Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism 15 



CHAPTER II 

 General Features of Dravidian Worship 



Hinduism as commonly known, and as described in the various 

 treatises on the subject, is the rehgion which originated in Vedic 

 times. It is controlled entirely by the Brahmans. The prominent 

 temples which are so evident in every town and village, are temples 

 for Vishnu or Siva or some of their incarnations or avatars. 



Rama, the hero of the Ramayana, an avatar of Vishnu, is met 

 in every village, and has become to some extent a tutelary god of 

 South India.^ His shrine is often small and poorly built, prob- 

 ably because he is considered much in the same light as the 

 Dravidian gods. 



In all Vishnu and Siva temples Brahman priests ofificiate. The 

 worship has something more of dignity and mystery than that of 

 the Dravidian gods, but it cannot be said to be a popular worship. 

 This worship is supported largely through endowments of lands 

 made to the temples in former days by kings who wished to be 

 friendly with the Brahmans, or to attain merit for themselves. 

 These lands are now usually under the control of the government, 

 and the income is paid for the expenses of the temples. Pilgrims 

 and people hoping to attain merit also make gifts for the support 

 of the temples. 



The mass of the people, meanwhile, are giving their attention 

 almost exclusively to another group of gods. Near every village 

 may be seen small rude temples or shrines. Usually an unhewn 



struggle before Siva became a Hindu god. The Dravidian goddess, EI- 

 lamma, is sometimes represented with the torn-ofif head of a Brahman in 

 her hand, which indicates that the political conquest was not an easy one. 

 See Oppert, Original Inhabitants of India, p. 464. 



1 The Manual of Administration of the Madras Presidency, I, 71, gives 

 an interesting fact that the Shanans (' toddy-drawers ') of South India 

 still celebrate with joy the successes of Ravana and the defeat of Rama. 

 At one time I was watching the removal of a fallen Ramaswami shrine in 

 a hamlet where his worship had ceased, and beneath the image were 

 found shells and little pots used in Dravidian devil worship. Also one 

 Chinese cash was found ! The history of this is a mystery. It is evident 

 that when Rama's shrine was erected, the people felt safer to have the 

 symbols of their demons included also. 



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