2S4 



Account of the Basava Puran. 



[Oct. 



him, but removes a hump from his back. (This is one of the legends 

 told in the Socca-Natha Lila, or, Madhura Puran). 



The Jainas having declared they would acknowledge no proof save 

 that by fire, the Braniin now wrote a Siva spell, and cast it into the flames 

 with a Jaina spell : the Jaina incantation is burnt, and the other is pre- 

 served. The Jainas now propose the water ordeal : and the writings 

 of both creeds are cast into the Cavary ; in this also their books perish- 

 ed, and the Saiva books floated. 



The Siva disputant, who is named Pilla Nainar, now set up a mimber 

 of iron spikes on which he impaled the Jainas. This persecution is 

 countenanced by a king. Another account in the next page states that 

 the Jainas were saved because they embraced the Saiva creed. 



These stories regarding the Saivas and Jainas, appertain to an age 

 previous to that of Basava> 



The same narrator adds the following legend. There was a faithful 

 devotee named Nami Nandi, who used to collect ghee (butter) as alms, 

 wherewith he lighted lamps in the temple of Siva. 'J he Jainas opposed 

 him, and as he could get no oil he complained to Siva, using the common 

 threat of suicide. The god thereupon appeared to him, and desired him 

 to fill the lamps with water which burnt remarkably well. Then the 

 god smote all the cattle that supplied the oil butter : and the people 

 humbling themselves before Nami Nandi, the saint restored their cattle 

 to life — and they embraced the Saiva creed. 



Another saint named Sankhya Tonda, lived in the Chola country : he 

 was the son of a Buddhist, and as he could no where find men who 

 adored Siva, he prayed his god to destroy all the Jainas ; and, added he, 

 until thou grantest this prayer, I will daily fling three stones at thee. 

 At last Siva appeared, stretched out his arms, embraced him and granted 

 his prayer by destroying all the Jainas in the town. 



The next legend is of a saint named Covvuri Bramhaya, who held dis- 

 cussions with the Jains, and as they demanded a miracle, that of reviv- 

 ing a tree from its ashes, he acce^.ted the challenge, and this convinced 

 them. 



There was a Jain guru, who was the confessor to a petty prince or 

 baron named Desinga Ballahu. But his wife Suggalavva, had a Saiva 

 named Devara Dasaya as her spiritual guide. She requested him to 

 destroy all the Jainas. But the Jins* slandered him to the king, who 

 counselled her that it was very wrong for a husband and wife to have 



* Jina or Jina Dera, is the name used for the deity by the people who call themselves 

 Jins, or Jainas, 



