________________
JULY, 1894.]
THE DEVIL WORSHIP OF THE TULUVAS.
"Only one, named Siddamarda Baidya,' I replied.
"They said:
:
189
"Your son should not be married until we return from the Southern parts. As soon as we return we will teach him the details of our sdstram, and after that he may be married.' "They went on to Malabar, and after their departure I became somewhat rich. The matter was inquired into by my caste people, the Kotêkârs, and they gathered together in my house, and made me marry my son by force. In the following year the same Bairagis came back to my house, and when they arrived, the wife of Siddamarda Baidya was washing rice on the brink of the well. While she was still washing it, they came up to her and said :"When we came here last year you were not here, and now you are here.'
"They also asked her whose wife she was. She replied that she was the daughter-in-law of Saukaru Baidyati and the wife of Siddamarda. Having heard this the Bairagis went away angry. They started to cross the ferry at Jappu, and I went after them running, and took hold of their feet and hands, asking pardon for every mistake I might have made. They did not turn their faces to the South, having set them to the North. A japásara of the god Vignesvara was torn off one of their necks and given me behind their backs and also the Bhuta Mudataya. They told me to take them, give them to my son, and set him to worship according to my own ideas. I did as I was told and put the saram round my son's neck and gave him the name of Upadêsi Marda Baidya.
"Acting under their orders, I had to build a gunda for the god (Vignêśvara) and a súnam for the Bhûta (Mudatâya), and I now wish to hold a feast in honour of the Bhûta. I cannot do this without you villagers. In your presence and according to your ideas the festival must be held."
Thus said she to the villagers, and having heard her they all held a feast together. From that day to this the feast is held in honour of the Bhûta Mudatâya at Kotara near Somêsvara.
A feast was held at Kotâra, and the Bhata went to visit the god at Sômêsvara, circumambulated the god at noon, and then he became a cock and crowed on the top of the temple. "This Bhûta, eating flesh and drinking liquor, does not leave me
Then the god said: room to turn round."
The Bhûta replied to the god :-"I live by taking flesh and liquor, and I live without them too."
He descended from the temple of Sômanâtha [Sômêsvara], and passed by nine tanks. There were two places on the way, called Karmarkaḍ and Unghermath, and he passed by them, too. He passed by Posa Angadi, and came to a palace at Ullal. Here he saw one Chanta, who had two riding elephants to ride, and he made the elephants sick. They neither drank water nor ate the grass given them. Then Chanta referred to the prasna-book, and found that the evil had been caused by Mudatheye [Mudader]. Then Chanta asked his servants who was the proper man to exorcise the Bhúta.
"There is one Siddamarda Baidya at Ullal. He should be sent for," said the servants.
Chanta sent for him, and the messenger said: "Siddamarda, your Bhûta has made Chanta's elephants sick, and we have found from the prasna-book that you can exorcise him."
The Baidya came with the messenger, and Chanta said to him: "Your Bhûta has made my elephants sick, and you must pray to the Bhûta."
Then the Baidya took a pot of water to the elephants' stable, and Chanta said:-"If the elephants get better I will hold a feast in honour of your Bhûta at the elephants' stable."
• Mudader.
7 A small temple.
