Omens and Superstitions of Southern India Part 20

[121] Nature, 18th October, 1906.

[122] Grant Duff, "Notes from an Indian Diary, 1881-1886."

[123] L. K. Anantha Krishna Iyer, "The Cochin Tribes and Castes,"

1909, i. 166.

[124] F. Fawcett, Madras Museum Bull., 1901, iii., No 3, 309.

[125] Malabar, 1887, i. 175.

[126] D'Alviella, "The Migration of Symbols," 1894, introduction; and Times (London), 3rd September, 1891.

[127] Madras Museum Bull., 1906, v., No. 2, 86-7.

[128] Madras Mail, 26th January, 1906.

[129] Leviticus, viii. 29.

[130] The Nayadis are a polluting cla.s.s, whose approach within 300 feet is said to contaminate a Brahman.

[131] L. K. Anantha Krishna Iyer, "The Cochin Tribes and Castes,"

1909, i. 55-6.

[132] M. J. Walhouse, Journ. Anthrop. Inst., 1890, xix. 56.

[133] "Gazetteer of the Tanjore District," 1906, i. 89.

[134] "Note on the Koravas," 1908.

[135] Madras Standard, 2nd June, 1903.

[136] A tarawad means a family, consisting of all the descendants in the female line of one common female ancestor.

[137] The senior male in a tarawad or tarwad.

[138] See Calcutta Review, July, 1901, cxiii. 21-5.

[139] Laterite is a reddish geological formation, found all over Southern India.

[140] Madras Christian Coll. Mag., 1895, xiii., No. 1, 24-5.

[141] The pipal or aswatha (Ficus religiosa). Many villages have such a tree with a platform erected round it, on which are carved figures of the elephant G.o.d Ganesa, and cobras. Village panchayats (councils) are often held on this platform.

[142] Indian Patriot, 13th January, 1908.

[143] Elayads, Ilayatus, or Nambiyatiris, are priests at most of the snake groves on the west coast.

[144] Calcutta Review, July, 1901, cxiii. 21.

[145] "Malabar and its Folk," Madras, 2nd ed., 150.

[146] Madras Standard, 2nd June, 1903.

[147] "Gazetteer of Malabar," 1908, i. 112.

[148] See "Men and Women of India," February, 1906.

[149] "The Cochin Tribes and Castes," 1909, i. 153-4.

[150] "Malabar and its Folk," Madras, 2nd ed., 147-8.

[151] Vol. i. 105.

[152] "Gazetteer of the South Arcot District," 1906, i. 102.

[153] "Gazetteer of the Tanjore District," 1906, i. 70.

[154] Sesha or Adisesha is the serpent, on which Vishnu is often represented as reclining.

[155] "Ind. Ant.," 1876, v. 188.

[156] See the Skanda Purana.

[157] Other colossal statues of Gummatta are at Karkal and Venur or Yenur in South Canara.

[158] The feast of lights (dipa, lights, avali, a row).

[159] See Bishop Whitehead, "The Village Deities of Southern India,"

Madras Museum Bull., 1907, v. No. 3.

[160] Ibid., 1901, iii. No. 3, 270-1.

[161] "Gazetteer of the Tanjore District," 1906, i. 219.

[162] Madras Dioc. Mag., November, 1910.

[163] See Fawcett, Note on the Mouth-lock Vow, Journ. Anthrop. Soc., Bombay, i. 97-102.

[164] "Gazetteer of the Trichinopoly District," 1907, i. 289.

[165] Scottish Standard Bearer, November 1907.

[166] The Patnulkarans claim to be Saurashtra Brahmans.

[167] "Gazetteer of the Tanjore District," 1906, i. 71.

[168] "Gazetteer of the Madura District," i. 86.