1339.] 



Report on the Macl'enzie Manuscripts^ 



323 



it, he will approach the feet of Paramesvarer (or obtain beatification) 

 after death. To the east of the before mentioned Fama-pool is the pool 

 of Agastya. Those who bathe in it will acquire Sarasvati and Lacshmi 

 (intellectual skill and outward abundance). There is also the pool of 

 Vasishfa. If any one bathe therein in month (September-Octo- 



ber) he will acquire all the learning of the age. There are besides, says 

 the Purana, many other t/rt'has, the merits of which cannot be told. 

 To the north of the hill is a river, Nri nadi, the effect of bathing in 

 which is to cause Lacshmi to dwell with Vishnu (or to produce order 

 and plenty). Other rivers are mentioned, which remove crimes. Be- 

 sides there is the Puni/a-river (vulgo Ponniar). A certain king bathed 

 in it, and changed an effeminate to a masculine form. The Cheyar 

 derives its name from a weapon of Si(brahnum ,a, the vel, which he 

 dropped into it, and recalled. There is within the fane of Trinomaliy 

 the pool of Siva. If any one daily think on it, all kinds of crime will 

 be removed. To the east of it is the Chacra reservoir. During the 

 Varaha-avatoram Maha Vishnu bathed therein, and by doing so acquir- 

 ed all the glory connected with the high office of Vishnu. All who 

 bathe in it will obtain health. Finally there is the pool of Brahma. By 

 bathing therein, all the evils that float in the sea of this life will be re- 

 moved, and eternal h<ippiness acquired. If any one on its bank give a 

 bit of gold, however small, he will acquire possession of all that is en- 

 closed within the seven seas surrounding the world. If a cow be so 

 given, the merit of the gift is beyond the power of words to describe. If 

 any one so give a white cow, such a one will ascend to Cailasa, on a 

 white (or silver) vehicle, and be praised by all the residents there. If 

 any one give a marriage dower on its bank, such a one will visit the 

 Sati/a-loca (world Brahma) ; and afterwards permanently obtain to 

 the paradise oiSioa. If any one give a donation of land, the reward is 

 too great to be described. If any persons cause a pond, or well, to be 

 dug at Arndchellam, they will acquire the prosperity of Indra. Further, 

 on the place of sacrifice there being a little dust, a crow flying by swept 

 off the said dust by the concussion of air from its wings, and Siva, in 

 return for the unintentional service, gave the crow beatification. Besides 

 a large kind of rat (bandicoot), from delving in the ground, cast up a 

 ]Qy\e]..(manicyam)heioxe the shrine; and the god, saydng it had sup- 

 plied him with a light, gave a gracious reward. A spider spinning a web 

 in the shrine, the god was rejoiced in being supplied with a garment, 

 and caused the spider in the first place to be born a king, and afterwards 

 to be beatified. Such, says Suta to the rlshis, is the glory of the fane of 

 Arnachellum. 



