1850.] 



Analysis of Mackenzie Manuscript 



87 



more than a thousand yojanas or ten thousand miles high ; with celestial 

 regions vast in proportion. The Hindu system in its symbolical descrip- 

 tion of heads, arms, &c. appears, to the superficial glance, sufficiently ex- 

 travagant ; but according to this book, there are subordinate inhabitants 

 of the celestial worlds of a thousand faces, ten thousand faces, one hun- 

 dred thousand faces, of ten millions of faces, and a hundred times ten 

 millions of faces ! In the midst of these matters, accounts are given of 

 the tenets, and votaries of the Vira Saiva religion. I had once thought 

 of presenting a labored abstract of the book, yet really, all circumstances 

 considered, I do not know if it would be worth the pains which must be 

 taken, in a case where the extravagance is so puerile. There are how- 

 ever details which are essential to a full acquaintance with this most sin- 

 gular sect. It is anti-Brahmanical and antagonist to the Jainas. Being 

 the fabrication of low men in power, the system levels distinctions before 

 ■observed. The religious sanctions attempted to be given might be ex- 

 pected to be likely to run into fanaticism, caricature, and excess • and 

 those attributes are not wanting. 



Note. — The book forms a neat octavo volume ; the country paper is 

 of good kind, and the ink indelible. It has been slightly touched by 

 insects, chiefly in the margin ; but is otherwise in good preservation. 

 It is complete. 



A brief entry occurs in the Descriptive Catalogue, volume 2, page 32, 

 article 36. 



Bhava cheritra ratnam, - No. 19, C. M. 525 



Continuation, - - - - 20, 524 



Ibidem, 21, „ 526 



These three volumes form one work containing a series of narratives 

 relative to the Vira Saiva sect, by adapting various legends current in 

 the Peninsula to its peculiarities. For example the incident of the car, 

 already more than once adverted to, is herein narrated with additional 

 circumstances. The Chola king, herein named Satyendra, was childless, 

 and his guru, Chedguna, taught him a mantram or charm by the po- 

 tency of which a son was born to him. The king of Sinhala did not pay 

 his tribute, which led to a war with Ceylon. The daughter of the king 

 of Sinhala formed an attachment to the aforesaid king's son ; which 

 being returned, led to a marriage. The king's son afterwards, riding out 

 on horseback, ran over and killed the son of a merchant's wife. She 

 took up the remains of the child, and carried it before the king. From 

 a sense of justice, he ordered his mantri to have his son's head cut off, 

 and given to the merchant's wife. Instead of doing so the mantri cut off 

 his own head. A complete tragedy is made of the affair : insomuch as 



