THE HISTORY OP MANIKKA-VACAGAB, 139 



twined fans. The heavenly musicians and choristers of every degree sing 

 in sweet harmony. The leaders of his hosts, their frames dissolved in 

 ecstasy like wax in fire, their quivering bodies thrilled in every part with 

 joy, while rapture fills them as the torrent from the open sluice, plunging 

 uto the very gulf of delight, were dancing and singing before his face. 

 The ascetics, hands clasped above their heads, were reciting the 

 Upanishads which are the heads of the Yedas. Brahma, Vishnu, and 

 Indra with the other gods stood afar off, kept back by the wand of sacred 

 Nandi, and, with hands upon their mouths, humbly made known their 

 wants to him who sat upon the throne.' 



I have translated this literally from the introduction to the Periya 

 Piirdnam in order to show the mythological conception entertained by the 

 Caivas of the object of their worship. Nothing can be nobler and more 

 spiritual than the accounts found in many of their writings of Pati (the 

 Lord) ; but mingled with everything are the incongruous conceptions a 

 few of which are here shadowed forth. In such descriptions every legend 

 is introduced, eveiy form in which the god is anywhere worshipped is 

 brought in, and the result often to our minds is inexpressibly grotesque. 

 Yet for every particular an explanation is offered, mystic meanings are 

 given, and the whole is resolved into a series of allegories which are 

 supposed to teach the gracious ojserations of Civa, the Lord of all. In 

 reading these legends it is necessary to keep always in memory this 

 twofold character of the religious system of South India. Gross and 

 ridiculous representations (so they strike the foreigner) are found in 

 juxtaposition with refined, pathetic, devout, and even sublime expressions. 

 This is peculiarly the case in the lyrics of the profound enthusiast 

 Manikka Vagagar. 



NOTE XI. 



The Caiva SiddhCinta System of Philosophy and Religion in 

 South India. 



The Caiva Siddhdnta system is the most elaborate, influential, and 

 intrinsically valuable of all the religious of India. It is peculiarly the 

 South Indian and Tamil religion, and must be studied by every one 

 who hopes to understand and influence the great South Indian peoples- 

 The Vaishnava sect has also many influential followers in the Tamil 

 lands, but these are chiefly immigrants from the North. Caivism is the 

 old prehistoric religion of South India, essentially existing from pre- 

 Aryan times, and sways the hearts of the Tamil people. But this great 



