________________
OCTOBER, 1887.)
FOLKLORE IN SOUTHERN INDIA.
293
person may hope to be free from danger caused by snakes -
"He, the renowned son of the two Jaratkarus (i.e. his parents were both named Jaratkâra) who delivered you from the snakesacrifice, in his name do I ask you, O ye gra- cious snakes, not to kill me! O blessed serpent,
go thou out of my way. O thon venomous snake, remember the request of Astfka at the conclusion of the serpent sacrifice. The snake who does not withdraw after hearing Astika's name, shall surely have his head broken in a thousand pieces like the bimbafruit !"
FOLKLORE IN SOUTHERN INDIA.
BY PANDIT S. M. NATESA SASTRI. XXI.-The Brahmaraksha and the hair. The landlord was thunderstruck at the
In a certain village there lived & very rich huge monster that now stood before him and landlord, who owned several villages, but was still more so at his terrible voice, but neversuch a great miser that no tenant would wil theless he said "I want you to become my lingly cultivate his lands, and those he had servant and obey all my commands." gave him not a little trouble. He was, indeed, "Agreed," answered the Brahmarakshasa in 80 vexed with them that he left all his lands a very mild tone, for it was his duty to leave untilled, and his tanks and irrigation channels off his impertinent ways when any one who dried up. All this, of course, made him poorer had performed the required penance wanted and poorer day by day. Nevertheless he him to become his servant; "Agreed. But never liked the idea of freely opening his you must always give me work to do, when purse to his tenants and obtaining their good one job is finished you must at once give me & will. While he was in this frame of mind a second and so on. If you fail I shall kill learned sanyási paid him & visit, and on his you." representing his case to him, the holy man The landlord, thinking that he would have said :
work for several such Brahmarakshasas, was “My dear son, I know an incantation pleased to see that his demoniacal servant was (mantra) in which I can instruct you. If so eager to help him. He at once took him to you repeat it for three months day and night, a large tank which had been dried ap for several & Brahmarakshase will appear before you years, and pointing to it spoke as follows: on the first day of the fourth month. Make "You see this large tank, you must make it him your servant and then you can set at as deep as the height of two palmyra trees and nought all your petty troubles with your repair the embankment wherever it is broken." tenants. The Brahmarakshasa will obey all "Yes, my master, your orders shall be your orders and you will find him equal to & obeyed," humbly replied the servant and fell to hundred servants."
work. Our hero fell at his feet and begged to be the landlord, thinking that it would take instructed at once. The sage then sat facing several months, if not years, to do the work in the East, and his disciple the landlord, facing the tank, for it was two kôs long and one kos the West,' and in this position formal instruo- broad, returned delighted to his home, where tion was given, after which the sanyasi went his people were awaiting him with a sumptuous his way.
dinner. He enjoyed himself amazingly with The landlord, mightily pleased at what be his wife, but when it was approaching evening had learnt, went on practising the incantation, the Brahmarakshasa came to inform his master till, on the first day of the fourth month, the that he had finished his work in the tank! great Brahmarákshasa stood before him. He was indeed astonished and feared for his
"What do you want, sir, from my hands P" | own life! said he, "what is the object of your having "What! finished the work in one day, which propitiated me for these three months P" I thought would occupy him for months and
This is always the course followed when guru (moral teacher) instructa his mishya (disciple) in any mantra.
