ORIENTAL SERIES.

BHRIGUBHUTA. 55
homage of a Brahman, Being unable to agree, they resolved to
send Bhrtgu to test the characters of the various gods, and he
accordingly went. He could not obtain access to $iva because
that deity was engaged with his wife "
; finding him, therefore,
to consist of the property of darkness, Bhngu sentenced him to
take the form of the Linga, and pronounced that he should have
no offerings presented to him, nor receive the worship of the
pious and respectable. His next visit was to Brahma, whom he
beheld surrounded by sages, and so much inflated with his own
importance as to treat Bhngu with great inattention, betraying
his being made up of foulness. The Muni therefore excluded
him from the worship of the Brahmans. Eepairing next to
Vishnu, he found the deity asleep, and, indignant at his seeming
sloth, Bhngu stamped upon his breast with his left foot and
awoke him ; instead of being offended, Vishnu gently pressed
the Brahman's foot and expressed himself honoured and made
happy by its contact ; and Bhn'gu, highly pleased by his humi-
lity, and satisfied of his being impersonated goodness, proclaimed
Vislmu as the only being to be worshipped by men or gods, in
which decision the Munis, upon Bhr/gu's report, concurred."
Wilson.
BH.&/GUS. 'Roasters, consumers.' "A class of mythical
beings who belonged to the middle or aerial class of gods."
Both. They are connected with Agni, and are spoken of as
producers and nourishers of fire, and as makers of chariots.
They are associated with the Angirasas, the Atharvans, Bibhus,
&c.
BHtJ, BHtJML The earth. See PnthivL
BHlTR See Vyahnti.
BHUKI-SRAVAS. A prince of the BaMkas and an ally of
the Kauravas, who was killed in the great battle of the Maha-
bharata.
BHUR-LOKA. See Loka,
BHtJTA A ghost, imp, goblin. Malignant spirits which
haunt cemeteries, lurk in trees, animate dead bodies, and delude
and devour human beings. According to the Vishnu Purana
they are " fierce beings and eaters of flesh," who were created by
the Creator when he was incensed. In the Vayu Purana theii
mother is said to have been Krodha, 'anger.' The Bhutas aw
attendants of Siva, and he is held to be their king.