1838.] Legend of FeringJiam. 



but that since he himself and his children could not go thither to wor- 

 ship, it would be expedient by penance to bring Ski Rangha down to 

 earth, which thought he unfolded to Vasishta. The latter was rejoiced 

 and taught him the eight-lettered charm. The gods sent Man math a 

 to destroy the penance of Ikshvaku, who wounded the latter with one 

 of his arrows, but Ikshvaku was firm, and prevailed. Indra came down 

 to disturb his penance ; but Ikshvaku by meditating on Sri Rangha 

 brought down the flaming Chakra of Vishnu, at the sight of which 

 Indra fled ; and Ikshvaku ascribing the praise to Sri Rangha conti- 

 nued his penance. Sri Rangha now tells Brahma, that he will go 

 down to Ayodhya, and stay there during four yugas> and afterwards 

 remain between both banks of the Cdveri during seven Manwanteras, 

 and again return to be in time for Brahma's midday worship : and sub- 

 sequently go to earth and return again perpetually ; but that while 

 absent no evil shall happen to Brahma. In consequence Brahma put 

 the Vimdna on Garitda, and brought it down to earth, where he 

 taught Ikshvaku all the needful ceremonies to be observed in its wor- 

 ship. 



8. The Vimdna was placed in the centre of a river at Ayodhya, 

 where a temple was built for it, and all accompaniments provided. The 

 race of Ikshvaku worshipped during a mahd yuga> or great age. At 

 that time a Chola rdja named D'herma Brahma, went thither to a 

 sacrifice, and inquired of the rishis the circumstances attending the 

 transit of the Vimdna from heaven to earth. He professed a desire to 

 do penance in order to obtain the image ; but the rishis told him it 

 would be useless ; explaining to him, that they knew the town of his 

 ancestors, to which Sri Rangha was due west only a mile or two, had 

 been destroyed by Siva, because one of his progenitors had trampled on 

 the flower-garden of a muni there ; that Vishnu would soon be incarnate 

 as Rama, who would give the Vimdna, or shrine, into the hands of 

 Vibhushana (younger brother of Havana), who would place it at Sri 

 Rangha. A defiance of chronology is here involved in making the 

 destruction of Uriyur anterior to the expedition of Rama. Rama being 

 come made an Asvameuha ydgam (horse sacrifice) to which D'herma 

 Brahma went, and before the other assembled kings were dismissed 

 he asked leave to return home; Vibhushana followed, bringing the 

 shrine by permission of Rama, which he placed between both banks of 

 the Cdveri with the mention of which the 8th Adhydya concludes. 



9. D'herma Brahma detained Vibhushana from going to Lanka 

 for the space of 15 days; during which time a festival of 10 days was 

 celebrated in honour of the image. At the end of the 15 days Vibhu- 

 3 c 



