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Contents of the Kerala Muhaimya. [No $1 



man's son, the incarnation of Vishnu enters the world with 

 the mace (parasu) in his hand. He is called Parasu Rama, 

 One day his father, doubting Renuka's fidelity, orders the boy 

 to slay his mother. He does so ; and is directed by the Rishis 

 to atone for his sin by destroying Carta Virya and the Csha- 

 trias, the enemies of the Brahmans ; a task which he effect- 

 ed ir twenty-one expeditions. 



§ 4-11. There ruled once in the Treta-yuga a certain Pa- 

 rasu Rama, who wished to crown his prosperous reign by a 

 perfect donation to Brahmans. He assembled all the Rishis 

 and gave the sixteen gifts in profusion ; but Vishvamitra ob- 

 served, that the most sin destroying gift was a grant of land. 

 Accordingly the king made over to the Rishis all the earth 

 within the four seas, with all the blood guiltiness attached to 

 it, by making them drink the water of possession (a ceremony 

 still observed in transfers of ground). The Brahmans thought 

 proper to turn him out of the property he had given away, 

 but with Subrahmanya's assistance he obtained, by penance, 

 from Varuna the grant of some land to dwell on. The throw 

 of his mace was to determine the extent of the ground : it 

 flew from Canya Cumari to Gocarna, and the whole interme- 

 diate country of ten yoj ana's breadth (Malay : version, one 

 yoj), and 100 yojana in length was rescued from the sea. 

 The gods pay a visit to the new country, call it Kerala, the 

 holy land of Parasu Rama ; and Shiva condescends to be 

 henceforth worshipped in Gocarna the metropolis (Sri inula 

 sthanam). 



§ 12-47. Brahmans are collected by Parasu Rama to colo- 

 nize the land: first a poor Brahman from the shores of the 

 Krishna, whose eight sons receive the title of Yogasharyas 

 the eldest being appointed head of all the Brahmans and set- 

 tled in Vrishadripura (near Gocarna, — others say in Trishiva- 

 perur: Trichoor). Other Brahmans are introduced, and set- 

 tled in different localities ; until the number of 64 gramas, or 



