SUR A, a tyrannical giant, slain by Subhmmanya. SURABIII, in Hindu legend, a cow obtained as one of the fourteen products from churning the OCC(111.
. . And first Out of the waters rose the sacred enw, Ood-shaped Sumblii ; eternal fountain Of milk and offerings of butter.' . . .
Amongst IIindus, at marriage, part of the cere mony consists in the donation of a mileli cow. The ceremony is attended by many appropriate ceremonies, finishing with prayers, the acceptor holding during the recital the sacred animal by the tail. The boon-granting cow Surablii, and her descendants, are much revered by all classes of Hindus. It is common for Bmhmans and others to feed a cow before they take their own breakfast, ejaculating a.s they present their food, Daughter of Surabhi, framed of five elements, suspicious, pure, holy, sprung from the sun, accept this food of me; salutation unto thee !' Or if he conduct the kine to gmss, May cows, who are mothers of the three worlds and daug,hters Surabhi, and who are beneficent, pure, and holy, accept the food given by me.' In marriage ceremonies, the hospitable rites are conducted by letting loose a cow at the intercession of the guest ; a barber, who attends for that purpose, exclaiins, The cow I the cow !' Upon which the guest pro nounces this text : Release the cow froin the fetters of Varuna. May she subdue my foe, may
she destroy the enemies of both him (the host) and me. Dismiss the cow, that she may eat the grass and drink water.' When the eow has been released, the guest thus addresses her : I have earnestly entreated this prudent person, saying, I Kill not the innocent, harmless cow, who is mother of Rudras, daughter of Vasus, sister of Adityas, is the source of ambrosia,' etc. It is evident,' says Mr. Colebrooke, that the guest's intercessions imply a practice, now become obso lete, of slaying a cow for the purpose of hospital ity.' In the Hitopadesa, p. 110, the earth is called Surabhi, rind the learned translator (Wilkins) notes the name to be not usually so applied, although the earth may well be called the cow of plenty. SURAIIIII MANU. TEL A tree growing in the Nagari Hills ; literally, full of milk. SURACIIARYA, SANSK., from Sum, the gods, and Acharya, a teacher.