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Blood sacrifice was very common in Hindu rituals and
in temples. Whether or not it was vampyric in nature is open to
conjecture. The following myth is one of the better detailed references
to a possible vampyre creature.
Cundalai MadaN: The goddess Parvati, after problems
with her husband and her request for a child, is sent to the infernal
regions. While there she is to gather a spark from a sacred lamp in the
hem of her clothing. The spark becomes a shapeless mass which causes
Parvati to complain to Siva, her husband. He then makes the lump into a
child, but instead of feeding him milk, the child eats from a corpse.
From that point on, the child is called Cudalai MadaN. Because of his
actions, he cannot reside in Siva's paradise, however the child imposes
conditions before he leaves. He demands a female counterpart and a cult.
The gods prepare for this on the cremation grounds. the MadaN demands
meat offerings, animal victim, alcohol and human sacrifice. Siva causes
the birth of the Kaniyar singers and dancers who willingly offer their
blood as a narabali**. MadaN is then satisfied and goes to the Earth to
receive the offerings of men. While on Earth he stops at various towns
to worship. He oppresses the people of each town until they worship him.
He takes the women, devours the fetuses of pregnant women, kills men,
burns houses, and uses "disquise and illusion to spread
confusion." His story continues with more blood sacrifice, death
and destruction.
**"Narbali" translates
to 'human sacrifice.' "Nar" is "man"
and "bali" means "sacrifice" ~translation provided
by Anando. |
