Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism 47 



the two rites points to a common origin. It may be that, as the 

 Lambadis have adopted many gods from the Dravidians,^® they 

 have adopted this custom too, because of the difficulty of obtaining 

 human sacrifices. 



Another informant/^ one of their own number, admits human 

 sacrifice, but says that it has ceased within the past ten or twelve 

 years because of the vigilance of the government. He says that 

 the cattle do not trample the victim, but rush by on either side, 

 while the victim is left to die of starvation unless some passer-by 

 rescues him. A margin of only ten or twelve years since the 

 custom is said to have ceased brings it up practically to the 

 present, and we may well believe that the lonely depths of the 

 forest still witness these terrible scenes, and that this is the end of 

 some of the children whom it is well known that the Lambadis buy 

 or steal, nominally for the purpose of slavery. 



Not all Saktis are of so terrible a nature as those described 

 above. Kateri is one of the milder ones. She is said to be a forest 

 goddess who sends cholera and similar diseases. ^^ In the Nellore 

 District she is propitiated by pregnant women for a safe and easy 

 delivery. She is said to have a great desire for blood, and the 

 woman fearing that her own blood may be required, makes the 

 propitiation in due time. She is moreover said to be a powerful 

 Sakti who can protect from other Saktis. 



This Sakti has no image, but the woman who desires the favor 

 of Kateri takes offerings and also a new koka, and calling all the 

 married women of the place, gathers them beside a water pot in a 

 spot previously selected. All the women put on the botlu, or 

 sacred marks, and leave with singing and tumult. After they have 

 gone a short distance, the woman who is performing the puja, 

 or worship, returns alone. She bathes, offers a fowl to Kateri, 

 cooks the fowl and eats it. She then puts on the koka which has 

 been offered to Kateri, and makes various offerings, especially the 



^^ Thurston, Castes and Tribes of Southern India, IV, p. 230, 

 ^■^ A young man who is now studying in one of our schools. When a 

 child he and his smaller brother and sick mother were deserted by the 

 Lambadis when starting on a journey. They were rescued by a missionary. 

 18 Brown's Telugu Dictionary, Madras, 1903, p. 268. 



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