On the Origin of the Indian Brahma Alphabet c8.74

c8.74

The third and last point, the existence of which has been indicated above, furnishes perhaps the most convincing proof for very curious names—apparently nicknames.¹ Thus we find already in the Vedas three men, called *Śunaḥśepa*, *Śunaḥpuccha* and *Śunolāṅgūla* "Dog's-tail", and *Śunaka* "Little-Dog" is the progenitor of a very numerous race. Again a *Kharījaṅgha* "She-Ass'-Leg" is according to a Gaṇa in Pāṇini's Grammar likewise the father of a tribe or family.