1839.] 



Report on tlie M aclceu^ie Manv.scriptSv 



347 



that their child had fallen into the pond. They were exceedingly 

 grieved ; went to the place, and carefully sought for the bo;ly ; which 

 however was not to be found. They roamed about seeking it; being 

 beyond measure distressed at their loss. They both thought of casting 

 themselves into the fire ; so severe was their anguish. Sahralimanya 

 at length appeared to them, in the likeness of a child. They were re- 

 joiced, as he seemed to be their own child. They took him up in their 

 arms, and fondled him ; when the seeming child re-assumed his usual 

 appearance, having six heads, and twelve arms. He told them that 

 their child had been a gift of Vishnu, and had resumed its own form, as 

 the chank of that deified personification ; adding that from regard to 

 them, and with a view to alleviate their sorrow, he had appeared to con- 

 vey to them this annunciation. He further stated to them that there 

 was no difference between himself, and the said Penancil, or Fishnu. 



Section 17. The legend of Vasumantan. 



Vasumantan was a king who resided at Deva-piiram. A rishi recom- 

 mended him to do penance at this place, where many others were so 

 employed. An account of his penance is given. In a former state, or 

 birth, he was of the hrahmanical order, and a descendant of Casyapa ; 

 but in consequence of dwelling with a Sudra woman, he lost his caste, 

 and sank to the level of a ^S^^/ra. The effect of his penance was, by 

 means of the homage paid to Siibrahmanyu, to assure his regaining the 

 rank of a Braliman, in a following birth, with all connected privileges. 



Section IS. Account of the six faced river. SulraJniwnya, looking 

 from Fc/r«/^a-^//rz, saw another hill ; and was told by a Brahman that 

 six torrents ran down it, uniting to form a river at the base. As the 

 hill had six rivulets corres})onding with his six faces {Aru-muchan "the 

 six faced one" is a title of Siihrahmanya), he granted to the river below 

 this, the peculiar quality, or virtue, of washing away the guilt of every 

 crime. Inconsequence of this especial privilege having been bestow- 

 ed, the fane, which is situated on the said hill at Tiru-vavananlaidi, is 

 a superior place ; and final beatification is there of certain attainment. 

 Subralimawja is represented as taking occasion to specify six places 

 where he is worshipped, as being of especial consequence. ;^These 

 are Tiru-paran-Kunravi — Alavayi-carai — Tirn-clivndur — Tiru-vavannm' 

 hidi — Tiru-varacam and Para-muUd-choli : the latter being, as lam 

 informed, another epithet of Pyney. 



Note. — The abstract of the foregoing five sections may suffice, for the 

 present, in continuation. The remaining fivo sections would properly 



