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FEBRUARY, 1897) SPECIMENS OF MODERN BRAHMANICAL LEGENDS.
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Siva ! '15 he went away, and I, distressed in various ways, died on the spot. I then entered into the womb of a goblin, and there also I was in great distress. I had a large and protruding belly, a large mouth and nose, hollow eyes, tawny hair, my hands and feet were like talile (palin-leaves), my neck was thin enough to pass through the eye of a needle, and my voice was as terrible as the clouds at the end of the Kalpa 17 And now my shadow always looks like the sky, water seems like stone, trees look like brambles, and what I eat appears like poison : distressed in this way, I have passed five hundred years. But having fortunately seen you I consider myself blessed. I once heard the name of Siva when I was in the form of a Mahar, and owing to the greatness of that merit I have met you to-day. O great sir, relieve me, relieve me! The good are full of compassion.'
So greatly lamenting she fell prostrate at his feet. The humbled woman, remembering her trials, wept sore and the great sago saw her rolling, much distressed, on the ground. His heart melted with compassion for her, and in order to remove her sorrow he said : - "O goblin daughter, get up and take courage : I will relieve you to-day ; be quiet, be quiet.' So saying, he went away from her and made18 a cavity of his hands :-O goblin, hollow-eyed, fearful and of trembling body, hear me! The Varada is the holy river for men. She is in the city of Vanavûsî. She actually bestows beatitude; the mere beholding of Mindhukêsvara secures happiness. What reason can there be for anxiety for men after dentlı, when there is so great store of happiness there?' So saying, he took her with him and went back to the Varada. Seating her on the bank of the river he bathed hiinself, and then plonged her body in the sacred stream, saying: May Madhukêśvara save (you)!' At the mere touch of the holy water sho lost her goblin shape and he adorned her body with the cast-off flowers of Madhukêávara. Immediately the followers (attendants) of 'Siva, brightening all the eight directions of the henvens), came quickly to them with the vimóna, They placed the lovely woman, wearing beautiful garments and smeared with sandal-wood powdler, in the rimana, which grants all desires. Then the good woman, adorned with all kinds of ornaments and accompanied by the Brahman, felt much satisfied in her hcart, and after walking round the Brâhman and worshipping Madhukeśvara, she, shining with her own lustre, got into the rimana, and while all the people and the people of Vavavâsi were looking, she was borne swiftly to the paradise of Kailasa.
Vanavâsî is the place to live in, Madhukêśvara is the object to be seen, the Varada is the river to bathe in for all people searching for religious and other happiness. Therefore Madhukêśvara should always be chosen as the object of worship. That merit which is obtained by charity, that benefit which is gained (by bathing) in holy waters, that happiness which is to be found in all other sacred places is to be gained by worshipping Madhukešvara. O good people, a certain hunter named Hunda coming (to Vanavasi) with the intention of stealing, saw the worship of Madhu kêśvara, and went to Kailasa."
Part II. A SALUTATION to the great teacher Dattâtrêya !
The Rishis said: "O great sage, whose sin las been put away by salpting the feet of Siva,-thou who knoweat, by the favour of thy teacher, both tlo past and the future, we pray thee to tell as in detail the holy story of Madhukolvara. Who wos the hunter named Hunda, and when did he come to steal? When did he como to Madhukêśvara protected Vanavasi? When did he see the worship of Siva, and how did he attain to final happiness Thinking over all this, please tell us in detail."
15 Expressive of pity, compassion: also occasionally of disgust. 16 Corypha umbraculifera. 11 I. e., the thunder, oto., at the end of the world. 11 I. ., assumed & prayerful attitude. The chariot of the gode, sell.directed and self-inoving.
