A History of the Mahrattas v1.c7.111

v1.c7.111

The *Ishtadēvatas* are generally known as the *Panchāyatana* or group of five gods, namely, Ganpati, Vishnu, Siva, Dēvī, and Surya, and are represented by small symbolical stones, e.g. the *Sālagrāma* of Vishnu, the *bāna-linga* of Siva, a metallic stone representing the female principle in Nature (*Sakti*), a crystal representing the sun, and a red stone for Ganpati. (Sleeman’s *Rambles*, &c., ed. V. A. Smith, (1915), p. 41 n.)]