1844.] Sixth Report on Mackenzie Manuscripts. 89 



workmen were engaged in cutting away the wood, blood 

 copiously flowed, consequent to their doing so in a certain 

 place ; inducing them to leave off, and report the circum- 

 stance. The King came in person to investigate it ; and, 

 on looking further, an image of Subrahmanya was found to 

 have been grown over by the wood, having its arms cut off, 

 from which blood flowed in profusion. Efforts were made 

 to deprecate the anger of the god ; a vision of whom ap- 

 peared to the raja, instructing him to build a fane on that 

 spot, and to call it by the name of Malasura ; which was 

 accordingly done. Visvacarma superintended the work: 

 and a Mandapa built there was so particularly handsome, 

 that people who came from Conjeveram wished to have it 

 removed thither. A young man, the son of an architect, 

 engaged to effect this transit, and had prepared a machine 

 for the purpose with some horses ; but his father learning 

 the design, cut off the horses legs, and so the Mandapa 

 remained immoveable. 



At a later period when the fanes at Conjeveram had 

 gone to decay, and all allowances to them had ceased, 

 Sancaracharya, having become incarnate, formed an image of 

 clay at that place, and appointed certain observances ; which 

 were effected chiefly by means of the tribe of weavers. It 

 is said that the original shrine is neglected ; and that formed 

 by Sancaracharya alone honored. 



After the Mahomedans had acquired power at Vencatagiri 

 they came hither, and learning the celebrity of the fane of 

 Subrahmanya, under the name of Malasura, they gave it jag- 

 hirs, or gifts of land. There are some inscriptions ; which how- 

 ever could not be successfully read or copied. Tradition 

 stated that they commemorated grants by Chola-rajas. 



Remark. — This paper, with its fabulous wildness, con- 

 tains one or two points worth attending to ; the document 

 is in extremely good preservation. 



