120 Analysis of the Mackenzie Manuscripts. [Feb. 



should find at a certain place the figure of Nandi (the bullock vehicle 

 of Siva), which usually looks at the gate of a shrine, turned the other 

 way. A greatly exaggerated description is given of the battles ; which 

 resulted in favor of Adondai, who at length, with his own hand, cut 

 down Visvavasa raja. This last (in the Hindu poetical fashion) is 

 then represented as turning into a celestial form ; and addressing the 

 conquerer, he gives an account of the cause why he was banished from 

 Indra's presence, to be a king on earth, and to have his form restored 

 by the hand of a votary of Siva. After declaring the right of the 

 conqueror to rule over the land, he went to the invisible world. The 

 victorious Adondai appointed ministers to assist him, and returning to 

 Suriti-puri (the place of the former vision) he made great additions of 

 shrines and ornaments, and caused the public festivals to be conducted 

 with regularity. 



Remark. This is only another and more poetical version of an ac- 

 count otherwise mentioned in other papers of the collection. The 

 leading fact, that Adondai conquered and regulated the Tondaman- 

 dalam is unquestionably historical. The means will be found to exist 

 in the collection of bringing out the connected circumstances in full 

 detail. 



Section 2. — Account of Arcot ; derivation of the word ; first and se- 

 cond settlement ; and subsequent history. 



The Brahmdnda-purdna is adduced as an authority that Nandi (the 

 vehicle of Siva) for some fault was sentenced to become a stone on 

 earth, and accordingly became a mountain, called Nandi-durga ( Nun- 

 didroog). Vishnu interceded with Siva, on behalf of Nandi. Siva 

 ordered Ganga' in his hair, to fall on the fountain, (the river Polar 

 rises from Nundidroog) and to wash away the fault of Nandi. Gang A' 

 replied that if she descended on earth she wished Siva and Vishnu to 

 be in their shrines on the banks of the river, and that she might run 

 between both to the sea. The request was conceded, and Siva came 

 to Cdnchipuram (Conjeveram) in the shape of & brahman. An account 

 of the images of Siva ; and of the six rishis who established them. The 

 waste country wherein these six ascetics dwelt was termed Shaddranya 

 (in Tamil Aru-Cadu) " six wildernesses;*' whence came the word, popu- 

 larly written and pronounced, Arcot. 



When Kulottunga Chola, and his illegitimate son Adondai had 

 conquered the foresters of the country, they saw that this Shaddranya 

 had been the abode of sacred ascetics ; and hence they built many fanes 

 with the usual accompaniments at Cdnchipuram and other places. 



