The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.s1.128

v2.c17.s1.128

**Story of Indradyumna.** In the earliest stage of its existence, Puri, says the Puruṣottama Māhātmya³, was a forest having the Blue Hill in the centre, with an all-bestow-ing Kalpa tree on its brow, the sacred fountain of Rohiṇa to the west of it, and on its side an inimitable image of Viṣṇu in sapphire. The stone gave its name to the image, whence it was called Nīlamaṇi or Nīlamādhava. A pilgrim of great sanctity had seen it in this state in the golden age, and reported its existence to Indradyumna⁴, a prince of the Solar dynasty, who resigned at Avanti in the [ 102 ] country of Mālava, (modern Oujein in Mālwā). The prince was greatly interested, and expressed an earnest desire to proceed to the spot, and attain the highest blessing of human existence by beholding the image. It was decided, however, that before the prince started on so distant and difficult an expendition, an officer should be deputed to ascertain the fact. One Vidyāpati, the brother of the high-priest, was selected as the fittest person to go. He accomplished the journey in three months ; and beheld, at the foot of the great Kalpa tree, a number of Brāhmaṇas, each having four hands, and bearing the emblems of Viṣṇu. The chief of this congregation was a Savara, a barbarian (fowler), named Viśvavasu. He alone knew the sacred bower of the divinity, and daily worshipped the image with such simple offerings as he could command. Vidyāpati asked his permission to visit the image ; but the fowler was at first unwilling to grant it, for he knew of a tradition which said that Indradyumna would come to the place, and thereupon the image would disappear ; but, on considering that he would, by a refusal, offend a great king, and fail in his duty to his guest, he accepted the inevitability, and took the pilgrim to the secret of the divinity, and loaded him with rich presents including a flower-garland from the neck of the image. On enquiry as how Viśvavasu had obtained in the wilderness the rich articles which even in the capital of Mālwā would be held rare and precious, the fowler informed his guest that every night the gods of heaven descended on earth to behold the glory of the Blue Image, and, after worshipping it, made the richest offerings of which he, the narrator, as the chief guardian of the place, obtained the benefit.