MOTHERRIGHT 307 



night at such temples as that of Tirupati in the 

 Carnatic believe that they receive the embraces of 

 Vishnu. 1 There are other temples where barren women 

 hope to achieve their hearts' desire for children by 

 granting their favours at a yearly festival in the month of 

 January to a fixed number of mortal men in pursuance 

 of a vow previously made. 2 A Thotigar in fulfilment 

 of certain vows will place his wife during the festival 

 of Soobramaniya in a solitary hut on the roadside and 

 watching for travellers will beg the first person he 

 meets to go in and have intercourse with her. This is 

 repeated until the number of strangers has been 

 procured, though it necessitate bringing her again and 

 again to the place. 3 



A story from the Jataka relates to one of the higher 

 castes. The righteous king Okkaka, who ruled in the 

 city of Kusavati, had sixteen thousand wives ; but his 

 chief wife Silavati had neither son nor daughter. As 

 he had no son to perpetuate his race his subjects 

 assembled at the door of his palace and began to 

 complain, in fear lest a stranger should seize the 

 kingdom and destroy it. The king opened his 

 window and parleyed with them. They advised him : 

 " First of all send out into the streets for a whole week 

 a band of dancing women of low degree giving the 

 act a religious sanction and if one of them shall 

 give birth to a son, well and good. Otherwise send 

 out a company of fairly good standing, and finally a 

 band of the highest rank. Surely among so many one 

 woman will be found of sufficient merit to bear a son." 

 These women must have been in some way attached to 



1 Dubois 60 1. 2 Ibid. 603. 



3 Trans. Ethn, Soc. N. S. vii. 264. 



