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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARI.
[AUGUST, 1895.
ingly turned into stoned before they had walked # lengao and a half to the enstward of Mañigunk Mahesa coming to the place shortly afterwards, and seeing the sad condition of Ganapati, prayed to Vishna, upon which Narada went to Sri Venkatesa and besought him to be merciful. But Venkatesa said to Narada: -No one can release a son from the curse of his father : therefore let him i.e., Ganapatt) kettle at Dronipür, 30 and protect the faithful there. Let him grant the petitions made by devotees at that place. Let him beeome famions under the name of Sata-Vinayaks within the circle of my influence. Sankara, tnder the form of Pañichaling, will protect devotees near my residence. Ganapati will remain at Rétanbhandpur, and will take care of the faithful there : wbile my servant, the devoted Maruti, will protect the (outlying) villages. Let all the other gods, who have come here settle with their attendants, live round about this place, according to their pleasure.' Nârada was much pleased at hearing this, and from that time forward 'Sri Venkatesa, under the name of Tirumaleba, took up his abode in the sacred place of Mañjguni, surrounded by deities, attendants and the sacred springe."
Sata then asked Vyasa : "What is the story of the Konori-Tirtha P Why did Vasu bury treasure in it p."
Vysa, in reply, said: "In the Krita-yaga there lived in the town of Vaijayantipura & pious merchant, by name Padmadbara. He lived a happy and contented life, with his sons and grandsons, and, under the guidance of learned Brahmans, devoted himself to the service of Madhukesa. He had one son, who wasted his father's money in sinful pleasures. The merchant pleaded with him but in vain, for the son paid no attention to his remonstrances, 80 he at lagt turned him out of his house and even went to the length of having him tarned out of the village. The son, thereupon, repented of his misdeeds, and wandering in the forest began to pray to Narayana, fasting. After a little while the god presented himself before him, with his sancha, chakra, gadá, and palma in his hands, and requested Vasu (which was the name of the son) to ask of him whatever he might desire, and then taking up some water from the Konêri. Tirtha, he sprinkled it over his head and made him pure. Again he asked him what he wanted. Vasu, on beholding Vishna, worshipped him, and begged of him to grant him great wealth in this life and eternal happiness in the next. Vishņu granted his request : and then saying that the waters of the Könêri, or Chakra, Tirtha, which he created by means of his chakra, would remove the sins of all who bathed in it, he disappeared.
"Some time after the expulsion of Vasu from his home his father, the merchant, yielding to the entreaties of his wife Padmini, despatched a number of camels (under the charge of numerous servants) laden with much treasure for his son Vasa. A note was attached to the forehead of each camel, stating that the treasure was for Vasu. He ordered his servants to bring back the treasure should they be unable to find his son. The servants, in their quest) wandered over hill and dale, and through towns and villages, till at length being thirsty, they turned aside into a forest which lay to the west of them. Here they found water, but Indra was disporting himself therein with his wives. Nevertheless, they proceeded towards it. Indra seeing them, became enraged, and seizing some huge rocks he hurled them into the air. These falling to the ground, prodaced a dreadful noise, and caused dust and mist and water to rise and splash in large quantities. The servants, on beholding these terrifying phenomena, forsook the camels, and fled in every direction. The camels (left antended) went on wandering aimlessly in the forest, till at length they came to the spot where Vası was residing. He saw the notes on their foreheads, and on reading their contents found that the treasure with which they were laden was meant for him, and he therefore took possession of it. He led a very pious life after this, and at the end, when death was approaching, he buried all his treasure in the Konêri
* Lit., the village of the watering trongh.
Lit., the village of the train or line of striped bullocks. * Also onlled Jayant: the modern Banarasi, a town on the extreme eastern frontier of North Kanara, some fifteen miles south-east of Siral.
