1840.] 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts, 



103 



12. On the origin, birth, or generation, of the human species. 



13. On the pouring out, or oblation, of water, in ritual devotion. 



14. On the effects, or influences, of eclipses. 



15. On sudden, or unforeseen, events j especially sudden deaths. 



16. On unpropitious events, or evil results, of planetary influence. 



17. The nature of opposition of planets, and results. 



18. The propitious result of favour from a spiritual preceptor. 



19. The influences, or powers of different years of the Hindu cycle, 



20. On good and bad days; or those propitiou?, or unpropitious. 

 These varied contents are distributed among the several sections; not 



regularly, but according to the extent or quantity : for example, one 

 complete section is occupied with the subject of rain, while other sec- 

 tions contain several subjects. 



Eemabk. — Observations which I have elsewhere made as to Hindu 

 astrology, apply I conceive, to this book, as well as to others at different 

 times noted. 



The three copies are entered in Des. Catal. vol. i. p. 356, article 1, 



9. ^mukta'mdla,Ei poem, No. 25. — Countermark 340. 



10. Another copy, No. 26.— Countermark 341. 



11. AmuUtt'indlu vyac'hydnam, No. 27.— Countermark 342. 



The two fo'^t manuscripts are copies of a very diflicult poem 

 by Jllasani Peddana, which was written in the padya cavyam me- 

 tre, and so abstruse that some say he himself wrote the prose 

 explanation contained in No. 27, in order to render his poetry 

 intelligible, even to other poets. In the early portion there is a re- 

 ference to mythology of the Faishnavakmd, and to pauratiical history. 

 The lunar race is given, and by the medium of the Tulum country the 

 line of Narasinha rayer, and Crislina rayer is panegyrically narrated. 

 The latter was the poet's p itron, and has herein an epithet given him, as 

 being the Viva Bhadra, who conquered the fort of Cond'witi; also giving 

 the credit of the work to him, by inserting his name as the author. It 

 is then observed that the special object of the work is to narrate an 

 account of the ascendancy of the Vaishnava system at Sri-vili puKur, 

 in the ancient Pandiya country. A Pandiyan king of early times, being 

 embarrassed on the subject of religious diff"erences, assembled votaries, 

 some of whom told him he ought to worship Siva^ some said Brahma^ 

 some said j^gni, some said Vayu ; and so on. Thereupon Vishnu-Sid' 



