1S80.] B. R. Bran^\\—I>escrq)tion of tie Great Siva Temple. 7 



I noticed stone circles at its eastern base, as well as at other stony 

 places to the west and south-west, on both banks of the Ponnijar (S. 

 Pennar or Pinakini.) 



Mr. Garstin in the S. Arcot District Manual gives Peru-miikal ('= great 

 travail), from a legend of Sitadevi having here given birth to twins. There 

 are two villages near, called Nalmukkul (or Nanmukkul) and Palamuk- 

 kiil, names having reference to the same legend. Mr. Garstin also men- 

 tions Janikipettai, and I may add Iiamanatha2)uram, all in the immediate 

 vicinity. But the old Sanniytisi or hermit sent for the stalapurana (kept by 

 an artizan in the neighbourhood) and wished to show me from it that the 

 proper name of the hill is Mukkiyachalam, and that it is therein styled 

 Madbyakasi (Middle Kasi) and is the scene of Rishi Vahniki's penance, 

 death and birrial. A ruined shrine attached to the mandap is pointed out 

 as the spot where he was interred. 



There are the remains of many fine sculj^tures here, destroyed by the 

 Muslim, and many inscriptions on the base of the temples. 



The fort was held and besieged repeatedly in the wars of the Karnatik 

 in which much damage was done by the roundshot. 



The following observation may be worthy of record. 



At Gangaikondapuram the wells are said to have a perennial supply 

 of good water near the surface, that fails not in the driest seasons ; and 

 at Chidambaram the same is said of the great tank in the temple enclosure. 

 At Tiruvadi (A S. 79), close to Panrutti, I noticed in the bed of the Gedilam 

 or Garudanadi (the " Gudclalore'^ river) a natural spring or fountain of 

 clear water, welling up with some violence in the midst of the muddy 

 river-water. It is said to be jjerennial and to be as good as Kaveri water, 

 whence it is locally called Kolladattimolai = Kolladam or "water-spring". 



In connection with these I may mention the artesian wells that have 

 recently been opened at Pondichei'ry and suggest that the perennial supply at 

 Gangaikondapuram, Chidambaram and Tiruvadi may be explained by there 

 being at those places a connection with the water-bearing stratum whi ch 

 is the source of the artesian wells, underlying the extensive laterite beds 

 of the Ciuldulore or S. Arcot district. I have heard of other places, parti- 

 cularly near Villapuram on the South Indian Railway, where the subjacent 

 springs have been tapped by the natives and the outflowing water long since 

 utilized for irrigating their fields, 



