Practitioners of astrology, disclosing the past-births of their clients
and predicting their destinies in future births, are popular
among the lower strata of Tamils. It is said that breaking a coconut
before the images of deities is a remnant or a substitute for human
sacrifice and the spilling of arti or reddish
water, consisting of slaked lime and turmeric, performed at the
commencement and conclusion of ceremonies is substitute for blood-spilling
to ward off evil-spirits.
