May, 1873.] RISHYA SRISGA. 141 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 Ghate, 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.
- VibhAnrkika Muni, son of Kasyapa, son of
Kasyapa, who was the son of Marichi Brahma, consulted his father as to the choico of the best place for tapas, and was directed to tho spot in which the river Tungabhadra runs in three different directions. Vibhandaka 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 Sringapura (modern Sring&ri), and identified it with the locality ordained by his holy lather, from the Tungabhadra 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. jvdla, flame) pene¬ trated Indra’s heaven and seriously disturbed its denizens. They in a body complained of it to their ruler, Indra, who directed one Chitra- sena to interrupt the fiery tapas of Vibhan¬ daka. Chitrasena thereupon conveyed Indra’s behests to Urvasi*(the head of celestial frail beauties), who then went to the Rishi’s Asrama or hermitage. The ascetic was then absorbed in dhydna or contemplation. Towards evening (pradosha) Vibhandaka 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¬ usual addition of two horns like those of the deer. The mother ran away directly after, and Vibhan- daka, who arrived at the river-side about that time, hg&rd tho wailing of the infant. By second sight (divya jhdnarn) he perceived that the child • The R&m&yana has Lomap&da.—Ed. was his own flesh and blood, and conveyed it to his Asrama, where he brought the child up, feeding him with his own fare of roots, leaves, &c.,and performing over him the prescribed rites, such as Ndinakarana, Jdtakarma, TJpanayana, Ac. When the boy was about twelve years old, Paramos vara and Parvati 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 yojanas of his abode. ‘ Once upon a time, when R6mapada* Maharaja 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- kumnra, 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 Raja, and informed him that if the young Rishya Sringa, son of Vibhandaka Muni,+ could be induced to visit the country of Anga, it would get rain in abundance, and regain its usual prosperity. Romap&da (hare-footed) could make nothing of this infor¬ mation, and consulted all the wise men in his dominions on the subject. They referred to their sacred books, and told him that the Asrama of Vibhandaka was situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra river, which was in the southern direction. The advisers moreover expressed their own inability to bring Rishya Sringa to Anga, but suggested that the RVja should em¬ ploy dancing-girls of surpassing beauty to allure the young Rishi to the desired place. Acting upon this practical suggestion, Romapada sent several lovely women of equivocal character, with large supplies of scents, cloths, jewels and wealth, and directed them to conduct Rishya Sringa to his capital, by every means in their power, whether fair or foul. They at first esta¬ blished a depot at a place called Narve, and, taking advantage of Vibhandaka’s absence from the hermitage, gradually initiated the unsophis¬ ticated young Rishi in tho pleasures of the world, escaping from the certain malediction of t Conf. Max Muller, Hist. Sansk. Lit. p. 444.—Ed.
