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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1905.
years of samadhi of the real nature and the glory of God, which he would commit to writing in four books. The first would be the essence of Rig-Véda, the second the essence of Yajur Vedu, the third the essence of Sama-Veda, the fourth the essence of Atharva-Veda. The end of each stanza would be the beginning of the next stanza. He told Madhuri Kavi to prepare for this & volume of palmyra leaves, and write down what he was told. Then the vision disappeared. In the morning Madhuri Kavi rose very early, prepared the palmyra leaves, and took them to where the boy was seated. Then to the amazement of the bystanders, the boy began to dictate all these stanzas. After all was finished, he rose up from his sitting posture, left the tree and went to his parents, with whom he lived for sixteen years, during which time he was looked upon as a guru, and all castes came to him, and he imparted knowledge to all.
After this Satakopa told the people he must leave them, and he walked to the River Tambaparpi and entered into it, telling them that they would afterwards find an idol in his likeness in the river. So he disappeared, and as he foretold, they found the idol, which they set up and worship to this day. The copies of the stanzas made by Madhura Kavi and dictated by Satakopa still exist, are looked upon as equal to the Vedas, and are recited in front of the idol, while the Vedas are recited behind the idol. The tamarind tree can also now be seen, though it is too old to produce any fruit. Madhuri Kavi after this composed stanzas in honour of Satakopa.
IV.
Kalatókars Alwar. He was born of the royal family of Travancore, and in the course of tire he became raja. and ruled his country so well that the weak did not suffer from the strong. After a few years he began to read religious books, and his eyes were opened to the transitoriness of the world. Then, without neglecting the affairs of state, he tried to serve God also. He took the advice of good and learned men in secular and religious matters. He read all the sacred books with great assiduity, especially the Ramdyaņa. Being completely engrossed in this, and coming to the part where Rama prepares to do battle with 1,400 Rákshagas, he became much disturbed and gave orders for all his army to come out, putting himself at the head of them, imagining that he was to go to the help of Råma. Then his ministers, seeing in what state of mind he was, read to him the account of the battle, of the victory of Rama, and of the safety of his army. The rája bearing this and being satisfied, ordered his ariny back, and returned quietly.
After this, at one time, the ministers became envious of his gurus, and wishing to injure them, they caused some jewels to be hidden in the temple, giving out that the gurus had stolen and hidden them there. Then the rúja ordered a cobra to be brought and put on the hands of the gurus, saying that if they were guilty the cobra would bite them; if ianocent, it would not. As it did not harm them at all, the ministers were frightened and confessed their truth, and brought the jewels.
Then the raja went on pilgrinage to Tirupati with large retinue and afterwards to Srirangam and showed in all his life that to serve man is to please God. He wrote works both in Tamil and Sanskrit.
Vishnu Ohitts Alwer. He was born in the nature of Garuda. His parents were Bråhmang, but did not educate him well. He was, however, naturally religious, and became a devout worshipper of Vatapatrasayi, the local god. He attached himself to the temple as a gardener, where he did all the menial service. Once the Pandya Baja, a learned man, was roaming incognito through the town at night, when he heard a Brâhman reciting a Sanskrit stanza. He stopped the Brahman, and asked him whence he came and whither he was going. The Brahmaņ replied that he was on a pilgrimage to Ganga. Then the Rajn askod him to tell him the meaning of the stanses, which he did as follows: Men store up provisions in the rammer for use in the rainy season, they gather it in the day to
