Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism 103 



The shepherds worship virulu or heroes. Such personages 

 have many of the characteristics of the village deities, but are 

 not female. They are of Madiga origin. The legend goes on 

 to tell of the origin of their worship. 



Chenniah Baludu, a brother of Katama Razu, was having a 

 terrible war with the people of Karamapudi. He sent to Ka- 

 tama Razu for help. Katama Razu was in the midst of a war 

 of his own and could not come, so Chenniah Baludu appealed to 

 the Madigas. They came at once and entered into the battle 

 with great success. At night all the warriors lay down to sleep. 

 In the morning Chenniah Baludu sent his prime minister to call 

 the Madigas to a feast which he had prepared for all without 

 caste distinction. 



The prime minister did not wish to call outcastes, so he re- 

 turned after remaining away a sufficient time, and said that the 

 Madigas were bathing. Again he was sent, and again without 

 going near them he returned and said that they were putting on 

 their hotlu, or caste marks. Once more he was sent, and this 

 time he reported that they were tying on their clothes. As it 

 was growing late, Chenniah Baludu decided to wait no longer, 

 so, putting their share of the feast at one side, he and his men 

 ate their part. 



While Chenniah Baludu and his men were eating, some one 

 came to the Madigas, awakened them, and chided them for their 

 laziness. They rubbed their sleepy eyes, arose, and came to the 

 feast. Chenniah Baladu now saw that he had been deceived by 

 his messenger, and explained the matter to the Madigas, inviting 

 them to eat. They did not accept his explanation, however, and 

 accusing him of making caste distinctions, said they would re- 

 main seven days and fight his battles, but they would not touch 

 his food. Chenniah Baludu now became indignant and saying, 



nected with the one used in beheading the buffalo sacrifice. Its power is 

 explained as follows. In a previous age Vishnu, seeing that in the Kali 

 Yugamu men would need much help, called his goldsmith, Visva Brahma, 

 and giving him a lump of gold told him to make four useful articles with 

 it. This sword was one of the articles. It is to be noticed that the sword 

 was given into the hands of a Madiga. 



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