Indian Antiquary Vol 02

SR No.: 032494
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 53

FEBRUARY, 1873.]
COORG SUPERSTITIONS.
COORG SUPERSTITIONS.
By Rev. F. KITTEL, MERKARA. In a country like Coorg (Kõdagu), where, by sticks surmounted with silver, silver knives, the side of the Coorgs (Kodaga) and their low- common knives, &c., are kept there by way of caste (Póleya) servants, about 52 different Hindu memorial. A male ghost is called Karana, a tribes (or castes) have been settled for many female one Sodalichi or Karanachi. years, it is not easy to find out which of their All ghosts, whether male or female, are superstitions the Coorgs brought with them at thought to be troublesome; females even more the time of their immigration, and which were so than males. The Sodalichis have an unpleasant imported afterwards. Their superstitions, how- habit of smiting children with sickness, and someever, show Maleyâla, Tulu, Kannada (Canarese), times also adult male and female members and Brahmana elements.
of the house. On various occasions during the The Brahmans who are domiciled in Coorg year, with a view to appeasing the deceased, rice, have succeeded in introducing Mahadeva and arrack, milk, and other delicacies are placed Subrahmanya (under the name " Iguttappa"), for them in one of the wall-niches of the house, in entirely brahmanizing the worship of the or in places close to it; and once a month a river Kâvêri, in having temples erected and idols fowl or two are decapitated at the Kaymada. set up, in spreading Paoranika tales, and in But pampering of this sort is said often to fall usurping to some extent the paja at the places short of its purpose. In such cases a man of of Coorg worship. They have been greatly the house may profess to become possessed of assisted by the Lingaites in these successful one of the ghosts. He then puts off his headendeavours, especially in the introduction of the dress, walks to and fro in the house, and appears Linga Tulus still manage to smuggle in their to be in a trance. While in this condition he demons; Maleyâļas have made themselves is asked what is to be done to satisfy the ghosts; indispensable at demon and ancestor worship, and as the representative of the ancestors, he is and are also increasing the number of demons; presented with meat and drink (especially arrack). and Maisūrians, at certain times of the year, These gifts are called Kârana Barani. bring a Mâri Amma and carry it through the Neighbours are also allowed to come in and put country to have the people's vows paid to it. questions to the possessed one. (A) COORG ANCESTRAL WORSHIP.
Another cereniony called the Kâraņa Kola, Ghosts, i.e., the spirits of their ancestors, are i.e., ghost-masque, conducted with the object of believed by the Coorgs to hover inside and out- finding out the particular wishes of the ghosts, side of their dwellings, and to give endless | is performed every second or third year, and occatrouble if not properly respected. For their use sionally also every year. For this affair a Maleya Kaymada,* & small building with one apart- Ala performer is invited to the house (either a ment, or in some cases with a mere niche, is Panika, Baņņa, or Maleya); and at night he puts generally built near the house; or a Kôtat al on, one after another, five or more different sort of bank, is made for them under a tree, in costumes, according to the number of ancestors the fields where the family's first house has especially remembered at the time. Arrayed in stood. A number of figures roughly beaten in these dresses he dances to the accompaniment of silver plates, bronze images, and sometimes also a drum beaten by a companion, and behaves as figures on a slab of pot stone, are put in the if possessed by the Coorg ghosts. After each Kaymadas to represent the ancestors; and Kõla, or mask, he leaves the house with a fowl,
* Kaymada means "field-building, and also "building This decapitation is, as it appears, performed only when near at hand."
the ghost of Asjappa (ie, father, grandfather), a renowned + Kôga, in this instance, seems to mean "place of assem- Coorg hero, is thought to visit the Kaymada. At nuptial blage;" the Talus call it Kotti."
and funeral ceremonies it is customary to decapitate & pig Kerana, in Canarese, means "the black or dark one;" but in front of the Kaymadı. Once a year some of the Coorge it may be a Sanskrit term meaning "agent," "chief," in place some food in the burial-ground (Titangala). Such which sense it is used to denote the living heads of families. offerings are sometimes called "Kalaya" or "Kalaja," which It is, however, not impossible that the last-mentioned term may mean "spirituous, liquor," as a libation of arrack meaning has been attached to the word by brahmanical has always to accompany them (cf. the so-called Sansk influence. Sodalichi means "& female of the burning- term Kalya). ground;" Karapachi," a female of the Karanas." Sodalichi
|| Bâraņi is probably identical with Sanskrit Parapa, inay be an imported word, as we have the ancient Coorg term Tatangas, i.e., burial-ground. Burying the dead is custom
" breakfast." ary among the Coorge.
Kola occurs also in Tamil.