Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India.djvu/486

BRAHMAN :Mogamudo sellu. — The performer washes her face thirteen times daily in a brass vessel, and offers to some matron some rice, a pearl, and a coral.
 * Undrallatadde. — On the thirteenth day after the full moon, taking food before sunrise, the girl worships the goddess Gauri in the afternoon, and, at the time of dismissing the deity invoked (udyapana), she presents five round cakes to as many matrons. The object of this is to secure her future husband's affections.


 * Vara Lakshmi. — The worship of the goddess Lakshmi for the attainment of wealth and salvation, or to make the best of both worlds.


 * Vavila Gauri Dēvi. — In order to avert the risk of all accidents for her future lord, the devotee, on each of the four Tuesdays of the month Sravana, worships the goddess Gauri Dēvi, and distributes Bengal gram to married women.


 * Savitri Gauri Dēvi. — The offering of nine different articles on nine different days after the sun has entered the solstice, the sign of Capricorn. This is also practised to secure a husband's affection.


 * Tsaddikutimangalavaram. — This is a piece of self-mortification, and consists in eating on every Tuesday for one year nothing but cold rice boiled the previous day, and feeding a matron with the same.

The following are some of the ceremonies practised by young women after attaining a marriageable age:—


 * Prabatcha Adivaram. — Offering worship to a married couple, and limiting the taking of food to a single meal on Sunday. This is done with the object of having children.


 * Apadalēni Adivaram. — Taking but one meal every Sunday, and making a presentation to five matrons of