102 



Contents of the Kerala Mahatmya. 



[No 31 



§ 61-73. One of the Rishis took it into his head to undo 

 Parasu Rama's creation, by preventing the celebration of the 

 yearly feast at Trisiracunnu (§ 35) in order that the fools of 

 Bauddhas might enter the country. Soon after a clever Bud- 

 dhist woman named Mali appeared on the seven hills ; fascinat- 

 ed a Rishi; and procured to the son she bore to him, the right 

 to the crown ; by secretly exchanging her infant against that 

 born to the Queen of the 1 1 th Colattiri King. The stolen child 

 was called Mamali (name of the Cannanur Bibi, and of the 

 Laccadives belonging to her) and brought up under Cannan's 

 fostering care. A powerful minister Croda who alone knew 

 of the exchange, abode with the supposed prince, till he was 

 of age, and made him King. But Bhadracali on the corona- 

 tion day refused to protect a prince, whose mother was a Bud- 

 dhist, calling him Nasamipa, Nasanga, not permitted to ap- 

 proach, from which he took occasion to build a town and cha- 

 pel Nasamipapuri (Maday or Payangadi, south of the seven 

 hills) where as the Index says the first Buddhist vihara or 

 palli (chapel, mosketi) was erected. By the ministry of Cro- 

 da, this 12th King entirely changed the rules of the state ; 

 and though kind to Brahmans so as to load them with all 

 manner of gifts, he ruled only through Buddhist officers and 

 subjected to them, the whole country from Canya Cumari to 

 Gocarna (akhitam bhumim akramya Buddheis sakam sthita 

 tatat Rajabhut Kerala 'khite) made it abound in pallis and 

 bazars, and during a reign of 35 years set altogether aside the 

 laws of Parasu Rama. When the latter returned, he extir- 

 pated the Buddhists, and lopped off the hands and feet of 

 the King. But he, not dismayed, praying to his father the 

 Rishi, had his members restored by degrees ; and with the 

 assistance of thirty -five Bhutas built Vriddhipura (Valarpat- 

 nam or Billipatam) ruled there also with Buddhas (whom 

 the Index here calls Mapillas) and stole even the holy sword 

 from Taliparambu, so that he reigned securely without an 

 enemy. But Parasu Rama by his course of devotions brought 



