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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1905.
told him that he must find Tirppani, and carry him on bis shoulders in to the shrine. Rejoicing in thus finding a means for showing his repentance, the priest departed, and the next morning after performing the usual morning ceremonies, le sought out and found where Tiruppani was, who, seeing the priest approach, and conscious of his own mean condition, began to draw back and get out of the way. But the priest called to him to stop, ran to bim, and prostrated himself before him, proclaiming at the same time that he, Tiruppani, was received by the god. Then Tiruppani in great amazement said that he felt so low that he could not dare to put his foot on the threshold of the god's shrine. Then the priest, after much persuasion, at last got Tiruppani to yield to being carried on his shoulders, and in this way conveyed him to the shrine and put him down near to the idol. Immediately Renganatha revealed himself in all his glory, whereupon Tiruppani, transported with joy, composed ten stanzas, describing the person of the god from head to foot and played on his vina. When he had finished, he exclaimed with fervent joy, "After beholding this glorious sight, I do not desire to open my eyes on anything else!” Upon uttering these words, before the astonished gaze of the bystanders, he appeared to enter through the feet of the revealed god into his very person.
IX.
Tirumangai Alwar, He was born in a place called Kurayalur near Tiruvali Tirunagiri, in the Chola Country, in the nature of the bow of Vishnu,- of Mlechchha parents, his father's name being Nila. He was first called Nilanirattan, and served as a soldier under the Chola Raja. He showed so much valour and courage that the rája raised him to be Commander-in-Chief, and also a ruler over portion of the Kingdom,
While he was thus ruling wisely and well, although engrossed in worldly affairs, on a certain day, some Apsarasas came down to swim and play in a beantiful pound, covered with water-lilies, near his chief town. Amongst them was one who wandered away by herself to another pond to gather some blue lilies, and there she was left by the others, who went away. Whereupon she took the form of a human maiden and remained there. One day a devoted Vaishṇava went to that pond to bathe, and seeing her there, asked who she was. She then said, "I am an Apsaras, and have been living with my companions in great enjoyment in the beautiful country of the Himalayas. One day, in the mountains, while Kapila Acharys was giving instruction to some Rishis, I passed by, and sering one of the Rishis was a cripple, I mocked at him. Upon this Kapila became very angry, and cursed me to become a human being and the wife of an outcast. Then I fell at the feet of Kapila and implored his forgiveness, so somewhat relenting, he replied, “Nilênirattan is born in the nature of the bow of Vishnu in order to save the world: if you take human form and become his wife, and convert him to Vaishnavism, the curse will cease to affect you." With this object I came hither. The Vaishṇava having no children, asked her to come back with him as his daughter, to which she gladly consented; so he took her home to his wife, who with joy adopted her as a child. They called her Kamalavalla (Blue Lily) and instructed her in their creed, and so she grew to be & beautiful woman.
NIlanirattan, having heard of her beauty, wished to go and see for himself. After seeing her, he was struck with her loveliness, and enquiring about her of the Vaishnavas, was told about her, and on her father lamenting that it was difficult to find a suitable bridegroom for her, Nilânirattan offered himself and was accepted by them. However, when their wishes were expressed to the gir), she declared, that unless he became converted to Vaishnavism, she could not marry bim. So Nilânirattan became a pupil of an acharya, and was initiated into Vaishnavism, and changed his name into Tirumangai, and presented himself before K&malavalli with all marks. Before the marriage she made him promise that he would feed a thousand Vaishnavas daily and look after their religious studies. Then the marriage took place and he began to carry out bis promise.
In doing this be spent so much money, that he was not able to pay the Government dues. The rdja bearing of this, was vory angry and sent one of the generals, Chandi vara, to arrest
