116 



A Supplement to the Six Reports 



[No. SS, 



Tlie proposal to submit was rejected ; and various episodes occur, nar- 

 rating various skirmishes between the belligerent powers. In one of 

 these Vira bdhu killed Adi-vwan, a principal commander on the part of 

 the Asuras. It is not necessary to relate these incidents, as they possess 

 a poetical and fictitious semblance ; and since they are only introductory 

 to Cumara himself coming forward in the war; which is the subject of 

 the following, or principal division of the purana. 



IV. Yuddha Candam. This book is the fullest of the whole ; and 

 narrates the events of the war or rather consecutive engagement, between 

 Oumara on the one hand, and Surapadma on the other hand. The lat- 

 ter was aided by his sons, and also by a sister named Mayi, who, in one 

 period of the contest, raised to his aid a host of illusive warriors. The 

 sum total is that Cumara conquered the whole of the opposing forces, 

 while Surapadma, with his sons, ministers, and allies, were slain. One 

 of his sons named had hidden himself in the sea ; and, escaping in conse- 

 quence, was left in order to perform the funeral rites of his father and 

 brethren. Thus the defeat of the Asuras was complete. 



V- Deva Candam,. After the victory Cumara left Mahendra-giri and 

 coming back to Tirupara-kunram where he espoused Deviyani (other- 

 wise termed Valliyamma) and then gave permission to the various celes- 

 tials to return to their respective places of abode. 



In the sequel of this book, Saindavan, the son of Indra, is introduced as 

 inquiring from Vrihaspati the causes, or reasons, why those celestials were 

 subject to those oppressions by the Asuras, which had occasioned the 

 before mentioned war. Vrihaspati replies, and the contents of his reply 

 form the subject matter of the following book. 



VI. Dacshana Candam, Dacsha, the son of Brahma, asks his father 

 which is the greatest of the gods, and Brahma is made to say is Siva, 

 Dacsha then undertook a penance in order that a daughter might be born 

 to him, that should' become the wife of Siva. He had many daughters 

 some of which were married to Chandra. One daughter was born, who 

 performed penance in order to become the consort of Siva, which after- 

 wards occurred. There follows a reference to the , churning of the ocean, 

 in which Siva swallowed the poison of the serpent Vasuhi. 



The sacrifice of Dacsha is afterwards detailed ; to which the wife of 

 Siva was not invited. She in anger destroyed herself. Siva sent Vira 

 Bhadra to destroy Dacsha\ sacrifice. A dispute afterwards arose between 

 Brahma and Siva. The legend is then introduced of Brahma trying to 

 discover the head and Vishnu the feet of Siva, according to which Brah- 

 ma incurred a censure and loss for lying ; and Vishnu received praise for 

 acknowledging Siva's supremacy. The mention occurs of Ganesa fighting 

 with and destroying Raja-Muc'ha an A sura. There is some following 

 matter relative to a Brahman, who, in consequence of peculiar devotion 

 directed to Suhrahmanya, became a Mu-kundi king. 



