Omens and Superstitions of Southern India

Contents: 1. Omens. 2. Animal superstitions. 3. The evil eye. 4. Snake worship. 5. Vows, votive and other offerings. 6. Charms. 7. Human sacrifice. 8. Magic and human life. 9. Magic and magicians. 10. Divination and fortune-telling. 11. Some agricultural ceremonies. 12. Rain-making ceremonies.

This book has emerged from author’s seven volume of Encyclopedic Caste and Tribes of South India, 1909. It deals with omens, animal superstitions, evil eye, charms, sorcery etc of the psychical life of the inhabitants of the Madras Presidency, and the states of Travancore and Cochin. The author supplemented the personal knowledge acquired in the course of the wandering expedition in the region and by recourse to official reports, gazetteers, journals of societies, books etc. We found this book profoundly interesting and educative. Hence this book is a rare asset in every home and library.