Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/208

Rh midnight, and the merchant and some of the crew who escaped reported the sad occurrence to the king. Killi-valavan went in search of his son and neglected to perform the annual festival in honor of Indra. The goddess of the ocean enraged at this insult to the king of the gods, sent a huge sea-wave, which submerged Kavirip-paddinarn. The venerable Buddhist monk accompanied by Mâthavi and Sutamati has gone to Vanchi, and you should go there and meet them.” The goddess then departed, and the king desirous of seeing the body in which he was previously born, scooped out the sand at the spot indicated by the goddess and discovered a skeleton in perfect order. At the sight of this skeleton, the king fainted, and Manimêkalai comforted him by telling him that she came to his City and invited him to the island, in the hope that after learning his former birth, he will be the model of a pious and good king, and establish his fame throughout the many islands over which he rules. “If kings themselves wish to turn monks who will help the poor?” she said. “Remember! true charity is to give food and clothing and shelter to living beings.”

“Whether in my own country, or in other lands, I shall perform the charity which you have indicated. You have reformed me by giving me a knowledge of my former births. How can I part from you who have been so kind to me?” replied the king.

“Grieve not for this parting. Your kingdom calls for thee and your presence is needed there. Return therefore at once on board your ship. I shall go to Vanchi” said Manimêkalai and flew into the air.

She arrived at Vanchi and visited the temple erected in honor of her father Kovilan and step-mother Kannaki. Having worshipped them she changed her form to that of a monk, and inspected every temple and hall and platform where men devoted to religion were congregated. She sought instruction from the professors of the Vedic, Saiva, Vaishnava, Ajivaka, Nirgrantha, Sankya, Vaiseshika and Lokayata religions. She met Kovilan’s father who had become a Buddhist monk, and from him she learnt that the Buddhist abbot of Pukar had