Balinese scholars, in the present Synopsis the term mantra is mainly used as an in dication of short sequences of sounds or syllables of the type of the well-known AUM, Sa Ba Ta A I, Na Ma Si Wa Ya. The term slok a is used for Sanskrit verses in the well- known metre. As a rule they contain specu lative maxims on the nature of the gods, their places in macrocosmic and microcosmic order, etc. They are mostly followed by Old Javanese or Javanese-Balinese paraphrases or commentaries. Due to clerical errors many Sanskrit slokas in Javanese-Balinese religious literature are corrupt and difficult to under stand. Old Javanese and Javanese-Balinese scho lars were familiar with the sloka metre and, having at their disposal a considerable copia verborum Sanscritorum pertaining to reli gion, they made Sanskrit slokas themselves for use in religious texts. Apparently in the priests’ mind slokas enhanced the venera- bility. Sanskrit slokas made in Java and Bali are often recognizable by faulty grammar, or even the absence of grammatical forms. In the authors’ native languages grammatical forms of the Sanskrit type were unknown. In the present Synopsis the term hymn is used to indicate Sanskrit poems, mostly in sloka metre, in praise of individual gods and goddesses. In Sanskrit they are called stawa or stuti. In Javanese-Balinese priestly ritual they occupied an important place. Probably some Sanskrit hymns are in fact of Indian origin; Old Javanese or Javanese-Balinese imitations seem to preponderate, however (see Hooykaas, “Stava and Stuti”). The term incantation is used in the present Synopsis in a rather wide sense, namely as a collective name of various Javanese rhyth

mic prose texts, poetical songs or hymns addressed to gods, goddesses or spirits. All Javanese incantations have a religious back ground. They are in a way comparable with Islamic and Christian ritual prayers. At the same time they often are closely connected with magic, being used in magic practices. A special kind of incantation referring to local spirits etc. survived in Java for a long time even in the Islamic period. Apparently that kind of song, called kidun,, appealed to ancient indigenous religious sentiment (see 15.600). Old Javanese and Javanese-Balinese incantations and related texts have been registered under the next head. Under the present head Javanese-Balinese manuscripts mainly containing Sanskrit texts: mantras, slokas and hymns, recited in the course of rites performed by ordinated priests, have been collected (group C, see 11.000). As usual the manuscripts contain much more. Relations with magic practices are evident. The manuscripts are books of notes on all matters of divine worship which are important for Balinese priests. In many cases a connection between notes succeeding each other in a compendium seems to be lacking. Intimate acquaintance with the priestly ritual is needed for acquiring a thorough understanding of this group of Javanese-Balinese religious texts. In the General Index manuscripts con taining relevant texts are registered under the catchwords mantra, sloka, stawa and stuti. 11.810 Javanese-Balinese notes on divine worship with references to' Sanskrit mantras and slokas: cod. 3189, 3603 (= 4711 = 10.576 = BCB prtf 66), 3744 (Astaka Mantra),