1840.] 



Account of the Basava Puran. 



289 



Another devotee's wife bears him twins : he has provided only one 

 image, which as usual, he hangs at the neck of the first born, and for want 

 of a second he re^'uses to receive the second infant. This is applauded 

 as a mark of great devotion. 



Basava further says to the baron, " How can I convince you of the 

 supremacy of Siva ? it is as idle as teachint^ a blind man what light is. 

 Your conduct is as foolish as using a golden plough, and then sowing 

 thistles. Consider h iw unavailing were the sacrifices oTered to Bratnins 

 by Gaatama, by Dadhichi, by Daxa, the emperor Bali and others No 

 honours that you can offer to Bramins can in merit equal worship offered 

 to the (lingam) image." 



His friend Jagad^Eca malla is convinced of the folly of adoring Bra- 

 mins, and o^^ered his thanks to Basava: who now spoke to him in con- 

 fidence, saying after a short time a dreadful crime will take place here \ 

 and you are'to slay him who commits it : after which Siva will appear 

 visibly to you. 



There were two brothers named Allaiia and Madhupaila constantly ia 

 attendance upon Basava: the baron (Bizzala) caused their eyes to be 

 put out. but Basava and the other worthies restored their sight, after 

 which they blotted out all the accounts kept in the royal treasury. They 

 now sent for Jagadeca Malla, and told him that the appointed time was 

 come for him to slay an offender. Basava now retired from the town, 

 which was immediately filled with outrages, so much so that the devo- 

 tees fled from it. Malla was appointed to put the baron Bizzala to death 

 but went home without eiTacting this. His mother reproached him for 

 failing to obey the command of Basava. She said, surely had they wish- 

 ed it the worthies were well able to do this themselves : they entrusted 

 it to you merely as a favour conferred on you. If you disobey them I 

 wish you may become a dog and live on (prasadam) rice given as alms. 



Hereupon she treated him as a dog, and threw lice on the floor for 

 him to eat. But the other worthies came to console him, and even ate 

 ■what he left. They then led him to the palace of Bizzala whom these 

 three men slew.* They then returned home, and Malla paid homage 

 to his mother. Then remorse at the crime made them seek to kill them- 

 selves, but their god Siva appeared visibly and carried them all to 

 Cailasa. 



• Tliis murder resembles the deed committed in the House ©f Commons on 30th Dec. 

 1654 (see Salmon's Chronological History), when a quaker woun led several people de- 

 claring that he was inspired to slay every man who sat iu that house. 



