1839.] 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



421 



Section 3. Account of Bxnivassi in the Sunda district. 



The years contained in the four yugas. The subject of inscriptions 

 is adverted to, and then particularized. Vicramaditya is stated to have 

 made a very large grant of land to the fane, at this place ; continued 

 in force by Bhoja-raja. Sinhana Bhupalan, who ruled at Rudraparam f 

 in the neighbourhood, also made munificent largesses to the same; and 

 built certain gopwams, or towers, over the porches. His son was Cali- 

 Cala-Sudamani. His son was Sa>gha-Bhupalan . A detail of Jaina-rct' 

 jas follows. In addition to the mention of a few names, there is a spe- 

 cification of their books, and sastras, or religious productions. An in- 

 flated account is given of the power, splendour, and attendants, of the 

 said kings. 



Remark — This document seems to me of some consequence. Bana- 

 vassi is a place of known antiquity; and the fact that Jaina kings of 

 great celebrity ruled there, at an early period, is to be noted. The 

 document is written with permanent ink; and is, as to paper, in tolera- 

 bly good preservation. 



Section 4. Is in the Mahratta character. 



Section 5. A list of chieftains of the Sunda district. 

 The commencement of the rule of these chiefs is dated in Sal. Sac. 

 1478 (A. D. 1556), and seven names are given, coming down to Sal. Sac. 

 1685 (A. D. 1763). They were, by consequence, chiefs who found- 

 ed their power on the downfall of the Vijayanagaram dynasty ; as was 

 the case in various parts of the peninsula. A sort of copy of their seal 

 is given; one contains the name of Immadi arasapa-nayak in Balbund 

 letters, on the other, the word, Nagaresvara, and Sada-Siva, can be 

 read ; and also the titular phrase " a chief splendid as the moonj" but 

 some injury by worms renders the connection, in so small a surface, 

 not further legible. An imperfect copy of an inscription certifies the 

 gift of some lands to a tribe of Brahmans ; but the donors name, and 

 other particulars, are wanting. 



The whole of the remaining portion of the book is in Mahratta cha- 

 racters ; see the end of the following Mahratti papers. In what herein 

 precedes, sections 1 and 3 are of consequence. The name of Bana~ 

 vassi, as an emporium of commerce, appears in the classical writers ; 

 audit then seems to have been flourishing. The prevalence of the 

 Jaina credence throughout the Sunda country, is worthy of notice ; and, 

 by comparison with the foregoing book, we may discern that the era of 

 Parasu Rama was not so high up in antiquity, as Hindu exaggerations 

 might lead any one to suppose. 



