1834.] The Island and Bridge of Sivasamudram, 86 



(where the seven 7'ishis and other devotees were passing- their time 

 in a holy manner), and assured her that be would appear to her 

 there and fulfil her wishes, by restoring her to her brightness. The 

 moon did as she was instructed, and performed her devotions, by 

 which she obtained her wish. This circumstance of the moon's 

 having obtained her full brightness, made a great impression on the 

 hearts of all those who resorted to the island, so that they said. 

 That whosoever worshipped Ks^Wara in the name of vSoMf:swA- 

 RASWAMI (or the lord of the moon) on that island, and would per- 

 form religious ceremonies, distribute alms, and perform the tarpa- 

 nams (or ceremonies to their deceased relations), and feed the Brdk- 

 mans, would undoubtedly obtain the remission of all their sins, and 

 wotld also meet with every prosperity and the enjoyment of their 

 wishes, in like manner as the moon had been restored to her bright- 

 ness. 



It is said also, that while these tapaswis and other devotees were 

 passing their time in offering their pujds in this holy place, one 

 Jambucasura, a giant, and of the sect of the great Ra van a, 

 gave great annoyance to them, and they finding it a great interrup- 

 tion to their devotions, quitted the holy place and proceeded to the 

 Goddvarij which is to the north of Dandakdraniam ; but a virtuous 

 tapaswi, one of the seven riskis, seeing this, feared that the remo- 

 val of these tapaswis, and other devotees from the island, would 

 cause the place to become desolate ; he therefore prayed earnestly to 

 Brahma that the giant might be destroyed : whereupon Brahma 

 appeared to him, and told him that Ramaswami would proceed to 

 Landcadwtpa to avenge him of his great adversary Ravan-'a, hy 

 W2Ly o( Dandakdrania7n, when he would appear to him, and his 

 wishes for the destruction of the giant named Jambucasura, would- 

 be fulfilled by Ramaswami's disguising himself in the shape of a 

 woman and killing him. The other ris/iis, when first acquainted with 

 the promise made by Brahma to the above rishi, were not quite 

 satisfied, and put little faith in the promise, but Brahma once 

 more appeared to them, and told them to fear nothing from the gi- 

 ant, for that God would not leave them, but reside on a tree there 

 till the giant their enemy was destroyed. Thereupon the rishis, 

 returning to the island, continued to perform their devotions ; and 

 while they were doing so, Ramaswami forthwith came to the island 

 and destroyed the giant, to the great astonishment of all the rishis 

 and other devotees : and after performing ceremonies to his deceased 

 father in this holy place, went away. When they saw this, they 

 glorified Brahma for the victory over the giaiit their enemy. The 



