1844.] 



Contents of the Kerala Mahaimya. 



97 



Sakti-puja among the bramins is somewhat like Freemasonry 

 among the Italians ; an expression intended to convey ideak 

 of every horror, while in point of truth the fullest investigation 

 has shewn, (whatever the Abbe Dubois asserts to the contrary,) 

 that this worship of the Bona Dea has never extended into 

 southern India though advocated by several bramins * When 

 they find an Englishman credulous on this subject they bur- 

 nish him with many anecdotes, the fruit of a fertile invention : 

 and such may be found scattered through Dr. Francis Buch- 

 anan [Hamilton's] Mysore : and in the same author's posthum- 

 ous work in three large volumes bearing the title " Eastern 

 India" which Mr. Montgomery Martin has published in his 

 own name as if he was himself the author. 



I2£. — Contents of the Kerala Mahatmya, by the Revd. 

 Dr. Gundert. 



The Kerala Mahatmya or Keral' olpi (in 104 chapters) pre- 

 tends to be a Purana which Bishi Garga expounded to the 

 Pandicides during their exile. It is written in a poor sort of 

 Sanscrit ; and has hardly any poetical merit. A literal trans- 

 lation of it in Malayalam, and a copious Index ; which how- 

 ever in several places seem to be based on another text than 

 the present, help to recognize the Malayalam appellations in 

 their Sanscrit dress. 



The three first chapters bear a separate title Cshatravar- 

 nanam. They relate the growth of Carta- Viryarjuna's pow- 

 er who ruled on the shores of the Narmada over eight coun- 

 tries (Avanty-ady-ashta desheshu) and thro' penance received 

 power to subject even Gods and Brahmans to his sceptre. 

 The Gods consult : Narada prepares two charmed balls, one 

 filled with Cshatria glory, the other with Brahma-tejas and 

 gives them to the wives of the Brahman Jamadagni, and of 

 the Cushica king. The balls are interchanged, and the prin- 

 cess gives birth to the sage Vishvamitra, whilst the Brah- 



• Every existing Sanscrit book on the Sacti worship may be inspected in the Library 

 of the Madras Literary Society. 



13 



