52 Wilder Theodore Elmore 



The above illustrations relate to individual cases of exorcism 

 In many places, however, exorcism is practiced on a much larger 

 scale. People will come from long distances to consult some re- 

 nowned demon doctor, or to visit some especially potent place. An 

 illustration of this is found at a temple known as Nattaryan Kovil 

 in the Dharapuram Taluq of the Coimbatore District.^ 



In this place there is a temple to the Hindu god, Nattaryan, and 

 also small images and shrines for two deities which are considered 

 to be powerful demons.^ These demons are thought to have the 

 power to cast out other demons. 



Tuesday night is the time when the demons are thought to be 

 ready to give help. The ceremonies continue all night, and well 

 into Wednesday morning. All day Tuesday crowds will be arriv- 

 ing, and by night every available place about the temple yard will 

 be filled with encampments. As darkness comes on the ceremonies 

 for exorcism begin inside the temple yard. The possessed people, 

 with very few exceptions, are women, who have all kinds of nerv- 

 ous troubles, or are epileptics. As many as two or three hundred 

 of these afflicted people may be seen in the temple yard at one 

 time. All surge about and sway backward and forward in every 

 stage of nervous disorder. It is like visiting a madhouse. 



In the ceremonies for exorcism, which begin about dark, the 

 priest sprinkles ashes over the prostrate form of each patient to 

 make the demon active. He then rudely tells the demon in the 

 possessed person to wake up. As the priests thus pass from one 

 to another, some one of the patients will begin to sway backward 

 and forward, and then round and round with a counter clockwise 

 motion. . Then others take up the same motion, and soon all are 

 swaying round and round. It is a strange phenomenon that all 

 sway in the same direction. Sometimes the swaying is gentle and 

 dreamy, and at other times it is acompanied with loud cries, and 

 at times with reproaches directed at the priests. The afflicted per- 

 sons often work themselves into a fury and twist violently around, 

 striking the earth with the palms of their hands. 



* The facts here related are taken from an article printed in the Madras 

 Mail, June 4, 1912. 



° Their story is given on page 62. 



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