13. Hindoos believe that holy men, by means of great austerities, can
attain power to compel the gods to do their bidding.
14. For some account of the modern agitation against cow-killing. See
note _ante_, Chapter 26, note 6.
15. On the sacredness of the Nerbudda see note _ante_, Chapter 1,
note 13.
16. The Holi festival marks approximately the time of the vernal
equinox, ten days before the full moon of the Hindoo month Phalgun.
The day of the bonfire does not always fall on the 16th of March. It
is not considered lucky to begin harvest till the Holi has been
burnt. Mr. Crooke holds that 'on the whole, there seems to be some
reason to believe that the intention to promote the fertility of men,
animals, and crops, supplies the basis of the rites' ('The Holi, a
Vernal Festival of the Hindus', _Folklore_, vol. xxv (1914), p. 83).
I agree.
17. The pipal-tree (_Ficus religiosa_, Linn.; _Urostigma religiosum_,
Gasp.) is sacred to Vishnu, and universally venerated throughout
India.
18. About four hundred thousand persons.
19. Two pice x 400,000 = 800,000 pice, = 200,000 annas, = 12,500
rupees.
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