Nakula's Shield

[Alfred Hiltebeitel]

Though I cannot answer your question, the observation is certainly
interesting and reminds me of my surprise in finding the demon-name
Asiloman at DM 2.42 when I was looking for an etymology for the name
(with variations Aciloman, Acalamman, AcampAlAcuran, and Rocakan) of
the "demon of the Cenci (Gingee) Fort" who makes trouble for the Tamil
goddess Draupadi. In each case it is a matter of "sword"-names, which
might suggest that these circulate with special interest.

Alf Hiltebeitel
Professor of Religion and Human Sciences
Chair, Department of Religion
2106 G Street, NW
George Washington University
Washington DC 20052

----- Original Message -----
From:  "Ernest Allan Rockwell Ernest Allan Rockwell Ernest
Allan              Rockwell Ernest Allan Rockwell Ernest Allan Rockwell
Ernest Allan              Rockwell WISC.EDU" <erockwell at WISC.EDU>
Date: Monday, March 7, 2005 8:08 am
Subject: Nakula's Shield

> In MBh 2((28)66.14 Nakula is said to take up his sword and shield
> with the
> eight moons. A seemingly identical shield is found in the
> Devī Māhātmya 9:12
> Niśumbha is found to wield an identical shield. Is there a
> connectionbetween the two sets of twins?
>
> Thank you in advance.
>
> Ernest Allan Rockwell
> Graduate Student
> University of Wisconsin
>