Of the Hindu religion the Koyas know nothing. They worship deities of their own. Some of them have adopted the village goddesses of the plains, such as Kondalamma and Bairamma (near Pólavaram), Maisamma and Póléramma (near Bhadráchalam) and Muthyálamma and her brother Póturázu. Mr. Cain says that Muthyálamma is specially reverenced as the goddess of disease, and as equivalent to the Maridamma of the plains. Other Kóyas adhere to the worship of the animistic deities of the hills and forests, the konda devatulu. Pálamuni, Nílamuni and Korrarázu, the god of tigers, are three of these. Mr. Cain also mentions Kommalamma and a fearsome female devil called Pida, who is propitiated in December with curious rites. The Pándava brothers (especially Bhíma), and the wild-dogs who are supposed to be their messengers, are also worshipped. Human sacrifices, made sometimes to a dread deity called Mamili, were not unknown in former days. Writing in 1876, Mr. Cain said that there was strong reason to believe that two men had been sacrificed that year not far from Dummagúdem, and that there was no doubt that in Bastar strangers were kidnapped and secretly offered up every year. During the Rampa outbreak of 1879-80 several constables and others were openly sacrificed by the rebels.1[1] Mr. Cain says that a langúr(white-faced monkey) was ordinarily substituted for the human victim, under the name of kurommapotu ('a male with small beasts'), as an offering to appease the deity.
Most peculiar objects of reverence are the vélpus, a name which Mr. Cain says is the Kóya for 'god.' They consist of small pieces of metal, generally iron and less than a foot in length, which are kept in a hollow bamboo deposited in some wild and unfrequented spot. They are guarded with great secrecy by those in charge of them and are only shown to the principal worshippers on the rare occasions when they are taken out to be adored. The Kóyas are very reticent about them. Mr. Cain says there is one supreme vélpu which is recognized as the highest by the whole Kóya tribe and kept hidden in the depths of Bastar. There are also vélpus for each gatta and for each family. The former are considered superior to the latter and are less ^frequently brought out of their retreats. One of them called Lakkála (or Lakka) Rámu, which belongs either to the Áró or Perambóya gatta, is considered more potent than the others. It is ornamented with eyes of gold and silver and is kept in a cave near Sitánagaram, not far from Parnasála in Bhadráchalam taluk. The
- ↑ 1 For a description by an eye-witness, see G.O. No. 2275, Judicial, dated 4th September 1879.
