12 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripfs. 



[July 



manical fatuity; but, occasionally at least, they veil real facts, by a 

 covering of enigma, or symbol. Some more siocas from other Puranas 

 are given. 



The legend of Fyacra-puram or (tioer-tovr'n) near Chitamharam. 



A Vedar, instructed by a Brahman, paid homage to *S'?i«, and was 

 beatified. <Siva tells Vishnu that this place is chief of all places of 

 pilgrimage; and mentions certain wonders, among the gods, occa- 

 sioned by baihing in ihe sacred pool. Vishnu tells certain ascetics 

 that Chitambaram\s the first of all sacred places, and charges them to 

 reside there. Various other marvels, arising from bathing at this place, 

 are narrated. There is a tale of Siva contending with Calt, in dancing; 

 and Call, being vanquished in the trial of skill, received permission to 

 drive away all other evil demons from the neighbourhood, and to 

 preside as sole guardian. A specification is given of the peculiar 

 benefits arising from bathing here, m the Ardra-nacshelra (or sixth 

 section of the lunar-orbit). 



Some stanzas selected from various Tamil poets follow 5 the object 

 being to magnify the god at Chilamharam, and the place itself, above 

 all otlier gods, or places : asserting the latter to be truly the earthly 

 Cailasa. Such stanzas in themselves are curious, and may be usefully 

 employed, time and occasion serving. 



There follows an agavel, or poem of the easier kind of versification, 

 in which is narrated an observable incident, to the following effect: 



The wheels of the car of the tutelary goddess, on a festival occasi- 

 on, sunk deep into the ground in consequence of its humidity; so that 

 the car could not be moved. In this predicament the Chola-king (name 

 not mentioned), and all his attendants, were under the necessity of fast- 

 ing, so long as the car continued immoveable. During the painful sus- 

 pense, a Brakmati-'wom-An became possessed by the spii'it of Cdli, and 

 announced aloud, that the sacrifice of a youth of sixteen years of age 

 was required; when the car would move. Such a youth was sought 

 after, and one named Vira Perwnal was found, who agreed to become 

 a sacrifice : rejecting the offer of wealth, he required that his relatives 

 who came to do homage, in the fane of the goddess, should always have 

 the privilege of doing so first, and in preference to all other persons; 

 moreover that a statue of the youth himself should be placed in a con- 

 spicuous part of the fane. These conditions being complied with, the 

 youth laid himself under one of the wheels of the car, which then 

 passed over him, and crushed him to death, as an offering to the goddess 

 of the shrine. 



