Storia do Mogor 249.7

249.7

Upon this subject they say that it is part of their faith to believe that even if the Brahman had not served that class of people, but only conversed with them, he could not avoid having the same punishment. As for the penalties endured by men in hell, they say that in that place are all imaginable torments and sufferings. In it are to be found all kinds of venomous animals for torturing men. If at the moment of death a man takes hold of a cow's tail, and receives a little water from a Brahman's hand and spills it upon the ground, giving some money in alms to the Brahman who brought the cow, he who does all this is assured, they believe, that by these good deeds the cow will go to wait for him in the other world close to a river of fire, adjoining the town where dwells the president of hell. The river is called Vaicarany (Vaikarni). At that spot the cow holds out its tail, the defunct seizes it, and crosses over tranquilly to the farther side of the river of fire. Not only does Eyamen (Yama) preside over all these things and everything else that goes on in hell, but he is also the god of death. According to them, their belief is that he died and came to life again, and here is the story that they tell about it. There was an ascetic named Maruganda Magarecchi (Maharshi Mrikanda), who sorrowed for the want of children. He asked for them from Echivem (Sivam) with many prayers. Siva inquired if he wished many sons or one;