1850.] Eastern Districts of the Souhah of Hydrabad, 207 



existed unheeded during the struggles of the Brahmins, with the 

 Boodhists and J ains, it was in all probability to conciliate the low- 

 er classes that the Brahmins strove to accommodate their religion 

 as far as they could, to the superstitions in vogue among them, a 

 practice pursued by the Jesuits, who in many of their ways resem- 

 ble the Brahmins. The names of Yellumma, Pedumma, Pochum- 

 ma, Mysumma, Saktis, with different influences are in the mouths 

 of every low caste inhabitant, nor are their names held in much 

 less awe and respect by the middle castes. There is no village 

 without a shrine to some of these deities, rude and mean it is true, 

 but quite enough to show how diffused is the reverence paid to 

 them. The worship of Siva has declined as is testified by the tem- 

 ples raised to the ling, and some of them are costly, and even 

 tasteful buildings being often found abandoned to neglect and ruin ; 

 the incarnation in which Yishnu is chiefly worshipped is that of 

 Gropal Swamy or Krishna. Bamanuj priests serve at his altars. . 

 There is a celebrated temple to Rama and his wife Sita on a hill 

 near Bhudrachellum in the Palooncha territory, where, in the hot 

 weather, there is a great fair to which people from all parts repair, 

 combining traffic with the observance of religion. Two sons of 

 Siva, or incarnations of that divinity obtain a certain degree of 

 worship. Veerabuclras who is a great favourite with the gold- 

 smiths, a monstrous being with six heads and twelve arms, and 

 Coomarswamy another being equally hideous. Grunesa is invoked 

 by all, but the name of Indra is known only to the more learned, 

 and his protecting power is sought for by them alone. In the num- 

 ber of his votaries, and the universality of his worship, the monkey 

 god Hannooman, outstrips all the other divinities. The sprawling 

 shapeless figure rudely carved in granite, and painted red with fad- 

 ed wreaths of flowers at his feet, and ghee stains on his body, is 

 the object which every where presents itself, at the gate or pre- 

 cincts of the Native villages, canopied oftentimes by a stately tree 

 of the Indian fig, with the more hideous and deformed Grunesa to 

 keep him company. There is a convent of Sunnyassees near El- 

 gundel, but such religious houses are not numerous — previous to 

 their becoming Sunnyassees, the catechumens are known by the 

 name of Brahmacharyahs, while in this state of probation, they are 

 not permitted to shave their heads or beards — they spend their thne 

 in acquiring a knowledge of the vedas ; and if by inclination they 



