284 
[No. 4, 
-E. A. Gait — The Koch Kings of Kdmarupa. 
Bisu. and Sisu. 
The Koch Kings op Kajiarupa. 
In the meantime tlie Koch chiefs were gradually rising to power. 
In tracing their history I shall follow gener- 
ally the account given in the Puruslianama or 
Vamsavali of Raja Lakshmi Narayana Knar, but shall collate this with 
other versions and endeavour, where they differ, to show which is most 
probably correct. 
The account begins with the usual attempt to prove that the ruling 
tribe was of Kshattriya descent. It says that Sahasra, son of Raja 
Haihaya stole the milch cow of Jamadagni. Parasurama, son of the lat- 
ter, on hearing of the theft, slew Sahasra and restored the cow to his 
father. In revenge, Sahasra’s sons, taking - advantage of Parasurama’ s 
absence, killed Jamadagni and cut off his head. When Parasurama re- 
turned, he waged a war of extermination against the Kshattriyas and 
recovered the head of Jamadagni, whom he (hen restored to life. The 
remnant of the Kshattriyas, flying before the wrath of Parasurama, 
assumed the guise of Meches and discarded the sacred thread. They 
multiplied rapidly, and eventually a chief was born whose name was 
Hidri, and who had twelve children — Panbar, Phedela, Aorko Guabar, 
Fed Fedu, Barihana, Jukuabar, Kathya, Baihagu, Meglni, Gorata, Jogai 
and Dukharu.* These sons founded twelve families and from one of 
these sprang Haria Mandal. One day, when his wife Hira was carrying 
his mid-day meal to him in the fields, she was met by S'iva, who had 
assumed the form of Haria Mandal, and in that gnise consumed the 
food intended for her husband and had intercourse with her. There was 
some misunderstanding between her and her husband in the evening, 
but matters were soon put right, for S'iva appeared to Haria in a dream 
and informed him that it was he who had eaten his food and taken 
such liberties with his wife, and stated that as a result of his intimacy 
with her, a son would be born who would rise to be a mighty chief. 
To complete the story, the legend adds that the lady was none other 
than an incarnation of Parvati, who had been made to take the form of 
a Mechani as a punishment for causing S'iva’s death by a curse. Ten 
months later, on the 1st day of the Bihn, the promised son was born, 
amidst universal rejoicings, and was named Bisu, in commemoration of 
the time of his biitli. By his second wife Jira or Dhita, Haria Mandal 
himself begot a son, whom he named S'isu. 
The Pnrushandma continues, that in his boyhood Bisu was known 
as the chief of cowherds. When he grew up, he at once began to ex- 
tend his father’s principality by bringing the country ruled by the 
* The occurrence of the number twelve will again be remarked. The Purusha- 
ndma also speaks of the twelve sons of Sahasra. 
