CHRISTIAN RELIGION IN INDIA. ()3 



not have presumed to insert it here. It is inter- 

 woven with the history of the first Kings of that 

 country, and of course the compilers by no means 

 entertained an idea, that it was anterior to the Chris- 

 tian Ei^a. 



As I was mentioning* this traditionary legend io 

 some learned Pandits^ tliey informed me, that the 

 same, or one at least very much like it, was to be 

 found in the Mahd-Bhdrata, the Sahyddri-c handa a 

 section of the Scanda-purdna, and in the Bkdgavata 

 also. I produced the books, and they pointed out. 

 the respective pages immediately. I read the whole, 

 and found it illustrated with circumstances of a most 

 extraordinary nature. 



In the Bkdgavata, and its commentary, this legend 

 is only alluded to. In the Mahd-Bhdrata there is a 

 short account of the transaction ; but in the Sahyddri- 

 c handa tlie legend is drawn to a very great length,* 

 and the principal features, and circumstances in these 

 legends, which in reality are but one, are the follow- 

 ing. 



There appeared, in the Dekhin, a most holy Brah- 

 men, of those called Peishe-cdras, Tacshacas, 'Sdbacas; 

 or handicraftmen, and whose name was Mand'a- 

 vyah. He proclaimed, that he came for the sole 

 purpose of relieving the distressed ; and that what- 

 ever men claimed his protection, he would readily 

 grant it to them, and even lay down his own life for 

 them. Very many of all descriptions came accord- 



Bhigavata; Section 1. p. 13. Mahd-Bh^rata ; Section 1. 



