1847.] 



on Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



117 



Eemark. — As regards the condition of these two MSS, No. 7, is com- 

 plete and uninjured, No. 8 wants a small portion of the 6th book ; but 

 for the rest is complete, and in good condition. In point of matter it 

 seems difficult to resist the conclusion that these gods were originally 

 men. I have always been induced- to think that the war with the Asuras 

 is a fragment of early history, strangely magnified and distorted. How- 

 ever I enlarge not. 



Both manuscripts have a brief entry in the Descr. Catal. vol. 1, p. 165, 

 Art. 89. 



2. Deva-rayar SilcLsassancal. — Inscriptions of grants by Deva-faya^ 

 (No. wanting,) 



(1.) Dated in Sal. Sac. 1270, Vira pratapa-deva-rayer at the time of 

 his coronation had a large agraliaram or street containing thirty-three 

 houses built, in a town bearing his own name which he then presented to 

 the Brahmans. 



(2.) Dated in Sal. Sac. 1300. Commemorates two public acts of mu- 

 nificence by Bala-nayak son of Alupa-nayak the friend of Bukha. He 

 had a spring or aqueduct (which had gone to decay) repaired for public 

 use. He also built a town called Pillai'samudram. "Which he bestow- 

 ed for a residence on the Brahmans, 



(3.) Dated in Sal. Sac. 1303. Bukha-raya^ the son of Hari-hara- 

 raya, formed a village which he called IIa7'i-hara-raya-puram, and gave 

 it as a present to 13 Brahmans. 



(4.) Dated in Sal. Sac. 1071. Vishnu-verddhana, the son of Saluvan^ 

 the latter of whom ruled in Dwaraca-puram (Dwdra-samudram) from 

 overcoming and killing a tiger acquired the epithet of Osala {Oyisala). 

 At the time of his installation, or crowning of Narasinha-deva one of this 

 race, he Narasinha made a donation of lands and cows to 4;he fame of 

 Kesavasvami, and also gave some lands to the Brahmans. 



(5.) Dated in Sal, Sac. 1454. In the time of A chyuta-ray a one named 

 Yellapa-nayak, in order to ensure to himself both merit and fame, made 

 large donations of lands to the Brahmans. 



(6.) Dated in Sal. Sac. 1437. Timma-raya a king of the Tuluva, coun- 

 try of the race of Vasuva-deva, acquired illustrious reputation by acts of 

 munificence. 



(7.) Dated in Sal. Sac. 1152. The Pratani ox Trea,sm:er of Hart- hara- 

 raya who was named Ganda-danda, fidly repaired the injuries done by 

 the Mahomedans at Vellore, who had demolished some fanes there, and 

 presented those repairs as an ofiering at the shrine of Chenna-kesava-raya, 

 (The date 1152 is equivalent to A. D. 1230, and corresponds with the 

 period of the first Mahomedan irruption.) 



(8.) Dated in Sal. Sac. 1055. In the time of the Osala Vishnu Verd- 

 dhana a king named Venaiyaditya was born, who made large donations to 

 secular Brahmans^ and also to sacerdotal Brahmans officiating in fanes. 



