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JULY, 1894.)
THE DEVIL WORSHIP OF THE TULUVAS.
185
Said the prasna-reader:-"A sánam in your village is wanted : this is his desire!" Upon this an appropriate gathering was held by the householders.
Sickness is spread in our houses, because Jumadi wants a sanam. So is it found in the prašna-book," said they to the villagers.
Then the villagers folded their hands and besought the Bhuta, and said to the householders :-" This sickness is now in your houses, tomorrow it will be spread over the whole village. Therefore you of Parari-guttu and we of Kodigrama Mágne must build a sánam together."
On the hill at Parari & sanam was built, and a festival was performed there.
In the next year Jumadi left Kodigrama Mâgne and passed by Jumbe. There is a place called Kolla-Botti-sanam, where there was a woman named Devi Baidyati, a toddy-drawer by caste. Jumadi made the people of her house sick. She referred to the praśna-book, and it was found in it that the evil was due to Jumadi. She cried out to the villagers, and they all came to her house and saluted the Bhúta. The sickness in her house was healed, and accordingly the villagers promised the Bhúta a sánam on her land. Thus was that sickness cured! A sánam was built on Devi's land by Dêvi herself with the assistance of the villagers, and a feast was made.
Jumadi left that sanam. There is a temple to the god Varadoswara at Parangi-Petta, He passed by that temple. There is a place called Somenath Katte. He passed by that, too, and came to Adyan-guttu, where there was & Bant named Dugga Bandari. Jumadi made all his household sick. The Bant referred to the praśna-book, and it was known that the evil was the deed of Jumadi. The Bant called the villagers together, and then spake Dugga Bandari to the villagers :-"My household became sick, and when I referred to the praśna-book I came to know that it was Jamidi's doing. He wants a sanam. What is to be done for this ? I cannot do anything without your permission."
“The sickness came to-day to your house ; tomorrow it will come to ours. Therefore let as build a sánam together," said the villagers.
All of them together built a sunam at a place called Sara-Bari on the banks of a watercourse, where a feast was performed. Jumidi left that sinam in the following year and came to the bidu at Kannar, where he spread disease. The people there are Ballakulu by caste, and, they referred to the praśna-book, and from it they came to know that it was Jamadi's doing; and moreover, it was found that if the sickness was to be cured Jumadi wanted a swing to swing on at the bidu. Then the Balla! of the place promised the Bhůta that he would get him a swing at his house when the disease was cured. The sickness ceased, and a swing was hung upThe Ballal began to make puja there with only flowers.
Jamadi left the bidu and reached Jappu, near Mangalore, where there is a ferry called Kand-Kariya, but which was then called Nuppamara-guttu. The ferry was managed by two brothers named Kocharal and Syamparal. When Jumadi arrived, he went to their house and made all the people sick. They referred to the prasna-book, and it was known that Jumadi had done the evil, for which the remedy was to build a sánam for him.
They called the villagers and said :-"Our household is sick and it is known from the praéna-book that it is Jumadi who has made them sick, because he wants a sanam. Therefore we inform you."
“Whether the sickness, which is in your house, will come to us or not, we cannot say: therefore let us build & sánam together," said the villagers.
All of them together built a sánam for Jumâdi at the place called Kane-Kariya, and gave a feast to him.
