Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism 73 



Dravidian deities. The number of these legends is almost as 

 limitless as the list of the Dravidian gods. The main points in 

 a few additional legends may be given for comparison. 



Kitsamma of Gandavarum, Kanigiri Taluq, was a woman who 

 burned herself with her husband. The fact that she spoke from 

 the flames makes her a goddess of unusual power. After her 

 death some of the people who had heard her call from the flames, 

 went to a place at some distance and addressed her three times, to 

 which calls she replied. The configuration of the country indi- 

 cates that it was an echo which answered. 



Kurumayya is a male deity who also owes his origin to an echo. 

 He was the son of a rich man, but after his father died the 

 property was taken by the other relatives. Kurumayya then 

 went to a farmer and hired himself out to herd sheep. One day 

 he fell into a gorge in the hills and died of hunger. When the 

 villagers searched for him they called his name and he replied. 

 Later they found his body and deified him. At the festival they 

 go to the hills and call and wait for the response. 



Mangamma is still another illustration of the same method of 

 making gods. She burned herself with her husband, and after 

 a time a stone appeared on the north side of the village. The 

 people believed that this was Alangamma and built a temple. 

 At the yearly festival they go to the hills and call until she re- 

 sponds. Then knowing that she is present, they proceed with 

 the worship. 



Sandamma and Gumpamma were two sisters who did not 

 marry. They had a quarrel and Sandamma threw herself into a 

 cavern in the Velugonda Hills and died there. Her sister then 

 did the same, and the people, saying they were Saktis, began to 

 worship them. The thieves in the hills propitiate them in order 

 to be protected from the police. They steal goats and then cut 

 their throats in front of the images, until blood runs in streams.^^ 



Vinukonda Ankamma is a friendly goddess who is said to have 

 been one of seven daughters in a shepherd's house. She was a 



^2 This appears to be connected with sacrifices which the Thugs formerly 

 offered to Kali before going on a thieving and murdering expedition. 

 See Meadows Taylor, Confessions of a Thug, London, 1906, pages 26 sq. 



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