sinhalese magic and spells
DESCRIPTION
Sinhalese Magic and SpellsTRANSCRIPT
192 JouRNAr-, R.A.s. (cErrLoN). iVot.. XXX. 'ti(t. Tg.-t926) srNitA!.ESE rrAcic AND spEr_LS r93
SINHALESE MAGIC AND SPELLS.
B'- \\t. ,\. r)D Srr.rre.
r\palt f lom celerirorrics, danr.es u rrtl ineantations,rerfolmed for avertilg. r-lrat is lreUer.od to l;e tjie evilro\\-els of spirits and deruclls, thele is a class of rnagic,'Jriclr is lllactised to sorne extent in Cel.lol u-itli thel,iect of crsting,spelis ori other.s and causing.ilienr;i.r'nrr'. The rnethod..r pulsuerl for. lhis purptise itl,e,r'sigrierl l.ith a degr.ee of elaboraiion shorvirrg the witle,ird r-aried extett to u'liich the r.ult lias been r.ar.r.ied,ilror)g' the Sinlralese lrt one tinre ru. other.
IJlacl< nrag'ic is pr.irctiseri for c.ausirrc injury to nenu'ell as animals ancl everr to trees ald irialirnate
ljects, In tliis r.oriler.tiou tlre ilfluenc,es of i.he selses,.,:clt :rs sound, sight, sliell, touch, taste anrl rnind aroIt irloug'lit into bealirrg'.
'lhe aspec,ts oi planetarr rrior.ernents iuclicatinglires of the lerr,, rnorillr arril dav alrl the phlse,s of the:ri{)u al'e also takeu irrto ac.c,ount in tlre plar.tice of black:gic iu rrddition to desig'ns, tlral'ilgs and incanta,tiols.
llllie ritos and iucantations prnctisecl for iljuring,iiividurrls tahe the for.nr of svurpathetic rnag,ic either.r'h.tl th',.g'h the lrssocirtion .f ideas of si'rila'itv orr i'ontiguit)' or. both. In boilr dhese the assurnlrtioniirat thirrgs aLrt on euch other at l distance ., throughrerrlc't s.vrnpathr, the inrprrlse lieing, trlnsnritted frorn'l to tlre otlier. lrl neal)s of x'hat \\,e rnal conceir.e asliind of invisible ether, not rurlilie that u,Lich is
,,stulated by rnodeln srrieirr.e for. l pi.eciselv sinrilar' r.r'[)ose, rrrrirely, to cxplairi )rox. tLirrg,s carr phvsicallvil'errt e.ach other thlougli l spar,e which appears to be
r i1t t1-. ' '
r- UrI a tttotiort pruposud b; thc Il'rrr',".rid"d b1' \lr. li. A. Ti:srvarasitrghc, tltr'Io7 1t:6-:; \rerc (lccte(l : -
N{r. E. \\r. l)erera andfo]lou.in g offi ce-bearers
PYesident".
lhe lfcin. I{r. '\. G. M. Iiletcher, C'I{ G, Cl Il tl'Vicc-PYesidt ttt :
lfhe Hon. [Ir' D. ]1. Jayatilaka, ]'I A'
COUNCIi,:Nerl Ilentbers :
l)r. l'. I'1. I'ieris, I-itt.D., C.C.S.,\Iudaliyar Hcrocl C)nnarzrtne,
H ottorarl' 1'rea suY et' :
llr. AubleY N. \\'cinm:rl'
H onorarY S ecretar i cs'.
Ilessrs. C. H. Co1lins, 8.A., C.C.S;, ancl -\ubrey N' \\'einman'
l. Otr a motion proposccl by the llon-. l{r.-D' B' Jzrl':rtila\a and.*"ori.1".1 by NIr. H. Sri Niisanka,'Ilu1e 2.5 of t1.re R^ules ancl Reg.lationsof thc Society rl':ts irmeuclccl by tire substitution of thc rvords " on such
clate as the iouncil tnay appoint " {or the u'c'rds " in March " in line z
thercof.5. llhe Chairman introclucecl the lecturer and the Hon' Mr'
tt:. 'i. de Silva reacl the Iollowing Paper entitled " Sinhalesc I\'Iagic
ancl Spells."
Re-Illeded:XIr. A. IL Hocart,,, Lionei cle liottsoka.
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rg4 JouR\AL, li..\.s. (cEYLoN). ;\ior-' xXX
In the olle ('as€'it is believed that trn elfect rese;ubles
its ca,use, ailrl irr the other it is believecl that thing's.
wliich have beel ont'e coujriinetl or ha<l lleen in corrtact
renrair, auil in such r'eliltiorrs tllat whatevel it 46i11r to
tlte one mrrst sirlrilrrr'h' effr'cL tlrc other"
The follo\-ilg. .is il rough classiFication of sttrtrt' of
tho rnethods br:lievetl i.o be ellierctivct in causinS' injlrrvto othels :-
l. ,l.he selec,tirirl of l]ltlefic.ietrt f,irires ailcl houls.
