1 8 Wilber Theodore Elmore 



CHAPTER III 

 The Seven Sisters 



In all parts of South India the Seven Sisters are the most prom- 

 inent among Dravidian deities. They have one younger brother 

 called Potu Razu. His name seems to be the same everywhere, 

 but the names of the Seven Sisters vary, localities quite near to- 

 gether often having different names for them. In the Kandukuru 

 Taluq of the Nellore District the names commonly given are 

 Poleramma, Ankamma, Muthyalamma, Dilli Polasi, Bangaramma, 

 Mathamma, and Renuka. Of these Poleramma is the best known, 

 being found in almost every village.^ 



As the worship of the Seven Sisters is typical of that of all the 

 Dravidian deities, the rites connected with each will be described 

 with some detail. 



Poleramma. The temple or shrine of Poleramma is usually 

 outside the village, and quite frequently on the bank of an irriga- 

 tion tank, or reservoir.^ The shrine is usually very crude, some- 

 times built with stones and mud. At other times it consists of 

 stones two or three feet long, set upright in the ground on three 

 sides of a small square, the fourth side being left open. On the 



1 For other lists see Madras Government Museum, Bulletin, V, no. 3, p. 

 116; Manual of Administration of Madras Presidency, I, p. 78; Oppert, 

 Original Inhabitants of India, p. 488. Oppert includes two wives of lyenar, 

 thus making nine in his group. Pidari in his list appears to be Poleramma. 



2 Bishop Whitehead classifies Poleramma as a " boundary goddess." 

 See Madras Government Museum, Bulletin, V, no. 3, p. iii. Polimeru is 

 a Telugu word meaning 'boundary,' or more accurately the field between 

 two villages. It is probable that the similarity of names, and the fact that 

 Poleramma's temple is outside the village, have given the impression that 

 she is a boundary goddess. J. A. Curtis of Donokonda writes, " I am 

 unable to confirm my impression that Poleramma is a boundary goddess. 

 Baita Ankamma also is related to the boundaries. Of course polimeru 

 means not the edge of the settlement, but the field boundary between two 

 separate villages. In this sense the Poleramma temple is not on the 

 boundary." Regarding boundary goddesses the Gazetteer of South Arcot 

 District, I, p. 92, says, " In many places stone slabs may be seen set up on 

 the outskirts of the village on what are said to be the old boundaries." 

 Some of these have become idols. On others cocoanuts are broken 

 annually. 



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