1838.]] Images of Ekambesvara. 513 



and to blot out the fault so committed, Parvati came down to do pe- 

 nance under a mango-tree, at that place. Siva sent various rivers, the 

 origin of which are mythologically stated. 



Visvacarma built a temple ; and after many intermediate matters 

 (which however are not stated) in the time of Crishna rayer, even as 

 he had rebuilt many other temples so he rebuilt the fane of JEcambar- 

 isvara. There are other mythological or pauranic statements of the 

 foundations of other places, based on fables concerning Brahma, Vishnu 

 and Siva. At a later period there is mention of four towns around, to 

 which roads led from Conjevevam ; that is first, Mahabalipuram ; second, 

 Devalapuram to the south ; third, Virinchipuram, and fourth, Narra- 

 yanapuram, (first, Vaishnava ; second, tiaiva ; third, Saiva ; fourth, 

 Vaishnava.) 



Vishnu born as N are da introduced the Bauddha system, to expiate 

 which fault, he was required to do penance at Conjeveram. The Juinas 

 spread through the country, and had a settlement near Conjeveram, 

 Sancaracharya came thither, and overcoming the Jainas in disputa- 

 tion re-established the Hindu religion, according to his own tenets. 

 There is still however a small town near, called Canchi of the Jainas, 

 Another existing evidence of the ancient prevalence of the Jaina system 

 at this place is, that in the walls and edifices, built by Crishna rayer, 

 images of the Jaina system are wrought in with the other workmanship. 



Brahma performed a great sacrifice at one of the sacred hills at Con- 

 jeveram, in the fire of which Vishnu, as Varada raja, was born ; (being 

 the form of Vishnu worshipped in the Vaishnava fane at Conjeveram.) 

 The elephant of Vishnu gathering lotus-flowers from the tank, had its 

 legs bitten off by an alligator; and Vishnu slew the alligator with his 

 chacra : (an event commemorated in processions by carrying round the 

 image of an elephant without legs.) Notice of the different vahanas 

 r vehicles, used for the processions of the image of Vishnu, at the 

 great annual festival in the month of May. 



Notice of the images within the Saiva fane of Ekambesvara. 

 The origin of the place is lost in the remoteness of very ancient time. 

 The image of Camacshi was originally of clay. Three towers and the 

 inner shrine were constructed by Triyambaca Rayalu. In one shrine 

 there is an emblem of Siva at which Rama (Chandra) performed 

 homage, in order to expiate the sin of killing the racshasas of the coun- 

 try. There is also an image of Perumal (Vishnu) to commemorate 

 the cure of Siva, (after swallowing poison with the amrita in the Cur- 

 ma avatara.) Brief mention of other images connected with similar 

 legends. A repetition of the fable connected with the mango -tree, men- 



