1838. J 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



1l7d 



and they were all on the alert. Siva, opening his frontlet ej^e, sent a 

 rain of fire. Sah'vahojia' s ^peo'ple took refuge in Iheir stone-houses, and 

 he himself with his array on the banks of the Caveri (here used to de- 

 signate a river in general) avoided it by plunging in the water. Siva 

 seeing this, by recourse had to the Supreme Being, and by meditating 

 on the five lettered mantra, sent down a shower of mud. Those in stone 

 houses were thereby blocked up and suflbcated; those in rivers came 

 out and escaped, and thus Salivahana, (here also termed Bhoja) with 

 his army, escaped. Siva now took counsel within himself. The first 

 reflection produced Vira-cholan (the thought of him was born in his 

 mind) : the second reflection produced Ula-cheran of the Lada country, 

 and the Nanda Gopala Yediar (or herdsmen) class or tribe ; the third 

 reflection produced Vajranga Pandyan of the fisherman's class. Siva 

 then, with regard to Vishnu, meditated the eight-lettered mantra ; and 

 through it designated these three to their respective offices ; it being 

 the special lot of the Cholan to kill Salivahana. The three kings 

 came together to take counsel, so that the three crowns became as one 

 crown, and they bathed together in the river at TirumukudaL* After 

 making a vow to destroy Salivahana, and taking means to assemble 

 money and troops, they made a pilgrimage to Casi. At that time 

 Cast was neglected, and it was merely a wilderness of banyan 

 trees. They are represented as discovering an inscription deep 

 hidden in the earth, stating this to be Casi, Szc. (Hence it is 

 not Benares, but some fictitious Casi, that is designated). They 

 subsequently came to Canchi-nagara (Conjeveram). The same pro- 

 cess as before is represented to have been repeated. Here also 

 an inscription was found. (It is to be noted that the original 

 name is Cachi : Canchi being a modern addition) they were re- 

 ferred for further information to Cachi Viva Ca77iachi-rayen, of the 

 weaver tribe. They cleared the forest ; but were opposed by 3. 

 local Diirga who threatened to sacrifice them for trespassing on her 

 domains. There follow various details needless to be minutely stated. 

 Salivahaiia is again designated simply by the name Bhoja. The 

 aforesaid Cachi Vira Camachi appears as a negociator with the local 

 Durga, and promises her one thousand and eight human sacrifices, 

 from among the people of his tribe, and the title of " War goddess 

 so that when the tribe should rule and fight with other kings, her 



* This is a place where three rivers became one, said to be not far from Conjeveram : 

 Hence the name, implying, " the sacred triple-union." Another such place is celebrat- 

 ed in a book called Mukudal pallu and is said to be near Alagar-Covil, in the neighbour- 

 hood of Madurar. 



