Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s11.1195

v1.c3.s11.1195

Kṣviṅkā is mentioned once in the Rigveda¹ as a bird of prey. The word also occurs in the list of victims at the Aśvamedha, or horse sacrifice, in the Taittirīya Saṃhitā,² where the commentary absurdly explains it as ‘a red-mouthed female ape’ (*rakta-mukhī vānarī*).