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SEPTEMBER, 1915] AGNISKANDHA AND THE FOURTH ROCK EDICT OF ASOKA
205
Oliruvaw maravarum térumairum Kaliru súldarakkan murakyambi.
(Manimékhalai I, pp. 68-69) On the 28 days that this festival was in progress at Puhar at the mouth of the Kavery not only was it that Indra came down from heaven to preside at the festival, but all the devas in attendance on him also descended to earth, leaving the svarga empty of its people.
"Tivakachchanti seydarunaina!
Ayirangangôi rannodangula Nâlvêrudêvaru nalattahu sirappir Pálveru dêvarumippadippalaridu Mannan Karikål valavaningiyanál Innahar pôlva toriyalbinadahi Ponnahar varidappăduvarenbadu Tonnilaiyuxaridôr tuniporuladalin"
(Manimékhalai I, 36-43) On the occasion of propitiation of the thousand-eyed Indra for the benefit of this land, along with Indra will descend into the city of Puhar the four different orders and the various classes of dévas as well, leaving the heaven of Indra (Amaravati) empty of the dévas just as this city was when the illustrious Karikala left it.
This passage contains the idea embodied in the divyáni rúpani of the edict. These devas in their various degree will find more or less adequate representation in the festive paraphernalia of temples and festivals. From this it will be clear that the divyani rûpani need be neither more nor less divine than the other items specified. The passage of the edict under discussion can then be rendered thus :
"But now, in consequence of the adoption of the dharma (law of morality) by Devanapriya Priyadaráin, the sound of the drum is, lo! but the sound of the dharma, the spectacle presented to the people, processional cars, elephants, bon-fires and others, the representations of the dovas.
That is, the drum that sounds is no more the war-drum, and the spectacle presented is no more the merciless destruction of God's creatures both in war and in the chasy. As a consequence of this change in the conduct of the king, the subjects reverse their previous evil practices to the opposite good one in accordance with the proverbial Yatha Raja tata prajah (as the king so the people). This is what exactly is stated in the sentence following. In the edict :-Yarisi, dec.
The following twe verses which Mallinâtha quotes in his comment on the verse 3 of Canto IV of the Raghuvarna would go to indicate that the festival to Indra is an old institution; and the way in which the two Buddhistic Tamil works treat of this would indicate that this was a cosmopolitan festival in which every one joined.
Evam yah kurutê yatram Indrakétór-Yudhisthira
Parjanyak kâmavarshi syat tasya râjyê na sambayah Yudhisthira. whoever in this manner takes Indra's Hay in procession, in his kingdom . clouds will pour down, as much as is wished for, of rain. Of this there is no doubt.
Chaturasrash dhvajákârasi râjadvari pratishthitam Áhuh Sakra-dh rajai nama paura-16ké sukhávaham.
