A Case Study of Blood and Śarāb Thirsty Aboriginal Village Gods from Greater Magadha: An Interpretation through Polythetic Approach of McClymond
Bronkhorst rightly argued that the Brāhmaṇical religion and rituals were not rooted deeply in the society of Greater Magadha and maintained its tradition of local Dravidian gods due to its situation beyond the eastern limit of purely Āryan Culture. Besides famous Brāhmaṇical Gods, each village of Greater Magadha has its own local non-Brāhmaṇical Dravidian gods, situated in small rude temples or shrines. These locally originated minor village gods are almost always appeased with blood or animal sacrifices followed by offering of śarāb i.e. alcoholic drink whenever a wish (mañnat) is fulfilled. The offered small indigenous animals like chicken or bird are cooked at the shrine and served as prāsād to all. It is believed that the deity will be satisfied after drinking blood and wine and bless you anything in an intoxicated mood. The present paper will locate these village gods through the ‘polythetic approach’ and understand the traditional sacrifices offered. It further intends to explore the relationship between the modern theory and the contemporary indigenous practice in dynamic collaboration with seven components of sacrificial deeds.