1847.] 



on Mackenzie Manuscripts, 



155 



came to do him homage. Suhrahmanya asked Brahma — * what is your 

 ♦business ?' — * To create.' * By what ?* * By the Vedam.* * What is the 

 womb, or birth, of the Vedam T Brahma replied — * O'm.' * What is the 

 originating cause of O'm ?' Brahma did not know. Suhrahmanya^ waxed 

 wroth, kicked Brahma for his ignorance; and ordered him to be impri- 

 soned. In the interim Suhrahmanya took on himself the work of creating. 

 Vishnu and Indra went to Kailasa^ and represented to Siva that Brahna 

 was sufifering. Siva sent his vehicle Nandi to go and tell Suhrahmanya 

 to release Brahma. The young god frightened Nandi. Siva mounted 

 his car, and went to Suhrahmanya, who received him with all respect, 

 but refused to release Brahma, charging him with pride, and changing 

 the trisyllable O'm. At Siva^s further intercession Brahma was released 

 and asked pardon. Siva bade him go, and do his wonted business. Sivct 

 then fondled the child, and inquired if he knew the meaning of the mystic 

 syllable. The other said it was too great a mystery to be told before the 

 Bssembly. Siva bent down his ear, and the other spoke into it. Siva asked 

 how he became acquainted with the matter ; and, being satisfied in that 

 particular, returned to Kailasa. 



The speaker next proceeds to tell the meaning of Siva-giri and Sacti" 

 giri. One day Agastya went to Kailasa when the rishis asked him con- 

 cerning the form of Agnesvara, or Siva and Sacti He meditated a short 

 time, and then went to perform penance. Siva came and asked him 

 what he wanted. He replied — ' if you and Parvati become visible in the 

 shape of hills, then the rishis and others will do homage, and obtain 

 bliss.' Siva said near Gandu-mata-giri are two hills. They are our form. 

 Let them be worshipped as such. He gave to Agastya two peaks from 

 the hill Kailasa, who took them as far as Cdsi; and there, leaving them, 

 CdiVcie to ihe B otaiy a mo\xniQ.m ( Courtallam), How those two peaks were 

 brought alongside of Ganda-mata-giri, is the subject of the following 

 Section. 



Section 20. The manner in which Siva-giri and Sacti-giri came to 

 Tiruvaven-gitdi. 



Idan-asura had been preceptor to Padmasura in teaching him the 

 use of the bow. After the death of the asuras the former came and did 

 penance at Pyney ; and when Agastya was returning, as aforesaid, Idan 

 paid him homage. Agastya directed him to go to the north, and bring 

 the two mountain peaks hither. A long description follows of interme- 

 diate places, especially tirChas, or bathing places. Idan went and took 

 up the two peaks, in the Cdvadi fashion (yoke and pails) on his 

 shoulders : but he forgot, or mistook the road, and came by another 

 way : that is by way of Calahasti and Tiru-mali. He proceeded as far 

 as Pashpa-giri (flower hill), and thenceforward did not know the way. 

 Suhrahmanya, in the guise of a hunter, met him. A mutual explanation 

 took place, Suhrahmanya gave him directions to go by way of Tiruva' 



