1850.] 



Analysis of Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



ed that it was coming into the world in order to exterminate a variety 

 of evil sects then prevailing ; and to establish its own sect. The king 

 was alarmed at this occurrence of a child so speaking, and desisted from 

 further inquiries. After the child was born, it was instructed in learn- 

 ing, and particularly in the tenets of the Vira-Saiva religion of which the 

 elder Basava (an incarnation of the bullock vehicle of Siva) was the foun- 

 der or chief promoter. Basava went to Cailasa (or died,) and after his 

 death the Vira-Saivas conspired against Bijdla-rayen ; killed him ; and in- 

 stalled A llaya-Bijala in his place. The latter chose Chenna Basava for his 

 minister of state ; who, in this influential office, greatly exerted himself 

 in destroying opposite sects, as well as in patronizing the sect of the Viva 

 Saivas, or Jangamas ; and was the instrument of a very extensive diffu- 

 sion of this mode of credence. 



Remark. — Here the book closes, without a complete finishing of the 

 subject, containing twelve Sandhis or chapters. It is in good preserva- 

 tion, and neatly written; with an attempt at illuminated writing in the 

 first and last page ; so that the copyist evidently regarded his work as 

 finished. pThere is an entry in the Des. Catal. vol. 2, p. 12, art. 9, 

 part of which I should consider veay- reprehensible ; were it not that If 

 take it rather for the wilful misrepresentation of Mackenzie's Brahman ,„ 

 than the intentional authorship of the redacteur of the CatalogueT|' The 

 incarnation of Cliinna Basava is represented in the book, as I have stat- 

 ed ; and, Hindu allegory being set aside, the case is resolved into one 

 of incest. Basava being both uncle and father of Chinna Basava ; and 

 both fit agents for the work of exterminating a Jaina king, and Jaina 

 people ; which they accomplished. 



f it is monstrously pitiful to attempt to aim a side blow, in the spirit of 

 Wilfond, at a better system ; through the medium of such a tale. The 

 answers as alleged of an unborn infant, received from behind a veil, ceri 

 tainly merits no remark ; and only exhibition.] Enough as to this book ; 

 but the development of the whole Janyamd system ab ovo usque ad 

 nauseam, certainly is an object of some interest in itself, and connected 

 with the historical details of the N. VV. of the Peninsula; where the 

 destruction of the Jainas, and the establishment of a champion system of 

 extermination, are distinguished features. 



To Chenna Basava., as I understand, it traced the formation of several 

 subdivisions of the class; as the Shat: St'halattar, 3,000 the Rev ana rad- 

 hyar the 3fanda-radhyar, the Panditaradyar 6,000 ; and some others 

 amounting to 12,003; making the entire number of Vira-saivas, in the 

 time of Chenna Basava to be 21,000. These I suppose to have been like 

 the Sikhs, half sectaries, half warriors, or Hindu crusaders ; the worst 

 possible form of sectarian enthusiasm. They are of Sadra origin ; and 



