June, 1873.] LEGEND OP VELLUR. 173 thero are wells all about. Streams of water run continuously underneath the temple. There is one portion of the temple in which you cannot go without a guide and torch; it consists of seven rooms built one beyond another. This temple went out of the hands of the Hin¬ dus about the commencement of the Muhammadan rule in Vellur. No idol is left in it; half a dozen public offices are located in it; the richly carved black massive “Mandaps” have been white¬ washed ; the whole building has been disfigured. The following story* will tell how this curious temple and fort were erected. It is said that when this place was a desert it was resided in by a god named Jal&gandi Ishwa- rar; Gang& Gauriaman was tho goddess. The small hill or Durgam was their frequent resort. The Pal&r river was then called Chir and was on the north. To the south was the village of Wela- padi. To the east was Palakonda R&nmal&i mountain. To the south-east was Dharmalinga Mal&si mountain. To the west was the tank of S&dip&ri. Everything within these boundaries was “ Welankud,” or forest. Chol& RAja was then reigning, who had acquired much fame. A person named Eatumardi used to live in the sacred city of Palavansa, on the banks of the Krishna river. He had two sons, Bimardi and Timardi, whose statues aro yet at the sides of the temple gate. They are also found inside the tem¬ ple in various attitudes. Their mother died Boon after giving them birth. Eatumardi had four sons by his second wife. His wealth consisted in cattle, and they wore by thousands. Soon after celebrating the marriages of his sons he made two divisions of his wealth; one was given to Bi¬ mardi and Timardi, aud tho other was divided among tho four sons by his second wife, who commenced quarrelling with and even concerting the death of their two half-brothers after the death of their father. Hereupon the two brothers abandoned their homes with their families and their cattle. In course of their journey they halted at a place called Tirum, whence water was conveyed for the god ^riranganaigar, who was living in Palikonda. Hearing of the fame of Chola RAja and the sacredness of the hills in his possession, they went to Kail&spatnam; and Bimardi besought the R&ja to give him some land for cultivation. Tho RAja, seeing he had cotne with immense cattle, gave him as much land as he wished in Welapadi to till and to rear his cattle. This place was called Welapadi, because it was full of trees named welam which furnished sticks for cleansing the teeth. He daily went to Kai- 1&8 Hill to worship the Dharmalinga, from whom he wished to know all about his lot. He intended to stay where ho was, if he was thereby to become happy, otherwise he purposed to go and live in Senchi near Tanjor. On the tenth day the two brothers were attacked by P&lagar marauders, but Bimardi and Timardi fought so boldly against them that they retreated. On hearing this the RAja was much pleased, and the two brothers were entrusted with numerous Silladars. The villagers also rendered them any aid they needed. At this stage of affairs ono of tho cows of Bimardi was delivered of a calf. It w*as as white as milk; but its horns, nose, tail and hoofs were black. Its teats were five. When it grew it never went in com¬ pany with the other cattle. It went to graze alone, and returned alone. It was delivered of a calf, but iil not allow it to drink milk. Bimar¬ di was surprised to find that daily when tho cow returned in the evening it came with empty udder. Nor was the herlsman able to explain this, but one morning ho followed the cow wherever it went. The cow went on till it came near a small island, to which it went crossing the water. Im¬ mediately after this a serpent came out of a hole. It had fivo mouths, by which it drank milk from the fivo teats of the cow. After the serpent had done drinking, the cow returned to its master’s place. Bimardi was much affected by this sight. He considered both the occurrence and the locality as sacred. On the morning of the follow¬ ing day he crossed the water and went near the hole of the five-mouthed serpent. There he pray¬ ed to know what wero the wishes of the serpent. After this he fell fast asleep. A figure then ap¬ peared to him in his dream and said to Bimardi— “My name is fWibasivam. That cow which you possess is created by me. I drink its milk and am pleased. I therefore wish you all suc¬ cess and happiness ! ” Bimardi answered—** I do not care for life or happiness, but am anxious always to remain in your service; and I am also anxious to perpetuate your name; with that desire I wish to construct a temple and a fort.” The god replied: ** Why need you do this P I am not any way known, and wish to remain so.” Bimardi repeated, however, his prayers with much suppli¬ cation. The Deva then asked; “Well, if your wishes be so strong, whence can you bring all the wealth to build the temple and fort P WHhat money have you got for this purpose P” “ All my wealth consists in the 8,700 head of cattle I pos¬ sess ; I shall sell them and carry out my object.”
- A different legend is given by Lieut. H. P. Hawkes in the Madras Journal of Literature and Science, vol. XX. p.
274, bearing some slight resemblance however to this.—Ed.
