1850.] Analysis of Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



85 



lowed him to take as much as he pleased. The king hearing of the circum- 

 stance caused Basava to he seized and questioned him ; hut Easava deni- 

 ed the theft, and the king causing the treasure to be examined in his pre- 

 sence, and that of Basava, there was found to be a surplus above the ac- 

 count ; and Basava was restored to confidence. One day the king took 

 a fancy to play a joke with Basava, by causing a person to assume the 

 appearance of a dead man carried to his funeral, and followed by others 

 disguised as women, uttering funeral cries. The king called Basava to 

 see one of his own class carried to his funeral, and Basava, drawing near, 

 turned the whole mockery into a reality, and then retired. The loornen 

 went to him in a body representing the whole to have been a trick of the 

 king ; and, in consequence of their entreaties, he caused the dead man 

 to come to life, and restored them to their proper form. The proselyting 

 a great number of Brahmans is ascribed to a time of famine, and the fol- 

 lowing connected circumstances. They came during the scarcity to Ba- 

 sava to ask for food ; but as they did not wear the lingam he dismissed 

 them with a refusal. Taking counsel they plucked some unripe berries, 

 and tying these up so as to imitate the Jangama symbol again presented 

 themselves asking for food, and were allowed to scat themselves, among 

 those statedly fed. Before taking their meal the real Jangamas accord- 

 ing to their habitude, took their emblems, placed them uncovered before 

 themselves and worshipped them ; afterwards eating. Basava came to the 

 Brahmans and told them to do the same. Knowing their own trick they 

 looked one at another, and remained quiet whereupon Basava seized the 

 hands of one of the Brahmans, and forcibly untied his rag; when the 

 berries were found to be turned into the required symbol. The Brahman 

 astonished praised the Jangama sect, and adopted it. The other Brah- 

 mans opened their bits of cloth, and found the same transformation effect- 

 ed, and they also entered the Jangama sect. These being Brahmans 

 were held in higher estimation than any others ; though the rule of the 

 class was equality. 



These are specimens of the contents of the book which contains several 

 other tales of like kind ; intended to magnify the miraculous powers of 

 Basava ; and they appear to have reference only to Basava during the 

 lifetime of Bijala-royen. Subsequent events are to be derived from 

 other sources. As far as this evidence goes, it indicates first a spirit of 

 sectarial opposition, favoring votaries only of Basava's own class; lead- 

 ing on to enthusiasm, increasing with accumulating numbers ; for such a 

 process would attract the Lingadhrris from all quarters ; and issuing in 

 the ferocious zeal, which gave birth to the Vira Salons, and defined their 

 separate and peculiar character. 



