I've done some research on the pearl, but not its mythology. There are "pearls" of a sort (one can view these using the Google function) found in the craniums of elephants and thus the big beast is connected with them. As for pearls and "nāgas", I don't know about this, but there is a sort of gem that gets formed in a cobra's head (solidified venom residues?) This also is a gem on the market for centuries in India, I recall. It's the reason why in Tamil literature anyway cobras are said to bring out their "gems" at night to help light their path. As I recall, these look more like rubies...not pearls.
Jim Ryan
Asian Philosophies and Cultures
California Institute of Integral Studies
1453 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
On 04/25/2024 5:56 AM PDT Reich, James David via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> wrote:
Dear Paola,
There are various types of pearls described in these texts, some of them seemingly mythical or hypothetical—oyster pearls are only one type. The myths about oyster pearls usually have something to do with rainwater dropping into oysters but no lightning, as far as I'm aware. I do vaguely recall one text describing how to obtain pearls from nāgas, or check if a pearl is truly from a nāga, and as I recall that process does have something to do with lightning. But I don't think lightning is present in the formation of the pearl. Perhaps Eliade confused these stories?
Best,
James Reich
From: INDOLOGY <indology-bounces@list.indology.info> on behalf of Paolo E. Rosati via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info>
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2024 5:45 AM
To: Indology <indology@list.indology.info>
Subject: [INDOLOGY] mythologies of the pearl
Dear all,
while I was reading Eliade's Images and Symbols, my attention was struck by his vague reference to an "oriental mythology", which affirms that the pearl was born from the penetration of a lightning inside a shell/oyster.
I think he got this information from Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft (entry: "Margaritai"), but I am not sure at all.
Can someone indicate a more specific reference to this myth? or to other myths related to the pearl?
With my best wishes,
Paolo
--
Paolo E. Rosati
PhD in Asian and African Studies
Mobile/Whatsapp: (+39) 338 73 83 472
Skype: paoloe.rosati
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