. The archaeological survey of Mayurabhanja. ^ between Mazdaismand the Mitra or Sun-worship. It would,however, be incorrect to infer from this thatthe latter was derived from the former. It isadmitted by oriental scholars that the Mitra-cult was prevalent in Central Asia (or Caka-Dvipa) long before Mazdaism was would, therefore, be more reasonable to supposethat Mazdaism was derived from the ]\ his translation of the Gatha portion of theZend Avesta, Mr. Mill writes :— As the Mithra-worship undoubtedly existedpreviously to the (Jatliic x>eriod and fell intoneglect
. The archaeological survey of Mayurabhanja. ^ between Mazdaismand the Mitra or Sun-worship. It would,however, be incorrect to infer from this thatthe latter was derived from the former. It isadmitted by oriental scholars that the Mitra-cult was prevalent in Central Asia (or Caka-Dvipa) long before Mazdaism was would, therefore, be more reasonable to supposethat Mazdaism was derived from the ]\ his translation of the Gatha portion of theZend Avesta, Mr. Mill writes :— As the Mithra-worship undoubtedly existedpreviously to the (Jatliic x>eriod and fell intoneglect at the Gdtliic period, it might be saidthat the greatly later inscriptions representMazda-worshiiD as it existed among the ancestorsof Zarathustrians in a i)ie-Gathic age or evenVedic age.^ Bliavisva Bmlmiap. Ch. fsliouUl never take tlie food of Ihosc wlio are known a?Bhojakas. ami wlio worsliij) the Sini. the ,irotl of gods. •Max MuUers Sacred Bovk^i of the Ea>. x.\. ;5Ut> V,t-^,.:-a // -v/;. -i.,w.,7/ I.] TFIE SAURA OR THE SOYTIIIC XV Traces of the ancieDt j\litra-cnlt are still tobe foimcl at Ayodhya, Puranagao. Kauisalii, andPomagaiidara in Nilgiri State (Mayurabbaiijaborder) and also at Adipiir and Kicbiug in thePanclipir Subdivision of Mayiirabbanja the statnes discovered in the rnins ofthese places, are figures of Mitra in two differentpostnres, one sitting and the other representinghim standing on seven horses. These are ofgreat interest and deserve special mention. The following description of the Mitra or is given in the work called Vi^vakarmaCilpa :— [His] great chariot has one wheel and isdrawn by seven horses ; He has a lotus in eachof his hands, wears an armour and has a shieldover his breast, has beautiful straight hair, issurrounded by a halo of light, has (good) hairand apparel, is decorated with gold (ornaments)and jewels, has on his right side the figure ofNiksubha and on the left that o
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectcults, bookyear1912
