above it, whilst the flesh is cooked and served to the guests attending the ceremony, except that of buffaloes, which is given to the low-caste musicians who perform during the service. Even some adherents of this class have, however, discontinued animal sacrifices, and use certain kinds of fruit, such as coco-nuts or pumpkins, instead. The use of wine, which at one time was very common on these occasions, seems also to have become much more restricted; and only members of the extreme section would still seem to adhere to the practice of the so-called five _m's_ prescribed by some of the Tantras, viz. _mamsa_ (flesh), _matsya_ (fish), _madya_ (wine), _maithuna_ (sexual union), and _mudra_ (mystical finger signs)--probably the most degrading cult ever practised under the pretext of religious worship. In connexion with the principal object of this cult, Tantric theory has devised an elaborate system of female figures representing either special forms and personifications or attendants of the "Great Goddess." They are generally arranged in groups, the most important of which are the _Mahavidyas_ (great sciences), the 8 (or 9) _Mataras_ (mothers) or _Mahamataras_ (great mothers), consisting of the wives of the principal gods; the 8 _Nayikas_ or mistresses; and different classes of sorceresses and ogresses, called _Yoginis_, _Dakinis_ and _Sakinis_. A special feature of the Sakti cult is the use of obscure Vedic _mantras_, often changed so as to be quite meaningless and on that very account deemed the more efficacious for the acquisition of superhuman powers; as well as of mystic letters and syllables called _bija_ (germ), of magic circles (_chakra_) and diagrams (_yantra_), and of amulets of various materials inscribed with formulae of fancied mysterious import. General conclusions.