Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism 107 



so loudly that the cattle were frightened and, breaking their 

 tethers, fled into the forest. The people of the household per- 

 formed all kinds of mantrams, but to no avail. Next morning 

 he was well again as before. 



The third night the boy had a dream in which a figure appeared 

 to him, and said, " I am Mala Konda Swami. You have kicked 

 me disgracefully. You have done me no honor. You have de- 

 spised and mistreated me, and so these evils have come upon you. 

 If you arise quickly and give me fitting honors, build me a temple 

 and worship me, you and your household will escape. If you do 

 not do this, you will all be destroyed. 



The boy awoke and told his dream, but the people thought it 

 was his delirium. To make certain they called a diviner, and she 

 told the same thing. Now they knew that the boy's dream was a 

 real vision, and going to the hill they found the black stone. It 

 was shaped into the form of an image, a temple was built, and 

 the people began to worship it. The pujari was chosen from the 

 household of the afflicted boy. 



This story very much resembles those relating to the origin of 

 Dravidian deities. It lacks, however, one essential feature, for 

 the boy himself does not become the deity. The following story 

 shows somewhat more Dravidian influence. 



The village of Kogilumpadu possesses a local god with the 

 Hindu name, Narayanaswami. At one time there lived a boy of 

 the same name in this village. One day he went with his friends 

 to the forest to gather sticks for fuel. They soon came to an ant- 

 hill, and Narayanaswami stopped here while his friends left him 

 and went further into the forest. When they returned the boy 

 had disappeared, having gone into the ant-hill. They called him, 

 and he answered them from the ant-hill, saying that he would 

 not come out, and commanding them not to call him any more. 

 The children then took their bundles of sticks and went home. 



Narayanaswami's mother at once saw that he had not returned, 

 and learning from the children what had become of him, she 

 hurried to the ant-hill and called him. He replied that he would 

 come out if she would go away, but his mother would not leave. 



107 



