1839.] 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



411 



matronly wife. Previous to retiring from his hermitage to a cave, for 

 the purpose of entire abstraction from the world, he performed some 

 mantras over a vessel of water, which he then gave to his wife ; telling 

 her to take care of their abode, while he was away ; to entertain all 

 good rish ; s, or devout men, with cordial hospitality ; but if at any time, 

 she should be molested by vulgar, or rude persons, she might sprinkle 

 over them a little of the water in the vessel, and accompany the doing 

 so with whatever wish she might please, and the same would be accom- 

 plished. Dattdtreya thereupon retired to his cave ; and, after some 

 time, his wife received a visit from some rishis, on their journey, 

 claiming her hospitality. She placed food before them, of which they 

 refused to partake, unless she would accompany her serving it up with 

 a degrading mode of menial servitude. She reflected for a moment ; 

 and, then sprinkling over them a little water, wished that they might 

 become children, and the transformation was instantly accomplished. 

 She then put the infants into a cradle, attended on them, and nourish- 

 ed them as such. The rishis became missing; and the celestials went 

 to Parvati, to enquire about them; who narrated what had happened. 

 The celestials waited on the matron ; and, at their desire, she sprink- 

 led water on the children and, by a wish, restored them to their pre- 

 vious form. They were dismissed ; and, after bathing, went their 

 way. Dattdtreya, soon after opened his eyes ; and, leaving his abstract 

 penance, came out of his cave : on learning what had happened, he be- 

 came of opinion, that it was not right to expose his wife alone, and sub- 

 sequently he took her with him to the cave, when he retired thither. 

 On doing so, the four colours (or castes) came, and watched at the en- 

 try. At length unable to bear the heavy dew, and the cold, they went 

 away. One Budda Saheb, a Mahomedan, hearing of the fame of the 

 hermitage, waited there, and preserved it. After some time Dattdtreya, 

 came forth, and gave him some instructions ; of what kind is not speci- 

 fied. 



Section 3. Legendary account of Battadapur in the Mysore country. 



This paper is in Canarese characters, but the language is a Pracrit, 

 or corrupt Sanscrit. It relates to a fane of Mallicarjuna. There are 

 three brief adhydyas, or sections ; and the contents, besides some le- 

 gendary matter at the commencement, relative to a dispute between 

 two rishis, I'ias the usual rilling up of St'hala mahatmyas, relative to 

 shrines and pools. Eight tin 1 has are mentioned : that, is those of Agni, 

 Mucti, Gauri, Ganga, Rama, Airdvata, Dacsha, Hanuman ; with de- 

 tails of merit, and benefit, of bathing therein. In the second section 



