COORG SUPERSTITIONS.

FEBRUARY, 1873.]

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COORG SUPERSTITIONS. BY REv. F. KITTEL., MERKARA.

Is a country like Coorg (Ködagu), where, by the side of the Coorgs (Ködaga) and their low caste (Pöleya) servants, about 52 different Hindu tribes (or castes) have been settled for many years, it is not easy to find out which of their

superstitions the Coorgs brought with them at the time of their immigration, and which were

imported afterwards. Their superstitions, how

sticks surmounted with silver, silver knives, common knives, &c., are kept there by way of memorial. A male ghost is called Kárana, a female one Södalichi or Káranachi.; All ghosts, whether male or female, are thought to be troublesome; females even more so than males. The Södalichis have an unpleasant habit of smiting children with sickness, and some

ever, show Maleyāla, Tulu, Kannada (Canarese),

times also adult male and female members

and Brähmana elements.

of the house. On various occasions during the

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The Brähmans who are domiciled in Coorg year, with a view to appeasing the deceased, rice, have succeeded in introducing Mahādeva and Subrāhmanya (under the name “ Iguttappa”),

arrack, milk, and other delicacies are placed

for them in one of the wall-niches of the house,

in entirely brahmanizing the worship of the or in places close to it; and once a month a river Kävéri, in having temples erected and idols fowl or two are decapitated at the Kaymada. § set up, in spreading Pauránika tales, and in usurping to some extent the pājā at the places of Coorg worship. They have been greatly

But pampering of this sort is said often to fall short of its purpose. In such cases a man of

assisted by the Lingaites in these successful endeavours, especially in the introduction of the

one of the ghosts.

Linga

to be in a trance.

Tulus still manage to smuggle in their

the house may profess to become possessed of He then puts off his head

dress, walks to and fro in the house, and appears While in this condition he

have made themselves

is asked what is to be done to satisfy the ghosts;

indispensable at demon and ancestor worship, and are also increasing the number of demons; and Maisürians, at certain times of the year,

and as the representative of the ancestors, he is presented with meat and drink (especially arrack).

demons; Maleyālas

bring a Mări Amma and carry it through the country to have the people's vows paid to it. (A) Coorg ANCESTRAL Worship. Ghosts, i.e., the spirits of their ancestors, are believed by the Coorgs to hover inside and out side of their dwellings, and to give endless

These gifts are called Kárana Bărani. Neighbours are also allowed to come in and put questions to the possessed one. Another ceremony called the Kārana Kóla, T

i. e., ghost-masque, conducted with the object of

finding out the particular wishes of the ghosts, is performed every second or third year, and occa trouble if not properly respected. For their use sionally also every year. For this affair a Maley a Kaymada,” a small building with one apart àla performer is invited to the house (either a ment, or in some cases with a mere niche, is Panika, Banna, or Maleya); and at night he puts generally built near the house; or a Köta, f a on, one after another, five or more different sort of bank, is made for them under a tree, in costumes, according to the number of ancestors the fields where the family’s first house has especially remembered at the time. Arrayed in stood. A number of figures roughly beaten in these dresses he dances to the accompaniment of silver plates, bronze images, and sometimes also a drum beaten by a companion, and behaves as figures on a slab of pot stone, are put in the if possessed by the Coorg ghosts. After each Kaymadas to represent the ancestors; and Köla, or mask, he leaves the house with a fowl,

• Kaymada means “field-building,” and also “building

near at hand.”

+ Köta, in this instance, seems to mean “place of assem

blage;" the Tulus call it “Kotti." I Kārana, in Canarese, means “the black or dark one;” but it may be a Sanskrit term meaning “agent,” “chief,” in

which sense it is used to denote the living heads of families.

It is, however, not impossible that the last-mentioned meaning has been attached to the word by brahmanical influence: ... Sodalichi means “a female of the burning ground:” Kāranachi, “a female of the Kāranas.”

Sodalichi

may be an imported word, as we have the ancient Coorg term Tútangala, i.e., burial-ground. Burying the dead is custom ary among the Coorgs.

§ This decapitation is, as it appears, performed only when

the ghost of Ajjappa (i.e., father, grandfather), a renowned Coorg hero, is thought to visit the Kaymada. At nuptial and funeral ceremonies it is customary to decapitate a pig in front of the Kaymaqa. Once a year some of the Coorgs place some food in the º (Tiltºngala); Such offerings are sometimes called “Kalaya" or Kalaja, which term may mean “spirituousthem liquor," as aso-called libation of arrack has always to accompany (cf. the Sanskrit term Kalya). Bărani is probably identical with Sanskrit Pärava, “breakfast.”

• I Köla occurs also in Tamil.