354 DEMONOLATET. 



4. The Birthplace god (Yul-lha, literally "country-god"), which 



resides on the crown of the head, and whose worship 

 secures dominion and fame. 



5. The Enemy god (f/gra-lha), pronounced vulgarly ^' dab-lha," 



„ which sits on the right shoulder. In 



enemy god.'' ""^ this connection it is notable that no one 



willingly will allow any object to rest 

 on his right shoulder, for the reason that it injures the 

 " dah-Uia,^'' and no friend will familiarly lay his hand on his 

 friend's right shoulder for the same reason. 



This latter god, who is figui-ed in " the Wheel of Life," vide 

 page 266, is especially worshipped by soldiers, as he defends against 

 the enemy. But he is also worshipped by all the laity once at least 

 during the year for overcoming their individual enemies. Usually 

 the whole village in concert celebrates this worship : the men carrying 

 swords and shields, and they dance and leap about, concluding 

 with a great shout of victory.^ 



In addition to these so-called "personal gods "proper are the good 

 and bad spirits already mentioned, in connection with "the Wheel 

 of Life," who sit on the individual's shoulders and prompt him to good 

 and evil deeds respectively, and leave him only on his arrival before 

 the Great Judge of the dead. These are practically identical with the 

 good and evil genius of the Romans — the Genium Album et Nigrum 

 of Horace." 



Those demons which are worshipped when the individual is happy 



and in health are called "the pleasing spirits;" but 



to^easra^ according ^j^^y ^^^^ ^^^ y^^ worshijDped in sickness or other 



affliction. Each class of spirits or "gods" has a 



particular season for worship. Thus: — 



The Earth gods (sa-gzhi mi-rig-gi-Ma) are worshipped in the 

 spring. 



The Ancestral gods (smra zhang chhung-gi-lha) are worshipped 

 in the summer season. 



The " Three Upper Gods^' (stod-sum pad-lha) in the autumn. 



' The story of Lis acquiring from the sea the banner of Tictory is suggestive of 

 Indra's victorious banner, also procured from the sea. — Brihat Sanhita, translated by 

 JJr. Kem, J. Roy. As. Socy. (new series), "VI, page 44. 



2 ffc^rat. 2. Epist. 



