Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism 93 



saying that the boy surrendered at once to Ankamma, and agreed 

 to worship her, something which his people have done ever since. 

 The playing of the pipes at the worship of Ankamma is said to "be 

 in memory of this event. 



The entire legend of Ankamma appears to be a Dravidian 

 composition intended to show the final surrender of the reluctant 

 Brahmans. 



Legends of Matangi. The stories connected with the Matangi 

 worship are numerous, and throw much light on the efifort to con- 

 nect a worship most decidedly aboriginal with that of the Brah- 

 manic cult.^° These stories, as will be seen, contain parts of many 

 of the same legends that are applied to other deities. Some of 

 them give evidence of Brahmanic origin, while others evidently 

 arose from the Dravidians. Some of them may now be given. 



Brahma had a son, Vasa Devadu, and planned to marry him to 

 Devakka. Before the wedding was celebrated a rishi told De- 

 vakka's brother that there would be no joy in the wedding; that 

 seven children would be born to them; that if the first lived harm 

 would come to his kingdom, while if the seventh lived the brother's 

 wife would die. Because of this prophecy the brother took a 

 sword, and as all were going to the wedding, attempted to kill his 

 sister. In terror she asked the cause of his murderous intention. 

 He told her of the prophecy, and then she pleaded with him for 

 her life, promising to send to him every child as soon as it was 

 bom that it might be destroyed. In consideration of this promise 

 the brother consented to the marriage. 



When the first child was born it was brought to the brother, but 

 when he saw it he was moved with compassion, and so with all the 

 first six. All were spared. The rishi now appeared again and 

 by more dire threats and prophecies so frightened the brother that 

 he set out with all the children on a pilgrimage to Jagannath Swami 

 at Puri. There, when the children were on their faces before 

 the szvami, he beheaded them all. 



When the mother heard of this, she was distracted with grief, 

 but as she had promised to give up the children, she could do noth- 

 ing. When the seventh child was about to be born, Krishna, 



30 See pp. 28 sq. for a description of Matangi ceremonies. 



93 



