The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c19.s4.21

c19.s4.21

²¹ On Makha, see the materials in J. Gonda, *Aspects of Early Viṣṇuism* (Utrecht, 1954), 167f. Though the etymology remains unclear (cf. M. Mayrhofer, *Kurzgef. Etym. Wb. des Altindischen*, s.v.), Grassmann's rendering "Kämpfer" is still interesting. According to Renou, *makhá* is a "simple variante phonique du mot maghá," "wealth, gift" (*Et. Véd. et Pan.* 4: 62; 8: 69). If these notions of festival, contest, and wealth or gift are combined, Makha turns out to be a complete personification of the potlatch-like festival.