Tiger, 14, 57, 74–6, 189, 260, 261, 262, 280

Tīpu Sultan, 44–5, 101, 188

Tirupati (Tirumala), 55, 137, 141, 143, 148, 156–9, 161, 168–9

Tiyan, 46, 82, 128, 162–3, 246

Toad, 100

Tobacco, 20, 27, 178, 208, 250, 259

Toda, 141, 210, 233, 234, 279

Toddy, 186, 187, 200, 251, 252, 253, 262, 263, 287, 295, 299, 302

Torch, against evil eye, 115;
beating body, 146;
in death ceremony, 244;
rain ceremony, 309;
snake ceremony, 131;
rag torch tied to tree, 156

Tortoise, 71, 192

Tottiyan, 14, 28, 94, 260

Treading on charm, 185, 243, 247, 252, 307;
on name cut on road, 159;
water poured on footsteps, 51.
See Earth

Treasure, beliefs, 85, 90–1, 102, 221;
human sacrifice, 215–21

Tree of testimony as charm, 188

Tree-snake, Dendrophis, 96;
Dryophis, 96, 97

Trisula (Siva’s trident), 183–4

Tūd (Meliosma pungens) in Badaga ceremony, 300

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), 53, 291

Turban, omen, 41

Turmeric, 36, 40, 77, 114, 117, 125, 130, 166, 170, 171, 175, 176, 177, 185, 190, 194, 199, 202, 206, 212, 227, 243, 246, 269, 278, 283, 284, 292, 293, 295

Twins, 54

Umbilical cord, 25, 54–5, 105

Umbrella, unlucky, 29, 63;
silver, offering, 160

Uncle, 55;
maternal, 54, 55, 70;
paternal, 55

Urāli, 48, 68

Urine of animals as omen, 15, 21, 58;
of enemy in magic, 187, 248;
of cattle, 58, 59, 79, 97;
of monkey, 73;
of monsters, 310–1;
of wild dogs, 79

Vada, 40–1

Valaiyan, 56, 133, 244, 286

Valluvan magician, 268

Valmīki, 135

Varuna, 122, 305

Varuna japam, prayer to the rain god, 308–10

Velama, 216

Velichchapād, 277–8

Vellālan, 133

Venus, planet, 44

Vettiyan grave-digger, 309

Vettuvan, 151 Vigna Catiang seeds as omens, 39

Vīramushti, 94, 144

Virgin and Child, picture works miracles, 161

——, catamenial blood in magic, 240;
corpse in sorcery, 242;
vows, 158

Vishnupād (feet of Vishnu), 193

Vishu festival, 17–9, 289

Vontigadu ceremony, 50–1

Vulture, sacred, 86

Washing of feet, ceremonial, 22, 31

Water, charm, 189;
drunk as charm, 187;
holy, 14, 123, 220;
poured over idol as vow, 147;
cf. 142

Water-snake, 96, 98

Wave offering, 114, 115, 117–9, 135, 171, 245

White-ant. See Ant

Whooping-cough caused by Bhairava, the dog-god, 196

Widow, 21, 30, 46, 51, 52

Winnowing basket, 292, 293;
fan, 26, 283, 306;
sieve, 20, 80, 117, 287;
tray, 68, 283

Wolf, 77

Woodpecker, 85

Wool of black sheep, charm, 191

Words, lucky and unlucky, 29, 30, 31

Yaānaādi, 82, 95, 285

Yantram, 182, 185–7, 196–7, 219, 227

Yantrasara, 181

Yerukala. See Korava

Yetah fish (Bagarius), used in magic, 253

Yōgi, 104