$76 Analysis of the Mackenzie Manuscripts. [May, 



Sa'li vahana, in Trichinopoly, he recited the preparations made with 

 the express intention of destroying the power of that ruler, demanding 

 in consequence that he should give up Trichinopoly, renounce the 

 Samana way, bathe his head in the Caveri (become a Hindu), retire to 

 his own proper town of Bhoja rayapur, and there maintain only half 

 his present army. Salivahana, much incensed, with abusive epithets, 

 rejected the demand; but added a challenge if they thought themselves 

 strong. Cachl Viran returned to Qudattuviyur, and his opinion 

 being asked he advised a second embassy before making war ; Cachi 

 Viran was again sent. An appointed time and place of combat were 

 now fixed, Salivahana engaging to come with his force to the place. 

 This place was Tiruvuni kaval, whither the three kings, Cachi Viran, 

 his son, and an army repaired as appointed. There Vira Cholan 

 was crowned and invested with royal insignia by Cachi Viran ; thence 

 they proceeded to besiege Trichinopoly. Cachi Viran, by means of 

 the copper inscription at Conjeveram before mentioned knew that by 

 the craft of Visbushana (younger brother of RaVana) there was a 

 subterraneous entry into the fort of Trichinopoly. This was passed 

 by a few people with torches, who thence proceeded to open the Chin- 

 tamani gate, by which the troops entered in multitudes and destroyed 

 Salivahana together with his Samana troops, with great effusion of 

 blood. A pariar named Vellan escaped on Salivah ana's horse, and 

 with him a hundred others with their families, escaped, and went to the 

 sea shore, whence he proceeded to some island, so as to leave behind 

 the proverbial saying " Va llan went to the river :" the destruction of 

 Salivahana is dated in C. Y. 1443 (in writing at full)*. The three 

 kings celebrated their conquest. Vira Cholan had to get rid of the 

 crime of killing Salivahana styled Sarpa-dosha-Brahm-hatti (that is, 

 a degree of sacredness adhering to Salivahana as born under the in- 

 fluence of Athi-seshan, assimilating the crime to the evil of brdhman- 

 slaughter, though not the same). In consequence of this crime he be- 

 came infatuated, and fell sword in hand on his own troops, who on all 



* The authority for this date deserves examination, as if well founded it re- 

 conciles all the difficulties of the Kali yvga epoch, which it places in 1443-78= 

 1365 before Christ. Now by calculation of the pkce of the equinoctial colures, 

 Davis fixes Para'sara the contemporary of Yudhisthira at the commencement 

 of the Kali yuga, in 1391 B. C. And calculating backwards the Pauranic reigns 

 from Chandragupta to Yudhisthira, Wilford places the latter in 1360, — 

 Wilson in 1430 B. C. The confirmation of Sa'liva'hana's being a sramanaoi' 

 buddhist is important : his name seems derived from some allusion to the sacred 

 >iidl trees under which Sa'kya died : — is it possible that the surname of Bhoja 

 wrongfully applied to him, may be a corruption of Bauddha, the buddhist? — Ei>. 



