Krishna Kanta's Will (Chatterjee, Knight)/Glossary

GLOSSARY OF INDIAN TERMS.

Amin. A native land surveyor and assessor of rents.

Amla. The native officials of a court, or office.

Asoka. The Jonesia asoka; a tree bearing beautiful flowers, held sacred to the god Siva. It is considered especially meritorious to bathe in a stream with asoka blossoms floating on the water.

Avatâr. The incarnation of a deity on earth.

Bâblâ. The Acacia Arabica, of hard wood and thorny used in making agricultural implements.

Bairâgi. A religious mendicant.

Champak. The Michelia champaca; a tree bearing large brilliant yellow flowers, very strongly fragrant. It is personified as one of the five flowery darts of Kama, the god of love.

Châtak. The Cuculus melanoleucus; a small bird which, according to a popular legend, exists entirely on rain-drops.

Chokidâr. A village watchman.

Dârogâ. A manager or overseer of any public department or office.

Darwân. A gate or door-keeper.

Dayal. The Indian robin.

Dikpâl. In Hindu mythology, the guardian of one of the eight points of the universe.

Dîwân. Manager of a zemindar's estate.

Durgâ. A form of the goddess Pârvati, consort of Siva, represented as terrible in form, and irrascible in temper.

Gânja. The leaves and flower-head of the hemp plant, used for smoking as a narcotic.

Ghât. A bathing place on the bank of a river, or tank.

Ghee. Clarified butter; used for cooking purposes; also for an offering to the gods, and in the preparation of sweetmeats.

Gomashtâ. An agent, steward, or factor.

Grihastha. A Brahman who performs the duties of the head of a family.

Grihinî. The mistress of a Hindu household.

Guru. A Brahman who gives religious instruction, a schoolmaster.

Hari. A name or incarnation of Krishna—a name of invocation.

Huka. The Indian tobacco pipe.

Indra. The god of the firmament.

Kabiraj. A native physician.

Kachari. A court whether of a judicial officer or of a zemindar.

Kalsi. A water-jar, either of earthenware or brass, usually carried by women on the hip, and sometimes also on the head, causing that erect and graceful carriage characteristic of Hindu women.

Kârkun. A clerk, a vernacular copyist.

Karta. The head of a Hindu family.

Khânsamâ. The house steward or butler.

Khayer. The resinous gum of the Mimosa Catechu.

Kokil. The Indian cuckoo. Its notes are associated with all the joys and sorrows of a Bengali villager.

Kothi. A factory, warehouse, or large brick building.

Kuber, or Kuvera. The god of riches—the Hindu Plutus.

Lakh. One hundred thousand.

Lâthiyâl. A man armed with a lâthi or stick, employed by zemindars, planters, and others to enforce their orders.

Mahâdeva. A name of the god Siva, usually represented as riding on a bull.

Mahâshay. A gentleman; a form of respectful address.

Muharrir. A writer; a clerk who writes English.

Naib. A deputy or assistant.

Naik. An overseer.

Nâmâbali. A garment worn by Brahmans, bearing the names of Hindu deities.

Pâpiyâ. A bird of the cuckoo species, with shrill crescendo notes.

Pandit. One learned in the Sanscrit language and literature, or in Hindu law.

Peon, or, Piyâda. An office servant or messenger.

Pirân. A long coat usually worn by educated natives.

Rangan. The Ixora bandhuca, an ornamental flowering shrub, used for dyeing.

Rattika. A creeping shrub, the pods containing beautiful scarlet seeds, with a black spot, which are strung together for necklaces.

Râyat, or, Ryot. A peasant or cultivator.

Sannyâsi. A Brahman who has renounced all worldly ties—an ascetic.

Sâri. The cloth worn by Hindu women, wrapped round the body, the loose end thrown over the head.

Shâstra. The sacred books of the Hindus.

Sitâr. The Indian guitar.

Tahsildâr. A rent collector.

Thâkur. An idol of deity, used as an honorific form of address.

Tulsi. A plant held sacred to Vishnu, found in each temple, shrine, or holy spot. Every devout Hindu also has a plant growing in the courtyard, to which he daily offers worship. The plant has also notable medicinal properties.

Vakil. A native pleader or attorney.

Zemindar. A landowner who pays revenue directly to the Government.

UNWIN BROTHERS, THE GRESHAM PRESS, CHILWORTH AND LONDON.

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