Upadhyay of the Banaras Hindu University informs me that it is still the custom in Śiva worship to anoint the deity with water poured from horns made of silver. He also mentions that in the Śrāddha ceremony water is offered to the manes with the horn of a rhinoceros.

c9.s4.20

This proves the very ancient belief in India that a horn was an auspicious object from which holy water should be poured as part of the religious rituals. Moreover the Śṛinga was considered as a lucky symbol also, for it must have been held as such by Rāma in the reference cited above (Ayodhyā 16.23).

c9.s4.21

Greek cornu is the same as Sanskrit śṛinga. The Śubha Śṛinga of Indian literature is the same as "Cornu Copiae or Cornucopia which was the horn of abundance used as the symbol of plenty. In Greek mythology there are two different tales explaining its origin. One which suckled Zeus; another to the horn of the river-god Achelous, wrenched off by Herackles" (Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, edited by F. W. Cornish, London, John Murray, 1898, p. 211). According to the same authority 'The cornucopia constantly appears in coins and works of art, especially of the Roman period, as the symbol of abundance'. I would invite experts kindly to throw further light on the antiquity and religious significance of cornucopia in classical, specially Greek, art and mythology.

Cites (3)

Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa — Vālmīki, Sanskrit
Atharvavedasaṃhitā — Atharvan & Aṅgiras, Sanskrit
Mahābhārata — Vyāsa, Sanskrit