India

(see Mr V, Smith, Journal Royal Asiatie Society, January 1889). Chandra-Gupta (315-291 B.C.) may have been of this family. The coins, and the texts such as that of the Allah a bad Lat, or pillar, show the first Gupta Maharaja to have reigned about 300 to 315 A.c.; and Skanda-Gupta from 452 to 480 a.c, A seal from Ghazipir brings Gupta rule down to 550 A.c., extending from the E, border of Napal to the Gulf of 'Katch. The kingdom was broken up by invasions of Hiinas, or Hunns, who overcame Buddha-Gupta son of Skanda-Gupta, about 500 a.c. The eastern kingdom was held by Krishna-Gupta, and ten descendants, from 500 to 720 a.c, The Gupta capital was Patalaputra (Patna), and afterwards, till 500 A.c., Kandj. _ Guru. Sanskrit: “venerable one,” applied however not only to teachers (as among Sikhs) but also to a Pandar am or religious mend i- ‘cant. They rank in nearly all Hindu sects much like medieval abbots, their decisions on religious, social, and even political questions being final. But the Giru is not a priest, and worships in temples ‘like others. He makes progre es in almost regal state, throughout the ‘region where his disciples live, to confirm faith, to initiate, and to decide causes, or points of doctrine, A Saiva Giiru distributes sacred ashes. These Maharajas, as they are called, claim the same privileges as Gosains in regard to women, We have seen young wives going to the palace of the Maharaja of Kangwali in Raj put in a, and the motives attributed to them were piety, the desire to receive a sacred son, and probably old tribal rights, The Girus live in Maths or monasteries ‘as celibates, and are rarely seen except seated on the Sim has in a or “lion throne”; or on a gorgeously caparisoned elephant, surrounded '—in native states—by cavalry, infantry, musicians, and dancing girls, ‘A herald proclaims the approach of the demigod, before whom all ‘fall prostrate. The Guru is often really worshiped, and decked with the same garlands and ornaments as the temple idol.; We have, however, known learned Guirus—pious men who adopted the Siddhanta creed of Saivites, accomplishing severe ascetik “exercises with perfect sincerity. Some become, in the eyes of their disciples, Jivan-muktas, “still in the flesh,” but already in mystical ‘Union with God. Such Gurus require no further transmigrations before the soul enters bli . Dr G. U. 202