Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 3 of 7Thurston, Edgar
History
Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 3 of 7
Thurston, Edgar
Caste -- India, South; Ethnology -- India, South; India, South -- Social life and customs; Tribes -- India, South
a young man, hitherto a silent spectator of the scene, gave a shout,
and began to dance wildly, throwing up his arms, and stepping out
quite actively. This encouragement stimulated the original performer,
and he caught a man standing near by the neck, thrust the stick with
the bells into his hand, and he thereupon started dancing as well. In
about ten minutes there were some half a dozen wild dancing dervishes,
shouting, gesticulating, revolving, and most certainly in an abnormal
state of excitement. A dying but still glowing heap of fire and
ashes became the centre of attraction, for the chief dancer danced
over the fire, and sent the sparks flying, and scattered the wood,
and evoked the admiration and eulogies of the crowd. Streaming with
perspiration, spotted with ashes, wild, dishevelled and exhausted,
the chief dancing demoniac stepped under the pandal, and finally sat
himself before the heap of red flowers, and tossed the blossoms over
his head in a kind of shower bath. He was assisted in this by the old
Kanikar and other bystanders. A little boy was brought before him,
and he called the lad by a name. This was his christening ceremony,
for the lad assumed the name from that time. The chief dancer then
stood up, and appeared to be still in a possessed state. A fine old
rooster was brought, and its throat cut. It was then handed to the
dancer, who applied his lips to the gaping wound, and drained the
blood, swallowing the fluid audibly. Before relinquishing his hold
of the bird, he swayed and fell on the ground in what seemed to
be a swoon. This indicated that the sacrifice had been acceptable,
that the propitiation was perfected, and that all the wishes of the
persons interested in them would be granted. The crowd then set to
eating and drinking the sacrificial elements, and dispersed."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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