594:3 The Áhavaniya, Gárhapatya, Dakshińa, Sabhya, and Ávasathya, are the five fires; of which the three first have a religious, and the other two a secular character. The first is a fire prepared for oblations at an occasional sacrifice: the second is the household fire, to be perpetually maintained: the third is a sacrificial fire, in the centre of the other two, and placed to the south: the Sabhya is a fire lighted to warm a party: and the Ávasatthya the common domestic or culinary fire. Manu, III. too, 185, and Kullúka Bhat́t́a's explanation.
595:4 Kot́aví is said to be an eighth portion of Rudráńí, and the tutelary goddess of the Daityas, composed of incantations. The Hari V. calls her also Lambá, and intimates her being the mother of Báńa, and as identical with Durgá. The word in the lexicons designates a naked woman, and is thence applicable to Durgá, in some of her forms.
596:4 There can be little doubt that this legend describes a serious struggle between the Śaivas and Vaishńavas, in which the latter, according to their own report, were victorious; and the Śaivas, although they attempt to make out a sort of compromise between Rudra and Krishńa, are obliged to admit his having the worst of the conflict, and his inability to protect his votary. The Bhágavata tells the story much as the text. The Hari V. amplifies even more than usual, the narrative occupying nearly seventy pages of the French translation. The legend is to be found to the same purport, but in various degrees of detail, in the Agni P., Kúrma P., Padma P. (Uttara Khańd́a), Vámana P., and Brahma Vaivartta P. (Krishńa Janma Khańd́a).
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Hinduism
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