321 



Ht por! on Ifw Mjc^^cnzic Mauusci tp!s. 



[AlTvlL 



S. This seoLion spec ifies the rewards consiequeiit to walkin^tj rounil ibe 

 hill, and to bathing on certain ihiys of the week. For example, to walk 

 three steps when cirv>umgyrating tli.^ hill is equal in merit to the pei forin- 

 anee of an asraMie i'ha sacritiee. To bathe on Sunday, secures the bliss ol' 

 Par< mcsvar<'r ; on Monday, secures not only equal j)ower to that of /ndra 

 over the seven worlds, but also a form like that of Siva ; on Tuesday, 

 removes poverty, sciures wealth here, and beatitude hereafter ; on Wed- 

 nesday will give the power of acquiring all magical knowledge and se- 

 cures beatification : on Thursday will give the privilege of becoming 

 guru, or spiritual preceptor, to the Triniurti or Hmiii Triad ; on Fri- 

 day will secure the bealifi -ation of Fis'niu's world ; on Saturday will se- 

 cure perfect happiness, and is equal to the merit of bathing on the night 

 of Siva, at the new-year, and in the months of Arpisi, Carticei/a and 

 Mar(/aH (or O -tobT, N )vember and De^*eniber). The contents of this 

 section were narrated by Brnl/mn to Sauica, the great sage. 



f). Brahma to Sa'^aca in continuation, declares the extreme penalties 

 incurred by those who jiresume to say any thing against the shrine of 

 Aniacliellam, involving death, seizure by Yama's messengers and severe 

 punishment in Xaracci, or the lowest hell. Brahma continues stating 

 that the thousand-rayed sun, coming rudely with his horses and chariot, 

 to the point, or peak, of the hill, was reproved by him ( Brahma) m\d 

 told to go and pay obeisance to the lord of the shrine. The sun paid 

 homage, which was accepted, and he now uniformly passes to the left 

 (north) side of the hill. 



10. The legend of Pradiiya-raja. J5rar//»ia tells <S'anaca the extreme 

 punishment incurred by those who presume to steal anything from the 

 shrine of Arnachellam, being seizure by Tama's agents, and consequences, 

 as in the last section. An example is given in the case o^. Pradatya-raja, 

 who came from the north, and coveted a part of the possessions of the fane, 

 for which his face was turned into that of a baboon, and on seeking pardon 

 for the fault, his proper countenance was restored ; by consequence no one 

 can with impunity covet the possessions of this shrine.— See a fuller ab- 

 stract of the contents of this section 2i Report Tamil MS. book No. 20. 

 section 4. 



11. This section relates to the removal of crimes. B 'ahma tells Sanaca 

 that the eight Fasw^ (or leaders of celestial hosts) becoming vain and 

 proud of the merit of their penances, and performances, boasted of the 

 same in the presence of Aya^tyar, who denounced on them loss and de- 

 gradation. To recover their former situation they were directed to go and 

 do homage at ArnacheUam. Accordingly the eight Vasu.t did homage, 

 at the eight points of the compass, and were restored. Other crimes 



