1538.] 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



Being, or first cause, from whom the Trimurti proceeded : (the term 

 Pard'sact'i in this sense is used only by Saivas ; it has then a relation to 

 Parvati, and conveys the priority and supremacy to Siva. The same 

 idea as personified is termed Maya with reference to Brah?n, and Na^' 

 rayani with reference to Vishnu, to whom the Vaishnavas attribute the 

 priority and supremacy). Reference to Saraswati, to Lacshmi^ to Calif 

 with details concerning them, and the thirty-three crores of celestials. 

 Allusion to the pauranical story of Dacsha, and the creation of beings 

 by him. The formation of the Tamravanni river is derived from a wish 

 of Pa^-vati to have a companion ; owing to which wisli, Siva went to 

 Brahma, who formed this river. Eulogy of the numerous tirfhas, or 

 sacred pools, for bathing, is added. Various emblems of Siva are ad- 

 .verted to : while removal of sin, and final beatification, are stated to be 

 obtainable by bathing in those pools, and worshipping those emblems. 

 Legendary notice, and eulogy, of various Saiva fanes of celebrity. All 

 manner of sin, whether among the inhabitants of Inlra's world, or of 

 earth, are removed and final beatitude obtained by bathing in the Tam- 

 ravanni ; and even beasts, by bathing therein, attain to Sverga, or the 

 world of Indra. Those who eat of the grain grown on lands fertilized 

 by this river will attain beatitude. A symbolical fable is given. The 

 river is termed the daughter of as springing from Pothaiya hill, 



and as married to the Samudra-raja (or sea-king), because flowing into 

 the sea. Both are stated with mythological accompaniments, and orna- 

 ments. In this document there is a reference to the affair of Agastya 

 with Gajendra. The latter was a king, whose servants, or attendants, 

 refused admittance to Agastya ; on which account the said rishi doomed 

 the king to become an elephant. The said king besought that a human 

 mind, or intelligence, might be allowed him, which was granted ; and 

 the elephant, becoming a devotee, gathered flowers for the service of the 

 fanes ; but in a time of drought, it sought for flowers in a tank, or rese r- 

 voir, and there was seized by an alligator. The elephant worshipped 

 Vishnu, who sent down his Chacra to earth, and killed the alligator; 

 which, containing an imprisoned spirit, this returned to Indra^s world, 

 and the elephant was relieved. 



The document is entered in the Des. Cat. vol. 1, p. 175, art. xxxiii. 



Note. — It is in good preservation. It illustrates the mode of sym- 

 bolical writing dLvaong iho. Brahuans and might be made use of in 

 other valuable illustrations. It mikes mention in one place of Manalur 

 ivhich, according to some other documents, was the earliest residence 

 of the progenitors of Pandlya kings. 



