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MARCH, 1897.1 SPECIMENS OF MODERN BRAHMANICAL LEGENDS.
and the poor. He has horrible tasks in his mouth, and he is always frowning. In his hands he holds his rod and his noose. His voice is as deep as that of the clouds.60 He causes the very sinful ones who have been cast into hell to be brought before him. The fol. lowers of Yama delivered me over to him. Yama in great anger looked upon me with a severe eye, and he frightened me very much, so much so that I fainted. His obedient servants of terrible and awe-inspiring form (abape) beat me with the nooses and rods (that they carried) in their hands. Narada then came there accidentally (hy chance), desiring to see Yanna. O Brehmang, owing to the greatness of my merit (fortune ?) and to the favour of Kaitabhêsvara, Yama grew mild, got op and approached him. He offered an oblation to him and worshipped him. The Muni, after being worshipped by him, placed him on his seat. Yama, standing near him, spoke with hands folded : 'O great Muni, welcome to you! My family have become pure. Ogreat Muni, I am greatly blessed by your mere coming. O Lord (supreme or best) of the Yögis, command me what I should do for you.'
Nárada, hearing Yana speak thus, answered :-'I have come from Kailasa to-day, and one thing was heard by me there, namely, that Yama punishes (is panishing) Durņaya, 61 who is a devotee of Siva. O Virupaksha,62 go you now, and binding Yama together with his followers, bring him who is treacherous to Siva, and who is punishing my devotee. On hearing 'Siva speak thus, I, O Yama, hastened to your presence to inform you.'
. On hearing these words from Närada, Yama trembled with great fear, he summoned mo quickly, and released me from the bonds63 with which I was tied; and then in the presence of Nárada he gave this (following) order :- 'O Durņaya, listen to me. You will now go to the surface of the earth and you will become, by my order, the son of a fisherman on the auspicious banks of the) Varada, and you will stay near the hermitage of Bharadvaja. One morning in the month of Madhava04 that great Bharadvaja Muni will cause the Brâhmans that have bathed to listen to a Purana. You will hear the most holy story of Kaitabhêśvara. By my order, by the favour of Bharadvaja, and in the presence of Kaitabhêsvara, you will remember what happened in your former life. Then, after bathing in the Varada and witnessing the worship of Mahéśa, you will go to Kailasa.
• So saying he sent me away speedily. O great Muni Bharadvaja, all this I have got to-day. O great Yogin, save me!' So saying he saluted him.
The merciful Muvi, hearing the fisherman speak in this manner, said :- O fisherman, bathe in the river Varada, and being determined in your mind approach Kaitabhêsvara, and seeing the great worship (or ceremony) make pradakshina87 and nanaskára. There is no doubt that you will be taken to Kailâsa in a yana. .
The fisherman, being thus advised by the kind Muni, bathed in the Varadi, and havinr besmeared his body with the holy ashes, he, approaching Kaitabheśvara, saw the great ceremony. He himself went round the linga and made many salutations (namaskára). He made his residence there, and did this every day. At length, being attacked by fever, he died on the banks of the Varada, and, O wise men, he went to Kailîsa.
There is another river called Kumudva. It is like the best river.69 It (she) rises in the Sahyadri and is frequented by gods, Rishis and Brahmans. Those men on earth who bathe there on Sarıkrânti, on Vidyapátha, on the day of the eclipse of the sun and moon, and on the two Ayanas,70 will help (relieve) the twenty-one kulas71 and gain Kailasa."
60 1.., as thunder.
61 Or Durdamas: see supra. 62 Siva : having an irregular number of eyes : also the name of a follower of Siva. 63 Lit., noose.
64 Vaisakha. 65 I. e., all this has happened to-day.
66 Lit., of great mind. 67 Circling round or walking round.
A river in the Ko Taluka of the Dharwar District. 63 1. e., the Varada.
70 Ayanas (equinoxes). 71 Here kula means prrusha, seven on the father's side, seven on the mother's side, and Beven on the side of the father-in-law; altogether make up twenty one kulas or purushas.
