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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
On reaching, at about 9 p. m., the head-man's house in the native town [of Mangalore], we found a large ornamented shed erected in front of the house and in the garden, open on all sides, except the southern, where was erected a kind of altar, consisting of three benches placed so as to form three steps, and covered with a white cloth. In the middle of this was made a sort of shrine, or canopy, with a common lamp burning inside. On the three steps or ridges were garlands, and brass images of the five Bhûtas to be invoked that night, brought from the temple for that purpose. These were (1) Jarandaya, (2) Sara-jumadi, (3) Kantanetri-jumadi, (4) Marlu-jumadi, and (5) Pañjurli. The last mentioned has the form of a hog; the others are hideous deformed figures. About six feet in front of the altar was a common wooden tripod about two feet high, and on it a frame made of plantain stems, which contained a mass of rice, coloured with turmeric, and in which a three-branched iron lamp was stuck. The space in front of this was kept clear for persons making offerings and for the performers. The worshippers usually squat all round, forming a sort of ring.
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[JANUARY, 1894.
On this occasion about 1,500 persons were present, and some had come from a distance of more than 30 miles! We were asked to sit down at the end opposite to the altar.
The performance commenced by the entry into the open space of two men of the Billavar caste, of whom one represented Jarandaya, and the other his dumb servant Jumadi Banți. They were dressed with a fillet round the head and bangles on the ankles, such as dancing. girls wear. They held a highly ornamented sword upright in their left hands and a brass bell in the right, and walked up and down the open space, attended by fan and umbrella-bearers, and under a portable canopy. The one who represented Jârandâya quivered hysterically in every muscle and from time to time rung his bell slowly, and occasionally rested the bell which was heavy, on his shoulder. It was the belief of the worshippers that he did so, because he was possessed by the demon Jarandaya.
After about half an hour the pombada actors appeared. These had their faces thickly painted with ochre, and were covered with a long fringe of cocoa leaves. The pombada representing Jârandâya wore a kirita, or semi-circular ornament, over the head and shoulders, just like that which we see in the brass idols sold in the bazaars. Both had a sword, with blade like that of a Malay ris, and a bell. The two parties continued dancing for a while, and then the Billavar representing Jârandâya resigned the charge of the ceremony to the pombada, by taking in each hand some flowers and betel leaves and throwing them over the other. In this manner, the demon was transferred from the Billavar to the pombada actor. He at once commenced dancing furiously, howling and ringing his bell, while the incantation of the origin and deeds of the demon he represented were sung in Tulu to an accompaniment of tom-toms and horns, and similar noisy instruments, all of which, together, produced a most hideous din.
After the incantation was over Jârandâya put on a metal mask, and his servant held in his hand a similar mask with a pig's snout to it. The dancing then became very violent, and the performers, who had evidently already indulged in intoxicating liquors to a great extent, became plainly hysterical. Meanwhile the devotees offered cocoanuts and plaintains, etc., at the tripod.
The incantation of Jarandaya33 may be literally translated from the Tulu as follows:"On a Tuesday at noon, the hero Jarandaya came to the Atrel ferry, riding on a white horse and holding a white umbrella. He ordered the ferry-man, Kunya, to bring the ferryboat. The ferry-man replied that the boat did not belong to him, that he was not to get the fare, and that the boat had been kept by one Kote Bale Bermane33 for crossing the river on Tuesdays and Sundays.
"No matter, if the boat is kept by him. for crossing the river; I will give you the proper fare. Bring the boat to this side;' said Jârandâya.
n With the flowers of the areca palm according to Mr. Männer. This is practically text No. 5 in the MS8.
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28 That is, the Brahman.'
