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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(FEBRUARY, 1897.
Then the Bhůta fell prostrate before the god and wept, shedding tears. Then the god said: - "Why do you weep? Tell me whatever you desire. I will give it to you. I will satisfy your longings; do not weep, rise up."
In this manner, after the god had given him a promise and encouragement, the Bhúta arose and cried aloud, and said to the god : -"O Lord, I am thirsty, I cannot endure this thirst; my throat is dried up without any moisture on account of my thirst. Show me a way to quench my thirst. If I am to live I must first quench my thirst."
When he begged of the god in this way, the god said to him :-" I know you are very thirsty; now, there is a large tank here called Déva-pushkarani. Go and drink the water of that tank and quench your thirst. Then the Bhúta went to the tank and stood upon the brink of it, and bowing his head drank the water very eagerly, and being filled and joyful, he returned to the god and said: -"O Lord, according to thy command, I went to the tank and drank as much water as I wanted. Now my thirst is quenched, and I beg of you to give me some food. Thou hast created me in the form of a Bhûta. Thou only art my stay henceforth. Therefore, ploase show me a way to obtain food."
At this, the god said to him :-"Behold, I have created you by the swent of my arm-pit. Now if I do not support my son, it will be a great shame to me; therefore, I will shew you a great way; do not be anxious. Now, therefore, go down to the world. There are many sinners there. They have infants and cattle, and children and calves, and cows and she-buffaloes and he-buffaloes, and young heifers and young bulls, and many other animals. If you go and enter into the cowpens belonging to the sinners and attack the animals, they will come and see. I have, therefore, created and sent fifteen hundred kinds of diseases before you. I send you as a promoter of the dise8808, and also, that you may got food, I have kept there wise men and charmers and fortune-tellers, who can distinguish the diseases from the doings of the Bhutas. Now if you go to the world and give trouble in the houses of the sinners, they will consult the fortune-tellers and come to know that the trouble was caused by you, and then they will put their trust in you and do just as you tell them. And they will believe in you gladly out of fear, lest you should give them more trouble if they do not believe in you. Then you can take whatever sacrifices you like; have no fear as to that. You can take sheep, fowls, and such sacrifices of flesh; besides this, you can take tender coconuts and ripe cocoanats, baked rice and beaten rice, jaggery and sugar-cane, and cakes of various kinds, and torches and signet; all such sacrifices you may take. Do so and give trouble to the sinners of the world and fill your stomach and be happy."
So saying, the god gave him a blessing and said: "Behold, go you before, and I will send behind you many Bhūtas into world. Go you before and receive the sacrifices,"
When he said this the Bhúta asked :-"O Lord, if I go into the world and possess a man and make him to tremble; then, if they ask me who I am, what shall I say? What is my name ? You must give me a name."
Then the god said :-“Behold, your name is Pañjurli Bhata. I give this name to you. Establish this your name in the world, and receive sacrifices and homage and be happy."
So saying, he sent him away. Then the Pañjurli searched for a way to come down to the world from Vaikuntha. He saw many ways, but he took the way that led him to the district of Yelenadu on the Ghats. So he descended to the valley of Yelenado, and wandering for seren days and seven nights he came to Subramanya and made obeisance to the gunda and prostrated before the god Subraya and said :-"O Lord Subramanya, I have come near thy feet; be thou also kind and gracious unto me wherever I go and help me and prosper me."
When he was thus praying, the sound of a bell was heard from within the gunda. Then the Pañjarli said to himself :- Now, this is miraculous doing of this god. It is a very auspicious sign."
