\ 872 Analysis of the Mackenzie Manuscripts. [May, 



enter into the Samana religion, of which he was a devotee. If they 

 entered the way of Sarvesvarer, he protected them ; but punished them 

 if they refused. Through his wickedness there was no rain, a great 

 famine, much distress, and one house distant ten miles from any other 

 house : the country little better than a waste benighted wilderness. The 

 ascetics retiring to wildernesses, in secret made murmuring complaints 

 to Siva, and Vishnu, Siva to avenge the desolation, solicited from 

 the Athi-Pardbaram (Supreme Being) a fire rain. Athi-sesh an before- 

 hand apprized Salivahana of its approach in a dream. Salivahana 

 announced to all the followers of Sarvesvarer, the coming fire rain, and 

 recommended them to build stone houses, or to remain (on the day 

 fixed) in rivers, by both of which means they would be preserved unin- 

 jured by the fire rain. They followed his advice, some quarrying stones 

 and building houses, others watching on the banks of the largest rivers ; 

 and they were all on the alert. Siva opening his frontlet eye, sent a rain 

 of fire. Salivahana's people took refuge in their stone houses, and 

 he himself with his army on the banks of the Caveri (here used to de- 

 signate a river in general), avoided it by plunging in the water. Siva 

 seeing this, by recourse had to the Supreme Being, and by meditating on 

 the five lettered mantra, sent down a shower of mud. Those in stone 

 houses were thereby blocked up and suffocated ; those in rivers came 

 out and escaped, and thus Salivahana (here also termed Bhoja), with 

 his army escaped. Siva now took counsel within himself. The first 

 reflection produced Vira Cholan, (the thought of him was born in his 

 mind :) the second reflection produced Ufa Cher an of the Ldda coun- 

 try, and Nanda Gopala Yediar (or herdsmen class or tribe) : the third 

 reflection produced Vajranga Pandiyan of the fisherman's class. Siva 

 then, with a regard to Vishnu, meditated the eight-lettered mantra; 

 and through it designated these three to their respective offices, it being 

 the special lot of the Cholan to kill Salivahana. The three kings 

 came together to take counsel so that the three crowns became as one 

 crown, and they bathed together in the river at Tirumukudal* . After 

 making a vow to destroy Sa'livahana, and taking means to assemble 

 money and troops, they made a pilgrimage to Kasi. At that time Kasi 

 was neglected, and it was merely a wilderness of banyan trees. They 

 are represented- as discovering an inscription deep hidden in the earth, 

 stating this to be Kasi, &c. (Hence it is not Benares, but some ficti- 



* This is a place where three rivers became one, said to be not far from Con- 

 jeveram. Hence the name, implying, " the sacred triple union." Another such 

 place is celebrated in a book called Mukudal pallu and is said to be near Alagar 

 kavil, in the neighbourhood of Madura. 



