Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 4.djvu/348

MADIGA niche in the wall. It may be noted that the Mādigas call the intoxicant toddy pālu (milk). For the following interesting note on the Mātangi institution, I am indebted to an article by Mr. A.Madhaviah.* "About ten miles to the south-west of Cumbum, in the Kurnool district, and within a mile of the village of Tudimilla, there is a narrow pass between two hillocks known as Surabeswara Kona. Besides the more common presences, we find here the following shrines: —


 * (a) Sapthamāthas (seven mothers).
 * (b) A curious temple, in which are found the idols of Jamadhagni Bagawān — the father of Parasurāma and the local rishi — his wife Renuka Dēvi, and the Surabi.
 * (c) Opposite to this temple is the curious shrine, not very much bigger than a railway pointsman's box, dedicated to Māthangi. In this temple are found no less than five idols arranged in the following order: — (1) a three-headed snake; (2) another three-headed

snake; (3) a female body, with the palms joined reverentially in the worshipping posture in front, with the lower half of the body snaky in form, and with a canopy of snaky hoods above; (4) Māthangi proper — a female figure of about 15 inches in height, made of stone — with a short skirt, below which the feet are visible, but no upper garment, and wearing a garland round the neck. The right hand holds a snake-headed stick, while the left has an adlika, a kind of sieve; (5) another similar figure, but without even the skirt.

"We shall now proceed to enquire who this Māthangi was, and how she came to be worshipped there. Jamadhagni Maharishi, known also as Bagawān