Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism 65 



an image of a demon in the dust, and then asked that the goat be 

 brought. Then the people cried out, "You are our goat," and 

 seizing the sword attempted to cut his throat. But no matter 

 how hard they tried the sword would not cut. 



The horn-blower feeling that he had been disgraced, and not 

 wanting to live any longer, now said, " O fools, what are you do- 

 ing? Why are you thus persecuting me? It is impossible for 

 you to kill me. You have satisfied your vengeance, and now I 

 wish to die. There is a knot in my hair. Cut it out and take out 

 the amulet and you will succeed." They did as directed, and two 

 little sticks flew out of the knot of hair. The charm was now 

 gone, and the people killed him, and throwing his body into a 

 hole, trod on it. 



The villagers now went to their homes, but their troubles were 

 only beginning. In the morning the village was filled with con- 

 sternation. Some of the people went mad, and some children 

 and cattle suddenly sickened and died. When the people turned 

 their eyes toward their fields they saw that a blight was already 

 destroying the standing grain. 



The afflicted villagers now visited a diviner. She became pos- 

 sessed of a spirit which proved to be that of the dead man who 

 now spoke, accusing them of his murder, and saying that their 

 only relief would be to worship him. But they said, " Chee, 

 would we worship a Madiga?" They then went to another 

 diviner, and again to a third, with the same result. Finally the 

 rich man consented and had the horn and drums made and the 

 worship instituted. 



This story is rather unusual. It is probably true in its main 

 points, for it happened recently, and is agreed to by all the vil- 

 lagers. These stories are told by the horn-blowers, and the desire 

 of this class of people to instill into the villagers a proper respect 

 for themselves may account for some features of it. It further 

 appears from this tale that male gods are not likely to become 

 village deities. They may be worshiped, but their worship is 

 something outside that which is usually given to the village god- 

 desses. The general interest which the villagers took in this dead 



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