54 Wilber Theodore Elmore 



to the future and are to propitiate the god so that he will protect 

 the one making the offering from future possession by demons. 

 This method of propitiation with blood shows the direct con- 

 nection between the Dravidian gods and demon possession. This 

 demon possession is simply one of the activities of the Dravidian 

 deities.^^ 



CHAPTER VII 



Kanaka Durgamma and Poshamma 



The descriptions which have been given in the preceding chap- 

 ters will give a fairly complete idea of the ceremonies in connec- 

 tion with these Dravidian deities. In this chapter the ceremonies 

 connected with two more of the almost unlimited number of 

 these gods will be given. It will be seen that not always are all 

 the ceremonies performed, and that the variations are many. The 

 fundamental principles and ideas of the worship, however, will be 

 seen to be the same. 



Kanaka Durgamma.^ This goddess usually has no regular 

 temple or image, and possesses no fixed festival. She is the 

 Sakti or demoness especially responsible for the welfare of the 

 ■cattle, and is propitiated when there is cattle disease, and some- 

 limes when there is sickness among the people. 



The customary method of beginning this worship is that while 

 the people are considering the steps to be taken to stop the 

 ravages of cattle disease, some woman will suddenly become 

 possessed of the spirit of Kanaka Durgamma, and running to 

 water will throw herself in. The people rush to the rescue and 

 pull her out. She will then run to a margosa tree^ and breaking 



" The Gazetteer of the Madura District, I, p. 87, gives another method 

 of exorcism. A stone is placed on the afflicted woman's head. She then 

 rushes away, and when the stone falls it is thought that the demon has 

 gone into the earth at the place where the stone struck. A lock of her 

 hair is then nailed to the nearest tree. 



1 I am indebted to F. W. Stait of Udayagiri, Nellore District, for many 

 of the facts relating to the worship of Kanaka Durgamma. 



2 Ayadirachta indica, sometimes called the Neem tree. This is a semi- 

 sacred tree. It is held in especially high esteem because its fohage is most 

 luxuriant in the hot season when many trees are bare, and shade is 

 especially appreciated. 



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