GULIGA AND CHAUNDI

These two sprits are known as blood sucking sprits. Live animals like cock and goat are torn into pieces by the impersonator and raw flesh is consumed by him during the koola ceremony. The legend narrates the origin of the sprits thus, two naughty sisters wanted to beget children by the grace of the God Narayana. Narayana asked them to come next day. The younger sister, desirous of appropriating the entire blessings of Narayana for herself went there alone leaving behind the elder sister who was asleep. Narayana gave a boon of twenty four children. The elder sister was annoyed by the behaviour of her younger sister and cursed her children. Twenty children died and four children by name Guliga, Jattiga, Chaundi and Rahu Guliga survived  and became ferocious spirits. After playing havoc on earth they went up to heaven and demanded Narayana to quench their thirst. Lord Narayana transferred them into spirits. He put raw meat into the mouth of Chaundi,  gave a bell in her right hand and stick in her eye on pregnant women and cows so that the people can offer suitable oblation to protect their women and cows from the evil spirits. He gave a burning torch in the hands of Guliga and asked him to wander about in the night to control the movements of ghosts. The spirits are ferocious. If dissatisfied they cause great harm to their votaries. During the koola ceremony the impersonator is dressed with a palm leaf gown flowing from his neck and shoulders. His face is made up to look ferocious by red and black colors. While performing a frenzied dance he tries to run away from the arena and the votaries stand around in the form of a circle to prevent him from running. The pregnant women are usually locked up a room. Otherwise they too will get possessed by the spirit. The impersonator severs the neck of the cock offered and tears away its body and swallows the pieces of flesh. In certain shrines goats are offered and the raw flesh is consumed.

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