________________
216
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
all the Suras came together, consulted and said: "Come, let us go to the prince of the Suras, and inform him!" They went, joyfully bowed their heads, and told him: "King of the Suras, Indra! Listen to our complaint, father! Lokamaya, the wicked Rakshasa, has come, gives much trouble, and does not allow (us) to remain in our town." When he heard that, he said: "Stand all up! Bring the most beautiful Airâvata (my elephant)! To day I will try his power!" He rose in fierce wrath, mounted the elephant which had been brought and placed before him, without delay joined the immortals, went with them at a swift pace to the Rakshasa, and took up a position before him. The Rakshasa observing him, began to abuse (him) in an unrestrained way, so that the earth was split. When Devendra saw the huge mass coming, he fell with his posteriors turned upwards, rose, said: "Wherefore shall I mount the elephant (again)? and wherefore the confusion? Let us go where Brahmâ is, and ask advice! It is not safe (here). Rise, and proceed!" and quickly came with them to Brahmâ to inform him of all. When he had introduced them to him whose vehicle is Nagari (Garuda), they joined their hands, and told him all at once. Having heard them, he mounted Garuda, went, and had a great fight with the Rakshasa; but he became wearied, said: "Bhâlâksha (Śiva) will be able to do it; I am not !" went where the feet of Šiva were, who is black like a dark-blue cloud, greeted him, and spoke. When the Âdi Mûrti heard it, he quickly mounted the A di Basava (Vrishabha), went, and cut off the Rakshasa's head. At that very moment he (the Rakshasa) praised him. Then Siva was pleased and said: "Ask a boon!" He answered: "Śiva must make my body clean on earth!" Then he was good enough to make a badge of honour of him. He took the backbone and made a staff (kolu) of it; he made a top-ornament (or cupola, kalasa) of the head; and made a flag (or wing, pakke paksha*) of the itchy skin. He uplifted the distinguishing sign (mudrá) of the imperishable Nandi on high, appointed it to be Na ndi's staff (Nandi kolu),t and causing it to be carried
Another MS. reads pathakshi.
+ This is an ornamented pole with a figure of Basava on it, over which is the cupola.
The translator has been unable at Madikeri (Mercara) to ascertain the meaning of Mayi's martapu or marutapu. § i.e. Hari's lord.
[JULY, 1875.
(lit., causing it to walk) before Nandi in the midst of the true devotees (sarana) commenced returning.
4. The Mayimartápu.
Then Mâyi, the younger sister of that wicked person (Lokamaya), with excessive rigour, provoked him. Hara, in wrath, cut off her head. She joyfully praised him, saying: "O powerful Paramâtma!" He, from compassion, was pleased,, and said: "I will give thee a boon. Pray (for one)!" "O god, make me like my elder brother!" said she. He called her head Mayimartápu, ‡ caused it to be carried (lit., caused it to walk) to the left of Nandi's nice staff (dhvaja), and together with the fine host (gana) entered the palace of Kailasa; and Hari Hara § lived in happiness. On earth all the eminent faithful prepare the badges of honour of the two, and at Hara's festive processions display them in front.
5. The Kirtimukha and Simhasana. To the demon (danuja) Hiranya Prahlâda was born, and paid devotion to Hari. His father said: "Pay devotion to Hara!" and gave him various instructions. When he (nevertheless) called upon Hari, he (Hari) heard it, in the form of Narasimha was born in a pillar, tore open the belly of Hiranya, took the entrails, decorated with his vanamálá lapped the blood, became excessively proud, and attacked the host of the immortals. They prayed. When Sankara, who breaks the teeth of the proud, heard it, he boiled with excessive rage and said: "Come, master Śri Virabhadra! Go thou! Narayana is not my equal. Courageously go, and break the display of pride of him who has overstepped his boundary! Thereafter return!" He went in the form of Sarabha, seized the neck of Hari, and whirled (him) on high. He came to Hara's feet, and in falling down praised, saying: "Hara, Hara!" Parameśvara was pleased, and said: "I will give thee a boon. Ask!" The wicked one said: "Take up my body!" Then he made the kirtimukha || of the head, and of the skin of Hari (or of the lion) which he had taken up, he made a seat (ásana). On earth it got the
What this badge of honour for Virabhadra is, we are at present unable to say. We have seen a large painted figure of cloth hanging in front of a Siva temple that was called a kirtimukha. [Kirtimukha is also the name of the grinning face so frequently carved on string-courses, and elsewhere on Hindu temples.-ED.]
