Encyclopedia for Epics of Ancient India

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Valakhilyas

VALAKHILYAS. [Source: Dowson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology]

"Pigmy sages no bigger than a join of the thumb, chaste, pious, resplendent as the rays of the sun." So described by the Vishnu Purana, which says that they were brought forth by Samnati (humility), wife of Kratu, and were 60,000 in number. They are able to fly swifter than birds.

The Rig-Veda says that they sprang from the hairs of Prajapati (Brahma).

They are the guards of the chariot of the sun.

They are also called Kharwas.


Modern Languages MLLL-4993. Indian Epics. Laura Gibbs, Ph.D. The textual material made available at this website is licensed under a Creative Commons License. You must give the original author credit. You may not use this work for commercial purposes. If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under a license identical to this one. No claims are made regarding the status of images used at this website; if you own the copyright privileges to any of these images and believe your copyright privileges have been violated, please contact the webmaster. Page last updated: October 16, 2007 12:22 PM