Edgerton, Franklin

(1885–1963)

Orientalist, teacher of Sanskrit at Yale

University, translator of the Bhagavad-

gïtä.

Eidlitz, Walter (1892–1976)

Austrian diplomat who, while posted in

India, developed a deep interest in

GAU¥ÏYAVAIÆŒAVISM. Author of Bhakta

• eine indische Odysee (1951), Die
  indische Gottesliebe (1955), Der
  Glaube und die heiligen Schriften der
  Inder(1957), and Kø•æa–Caitanya: Sein
  Leben und Seine Lehre (1968), an
  authoritative work with many transla-
  tions from Sanskrit and Bengali sources.

ekadaæõi (‘one-staffed’)

Appellation of certain orders of

SAMNYÄSIS, who carry a single staff (in

contrast to the tri-daæõi, who carry

three staffs bundled together.

ekägratä (‘one-pointedness’)

The aim of PATAÑJALIYOGA.

Eka-näflha (1533-1598 CE)

Famous Mahratta poet-saint, author of

a commentary on Book XI of the

Bhägavata Puräæa, Bhavärtha Ramäyaæa,

and numerousabhaögas (hymns), as

well as the editor of JÑÄNEŸVARA’s

Jñäneÿvari.

Eka-ÿøæga (1) (‘one-horned’)

One of the early AVATÄRASof Vi•æu

(often depicted as a fish with a protrud-

ing horn) who saved MANU(2) during

the Great Flood.

Eka-ÿøæga (2)

Name of a recluse who had grown up

without having seen women, and let

himself be seduced by courtesans in the

context of a ritual designed to end a

long-lasting drought.

ekoddi•fla

A special ŸRADDHA, performed at each

new moon, designed to secure the

admission of the deceased into the com-

pany of the forefathers, transforming

him from a PRETA(ghost) into a PITØ

(ancestor).

elephant

Elephants, both mythical and real, play

a great role in Indian religious lore,

from AIRÄVATA, Indra’s mount and the

other DIG-GAJAS, to the king of the

Elephants, saved by Vi•æu from the

clutches of a crocodile (Gajendra-

mok•ana), a scene often described in lit-

erature and portrayed in art. Elephants

were a royal prerogative, and every temple

had to keep at least one elephant for

ceremonial purposes. Elephants were

also extensively used in warfare. They

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