252 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



[Oct. 



Section 10. The legend of Kavusila-cJieran. 



Kavusilen was a distinguished chief or king of the Chera desam. 

 Ha\dng made a pilgrimage to many places, he observed a forest 

 on his return, in which there were many wild beasts; and he, in 

 consequence, gave orders to proceed on a hunting excursion. A very 

 beautiful deer was started, which the king so eagerly pursued that, at 

 length, he was left alone; and, on coming to the kanikar forest, the animal 

 disappeared. The king became exceedingly hungry ; but in all this 

 region seeing no sacred edifice, he vowed that he would not eat, until he 

 had discovered one, and had paid homage to its god. He sought for one 

 in vain, on that day; and the next one; and so on, for three days in suc- 

 cession. On the third day he saw a Brahman, who came to the forest to 

 gather flowers. The Cheran stated who he was, and desired to be led to 

 a fane. The Brahman conducted him to a Saiva fane, where he paid 

 homage : and then took refreshment. He expressed a great wish to see 

 an Amman-koll (or shrine of Pdrvati) ; and, in consequence, the Brahman 

 taught him a particular mantra, bid him go to a certain river and repeat 

 it, and an Amman would appear. He did so, when Pdrvati, in the shape 

 of a Brahman female, became visible, and told the king that he could not 

 see the now in her proper form; that she herself was doing 



penance, preparatory to marrying the god Siva ; and she instructed the 

 Cheran to wait till the day of the marriage procession, when his wish of 

 seeing the goddess would be granted. Some rishis also came, and saw 

 the goddess doing penance ; and going to Siva-loca (the world of Slvii) 

 narrated what they had seen. The god Siva said he would come to the 

 wilderness, and marry the Amman. 



Section 11. — Account of the marriage. 



A long description is given of the marriage ceremonies, and procession ; 

 on which latter occasion the wish of Kavusila Cheran was gratified, in 

 seeing the goddess in her own proper form. He then projected the de- 

 sign of building a town, on the spot where this had occurred. 



Section 12.-— The building of the town. 



In order to carry his design into effect Kavusilen sent to Atri-giri, his 

 own town, for his two younger brothers, who brought money as was re- 



