Indian Antiquary Vol 23

SR No.: 032515
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 412
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 29

JANTARY, 1891.]
THE DEVIL WORSHIP OF THE TULUVAS.
23
Then they out the branches of a tree, formel a rough litter with them, bore him to a house, and they seated him there. He caught cold and suffered from fever.
"Bring me a man that knows medicine and charms," said the Dala!.
Tlen Ammanna Bannayya asked Birmaņņa Baidya to treat the Ballal, in the latter came immediately and gave him medicine, and uttereil some charms. When he luullone this, the cold, the fever, and the swelling in the foot) rapidly increased lay ly clay and became very large. The Balla! could not taste his food, and conld not sleep, and so he asked whether any other physicians or magicians cuid be found. He was told that there was one Sayina Baidya, who knew medicine and magic.
The Balla! then asked that Sayina Baidya might be sent for, for a bandage. Accordingly Charadi Saikayya and Badi Bommayyû went to him, and asked him to treat the Balli! with medicine and with charms.
I cannot bring medicine from the forest, as I am quite blin. I have a sister Deyi, who cooks food for one Kantanna Baidya and cats with him. Go there. She knows everything," said Sayina Baidya.
They went to her house and called ont her name. She came out, leaving the call, and enquired who it was that called her and what was their object.
They replied, "We are only the servants of a Ballal, who las ordered us to ask you to como and adminster medicine to him and utter charms."
" I would have come, but I am fally pregnant," answered the woman.
On hearing this answer they returned to the Balla!'s house. The Balla! was eagerly expecting their return, and they said to him) :
"She says that she wonld have come, but she is pregnant. She says that she is acquainted with medicines, but that she cannot walk, because she cannot see her feet, for her womb has become very heavy."
Then the Ballal ordered his litter to be adorned and carried to her house. His servants accordingly alorned the litter, and bore it to her house and placed it at the gate. They asked hier to come to him, and then she said :
"He has sent me a thing that is quite useless to me," and having said this, she went to seven different forests, and brought handfuls of seven kinds of leares. After fetching these, she went to three other forests, and brought handfuls of three kinds of roots. Then she went home and fetched a cocoanat from upstairs and placed it in the litter as an offering to the litter! She also put the medicine into it and walked on beside the litter. As she was approach ing the gate of the house, the Balla! was calling out :- "Has Deyi come ? Has Degi come ?"
She walked gently and with great modesty, and the Ballal was told that sbe was deeply blushing, he said :
"Let her not be ashamed nor afraid, but let her come with straight-forwardness." She came and sat down.
- Protect my single life from the grasp of death. Formerly my (Balla!'s) mother gave birth to a son like the god Rama. This day I am to be born from thy womb. If you protect my single life, I shall feed and clothe you for ever," said the Balla! to her.
On hearing this, the ointment, which Ammanna Baidya had formerly applied, she washed away from his body, and applicd a new medicine herself. She attered some charms, and struck his heart with the loaves. Then, day by day and minute by minute the discase in the neck descended to the waist; what was in the waist came down to the legs; what was in the lege descended to the feet ; what was in the feet fled to the eartlı! The Ballaj could now taste his food; he could now sleep with case.