RISHYA ŠRISGA.

May, 1873.]

It is scarcely necessary to remark that the people of the country accept its truth. But a simpler explanation may easily be arrived at. The temple is built close to the eastern base of the Western Ghâts, and as their gigantic peaks intercept and appropriate the precious burden of the clouds during the S. W. monsoon, the locality happens by a simple natural law to be highly favoured with rain. The local priest hood, with a view to enhance their own import ance and gains, have turned the natural pheno menon to their own advantage, clothing it with a religious and supernatural garb. ‘Vibhāndaka Muni, son of Kāśyapa, son of Kaśyapa, who was the son of Marichi Brahma, consulted his father as to the choice of the

best place for tapas, and was directed to the spot in which the river Tuñgabhadrā runs in three different directions. Vibhāndaka there upon went in search of such a place, commenc ing from the source of the river, and after pass ing various tirthas and holy spots, arrived at Sriñgapura (modern Sriñgēri), and identified it with the locality ordained by his holy father, from the Tuñgabhadrā there making three different sweeps in its course. The Rishi here perform ed the rite of tapas rigorously for three thousand years, and its severity (lit. jvála, flame) pene trated Indra's heaven and seriously disturbed its denizens. They in a body complained of it

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was his own flesh and blood, and conveyed it to his Aśrama, where he brought the child up, feeding him with his own fare of roots, leaves, &c., and performing over him theprescribed rites, such as Nāmakarana, Játakarma, Upanayana, &c. When the boy was about twelve years old, Paramësvara and Pârvati were one day taking an airing in the celestial regions, at tended by their retinue of evil spirits, ghosts, and devils, and were much surprised to find a child in such company. They alighted on the spot, and blessed the boy, investing him with the varam, or power of destroying fa mine and drought within twelve yöjanas of his abode.

‘Once upon a time, when Römapāda” Mahārāja was ruling the kingdom of Anga, it was over taken by an unusual drought of twelve years' duration, and the people were in great suffering, no food or drink being procurable for men or cattle. At this juncture the divine Rishi Sanat kumâra, who has the privilege of visiting the earth whenever the fancy seizes him, went to see the afflicted country and its unfortunate ruler. He was duly received by the Rāja, and informed

him that if the young Rishya Sriñga, son of Vibhāndaka Muni,f could be induced to visit the

country of Anga, it would get rain in abundance, and regain its usual prosperity. Römapāda (hare-footed) could make nothing of this infor

to their ruler, Indra, who directed one Chitra

mation, and consulted all the wise men in his

séna to interrupt the fiery tapas of Vibhān daka. Chitraséna thereupon conveyed Indra's

dominions on the subject. They referred to their

behests to Urvači;(the head of celestial frail

Vibhāndaka was situated on the banks of the Tuñgabhadrā river, which was in the southern direction. The advisers moreover expressed

beauties), who then went to the Rishi's Aśrama or hermitage. The ascetic was then absorbed in dhyāna or contemplation. Towards evening (pradºsha) Vibhāndaka went to bathe in the river, and was deeply smitten with the celestial nymph whom he encountered on the road. He after. wards proceeded to the river, and performed his ablutions.

About the same time a doe came

to drink in the river and unconsciously imbibed the washings of the ascetic. The animal imme diately became great with young, and in time was delivered of a human male child, with the un

sacred books, and told him that the Aśrama of

their own inability to bring Rishya Sriiga to Anga, but suggested that the Rāja should em ploy dancing-girls of surpassing beauty to allure

the young Rishi to the desired place. Acting upon this practical suggestion, Römapāda sent several lovely women of equivocal character, with large supplies of scents, cloths, jewels and wealth, and directed them to conduct Rishya

Śrīga to his capital, by every means in their

sight (divya jñānam) he perceived that the child

power, whether fair or foul. They at first esta blished a depôt at a place called Närvé, and, taking advantage of Vibhāndaka's absence from the hermitage, gradually initiated the unsophis ticated young Rishi in the pleasures of the world, escaping from the certain malediction of

• The Rāmāyana has Lomapāda-Ed.

t Conf. Max Müller, Hist. Sansk. Lit. p. 444.—ED.

usual addition of two horns like those of the deer.

The mother ran away directly after, and Vibhān daka, who arrived at the river-side about that

time, heard the wailing of the infant. By second