Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism 131 



to fall in front of his door. The people eat with their fingers, 

 and it is considered that the saliva has come into contact with the 

 plate. This is what makes it so objectionable, as saliva is most 

 polluting.^^ Why then this willingness and even eagerness to be 

 spat upon by a Madiga woman? 



It is commonly said that this contact with the Matangi is for 

 purification, but at the same time the Brahmans say that Matangi 

 is a great devil. These two statements do not agree. The most 

 probable explanation is that the Brahmans have come to possess the 

 same fear of this devil that the Dravidians have of all their 

 demon goddesses, and the willingness to be spat upon is in order to 

 escape from some evil which might come from the Matangi. 



By the Matangi spitting upon the people, she renders them 

 immune in two ways. First, as the Matangi is a terrible devil 

 herself, it is well to have her favor, even though it must be secured 

 in so unpleasant a manner. A second result is that after she has 

 spat upon the people no other demon would think them worth 

 spending time upon. Anyone who would consent to be spat upon 

 by a Madiga woman surely would be poor prey for other demons. 

 The haste of. the Brahman household to be rid of her, their willing- 

 ness to give her plenty of presents, and their meek submission while 

 she sings wildly and exultingly of their humiliation, all agree with 

 this idea of their fear of her, and not at all with the statement 

 that her spittle is purifying. 



The fear of the evil eye among the Dravidians is most easily 

 explained by this fear of evil spirits.^" A common explanation of 



29 One evening in a village I saw^ a great commotion in front of a Brah- 

 man's house. An old Brahman, the head of the house, was jabbing at 

 something most excitedly and savagely with a long stick, while all the fam- 

 ily were gathered around in great excitement. I thought that he must be 

 killing a cobra, and wondered at that, as Brahmans will not kill anything, 

 most of all the sacred snake. Upon coming nearer I found that all this 

 consternation was caused by a used leaf plate which the wind or a dog had 

 left before his gate. He was trying to remove it with the stick, and 

 finally succeeded in piercing it, when he carried it at the end of the pole to 

 a distant rubbish heap. 



30 For excellent descriptions of the various customs connected with the 

 evil eye in India see Dubois, Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, 

 Oxford, 1899, p. 152; Thurston, Omens and Superstitions of Southern 



131 



