ñ— For Kellen
Tenth consonant of the Sanskrit alphabet,pronounced like the ny in banyan.
Monier-Williams’s 1891 Sanskrit-English dictionarylists the following words beginning with ñ,(none found in existing works—only in lexicographer’s lists):
A singer, a heretic, a jingling sound, an ox, the planet śukra (Venus).
On his way to Kāśi, holy city, astride a white ox, horns painted blueand jingling with bells,the heretic sings of the planet śukra.
Call me Śiva, Call me Hijra,Call me Lucifer, Circe, Crow,Call me Ishmael, Hecate, Kālī,Call me Coyote, Loki, Toad.I am the returnof all you’ve cast off.I carry the jewel you covet most.Will you open the gates of the city for me?Look up!Śukra, the morning star, lights my zigzag way.
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