1880.] B. E. Branfill — Descrij)iion of the G-reat Sica Temple. 5 



so west of the point where the high road from Madras (via Panrutti) to 

 Kumbakdnam crosses it. 



A few years since, one Eamalingapillai collected followers and money 

 and attempted to establish a new religion. He appears to have taught 

 the ethics of Christianity without its theology. But I could not get at 

 any precise particidars. Having collected some hundreds of followers 

 (2000 was stated) and built his college, Eamalingapillai retired with some 

 ceremony into concealment in a house, now styled " Tirumaligai" in the 

 village of Mottukuppam, a few miles distant from the College. 



He is said, by his followers who now await his re-appearance at " the 

 last dav," to have never come forth from the room in which he disap- 

 peared, or to have been seen again. 



I think the true facts of the case are worth eliciting and putting on 

 record. The building is a remarkable one of brick and clmncnn in the 

 modern Eurasian composite style, and the domed part of the roof or cupola 

 appears to be covered with sheet metal. 



I also visited Chenji or Sanji-Kottai (Anglice Qingee), a remarkable 

 precipitous bluff rock, covered with and surrounded by fortifications of no 

 very ancient date apparently. It is just the kind of stronghold that was 

 likely to be seized on and held as a citadel by the successive conquering 

 armies that have overrun the Carnatik for some centui'ies past. 



The most interesting thing I observed here, beside the natural 

 fastness (a notice of which is to be found in the South Arcot Gazetteer) , 

 was a very rudely carved stone lying in front of a small shrine halfway 

 up the rock on the south side, dedicated to a local goddess called 

 Kamala-kanni-y-amman to whom human sacrifices were formerly offered. 

 Plate I shows copy of a rough pencil sketch taken hurriedly on the 

 spot. Four human heads occupy a square raised shield, with two parallel 

 bars in the centre like a pair of dumbells with small knobs, which might 

 stand for footprints. Each pair of heads is separated by a trisul- 

 like mark immediately above and below the pair of bars in the centre. 

 Above these in the centre at top is a pair of ram's (?) horns, surmounted by 

 a short transverse bar and appendage which I could not make out, and in 

 the centre below, a corresponding pair of buffalo (? Tculcjd), horns and 

 head. A bow to the right and five arrows to the left on the lower part of 

 the stone, at each side of the raised part, complete the carving. The arrows 

 are club-headed and feathered, and one of them is furnished with a hole at 

 one end, as if to hold a line. The entire stone is an oblate circle about ^\ 

 feet high and 4| feet wide, and not very thick, lying fiat on the ground. 

 Close to it is an upright figure of " Minudaiyan Virappan," with hands 

 together in the attitude of respect or supplication, and a sacrificial post 

 stood near. 



