84 



Account of Ancient Subterranean 



[No. 33, 



of seven elephants. They had no marriage relations ; but were, in 

 this respect, like beasts of the field. It was an easy thing, for them, 

 to split rocks. These pigmies, for the convenience of their own re- 

 sidence, constructed this kind of houses under ground. In the flood, 

 at the end of the Yuga, they all perished. Subsequently these old 

 excavations remaining, they were termed Pantavdr-curzi, after these 

 same persons, as the story goes. 



3. Some say that at the beginning of the Caliyuga the five Pan- 

 davds dwelt in the wilderness ; in consequence of Duryodhana's 

 persecution of them. Then, they having come to dwell in the waste 

 places, in order that people might afterwards know that they dwelt 

 there, they constructed these dwellings, as some say. Hence they 

 are called Pandavdl-curii. 



4. Some deliver the following account. In ancient times men 

 paid homage to goddesses named J\rila-mucari ; and monthly (annu- 

 ally?) celebrated a festival. But since, if the festival were to be 

 celebrated in habitations of men, it would be defiled, and attended 

 with the destruction of human life, they built these houses, near the 

 foot of mountains, and in waste solitary places ; arid carrying thither 

 all needful provisions, went annually, and dwelt in them, during the 

 period of the festival. Hence, as it is said, they came to be called 

 Pantaval-Kovil^ fane or temple of the ancients. 



5. The account of other persons is to the following effect : after the 

 flood, at the end of the Yuga, this world was all covered over with 

 forest, and inhabited by ferocious hunters, and wild beasts. Then 

 these same hunters, killing the beasts, cleared away a part of the 

 forest. In those days, with a view of preserving their wives and 

 children, from the savage beasts, they constructed these places. 

 Thence these were called Vedar-cudi hunters' huts. Afterwards, 

 the Curumhars appropriating these places to themselves, they came 

 thence to be called Curumbar-cudi, as they say : that is dwelling 

 of the Jainas. 



6. Some give the following narrative : 



During the reign Rama, men having tails, and like to monkeys, 

 inhabited these kingdoms. These were ferocious tribes. They 

 possessed the Cdma-rupa (form of Cdma, that is, monkey-like.) 

 They were possessed of heroical qualities, and were very courageous. 

 They were exceedingly able to cut out rocks, and carry (heavy) 



* These I suppose to be Cromlechs. 



