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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1895.
away free. I am thus doing penance in order to get rid of these sins, which are a great burthen to me, and to gain salvation. I am indeed fortunate to meet with you now thas. Advise me as to what I should do.'" Nârada then said: O woman, Sri-Venkatesa has come down (from Vaikuntha) to relieve all people of their sins, and he has taken up his abode near the waters of the Kanka-hrada in the Sahyadris, and has promised to bestow complete absolution and salvation on those who bathe in those waters. If you join the river Svêdinis your wishes will be gratified.' Accordingly, the (river) Ganges, which had assumed the form of a woman, took its course through the rocks, and joined itself to the Svêdinî, the warm water of which is said to be the sweat of Sri Venkatesa. Having done this it passed on under ther name of the Sitala-Ganga to Venkatesa, and so on to the Kanka-hrada. There being purified, it (or she) once more returned to Vârânasi, being, however, directed by Venkatesa to repair thither (i. e., to the Kanka-hrada), on one Sunday in the month of Magha every year."
Vyasa then said further:-" Brahmâ and Mahêśa assumed the forms of a cow and calf respectively and came to Sri-Venkatesa (at the Kanka-hrada), but were unable to ascend the stone on which he was reclining. Sri-Venkatesa, taking pity on them, caused the stone to become soft. After this the cow and the calf used to ascend the stone and bathe the image of Venkatesa every morning and evening in milk. A Brahman, observing this, used to feed them regularly every day, in return for which devotion they bestowed much wealth upon him, they themselves meanwhile wandering about in the jungles."
After hearing this, Sûta asked Vyasa to tell him (the story of) the origin of the Soma and Aghanasini Rivers.
Vyasa then said:"Dakshaprajapati gave his thirty-three daughters in marriage to Chandra. Of these Chandra loved only Rôhint, and neglected the others, wherefore in their wrath they cursed him. To avert the evil of the curse, Chandra, by the advice of his guru, made a linga, to which he gave his own name, and began to do penance. While thus engaged in worship, Paramêśvara suddenly appeared from the linga, and striking the earth with the trisula he held in his hand, he caused water to rise out of the earth, wherewith he freed Chandra from the consequences of the curse. This holy water, rising as it does in the Sahyâdris, flows south for a distance of twenty-four miles, and then turning backwards it joins the Chandika, whence receiving the names of the Somâghanâsini and Kâmâghanâsinî Rivers, it passes to the south of Gôkarna and falls into the Western Sea."
Sûta then asked Vyasa what further deeds were done by Sri-Venkatesa, while resident in the Kanka-hrada.
Vyasa replied: "While Sri-Venkatesa was thus reclining on the stone, a yogin called Tirumala, a follower of Vishnu, after travelling all over the world and visiting many sacred places, came at length to this very spot, which from its shade and the presence of the Kankahrada, appeared to be very charming. After bathing in the tank and performing his usual daily ceremonies, he drank some water, and then seating himself under a tree he commenced meditating deeply (upon Vishnu). Presently he heard a voice from the skies saying:-O Tirumala Yogin, Sri-Venkatesa and his attendant deities are on the stone that is in Kanka-hrada here. Take him from this place and convey him to Mañjgunt, which lies in a northerly direction from here. Arrived there establish me (sic) near the hutta, which is at the foot of an Asôka tree, situated to the west of the Somâghanâsini. To the north-east of the hutta lies the Kônêrilo Tirtha, and in this tirtha a good deal of treasure has been buried by one Vasu
5 Synonymous with the Pâtâla-Ganga; lit., sweat of Sri-Venkatesa.
A small stream rising in the Western Ghats near Dêvimani, North Kanara.
The Aghan sinf of Soma.
The Aghanasiat of Kâma, the name of a small stream near Gokarna. These two streams are affluents of the Aghanasini or Tâdri river.
[Hutta means an anthill' in Kanarese.]
10 A square pond or tank with steps on all four sides (Kanarese).
