SEVEN PAGODAS, an interesting series of monolithic temples, 34 miles south of Madras, by the natives called Maliabalipuram, the city of the great 13ali. Here is the spot where the haughty Kehatna and Lortinite the enchantress imprisoned the Glendover.
' The sepulchres Of the ancient kings, which Enly in his power Made in prinidval times ; and built above them A city, like the cities of the gods, Being like a god himself. For many an ago Hath Ocean waxed against his palaces, Till overwliehu'd they lie beneath the waves, Not overthrown, so well the awful Chief Had laid their deep foundations.' The traditional character of Bali was in some respects not unlike the poet's representation of the great raja Kehama. Like Kellama, the giant 13ali had nearly raised himself to a dominion over the lower gods ; like him, Ile had nearly driven the Devata from heaven, and seized for himself the Swarga throne,—when Vishnu bourne incarnate In the form of a Brahman dwarf, and humbled the giant to the duet. Unlike Kehanut, however, Bali repented and humiliated himself before the tleity, and tho old tradition is well told by Southey, who says— ' Their talk was of the city of the days Of oltl, earth's wonder once, end of the fame Of Baly its great founder ... he whose name In ancient story and in poet's praise. Liveth and flourisheth for endless glory, Because his might Put down the wrong, and aye upheld the right, Till for ambition, as old sages tell, At length the universal monarch fell ; For he too, having made the world his own, Then in his pride, had driven Tim Devatas from heaven, And seized triumphantly the Swarga throne.
The Ineaniate came before the 3lighty One, In dwarfish stature, and in mien obscure ; The sacred cord he bore, And ask'd, for Brahrna's sake, a little boon, Three steps of Baly's ample reign, no more. Poor was the boon required, and poor was he Who begg'd, . a little wretch it seem'd to be ; But 1321y ne'er refused a supplicant's prayer.
Ile on the dwarf cast down A glance of pity in contemptuous mood, And bade him take the boon, And measure where he would.
Lo, son of giant birth, I take my grant I the Incarnate power replies. With his first step he measured o'er the earth, The second spann'd the skies.
Three paces thou Last granted, Twice have I set my footstep, Vishnu cries ; Where shall the third be planted ? Then Baly knew the god, and at his feet, In homage due, he laid his humble bead.
mighty art thou, 0 Lord of Earth and Heaven Mighty art thou! he said ; Be merciful, and kt me he forgiven.
Ile ask'd for mercy of the Merciful, And mercy for his virtue's sake was shown. For though he was cast down to Padalon, Yet there, by Yamen's throne, Doth Daly sit in majesty and might, To judge the dead, and sentence them aright.
And forasmuch as he was still the friend Of righteousness, it is permitted him, Yearly, from those drear regions to ascend, And walk the earth, that he may bear his name Still hymn't1 and lionour'd by the grateful voice Of all mankind, and in his fame rejoice.' See Mahabalipuram.