246 



Report on the Macke72zie Manuscripts. 



[Oct. 



consequence named Bvjangaraya, riding that way, permitted bis horse to 

 protrude its feet into the precincts of the fane ; at which the Cdli being 

 displeased, killed its rider. His elder brother N'^jangardijen sacrificed a 

 thousand elephants, and a thousand sheep, before the shrine, in conse- 

 quence of which the said Amman restored his brother again to life. A 

 merchant failing to pay a vow, which he had made, the Cali killed him 

 with a club. In consequence, having established a terrific reputation, the 

 shrine has had a plenitude of gifts and offerings rendered to it, with 

 donations of land and the like, from inhabitants of the Madura kingdom. 



Remark. — This document is of value in elucidating local manners, and 

 powerful superstitions. It is damaged by the breaking of three leaves at 

 the ends ; but is otherwise complete, and in good order. 



It is entered in Des. Cat. vol. 1, p. 179. art. XLIV. but erroneously as 

 to the name Vally amma, and as to the locality of Chillambram. 



28. Cdnchi pur am St'liala purdna, or the local legend of the Saiva-iime. 

 at Conjeveram, No. 16. — Countermark (wanting). 



This is a very large manuscript of 401 palm-leaves, of which seven are 

 wanting, from 108 to 116. The writing is comparatively recent; and the 

 leaves only slightly injured. It is in verse; and I understand was compos- 

 ed not a great many years since. It offers a singular compound oi pauram- 

 cab legends, made to apply to various localities about Conjeveram. To 

 abstract the whole of so large a work, would perhaps be attended with 

 no adequate advantage. The following is offered as a specimen. 



After the customary invocations, the eulogy of the Tonda-ndda is 

 begun. This is introduced by the poetical description of a mass of clouds, 

 raised from the sea, appearing like the body of Vishnu, between which 

 clouds personified, and Vadu Agni, or great heat personified, a dispute 

 arises ; the clouds threaten to make use of the rainbow in combat, and 

 they teach a mantra to the vajrajiga, or lightning. A profusion of rain 

 falls from a body of clouds, like the assemblage of the four clouds, which 

 once (according to the Tiruviliyadal) rained on Madura. The hills were 

 Tefreshed, and honey streamed down from them ; the channel of the Palar 

 river was filled; and a great number of other rivers or streams; which like 

 good and evil, in their results centering in one deity, mingled at length 

 altogether in the sea. The course of the Palar, especially, gives occasion 

 to some hyperbolically poetical description of the country through which 

 it flows. With these subjects, inclusive of the descriptive matters, one 

 hundred and forty- five stanzas are occupied. 



