1840..] 



Account of the Basava Puran. 



277 



The next legend is that of " Cannappa the (boya) savage." This 

 story is remarkably popular ; it is narrated in various books : and many 

 Hindus at this day are named after this worthy. In the Sri Calaliasti 

 Mahatmyam the story is given in great detail, but may be summed up 

 briefly. Cannappa (who is one of the sUhj saints) is a forester, who in 

 a dream beholds Siva in the form of a hermit : and is directed to plunge 

 into the forest to seek the god. He next day pursues a wild hog into 

 the wood ; where it vanishes and he finds an image of the lingam. Here 

 the god appears to him : the lad recognizing him, invites the god home. 

 The god was silent, and Cannappa imagined this might be the effect of 

 hunger : so he went to bring him venison. Another story is here 

 introduced to shew how the giants turned themselves into wild 

 animals, in the hope that being slain by the blessed hand of Cannappa 

 they should obtain (moxara) heaven. Cannappa now daily brought flesh 

 of wild hogs and deer with which he fed the god : but a Bramin hermit 

 who lived ne ir the spot was offended that Cannapa, being a pariar or 

 outcast should thus gain the favour of Siva, while he himself daily exer- 

 cised an unprofitable devotion and off'ered fruits and milk to the image. 

 Here the Bramin introduces the following story. Once upon a time, 

 a devout spider* built lier web so as to shade the image ; which a de- 

 vout but jealous elephant tore down and daily bathed the god : which 

 he supposed to be a more acceptable homage : but the spider became a 

 snake and got into his trunk and killed him. Now I, a weak Bramin 

 must thus contrive by cunning to kill this brawny forester. While he 

 thus plotted, the god determined to put the forester's faith to proof. There 

 was as usual a single eye painted on the image. From this eye Cannap- 

 pa perceived tears were flowing : which he wiped away with his shoe ; and 

 then filled his mouth with water which he spirted over the image, which 

 now poured forth a stream of tears. He begged to know what was the 

 matter, whether the god was in want of food for his wife and children. 

 Perhaps, said he, you want another eye : if so take one of mine ! so say- 

 ing he pulled out one eye and presented it : but the image still wept : so 

 he pulled out his other eye. Whereupon the god appeared in his true 

 form and restored his eyes.f 



The poet now proceeds to extol this saint, declaring that to he touch- 

 ed hy the spittle, and the shoe of this saint was no small honour to Sioa, 



* In this legend Sri is asserted to be a Sanscrit word for a spider ; a meaning found 

 in no lexicon. 



+ Compare the legend of Saint Lucia at Naples, ^vho in like manner tore out hex 

 eyes, and had them restoied. 



