in a shed by a shepherd, who had miraculously discovered it by the extraordinary insight of one of his cows; and one of its earliest devotees was a Sri Vaishnavite pilgrim who spent his life worshipping it, and from whom the Sri Vaishnavites of Antarvédi claim to be descended. The present temple, as is mentioned in an inscription within it, was built in 1823 by a pious Palli of Bendamúrlanka.
A well-known festival occurs in the village in Mákha (February-March), and at this the marriage of the god is celebrated. It lasts about a week, and is the largest in the district, as many as 8o,000 people sometimes attending it. The car is dragged round on the second day ; and on the last the god is taken down to the sea-shore, where his bronze quoit (chakram) is laid on the head of each of the pilgrims, who afterwards bathe in the sea.
A curious feature of this festival is the importance accorded thereat to the Kóna Síma Drávidas of Pérúru mentioned in the account of that place above. When the marriage of the god is performed they represent his bride's relations, and they are also allowed to go to considerable lengths in making fun of the Sri Vaishnavite Bráhmans of Antarvédi, who are the leading religious party in the place and represent the god himself at the marriage. On the last day but one of the festival they put on Vaishnavite sect-marks and sing abusive songs about the Vaishnavites, who show no resentment. The reason for all this is said to be the fact that long ago the chakram of the god was lost in the sea, and that one of the Tamil Bráhmans of Pérúru earned the everlasting gratitude of the people of Antarvédi by getting it back by the use of powerful charms (mantrams). It is even believed that the car cannot be drawn without the help of one of these privileged persons. It is solemnly asserted that 'in the year Vijaya' (1893-94) the villagers could not move the car in spite of all their efforts, because no one from Pérúru was pulling. Some men from there were sought out and prevailed upon to touch the ropes, and the car at once started; and nowadays they take care to have some one from Pérúru to help pull. The temple is a handsome building with a number of gópurams, but it is not of any great size. It is endowed with some 800 acres of land and receives an annual tasdik allowance of about Rs. 3,000.
Antarvédi is of no industrial importance. The painting done there is referred to in Chapter VI.
Jagannapéta : Four miles north-north-east of Rájavólu. Hamlet of Mogalikudúru, the population of which is 2,524. The place is noted for its weaving, which, though now said to be
