1847,] 



on Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



157 



of a cow, and the snake Adhi-seshan came and worshipped it. Hence it 

 * came to be called Nagilesvara of gladness. Agastya worshipped there 

 five days ; and was then told to go and do homage before another image. 



Subsequently Suhrahmanya taught Agastya the Tamil language; and 

 a detail is given as to the Sanscrit letters retained, and those rejected. 

 Agastya returned to Potaiya, and there composed the first Tamil 

 Grammar. 



[A disciple of Agastya composed the Tolcapiyam^ which Pavanandi 

 reduced by abbreviation to the Nannul.'] 



Section 22. Legends of the TirHhas, or bathing pools. 



The names, and situations, of the various pools are given ; together with 

 a statement as usual in St^hala-purdnas of the particular merit and con- 

 nected reward relative to each one of them ; especially the Brahma tirf ha. 



This latter subject is illustrated by a tale. A Brahman died ; and his 

 son named Punya murti resolved to take his father's bones to Casi (Be- 

 nares.) On his way he came to the sacred banks of the Vaigai river at 

 Madura ; and there performed certain ceremonies. Going thence to the 

 Congu country, in order to see the Caveri-river, he met, by the way, a 

 Brahman who advised him not to go to Casi: for if his father's bones 

 could be turned into flowers it would suffice; and then his father's soul 

 would attain beatitude. The Brahman proceeded to state that there 

 was a place where this change might be eff"ected ; and narrated the story 

 of a Brahman who had associated himself with those who robbed and 

 plundered travellers, when passing through the Palavanam or forest. 

 This robber named Piriyan died, and his body remained exposed in 

 the forest, being devoured by jackalls, dogs, and vultures. An eagle 

 took up one of the leg bones, and while flying with it through the air, 

 owing to its weight let it drop into the Brahma tirfha near to Siva-girt. 

 The bird then stooped in order to catch the bone, which last became 

 suddenly changed into flowers ; and from the mere circumstance of the 

 bone having touched the sacred water, the soul of the robber, which had 

 gone to Yama's hell, was released and obtained beatitude : while the 

 eagle, from its having touched the sacred water with its beak, or talons, 

 suddenly became changed into a divine form, and obtained beatification. 



The Brahman proceeded to relate the story of another robber, whose 

 bad dispositions and conduct are described, and who even went so far as 

 to steal the jewels with which the idol Suhrahmanya was especially 

 decorated on the night of Siva. Being taken it was thought advi- 

 sable not to kill him with any weapon; but being tied hand and 

 foot, he was cast into the Brahma-tirfha, on the presumption that 

 he would there be drowned; but he succeeded in disentangling him- 

 self, and when the people were gone away, he came out and went 

 into another district or country. Being unchanged in character, he there 

 continued his predatory proceedings; and in com-se of time dying, he re- 



