156 On the Creed^ Customs and Litef^ature of the Jangams. [Jan. 



m justification of their assuming the name Jaiigama Lingam or loco- 

 motive image of the deity. Oitliodox Bramins laugh at their pretend- 

 ed proofs; espeeiall)^ at their claiming a rigl.t to give a secondary or 

 spiritual sense to particular commands. For inylance the Vajna or 

 burnt offeiing orilained in the vedas is by them explained as alluding to 

 ** our passions which must be sacrificed." 



Another step which gives Bramins no small oflfence is the plea set 

 up by the Vira saivas to superior orthodoxy. For these hereticks as- 

 sert that they merely revert to the primaeval faith which the Bramins 

 have perverted, and they very benevolently try to recal the Bramins to 

 the right way from which they have erred. In the P.nidit Aradhya 

 Charitra, the author has laboured to convince Bramins from their own 

 puranas that they are in error and that they ought to embrace the Vlra- 

 fiaiva creed. Such ratiocination is absurd enough when we consider 

 that Basava set out by entirely setting aside braminical authorities. 



The Parana and the Lila were originally written in Canarese, and 

 have been translated into Telugu and Tamil. It has also, I hear, been 

 •written in Mahratta, in pro^e as a catha or story. The purana is an 

 amusing composition, and particularly pleasing to one who has read 

 usque ad yiauseum in the braminical books. The Lila is in quite a dif- 

 ferent vein and vastly superior. It is an allegorical poem of considerable 

 beauty, and is particularly attractive from the pleasing manner in which 

 it describes the female sex : neither as goddesses (as they are described 

 in the braminical poems) nor as brutes, which is too ofien the style of 

 the braminical puranas. It is not only amusing but written with such 

 delicacy that any Hindu female might read it with gratification. The 



Vanayn, as he names Peter Rayapa, from Rayi a stone. He calls James Yagappa, and 

 John Arulappa. For martyrdom he uses martura). The betrayal of our Lord to the 

 Jews concludes this book. 



The fourth book describes the crucifixion and subsequent events. The author now 

 takes occasion to teach the doctrine of purgatory, for which he uses the Hindu phrase 

 pitru^locam. This, and a few other passages, particularly the Salutations to the Virj^in 

 at the opening of the poem, shew that the poet was of the Romish faith. Then are 

 described the Saviour's Resurrection and appearance to the Maries, The journey to 

 Emniaus. Then follow brief accounts of the ascension, and the descent of the Holy Spirit. 

 Then the beatification of the Virgin—Peter being left on earth as head of the Church. 

 On the wrath of God and the intercession of the Redeemer. The Last Judgment- 

 Conclusion, containing a summary of the points in the creed, with poetical version of 

 the " ten" commandments. The writer has no where inculcated either the worship of 

 Saints or the other peculiarities of the Church of Rome : at the same time he has 

 courted the attention of Bramins by dwelling as little as possible on the distinguishing 

 doctrines of Christianity. 



This poem is written in a beautiful style, and though somewhat too learned for 

 beginners will afford most valuable aid to the advanced student of Telugu poetry, and 

 will spare him the tedium of learning the language through the medium of braminical 

 books. He should Jirst read the tfiird canto. 



