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Demon Worship
Rural folk pay homage to demons to avert their displeasure worship
also extends to the deities which rule the demons in order to induce their
intervention. The disembodied spirits of human
beings who have met with a violent or sudden death by accident
or murder are supposed to be capable of evil. They are believed to live
in the trees and even to wander hither and thither. So
an area is unbuilt in house-sites as passage of demons when houses are
constructed adjoining the temples of goddess. Sometimes
the demons are said to be occupy the body of a man or a young girl
during puberty and all he or she does is said to be hand work of
the demon.
The Visitations of a demon are said to cause death among
cattle. Tradition demands that blood be spilt for appeasement and living
animals are included in the offering .
The places in which demons are worshipped are pay-koils
or temples of demons. These devil temples are puny structures
resembling tombs or mounds of earth in pyramidal shape, near
a large tree, which is supposed to be the abode of demons.
In these temples, anyone may assume
the role of a priest when he is overcome by emotion or impulse
and dance as a devil. The devil dancing person is adored and sacred
ash accepted from him with great reverence solemnity and above
all fear.
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