1847 J 



on Mackenzie Mamiscripts. 



131 



the Jangama ascetic was found. Unable to comply with the request the 

 king sent his two wives. The so styled god now assumed the form of a 

 young child ; and, on the king being sent for to see the miracle, he re- 

 cognised, in the whole an amusement of Siva- The latter satisfied with 

 the devoteeism of the king took him with his family to Cailasa. On this 

 profane fable — which is found in most of the Saiva productions — a festi- 

 val of annual occurrence in the month of April, at Trinomalee, is said to 

 be founded. And such are the superstitions, and worse than supersti- 

 tions, buoyed up by popular countenance and patronage ; very probably 

 through ignorance of the real character of such observances, and from 

 supposing them to be vested with the sanctity of religion. 



Note. — The MS. is complete, and is quite fresh, in appearance. It is 

 entered inDes. Cat., Vol. 1, p. 204, Art. 21. 



41. Bhuvana cosha. Hindu chronology and geography. No. 77, CM. 

 239. 



Details of small measures of time up to larger periods. The state- 

 ments of Pauranical books, as to the seven divipas and seas, inhabited by 

 persons, in some cases, described as monsters. These various details are 

 represented to have been delivered by Siva to Farvati, and Nandi. 

 They are only the same kind of statements as have been in various ways 

 repeatedly given by writers on these subjects, rendering minute abstract 

 unnecessary. The book is a little damaged by worms; but the writing 

 which is bold and clear, remains fully legible; and the MS. is complete. 

 It is entered in Des. Cat,, Vol, 1, p. 256, Art. 12. 

 , 42. Ncda-venpa, the poetical tale of Nala, No. 207, C. M. 143, 



This production is a version in elegant Tamil verse of the story of Nala. 

 There is another book on the same subject in a different kind of metre. 

 The foundation is an episode of the Mahahharata, now pretty generally 

 known ; and (as it seems to me) unimportant, by consequence, to be ab- 

 stracted at any length. The MS. has the appearance of having been 

 written at different times ; some leaves being much older than the others. 

 It is a little damaged in some places, but otherwise complete. An entry 

 occurs in the Des. Cat., Vol. 1, p. 219, Art. 21. 



43. Ndsi-ketu-puranam, No. 31, C M.52. 



The subject of this work is stated to have been delivered or narrated 

 by Crisknato Dhennaraja^ withaview to lead toa discrimination between 

 virtue and vice. The hero of the subject, introduced with this object, 

 is Nasi-ketu son of Diviyanga maha rishi^ who was employed by his father 

 to go every morning and fetch the water, flowers, &c. used in the cere- 

 monies of the Saiva ritual worship. One day the young man idled away 

 his time, and came late ; on which his father, being angry, denounced on 

 him the doom of going to Yama-puram and returning. His soul ac- 

 cordingly departed ; and he went through the different regions of the 



