Disguised as a beggar, he repaired to the hut of the swineherd Eumans. where he met and re vealed himself to Telemachus. The next day he was brought by Eunneus to the palace, where he was reeognized by his old dog, Argus. Here he was harshly treated by the suitors of his wife, who were living riotously on his estate. After an interview with Penelope. to whom he foretold her husband's return, he was recognized by his old nurse, Eurycleia, whom he hound to silence. When the suitors all failed to string the great how, he took it, easily strung it, and shot the arrow through a row of twelve axes, thus ac complishing the test Penelope had proposed for the suitors. Then, aided by Telemachus, Euma us, and the neatherd Philoetins. lie slew all the insolent suitors. The last book of the Odyssey records his recognition by his father. Laertes, and a final reconciliation with the friends of the suitors, brought about by Athena's aid. The Homeric poems have a tradition of further wan derings to appease Poseidon. by introducing his worship among a people who knew not the sea, and finally a happy old age and painless death. Allusions show that to Ulysses was also given a prominent place in other episodes of the Trojan War, such as the battle over the body of Achilles, the invention of the device of the wooden horse, and the final sack of Troy. The other epics en larged these episodes and added others, in which Ulysses frequently played but a mean spirited part. This degradation of his character con tinned in many of the plays of the Attic tragedy, and was further developed in later writers, especially the comedians. His death in these narratives was usually attributed to his son by Circe. Telegonus. who had been sent by his mother in search of his father. Landing in Ithaca. he was met in arms by Ulysses, and slew him with a spear tipped with the sting of a ray, thus fulfilling the prophecy that death should conic to him from the sea.
In Hindu mythology, one of the principal names of the consort of the god Siva (q.v.), also called Durga, Devi, Kali, Parvati, Rhavani, and, less frequently, Katyayani, Am bike, and Haimavati. The myths relating to this
goddess, who is worshiped in various parts of India, but espeeially in Bengal, are recounted in the great epic poems and Puranas (q.v.). and in poetical works, hut the text-hook of her wor shipers is the Derimahatmyrs. or the majesty of Devi. and a portion of the Markaytloya Puraya. In the kanuiyaya (q.v.) she is the daughter of the nymph Mena and of Mount Himalaya•, whence her names Parvati, Haimavati. Adrija, Dirija, and similar ones, meaning 'the mount ainous' o• 'the monntain-born.' According to the Puranas, in a former life she was Sati, the daughter of Daksha (q.v.). but it was only as Uma that she bore to Siva Ganesa (q.v.). the god of wisdom, and Kartikeya (q.v.), the god of war. According to the Harinnufa (q.v.), in another life she was horn as the daughter of Yasoda, and exchanged for Vishnu (q.v.), when, in his in carnation as Krishna, he was born as a son of Devaki. On that occasion she was killed by Kansa, and became a divine virgin. to whom the gods addressed their praises, whence she was (illed Kanya, or Kumari, the virgin. The principal myths concerning her were her destruction of the demons Madhu, Kaitabha, and Mahisha, or Mabishasura, her defeat of the army of Chanda and Munda, two demon ser vants of Sumbha and Ngumbha, and her (lest rue: tion of the demons Raktavija, Sumbha, and Ngunthha. In commemoration of her victory orer Mahishasura, a festival called the Durga puja, or Durgotsava, is annually celebrated in Bengal. Three weeks later another festival, the Kalipuja, is held in honor of her destruction of Chanda and Munda. In her aspect of Ulna, Parvati, and Devi, this deity is essentially be nignant. As Kali or h a, however, se is malignant. She dwells with Siva on Mount Kai lasa, a peak of the Himalayas. Consult: Moor. Ilimbu Pantheon (London, 1810) : Muir, Original Sanskrit Texts, vol. iv. (2d ed., ih., 1873) ; Wil kins. 11 i .11 ythology ( 1900) See Pierrati in the Plate of HINDI: DEITIES with INDIA.