Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism 85 



After Renuka had been brought back to life she upbraided her 

 husband for his act, and then asked his permission to proceed 

 against the Rakshasas that she might release her father. Her 

 husband asked her pardon for causing her to be killed, and then 

 asked, "Who are they against whom you dream of going? Are 

 they not Rakshasas, and so unconquerable ? Think of it no more." 



" My husband, if you knew my powers you would not speak in 

 such a manner," answered Renuka, " I will show my power pro- 

 vided you can stand the sight without fear." 



" What ! Am I not a man, a rishi who has power to turn a 

 woman to ashes? Do you pretend to think that anything could 

 frighten me ? " replied her husband. 



" All right," replied Renuka. " Turn your back and do not 

 look toward me until I give you permission." 



Jamadagni obeyed, and presently Renuka told him to face about 

 again. He did so and was terrified to see standing before him a 

 Sakti having a thousand hands. In each one of these hands she 

 held a thousand spikes, and upon each spike a thousand bodies 

 were impaled, and beside each one of the impaled bodies was a 

 devil watching, with a torch in his left hand and sword in his right 

 hand. 



When Jamadagni saw this terrible figure, all his boasts of 

 bravery were forgotten, and he fled to the underworld. Renuka, 

 fearing that he would never return if he descended, called for him 

 to come back, but he would not come, so she caught him by the 

 tuft of his hair^'^ and drew him up. She then told him that this 

 terrifying figure was Korlapati Ankamma.^^ 



Renuka now secured her husband's permission to proceed against 

 the Rakshasas, and she slew large numbers of them, but for every 

 drop of their blood which fell to the ground sixty thousand new 

 Rakshasas arose. Under such conditions victory was impossible. 

 Renuka now thought of her brother, Potu Razu,^° who immedi- 



1'' This tuft of hair, called juttu or tsuttu in Telugu, is the badge of 

 Hinduism. 



IS This is one form of the Ankamma described on page 23. 



1^ See page 23. No one seems to know how it happens that Potu Razu 

 is a brother of Renuka. This legend appears to be lost. 



85 



