manifests himself in everlasting and universal goodness, (v) He pervades all space and (vi) He is the first cause of all.¹⁴ These six attributes of God, Beschi includes in his Caturakarāti and in the invocation song on prosody in his Toṉṉūl Viḷakkam.

Traditionally Hindus believe in eight attributes. They are (i) The Independent, (ii) The Ever-Pure, (iii) The intuitively wise, (iv) The infinitely Intelligent, (v) The Immaterial, (vi) The Most Merciful, (vii) The infinitely Powerful and (viii) The infinitely Happy.¹⁵

Beschi has chosen from this list of attributes, those which comply with the Catholic concepts. Acquaintance with Christian philosophy is necessary to understand them as Beschi intended them to be interpreted. Beschi has included nearly 105 references from the Bible in the Tēmpāvaṇi.¹⁶ But, he has at times differed from the Bible accounts and some have protested against this. He has Indianised the battle between Joshua and the Five Kings. Prior to battle Joshua despatches a messenger to smooth matters and warn the enemies. The Tamil method of just warfare demanded that a messenger be sent before the commencement of the battle to the enemies.¹⁷

The story of Samson and Delilah is cleverly adapted to Indian taste to reveal that God will not fail to manifest his greatness even in trivials like the hair. In the Bible, Samson is betrayed by Delilah, the third woman for whom he fell but in the Tēmpāvaṇi, only Delilah and the love affair between her and Samson are mentioned. Beschi denounces those women who betray for money.¹⁸

14. Tem. Ch. 27, St. 157

15. E. T. C. P. 13

16. Tem. Payiram, St. 2