1839.] 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



431 



E.—PRACRIT. 



Manuscript book, No. 9— Countermark 648. 



Nigamdgama-Sara, or the essence of the Nigama and Agamas. 



The term Nigama is somewhat equivalent to " Scriptures," in a 

 particular mode of usage. The dgamas are twenty eight books of 

 Saiva principles. In this work the substance of the Fedas, and of 

 those Saiva works, is professed to be given. It is a moderate sized 

 octavo; and would be worth translation. It does not admit of ab- 

 stract. The character is B alb and ; rather rudely written; and the 

 language that of the Brahmans of the Mahrashitira-desam. The paper 

 and ink are good. The writing may be fifty years old ; though proba- 

 bly less. 



The book is entered in Des. Catah vol. 2, p. 100, art. vii. 



Manuscript book, No. 3 — Countermark 652. 



Parasu Rama charitra, or account of the sixth avatar, the conqueror 

 of the Cshetriyas, and founder of the fane named after him on the 

 western coast. 



This is a thin folio, in extremely good preservation, written with in- 

 delible ink, in the Balband character, and in language similar to the 

 preceding ; prevailingly Sanscrit, but with Mahratti intermingled, 

 and forming a local Prdcrit. The subject is the story of Parasu, Rama, 

 heretofore given : it contains the solar and lunar lines of kings. I do 

 not find the book entered in the Des. Catalogue. 



Manuscript book, No. 10 — Countermark 641. 



Do. No. 11— Countermark 642. 



These are small, but thick, folios written in the Deva-nagari charac- 

 ter, on superior country paper, with indelible ink. The contents are 

 entitled Gita Bhashya, or commentary on the Bhagavat Glta, as con- 

 tained in the Bhishma parvam of the Mahabhdratam. The language is 

 a mixture of Sanscrit slocas, with Mahratta interpretation ; and forms a 



