Report on the MacJcenzie Manuscripts. 



247 



The varalaru (spring or fountain head), of the pur ana is then entered 

 on, by a reference to a great assemblage of riskis, or sages, in the Naimis" 

 ara wilderness. These, all of respectable fame in Hindu books, are re- 

 presented as discoursing together concerning the chief good. One de- 

 clares in favour of penance ; another in favour of equity 5 another in praise 

 of alms ; another is for truth or integrity ; another prefers sacrifice ; ano- 

 ther domestic virtue ; another utter renunciation of family cares, and all 

 worldly concerns. As they were thus occupied, without agreeing, Suta- 

 rishi, expert in, the Saiva system, and learned in the 18 puranas, which 

 were delivered through him, comes among them ; is saluted by them ; 

 and, with general consent,* is appointed to decide their difference of 

 opinion. He refers to a section of the Scanda-purana, delivered by 

 Sanatcumdra to Vyasa, by Vyasa to Suca, and by the latter to himself. 

 Suta then proceeds to explain his meaning. 



The Sanatcumdra-padalam (or chapter) follows. Sanatcumara, the son 

 of Brahma, was occupied in meditation when Uma wife of Siva passed ; 

 so that he did not rise to pay her homage ; on which account NandiJces- 

 vara, the vehicle of Siva, spoke of him contemptuously, as having no 

 more sense than a camel ; and denounced on him the doom of becoming 

 a camel. Under this metamorphosis the sage came to Cdchi, or Conjeve- 

 ram, and is made to declare that after comparing the Naimisara-vana, 

 the CMn«c5Ae^r«m, and other places, famous in ^mtZw story, upon the whole 

 Conjeveram-wilderness deserved preference. Brahma interceded with 

 Siva, in order to get the metamorphosis of his son removed ; but Siva 

 declared, that what had been done by one of his servants he did not 

 choose to reverse ; referring the case to Nandikesvara. Application 

 being accordingly made, one favourable look from Nandi immediately re- 

 moved the evil, and restored the sage to his proper form. He then 

 received instructions respecting the different modes of life, domestic, 

 ascetic and the like ; with the respect due to each. Sanatcumdra, on 

 hearing it said, that there are many Saiva fanes, asks which of them is 

 chief. Nandi, after a little reflection, tells him, that he recollects what 

 Siva told to Uma, which it will be extremely proper for Sanatcumdra to 

 hear. 



Chapter on the specialty of the fane. 



After a little introductory matter, an enumeration is given of several 

 distinguished Saiva-i-imes ; beginning from the extreme south ; and end- 



* By the way, it may be remarked, that the sages in addressing Suta, are represent- 

 ed as saying that the exterior world exists by the perception of the fi-ve senses ; 

 being the vedanta doctrine ; and the same system as that of Berkeley, and Hume, 

 confuted by Reid, and Beattie, 



