Rayachoti Town
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Rayachoti Town
(Rajd-vidu, ' the abode of the Raja ') Head- quarteis of the taluk of the same name in Cuddapah District, Madras, situated in 14 4' N. and 78 46' E. Population (1901), 7,123. It stands on the banks of the Mandavi ii\ei, and seven loads con- verge on it. It has some trade and a weekly market. An old temple here is dedicated to Virabhadraswami, and a large number of people (about 6,000) attend the annual car-festival Two odd superstitions are connected with the feasts at this shrine Eaily in the morning of the day of the car-pi ocession a big luby of the size of a nutmeg is placed between the two eyebrows of the god to represent the third eye of Siva Opposite to the idol a large heap of boiled rice is placed so as to catch the first glance of the luby eye.
Till this is done, the doors are shut, and the people aie prevented from going in front of the idol, lest they should be instantly killed by the ra}s fiom the thud eye. The person who conducts the ceiemony stands behind the idol, out of the range of the eye, and stops there till the nte is over. At another time of the } ear the god is taken out hunting He is carried to a small open building supported by stone pillars half a mile outside the town, and there placed on the ground. Beneath the flooring of this building are a large number of scorpions. While the god is taking his rest therein, the attendants, it is said, can catch these scorpions and hold them m their hands without being stung, but directly he leaves it the creatures resume their old propensities
