A History of Indian Literature v1.c8.s7.69

v1.c8.s7.69

*Etymologies*, such as that of Upavasatha in the above-quoted place, are exceedingly frequent in the Brāhmaṇas. Moreover, it is regarded as a special advantage if an etymology is not quite accurate, for “the gods love that which is hidden.” Thus, for instance, the name of the god *Indra* is derived from *indh*, “to kindle,” and it is said : he is, therefore, actually named *Indha*, and he is called “Indra” only because the gods love what is concealed. Or the word “*ulūkhala*,” which means “mortar,” is derived from *uru karat*, “it shall make wide,” and “ulūkhala” is declared to be a mystical designation for “urukara.”⁴ Like the etymologizing, *identifying* and *symbolizing* play an even greater part in the Brāhmaṇas than in the Yajurveda-Saṁhitās:⁵ the most dissimilar things being put together and associated with one another. On every page of the Brāhmaṇas we find explanations like the following: