This specimen of a hymn connected with Palny in the Madura District alludes (in stanza 5) to the well-known legend which says in the Saivite way that those who love God need not fear death. Markandeya was a boy devoted to Siva, but over his life hung a terrible cloud, for the fates had decreed that he would not live beyond his sixteenth year. As the appointed time drew near his father lived in an agony of dread, but Markandeya, free from fear, spent all his time in the worship of Siva. The god of Death came at last. Regardless of the fact that the boy was at worship he threw over him that noose which pulls out human life from the body. The boy clung to Siva's lingam with both his hands. From within the lingam Siva burst forth, kicked the terrible death-god and pierced him with his trident. So Markandeya was saved. The scene is sculptured on many temples.

4. Holy Vedas chanting,
Sacred thread He wears;
All His hosts surround Him
Whom the white bull bears.
Cometh He in splendour,
Tiger-skin attired.
'Lord, our naked beggar
Above all desired,'
Cry ye in your worship,
At His feet appeal.
He who dwells in Palny
All your sin will heal.

5. Three eyes hath His forehead,
Fair moon crowns His hair;
When Death sought a victim,
Siva's foot crashed there;
Gory streams of blood flowed,
Death it was that died,
Such is He, our Father,
Um a, at His side;
Dwells He aye in Palny,
Where bees hum around
Drunk with honeyed sweetness,
Till its groves resound.

A multitude of hymns chant the glory of Chidambaram, ancient Tillai, holiest of all the Saivite shrines. Pious Saivites have for it a feeling not unlike the Jews' feeling for Jerusalem. The tending of the sacrificial fire comes down from pre-historic times, being firmly established when the earliest hymns of the Rig Veda were composed.

6. Tending as taught of old the sacrificial fire,
At Tillai Brahmans pure drive out misfortune dire.
There dwells the First of all, moon-crowned, and
those who cleave
For ever to His foot, no cleaving sin will grieve.

Conjeeveram, the ancient Tamil name of which is given in this stanza, though more famous as a Vaishnavite than as a Saivite shrine, offers in its temples a remarkable compendium of the religious history of South India. See the article 'Kanchipuram' in Dr. Hastings' 'Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics.'

7. He is the pith of holy writ;
And in the tangle of His hair
The spotless crescent's ray is lit;
He is both Lord and Lady fair.
He our great sovereign doth abide
In Kachchi Ehambam's fair town.
My mind can think of naught beside,
Naught beside Him, and Him alone.