Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism 125 



were entirely distinct features originally, and no common explana- 

 tion need be sought. 



The use of the blood, worshipers smearing it upon themselves 

 at times, spattering it on their houses, or scattering bloody rice on 

 the boundaries, appears to be explained by totemism in that the 

 worshipers seek a blood relationship with the deity. It should 

 again be noticed that any connection established by such uses of the 

 blood is with the goddess, and not with the animal sacrificed. 



The Dravidian goddesses are always bloodthirsty. It has been 

 seen that in some cases blood is poured into the mouth of the 

 image, or the pujari, as representing the goddess, drinks the 

 blood.^^ The smearing of blood upon the person, or sprinkling it 

 upon houses and cattle, is probably an effort to get the full benefit 

 of the sacrifice. The person or thing thus anointed would receive 

 special favor from the deity. 



The totemistic theory explains the hideous custom of wrapping 

 the entrails about the neck and taking the vitals in the mouth as 

 an effort to get into closer touch with the life of the totem animal. 

 This explanation appears to be based on a misconception of the 

 intention in carrying the bloody rice to the boundaries. This 

 bloody rice is a real offering to the bloodthirsty devils and Saktis 

 which may have been aroused by the ceremonies going on inside 

 the village. It is a dangerous matter to deal with these devils, 

 and the man who is brave enough to undertake it must do every- 

 thing to protect himself. He makes himself as hideous as possible, 

 hoping that the devils will think that he is a stronger devil than 

 they. Even then he is in terrible danger, and sacrifices are 

 offered whenever he cries out that he sees devils. At last he 

 swoons and is revived with great difficulty because of the dangers 

 to which he has been exposed.^^ 



It may further be noticed that in South India the buffalo Is not 

 considered an honorable animal, though a very useful one. It is 

 stupid, ungainly, ugly in appearance, sometimes vicious, and is 



^2 See Ankamma, page 24, and Kati Ankamma, page 40. 



13 See page 38. Oppert {Original Inhabitants of India, p. 462) says 

 that the pujari throws a handful of bloody rice into every back yard at 

 midnight to keep off the devils. 



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