Brahmadev = Saraswati

Of the above gods, Shiva, his son Kartakswami, and his wife Parwati,
Vishnu and his wife Mahalaxmi only are mentioned in the following
stories. Besides these, however, the Sun and Moon and the five
principal planets obtain a certain amount of worship. The Sun is
worshipped every morning by every orthodox Hindu. And Shani or Saturn
inspires a wholesome fear, for his glance is supposed to bring ill
fortune. Then again, besides the main gods, the world according
to Hindu belief, which in this respect closely resembles that of
the ancient Greeks, is peopled with Asuras (demons), Devkanya
(wood-nymphs), Nag-kanya (the serpent-maidens of Patala), and
Gandharwas (a kind of cherubim). The first three of these find a
place in the ensuing fairy tales.

The scientific doctrine is that Shiva is the destroyer and Vishnu
the preserver of life, and that Brahmadev is the creative spirit. In
practice, however, Brahmadev is almost entirely disregarded, while the
Hindus worship Shiva, Vishnu, Parwati, or Mahalaxmi just as they feel
inclined, or as the particular sect to which they belong requires them.

Lastly, it must be borne in mind that the Hindu year consists of
twelve lunar months. In the Deccan the year begins with Chaitra,
corresponding roughly with April. The months then succeed each other
in the following order: Vaishak, Jesht, Ashad, Shravan, Bhadrapad,
Ashwin, Kartih, Margshish, Paush, Mag, Phalgun, Each month begins on
the first day of the new moon and is divided into two parts. The first
half comprises the period from the new moon to the full moon. This is
the bright half of the month. The second half comprises the period
from the full moon to the new moon. This is the dark half of the
month. The lunar months are made to correspond with the solar year by
the interposition of an "adhik" or intercalary month every third year.

C.A.K.

CONTENTS

I. The Sunday Story
II. The Monday Story
III. The Tuesday Story
IV. The Wednesday and Thursday Story
V. The Friday Story
VI. The Saturday Story
VII. Mahalaxmi and the Two Queens
VIII. The Island Palace
IX. Nagoba, the Snake-King
X. Parwati and the Beggar-Man
XL Parwati and the Brahman
XII. Soma, the Washerwoman
XIII. Vasishta and the Four Queens
XIV. The Lamps and the King's Daughter-in-Law
XV. Parwati and the Priest
X