Indian Antiquary Vol 02

SR No.: 032494
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 193

JUNE, 1873.]
LEGEND OF VELLUR.
173
here are wells all about. Streams of water for cleansing the teeth. He daily went to Kai. run continuously underneath the temple. There Is Hill to worship the Dharmalinga, from whom is one portion of the temple in which you cannot he wished to know all about his lot. He intended go without a guide and torch ; it consists of seven to stay where he was, if he was thereby to become rooms built one beyond another.
happy, otherwise he purposed to go and live in This temple went out of the hands of the Hin- Senohi near Tanjor. On the tenth day the two dos about the commencement of the Muhammadan brothers were attacked by PAlagar marauders, but rule in Vellar. No idol is left in'it; half a dozen Bimardi and Timardi fought so boldly against public offices are located in it; the richly carved them that they retreated. On hearing this the black massive "Mandaps" have been white- Raja was much pleased, and the two brothers were washed; the whole building has been disfigured. entrusted with numerous Silladars. The villagers The following story will tell how this curious also rendered them any aid they needed. At this temple and fort were erected.
stage of affairs one of the cows of Bimardi was It is said that when this place was a desert it delivered of a call. It was as white as milk; but was resided in by a god named Jallgandi Ishwa- its horns, nose, tail and hoofs were black. Its teats rar; Ganga Gauriaman was the goddess. The were five. When it grew it never went in comsmall bill or Durgam was their frequent resort. pany with the other cattle. It went to graze The Palar river was then called Chir and was on alone, and returned alone. It was delivered of a the north. To the south was the village of Wela- calf, but did not allow it to drink milk. Bimarpadi. To the east was Palakonda RÂnmaldi di was surprised to find that daily when the cow mountain. To the south-east was Dharmalinga returned in the evening it came with empty udler. Malási mountain. To the west was the tank of Nor was the herdsman able to explain this, but SAdipari. Everything within these boundaries one morning he followed the cow wherever it was "Welankud," or forest. Chola Raja was went. The cow went on till it came near a small then reigning, who haul acquired much fame. island, to which it went crossing the water. Im.
A person named Eatumardi used to live in the mediately after this a serpent came out of a hole. sacred city of Palavansa, on the banks of the It had five months, by which it drank milk from Krishna river. He had two sons, Bimardi and the five teats of the cow. After the serpent had Timardi, whose statues are yat at the sides of the dono drinking, the cow returned to its master's temple gate. They are also found inside the tern. place. Bimardi was much affected by this sight. ple in various attitudes. Their mother died soonH e considered both the occurrence and the after giving thom birth. Eatumardi bal four locality as sacred. On the morning of the followBons by his second wife. His wealth consisted in | ing day he crossed the water and went near the cattle, and they were by thousands. Soon after hole of the five-mouthed serpent. There he pray. celebrating the marriages of his sons Le malo ed to know what were the wishes of the serpent. two divisions of his wealth ; ono was given to Bi. After this he fell fast asleep. A figure then ap. mardi and Timardi, and the other was divided pearod to him in his dream and said to Bimardiamong the four sons by his socond wife, wlio "My name is Sambaśivam. That cow which commenced quarrelling with and even concerting you possess is created by me. I drink its milk the death of their two half-brothers after the death and am pleased. I therefore wish you all sucof their father. Hereupon the two brothers cess and happiness!" Bimardi answered-"I do abandonod their homes with their families and not care for life or happiness, but am anxious their cattle. In course of their journey they always to remain in your service, and I am also halted at a place called Tirum, whence water was anxious to porpetuate your namo; with that desire conveyed for the god Sriranganaigar, who was I wish to construct a temple and a fort." The god living in Palikonda. Hearing of the fame of roplied: "Why need you do this? I am not any Chola Raja and the sacredness of the hills in luis way known, and wish to remain so:" Bimardi possession, they went to Kailaspatnam; and repeated, however, his prayers with mncla suppli. Bimardi besought the Råja to give him some land cation. The Deva then asked; "Well, if your for cultivation. The R&ja, seeing he had come wishes be so strong, whence can you bring all tho with immense cattle, gave him as much land as he wealth to build the temple and fort? What wished in Welapadi to till and to rear his cattle. money have you got for this purpose ?" "All my This place was called Welapadi, because it was wealth consists in the 8,700 head of cattle I posfull of trees 'named welam which furnished sticks sess; I shall sell them and carry out my object."
A different legend is given by Lieut. H. P. Hawkes in the Madras Journal of Literature and Science, vol. XX.p. 274, bearing some slight resemblance however to this.-ED.