1838.] Record of the time of Cari Cala Cholan. 383 



writers, and more than metaphors, that is symbols bordering on hie- 

 roglyphics probably suggested by the use of hieroglyphical writing. The 

 Mackenzie MSS. have in some degree educated me to a small degree 

 of acquaintance with this language ; though, on discovery of this style 

 of writing, a previous acquaintance with the symbolic language of the 

 Christian Scriptures assisted me much, Generically both are the same ; 

 specifically they vary. Until this symbolic kind of writing is more fully 

 understood, we cannot come to the real meaning and contents of a 

 multitude of early Hindu writings. 



One instance may be given in the fire- rain of which mention occurs 

 at the commencement of the manuscript. The Jainas have a doctrine 

 that a rain of fire always goes before the periodically recurring univer- 

 sal deluge, and this is only a slight alteration of the orthodox Hindu 

 statements, that before the Manupralaya, or periodical deluge, the sun 

 acquires so much increased power, that all things are scorched up and 

 destroyed ; after which copious showers, in which water descends in 

 streams like the trunks of elephants, involve the cinerated surface of 

 the earth, deep within a folding of mighty waters ; during which time 

 is the night of Brahma, or quiescence of the creative energy, and dur- 

 ing which time Narvayana, or the conservative energy, quietly floats 

 on the surface of the abyss. But though the aforesaid notion of the 

 Jainas may have suggested the idea of fire-rain, yet it seems in the 

 document under notice to be a symbol made use of to denote divine 

 judgments : whether the idea in this sense may be borrowed from a 

 well-known historical fact or otherwise let others determine. Hindu 

 writers reckon seven kinds of clouds which respectively shower down 

 gems, water, gold, flowers, earth, stones, fire, in which enumeration, 

 part at least must be metaphorical. In strong poetical hyperbole a 

 lightning-cloud might be said to rain fire. But the lightning and 

 thunderbolt form Indra's weapon. The fire-rain rather seems to be a 

 symbol of the anger of Siva, in plainer terms, an insurrection against 

 Salivahana ; and, if so, the shower of mud, may have a symbolical 

 meaning also ; and may help to the meaning of a tradition which states 

 that Uriyur the capital of the Chola kingdom was destroyed by a 

 shower of sand or mud. This last event however, the manuscript in 

 question, aided by some others in the collection, has enabled me to 

 perceive is to be understood of a popular movement, beginning at Con- 

 jeveram against a violent Chola prince, directed with effect by a hostile 

 Pundiya raja : so that Uriyur was taken by force, and the king com- 

 pelled to flee, being arrested and killed by the mud shower ; that is, 

 being overtaken and slain by pursuers from the hostile army. It may 



