Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduisnt 89 



shasas. But it was evidently a story which took hold of the imagi- 

 nation of the people, and those wishing to unite the two cults have 

 seized upon it and enlarged it so as to make it belong to both 

 Hindus and Dravidians, and thus form a legendary connection 

 between the gods of the two. 



In the Devi Bhagavatam/* which is a production later than the 

 Puranas, and prepared by the Brahmans to explain the origin of 

 various gods, the story of the Rakshasa embracing the tree is given. 

 Here only the one embraces the tree and she becomes Renuka, and 

 from her arise the other Saktis. This is an interesting variant, as 

 it makes the Saktis originate in the Rakshasas,^^ while at the 

 same time they are the offspring of Vishnu. This attaches them 

 very closely to the Hindu pantheon. At first sight it would seem 

 that there must be some basis for this connection between the 

 Rakshasas and demons of the Vedas and the demons of the Dra- 

 vidians. Such an explanation is never given by the people, how- 

 ever, and a legend like the above, making this connection, is very 

 rare. The demons of the Vedas and the Dravidian demons have 

 but little in common. 



Another legend in which Vishnu is the chief actor, runs as fol- 

 lows. In the beginning there was a Sakti who had amorous de- 

 sires for Vishnu, and attempted to entice him. Vishnu asked 

 her for her wheel or discus. She gave it to him, and it since 

 has become Vishnu's weapon. He then asked her for her eye and 

 she gave him that also. Because she had parted with these things 

 the Sakti " lost one half her fat." Vishnu now told her to go and 

 bathe in the sea to allay her amorous desires, but before she had 

 time to carry out his command, Vishnu drank all the water of the 

 seven seas, and there was none left for her to bathe in. 



The Sakti was now very angry, and the gods, Brahma, Vishnu, 

 and Siva, were much frightened, fearing that she would destroy 

 them. From their own bodies they made an image which they 

 named Visva Brahma,^^ and gave life to the image. They ordered 

 him to make them a chariot quickly. When this was ready the 



2* Not translated into English. 



25 On the relation between Rakshasas and Saktis see page 48, note i. 

 28 More commonly called Visva Karma or Visva Karmudu. He is the 

 Vulcan of the gods. 



89 



