Part 11 - Encyclopaedias

The encyclopaedias that are referred are mainly related to ‘Religion and Ethics’ edited by James Hastings and ‘Religion’ edited by Eliade Mircea.

1. The encyclopaedia ‘Religion and Ethics’ edited by James Hastings:

This encyclopaedia has included the words Sindh and Sindhi at page five hundred and seventy-one and has given the description about Name, History, Ethnology of Sindhi people, invasion of Sindh by foreign powers, worship of Saints, worship of river Indus which provides sufficient information and data useful for research in the subject. At page five hundred and seventy-two appears the name of Hindu Saint Jind Pir (Zindah, the living one), which is known as Khwajah Khidr by Muslims along with a specific mention of Uddhero Lal (or Uderolal) is also found which becomes Shaikh Tahir. Similarly, Lala Jasraj becomes Pir Mangho. Reference to Shahabaj of Sehwan (Lal Shahabaj Kalandar) is also found in this encyclopaedia. One more reference of the name Uddhero Lal (Uderolal) who is known as Vadhera Lal in Punjab is also found on page five hundred and seventytwo. The reference about the worship of Uddhero Lal is also found at page five hundred and seventy-two which states about his rise from river Indus in the form of a superman mounted on a white horse. This description obviously refers to Uderolal or Jhuelal, the Ista dev of Sindhis. He is worshiped at water bodies like rivers, canals and in his honour the Lohanas of Kutch offer sugar candy, rice and fruits. They also light a lamp in his honour. (Ed. Hastings 1915: 570-572)

2. The Encyclopaedia of Religion by Eliade Mircea:

Eliade Mircea, a Vedic Scholar was Romanian by birth. He has to his credit many books of Vedic study along with Encyclopaedia of Religion. Vedic deity Varuna has been a subject of much interest for the researcher as lord Jhulelal is known as the incarnation of Varuna. Mircea’s description of Varuna in this encyclopaedia reiterates views put forth by Indian and Western scholars on Varuna.

• Varuna has a thousand eyes and he keeps a watch on human beings about their behaviour, their good and bad deeds and punishes the sinners. In the pantheon of Vedic Gods, Varuna has a stringent ethical outlook. He uses his nose or pasha to bind the sinners. The name Varuna is of Indo European origin.

• Mircea considers powerful Avestan God Ahura Mazda and the Greek sky God Ouranos as parallel to Vedic Deity Varuna.

• Varuna is considered omniscient due to his innumerable eyes.

• A sacrifice known by name ‘Varunapraghasa’ is a sacrifice for Varuna and the idea of confession is seen here in Vedic literature, as the wife of the sacrificer has to confess her sins to priest of the sacrifice ceremony.

• Varuna is the God of Ruta, which has been interpreted as dharma or truth (Satya) by Mircea whereas many scholars regard its meaning as a cosmic order.

• Varuna is associated with Maya, which is a magical power.

• Varuna’s powers appear to have diminished in the later period and he is only regarded as water deity. (Mircea 1987: Vol 15 189-190)

Mircea has also elaborated upon the meaning of Ruta under a separate heading as Cosmic order and universal truth. Ruta the cosmic law or the cosmic order which is responsible for smooth running of the universe which keeps every object in its specified place.