Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism 37 



press him to take presents, hoping thus to secure good luck. And 

 so comes to a close the worship of Usuramma, with its many 

 sports from the olden times, and its slight touch of a severer 

 worship. 



CHAPTER V 



The Saktis 



The word sakti is from the Sanskrit, and means energy, force, 

 or power. In Hinduism it is used to express the energy of the 

 gods as manifested in their wives. In this way the wives of the 

 chief Hindu gods have come to be called Saktis. Especially is 

 this name applied to Parvati, wife of Siva.^ 



These wives of the gods receive worship, but there has arisen 

 a definite worship called sakti puja. This arises from the Tan- 

 tras, which are later than the Puranas. The object of the wor- 

 ship is the adoration of the female principle, and its worst orgies 

 are exceedingly loathsome and immoral.^ These orgies are con- 

 ducted at night and in secret. Few Hindus would admit that 

 they have anything to do with them, or know anything about 

 sakti puja.^ 



^W. J. Wilkins, Hindu Mythology, Calcutta, 1882, pp. 320 sq. Monier- 

 Williams, Brahmanism and Hinduism, London, 1891, pp. 180 sq. 



2 The subject of sakti puja is dealt with in all works on Hinduism. 

 For further information see J. Campbell Oman, The Brahmans, T heists, 

 and Muslims of India, London, 1909, pp. 26 sq. ; W. Ward, A View of the 

 History, Literature and Religions of the Hindus, London, 1818, pp. 152, 

 153. 232-234; H. H. Wilson, Essays on the Religion of the Hindus, I, pp. 

 254-263; W. J. Wilkins, Modern Hinduism, Calcutta, 1900, pp. 340 sq. ; 

 J. N. Bhattacharjee, Hindu Castes and Sects, pp. 407-413; Monier-Wil- 

 Hams, Brahmanism and Hinduism, London, 1891, Ch. VII, pp. 180 sq. ; 

 Dubois, Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Oxford, 1899, pp. 288- 

 290; J. Fr. Stacker, The Arsenal, Madras, 1910, pp. 80, 81; J. Murray 

 Mitchell, Hinduism, Past and Present, London, 1897, Ch. IX, pp. 135 sq. ; 

 E. R. Clough, While Sewing Sandals, New York, 1899, pp. 103 sq. 



3 Monier-Williams, Brahmanism and Hinduism, 207, thinks that the 

 worst forms of sakti puja are dying out. Oman, Brahmans, Theists 

 and Muslims, p. 27, thinks that the rites are practised secretly by a great 

 number of people, especially Brahmans. Shib Chundur Bose, The Hindus 

 as They Are, Calcutta, 1883, Appendix D, p. 317, gives a full description 

 of the orgies, which he thinks are not dying out. 



37 



