on the scene, translated him to kylas (heaven). At the same time, he restored the priests to life, and inflicted the following four curses on the Viramushtis:--(1) they were not to build or use houses, and are consequently found living under trees outside villages; (2) they were not to sleep on a cot; (3) they were not to use the wild broom-stick; (4) they were not to set up permanent ovens for cooking purposes, but to make impromptu stoves out of three stones. Taking compassion on them, the Devangas promised to give the Viramushtis a small sum of money annually, and to contribute towards their marriage expenses. The Viramushtis are said to have become attached to the Komatis subsequent to the above incident. The story goes that some Komatis asked them to delay for three and half hours the march of Vishnuvardhana Raja, who was advancing with a view to marrying the daughter of one of them, named Vasavakanya (now deified into Kanyakamma). This the Viramushtis did by entertaining the Raja with their acrobatic feats. Meanwhile, the Komatis made a number of fire-pits, and put an end to themselves. Vishnuvardhana arrived too late, and had his head cut off. The Viramushtis prayed to Vasavakanya, inasmuch as they had lost both the Raja, who promised them a grant of land in return for their performance, and herself, who had promised to give a lump of gold to each gotra. The Komatis replied in a body that each family of their caste would in future give the Viramushtis an annual present of money, and help in defraying the expenses of their marriages. In accordance with the above legends, the Viramushtis usually beg only from Devangas and Komatis. When they approach a village, they generally halt under a tree, and, early in the morning, dress up as acrobats, and appear with daggers, sticks, etc., crying Good luck! Good luck! They caper about as they advance, and, when they reach a Devanga or Komati house, perform their acrobatic feats, and wind up with a eulogium of the caste. Money and food are then doled out to them. Whenever a Devanga, Lingayat Komati, or other Lingayat wants to make a hero (vira) of a deceased member of his family, he sends for a Viramushti (or hero-maker), and has a slab planted, with a recognised ceremonial, at the spot where he is buried.