VADA GODS AND SHRINES. The Vadas are a caste of sea fishermen on the coast of Ganjam and Vizag,a patam, Southern India. They make clay figures of their gods and put them in shrines. " Separate families appear to have separate shrines, some consisting of large ehatties (earthern pots), occasionally ornamented, and turned upside down, with an opening on one side. Others are made of brick and chunam (lime). All that I have seen had their opening towards the sea. Two classes of figures are placed in these shrines, viz., clay figures of gods, which are worshipped before fishing expeditions, and when there is danger from a particular disease which they prevent ; and wooden figures of deceased rela tions, which are quite as imaginative as the clay figures. Figures of gods and relations are placed in the same family shrine " (H. D'A. C. Reilly, quoted by E. Thurston and K. Rangachari). The chief sea goddess of the Vadas is said to be Orusandlamma, who is represented with four arms. She has a brother, Ramasondi, who rides an
elephant. MarulupOlamma, another sea-goddess, " is housed in a small shed made of date palm leaves" (Thurston). The goddess Bfilokamma is worshipped at the burial-ground. The goddess Kalimukkamma " is represented by a paper or wooden mask painted black, with protruding tongue," and has for her shrine a low hut made of straw. She has a brother Bilithari. Other goddesses are Peddamma or Polamma, Maridiamma, Samalamma, who is associated with a god Bengali Babu, represented as wearing a bat and riding on a black horse, Rajamma, a goddess, represented as carrying a sword and riding on a black elephant, Yerenamma, a goddess, represented as carrying a sword and riding on a white horse, Blffigirsthamma, represented as having eight or twelve hands and as riding on an elephant, and Koralu Sakthi. See E. Thurston.