parting the hair as symbolizing an easy
delivery, and since this was a rite of pro-
tection, it would also give the expectant
mother psychological assurance that
everything would be all right. One bit of
evidence supporting this interpretation
is that many of the dharma literature
writers classify this samskara as being
for the woman rather than the unborn
child, and as only needing to be per-
formed during the first pregnancy. This
samskara is seldom performed in
modern times.
Simhakarna
(“lion’sear”) Another name for the hand
gesture(hasta) known as kataka hasta,
in which the fingers are loosely pressed
onto the thumb, creating a ring. This
particular name comes from the fanciful
notion that the shape of the hand
resembles a lion’s ear. See kataka hasta.
Simuka
(1st c. B.C.E.) Founder of the Satavahana
dynasty, which for over three centuries
ruled over much of central India and the
Malwaregion from their capital in the
city of Paithan.
Singh, Ishvari Prasad Narayan
(r. 1835–1889) A Maharaja of Benares
who, with the help of local scholars,
wrote the dialogues (samvads) for the
characters in the Ramnagar Ram Lila.
The Ram Lilas are dramatized versions
of the epic Ramayana, which transcend
simple theater to become a form of wor-
ship. The Ram Lila at Ramnagar, the
fort that is home to the kings of
Benares, is the most famous and tradi-
tional of all these Ram Lilas. The
Ramnagar Ram Lila began because of
the royal family’s patronage, and the
annual performance is still sponsored
by them. Although they are no longer
the actual political rulers, the royal
family continues to play an important
ceremonial role. For further informa-
tion see Anaradha Kapur, Actors,
Pilgrims,Kings,and Gods, 1990.
Singh, Udit Narayan
(r. 1796–1835) Maharaja of Benares
whose reign saw the first performances
of the Ram Lila at his palace in
Ramnagar. The Ram Lilas are drama-
tized versions of the epic Ramayana,
which transcend simple theater to
become a form of worship. The Ram
Lila at Ramnagar, the fort that is home to
the kings of Benares, is the most famous
and traditional of all these Ram Lilas.
According to tradition, the Maharaja
was a great devotee (bhakta) of the god
Ramaand a patron of the Ram Lilas in
Benares itself, but on severaloccasions
found it difficult to get across the
Gangesbecause of the seasonal flood-
ing. As a solution to the problem, he
sponsored his own Ram Lila—no doubt
also symbolically intended to reinforce
his kingship—which has become the
oldest, most traditional, and most
important Ram Lila in Benares. Udit
Narayan Singh finalized the
locations of the Ram Lila, which is
performed throughout the city, whereas
his son Ishvari Prasad Narayan Singh
was responsible for writing the
dialogues (samvads) spoken by the
characters. For further information see
Anaradha Kapur, Actors,Pilgrims,Kings,
and Gods, 1990.Sinhastha Mela
Name for the Kumbha Melafestival held
in the holy city of Ujjain. The festival is
called Sinhastha because it is celebrated
when Jupiteris in Leo (Sinha). The
Sinhastha Mela’s climactic bathing
(snana) day comes on the full moonin
the lunar month of Baisakh (April–
May). The Kumbha Mela is a massive
religious festival celebrated at three-
year intervals in four different cities:
Haridwar, Allahabad, Ujjain, and
Nasik; the festival thus comes to each
city every twelve years. The Kumbha
Mela is chiefly a festival at which partic-
ipants bathe in sacred rivers. The festi-
val’s primary participants are ascetics,
who come from all over South Asia to
bathe in the sacred waters. According toSinhastha Mela