THE MOTHER GODDESS

The Mother Goddess is often linked with the cattle, but she is also seen as riding on the tiger. The Goddess provides life and fertility, but is also dangerous. In the myths of the Adivasis known as the Adayars, the Mother Goddess is called Mali, and is associated with a terrible energy which is supposed to frighten the primal peoples who wander in the forest, making them run for shelter to the Lords who own the land, and live in enclosed fortresses.Thus the tribal peoples become the slaves of the mountains, and also the fields, preferring to work for the land owners, rather than face the dangers of the Spirits who preside over the wilderness.