THE USE OF AMULETS IN THE PREVENTION OF DISEASE. 241 



at every shrine. In Bihar they pour water upon a nim tree every evening after bathing, 

 and the chief woman of the family worships at Bhagvati's cabutra. Her image is some- 

 times smeared with oil and vermilion and worshipped in an open place with goats, flowers, 

 and sweetmeats, which are afterwards eaten by the worshippers. She is much feared du- 

 ring an epidemic of cholera, and it is very dangerous for anyone to stir out of doors at 

 certain hours, as she roams about at midday and at night, and anyone who meets her is 

 liable to be fatally attacked. 



In Bengal Raksa. Kali and S'masan Kali are usually worshipped. The former may 

 be worshipped privately, but the latter is only worshipped by public subscription and as 

 a last resource. This puja, which is believed never to fail, may only be conducted by 

 Brahmans well versed in the Tantras. It takes place by the light of the new moon at the 

 burning-ghat, on the spot where the last cremation took place. A flag, which some- 

 times bears the figure of Hanuman, is put up after the ceremony, of which drinking is an 

 essential part. 



Raksa. Kali is usually propitiated by night at cross-roads. An image, made on the 

 same evening, is worshipped with rice, flowers, plantain, betel, sweetmeats, pigeons, and 

 goats, and is afterwards thrown into a river or tank outside the village with the idea of 

 transferring the disease. Tuesdays and Saturdays are auspicious days. 



Jala Kumari, who is represented as a woman resembling Kali, but riding on a stork, 

 is worshipped in Chittagong in much the same manner as Raksa Kali. Ola Bibi and 

 Satya Pir are worshipped by Faqirs for Hindus and Muhammadans alike. Muhamma- 

 dans sometimes adorn a goat with vermilion and garlands and take it through the village 

 at night beating drums. Next day at nightfall its throat is cut and it is stuffed with 

 straw and hung, together with an earthen pot, upon a long bamboo erected at the north- 

 east corner of the village to scare away Ola Bibi. 



In Orissa householders burn 108 ladles of ghi daily to propitiate the Gram Devati. 

 Collections are also made for the public worship of the Gram Devati or Kalisi 1 hakur- 

 ani, who usually lives under a banyan or tamarind tree. An exorcist — generally a 

 man of low caste — washes the image in cold water, and, after rubbing it with oil and 

 turmeric, puts flowers and vermilion on its body and dresses it in black clothes. Rice, 

 flowers, milk, fowls, a black goat, and, sometimes, a buffalo are offered and drums are 

 beaten. The exorcist works himself into a frenzy, and, as if the goddess were speaking 

 through him, tells why Yogini (the godling of cholera) has visited the village and how 

 she may be propitiated. He then takes some new earthen pots dotted with lime and 

 vermilion (sometimes also with sandal and soot), and fills them more than half full with 

 pana (a mixture of cheese, milk, ghi, gur, sugar and water). The pots are sometimes 

 adorned with a ring of red lead just below the neck ; and the head, hands and legs of 

 Yogini are depicted on them. They are then taken in procession through the village 

 whilst songs are sung. A bamboo garlanded with flowers (which are usually red, as the 

 goddess loves blood) is driven into the ground in a spot at some distance from the 

 village, preferably at cross-roads, at each of the four points of the compass. A pot 

 is placed near each bamboo, and, after mantras have been recited, is left there. It is 

 believed that Yogini drinks the mixture, and, if pleased with it, will leave the village. 



