Guest guest Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 I don't think Satish was doubting whether turnips were the original jack-o-lanterns. He was doubting that jack-o-lanterns carried by trick-or-treaters were inspired by legends of Lord Shiva carrying Brahma's skull (<kapala> in Sanskrit) as a begging bowl. I can't prove it by quoting a scripture; it's just very evocative. -- Len/ Kalipadma On Sun, 02 May 2004 23:16:58 -0000 "msbauju" <msbauju writes: > > > > [Len wrote:] > > > As Shiva Bhairava (the Horrible) > > > wanders with Brahma's fifth head in his hand, > > > so Samhain revelers carry a > > > Jack-O-Lantern head, carved from > > > a pumpkin (originally, from a > > > turnip -- pumpkins are New World vegetables). > > > [....] > > > > [satish remarked:] > > Looks farfetched. One can imagine anything and connect anything > if > > one wants to. kapala=carved pumpkin or turnip? > > I've heard the carved-turnip thing too, but can't think of where. > Joseph Campbell, I think. > ______________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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