Dayamava was the beautiful daughter of a learned Brahmin. A street sweeper, a man from a much lower caste, fell madly in love with her. He pretended to be a Brahmin and married her. Dayamava went to live with her husband at his mother’s house. She was an excellent, devoted wife and bore her husband several children.

All was well for many years, until one day during dinner, her mother-in-law commented that something tasted like beef-tongue. Instantly, Dayamava saw the truth: only street sweepers eat cattle carcasses. Filled with rage, Dayamava killed her children and mother-in-law with a sickle. She burned down the house. Her husband tried to flee, either by hiding in a buffalo, behind a buffalo, or by transforming into a buffalo, depending on the version of the myth. Either way, it made no difference: Dayamava sliced off his head and the buffalo’s, too. Having killed them all, Dayamava transformed into a warrior goddess venerated in southern India.

Dayamava is a village goddess now assimilated into the Hindu pantheon as an avatar of Lakshmi. She is associated with smallpox. Dayamava is invoked for healing, disease prevention, and fertility. A buffalo representing her husband is sacrificed at her shrine during her annual festival. Should she fulfill a major request, the traditional vow is to donate a buffalo to her shrine, which will be allowed to roam free and remain unmolested.

FAVOURED PEOPLE:

Carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, metalworkers, women

COLOUR:

Red

OFFERINGS:

Incense; vermillion powder; fruit; cooked food; flowers

SEE ALSO:

• Lakshmi

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by : Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.