1838.] Feudatory chiefs at Ramnad. 515 



ness over the world, and troubled both gods and men. As a punish- 

 ment for this li legerete" Parvati was sentenced to become Cali, 

 and then to go down to earth to do penance, which took place at Con- 

 jeveram. After acquiring merit by that penance, in which her form 

 included several rivers, Siva asked what gift she required, and the 

 reply was, that he would come and marry her at that place. To this 

 request he consented ; and, when he came, he was accompanied by 

 Brahma and Vishnu ; the former of whom performed a great sacrifice. 

 Sarasvati and Lacshmi were born from the eye of Parvati ; and the 

 marriage between Brahma and Vishnu and their consorts was celebrat- 

 ed at the same time, as the marriage of Siva and Parvati. The place 

 hence acquired great celebrity. The rishis, who were present at the 

 ceremony, each one established an emblem of Siva bearing his own 

 name ; and on the eight points of the compass, there are eight Durgas, 

 as guardians. There is also specially a fane of Bhairava, a ferocious 

 form of Siva. 



Remark. — Any information connected with Conjeveram acquires 

 importance from the celebrity of the place, and its great influence as a 

 metropolis of idolatry. The legend of Parvati shading the eyes of 

 Siva is pauranical ; but I think it deserves special notice, though per- 

 haps not in this place. If I understand the import aright it designates 

 something differing from any eclipse : but I would wish to examine the 

 subject in connexion with other records before offering any opinion. 

 The circumstances concerning the Jainas tend to elucidate some parts 

 of the Chola pat ;yam, and it would seem as if Sancaracharya were 

 the Saiva teacher therein referred to. The antiquity of the structures 

 at Conjeveram cannot be great, since they are posterior to the time of 

 Sancaracharya ; but that the place had some little note under early 

 Chola kings, before the ascendancy of the Jainas, seems conjecturally 

 probable*. 



This paper has been restored from small writing, and pale ink, to a 

 more permanent form. 



Section 5. — Account of the Setupatis or feudatory chiefs at Ramnad. 

 This section was before restored in Vol. I., for reasons stated in the 

 accompanying abstract then given. See 1st Report. Art. B. 



* The king of Kdnchipura is mentioned jn the Samudragupta inscription 

 at Allahabad as Kanchiyaka Vishmi, — that being the title of the race then ruling 

 there— J. P. 



