Indian Antiquary Vol 26

SR No.: 032518
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 96

92
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[APRIL, 1897.
conch is so strong that, when a person is possessed by an evil spirit, Brâhmaņs fill a conch with water, wave it above the alligrám stone of Vishnu, and sprinkle the water over the possessed, when the spirit flies." In North India, to cure a burn, cowries are strong over the burned place. The North Indian and East Gujarat, Vanjaras adorn their women's head-pads, their money-bags, and the head-stalls and saddle-cloths of their bullocks with a close embroidery of cowry shells. The Arâdhis, a class of Bhavani beggars in the Dekhan, wear a garlaud of cowry shells like a sacred thread, a sheil necklace, and shells in the hair and round the arms and wrists.47 In Poona, Bhûtés, devotees and beggars of Bhavani, are covered from head to foot with cowry shells.48 The Poona Râuls blow a conch-shell in front of the corpse, and pour water into the mouth of the dead from a conch-shell. The Bangars, a class of Poona spicesellers, before a marriage, carry a conch-shell to the temple, bring it home, set it among the family gods, and call it their devuk or guardian.50 In front of a Bangar funeral a priest walks blowing a conch-shell.1 Among the Poona Velális, a Tamil class of Vaisyas, when a man dies the chief mourners go to a well to draw water to bathe. Before them walks a Jangam or priest, blowing a conch-shell.62 The Dekhaa Murli, the bride of the god Khandoba, in the marriage ceremony, wears a necklace of nine cowry shells.03 The initiation of the Gondhalis or Rhapsodists consists in putting on a cowry-necklace. After a death the Ahmadnagar Châm. bhârs call a Jangam to blow a conch over the grave,55 and at an Ahmadnagar Lingiyat Burud's wedding a Jaugam blows a conch while a Brahman repeats verses.66 The Khandesh Vaõjáris throw cowry shells and onions at the priest after a marriage.57 The Dharwar Lavinas, or pack. bullock owners, tie cowry shells round their head-dress.69 The Dasarus, a class of Bengal beggars, move about with a gong and a conch-shell resting on the right shoulder. When a Dasarn dies, a conch-shell and discus are tied to his arm and taken off when he is buriedl.60 The Rauls of Sholapur blow a conch-shell in front of the dead.co The Halvakki Vakkals of North Kinara feed the dying with a shell spoon.61
The Korava, or Korachar, women of Mysore wear strings of beads and shells falling over the bosom.63 The Maria Gonds wear a girdle of cowries ;63 the Demanos, or priests of the Malhers, like the women of the early Ceylon tribe of Veddahs,64 have strings of cowries fastened to their necks, and the Gonds wave cowries and copper coins at their weddings. Shell ornaments, especially conch-armlets, are much worn in Bengal,07 Cowry-shells are used by Southern Maritha Brahmans in divining and by the Kanuja diviner or wild astrologer of Coorg as dico.69 The Marntan or Kaladi, the priest or diviner of the slave-caste Malabar Poliars, finds out by arranging cowry shells to what spirit prayers should be offered.60 In a cairn, opened ten miles south-east of Haidarabad in 1867, turbinellus pyrim shells and a
4 In support of this practice the Brihinañs quote :
"खि मध्ये धृतं तोयं भ्रामितं केशवोपरि ।
अंगलग्नं मनुष्याणां भूतबाधां विनश्यति ॥ Il conch filled with water is waved over Kesava, that is, the slagrima stone, and the water is sprinkled over the possessed, the devil disappears." 45 Folk-lore Record, Vol. IV. p. 136.
46 From MS, notes. 17 Bombay Gazetteer, Fol. XVIII. p. 445.
# Op. cit. Vol. XVIII. p. 448. + Op. cit. Vol. XVIII. p. 361.
60 Op.cit. Vol. XVIII. p. 255.. 61 Op.cit. Vol. XVIII. p. 255.
02 Op. cit, Vol. XVIII. p. 259. 13 Op. cit. Vol. XVIII. p. 477.
64 Op. cit. Vol. XVIIL p. 452. 6 Op. cit. Vol. XVIII. p. 168.
66 Op.cit. Vol. XVIII. p. 117. 67 Op. cit. Vol. XVII. p. 108.
# Op. cit. Vol. XXII. p. 121. 69 Op. cit. Vol. XXI. p. 180.
6* Op. cit. Vol. XX. p. 136. 61 Op. cit. Vol. XV. p. 211.
67 Rice's Mysore, Vol. I. p. 312. 6 Dalton's Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal, p. 279. " Descriptive Sociology, 3 (iii). e Dalton's Descriptive Ethnology of Borgal, p. 270. 66 Hislop's Aboriginal Tribes of the Central Provinces, p. 18, 67 Ward's Viere of the Hirulus, Vol. III. p. 98.
Rice's Mysore, Vol. 111. p. 212. Go Buchanan's Mysore, Vol. II, p. 193.