'J. The leciting of rel'ses rvilh l paltit'ula'r
ill't'ilrlgenlent of lctters antl sJtlllrlrlos krr{)x-lr ils
tashavi (\'erses ihll, caustt eyil)'3. lllhe lcciting of chamrs.1. 'l'ire casting of evil e-ve (esi'rilur)'
5. {Itteralce of r:ril woltls (liata virha)'
6. J)irection of er-il thoug'lrts (bo virlra)'
7. l)ilectirttr of corlf nsitllr through irnplecatiolrs
(evoI) '
8. I)irection of tlcr-ices (devol, angliil , fiilli) '
9. l)er-ising of lraPs thadi).1ll. The dii'ect ,:'lralnling of objects thulil'arn)'
l)elsous l-iro ltlactise bitlcli rnag'ic c'onsidel that tlie
evil elfects of theil eitorts are interrsifierl when they
selec't celtirin speciai times trnd hours for theil practice'
Every clav, hour anrl ltotnunt llt'e either ausllicions or
inauspicioris il rtccorrlatrt:c l'ith the rnovements of the
plturets. Sorne iitiltls rle rruspicioris fol all artivities,other tirnes ar.e tteutra,l, some othels at'er ualelicient' 'lhecharts n-hich .rt'e llrel)alecl lry as{rologers l.lto c'alt'lrlate
the asper:ts of ihe pllrnets gir-e ptlticulrrs of these houls
comltutetl each leltr fclr tlrtt g'uitllrlrce of thrlse rvltrt
believe in thetl . r\ person irrtt'trt on doirlg a nralefit'ieul:rci se1('cts tlie rnost nraleficic:rrt tinie for' his ar''tirities'
hi adtlitiotr to rruspicious lttrd itllurspicious liourspresclibed for g'eneral l)urposes. lhere are other mcans
atlopted to interrsif-r tlie effects of llliese devices.
o. 79.-I()27 i SINIIAI-I,ISE l'I,\cIC r\NI) SpEr_r_S.'95
'l'lielc ure sever.al books iiL Sinlralosc, dealing, rvithiiis riratler. Orie is kiiol.rr as Yalur Kdln (thc houls
,,i tlre god of the netliel l-olld7. ,\notlrer. Ilrahma li6la, ihe houls of llrahnra). '[hele lr.er rrlso I)arLcapakshi and, r,11r'itg'rrrulu.
I lLave rrot seel ir trop)' of lh'alrnrtr 'K{la, thoug,b
,,ie'ti,. of it is .rarle irr otlrer. rr.r.lis. l'he \-anra Krili.,rrsisl"s of 165 llour-lile lerses. A tnrlslatiol of \-amaiiri lir rrrirrle lrl rir. is pnblislied in the Cc1-lorr Natio'al.ii.r'iel', J-ol. lJ. l'ag.e 2'02. I qq6te hele ir fr,w yelses. 1)rn thr's ]t0()1; :
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{)n .Strndny, fir'e 1rer.u 12 liouls) rftcr. sunlise Yarnat:vi ($n6 of tlie rretlic'r: l'ollcl) g.oes tou-ards ilre nor.th-:s t. Start at th:rt Irour., talic l {r.esh turnericlitrcurna Long.a) r'oot. l,r'jte on it llre lalre of voui,',ri. ulrce it oit rr irur- ol'florrr.'i,s. ltrrrrig.rrte it rritlr
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t96 JouRNAr- R.A.s. (cEYLoN), lVor-. XXX.
T)ummala (r'esiri) after i'epeating the chalm a hundretl
ancl eight tirnes, tie'up n foltled rvliite r'loth louud 1-our'
rvaisl; aricl heep the I'oot setnled in its folcls' \Ylien you
meet the person v'Iio ]rts a quan'el rrith -vou, lillie the
charrne<l root in lour hancl, looli interitlv at his face irnd
breal< the root. hr thlee rlavs he rvill die, arid accoriling'
io tlie x-orcls of the llishis, lrefore the lapsc of three
rnonths six otliers of his relatives u'ill riieet n'ith death''
Pancapa,kshi anrl Tntlragurulu deal with the
ttrrangement of lotters nlcl svllables iclentified rrithanimals and phtring' thenr irl position in accordancervith their antagonisll or fr'it'rtdliness.
l/ts Kovi or I/erses for Infli:tin'g Eill.In tlie corlltositiou of Sirlialese velses, poets have
fir'ections as to the a]'l'ang'enrLrr)t of certtrin letters aird
sr.liables. Such ll'r'iulgemertts are eitlier benefir:ient.
noutlal ol procltrctive of evil. These a,ffect the poet
himself a ud irr ll ntinot clegr:ec tltose 'n'ho lec,ite theyerses. llut iir plepaling \ra,s Jia r-i, thnt is, Yet'ses
composed specitlll' for r,ausing iljulv ou others, thepoet follou.s celtairr rlilcctjons u'hiclr erttlile hirn and
his learlel's to be freed flotrr tlte evil ellects, ltnt in l'lriclihe directs the evil torrards rr palticular persou or object.
Sinhalese grarrrnars g'ive lrrief directioris lls to tliec'ornposition of r-elses and indicate the ploper use oflettels :uicl svlla,bles to ilr-er't tirestr evil e11iects. Theser'onsist of : l,r'r'angeurent of long rrnd sholt syllables ing'r'onps of thlee knornt as (|nna of r'hich thele are eight,four being' benefit,ient irricl fuul rnaleficient ; lettersn'hicli arL] auspir'ious ancl inauspic,ious; nnrl lettersi'epresentod as ariimtls whose conjunction is g'ood or eril,accolrling'to tlre chrrractei: arrd antipethv of anirnalsplaced sicle bv side; alsrr auspicious and inauspicioussounds arcl iirispi(rious and inauspir_,ious obiects nndlorminal lettels userl in rlrvming il verse.
'.t. 79.--19z6 srNn.lirsE rr,\Grc ANt) spDLLS 197
ilhele ure eighl Gonrrs. These are describecl in thellorving' trvo verses in the "Ileladivabhitieravata.', :-
Q6 ood cqC.@ t2ot$ €3 ee,e.: oqt e c,ro.af,o{O cood gE@ r;at8 qcgee o,q8
eog cood epcnO EdE q,Eg@ oOE
98 ood O.qO c2d$ o.dJc,": OOS
e),qO 6c2$ Q89C oOS Oe,r'ti cllo.dpGo eEB qd Oa8 or8 c,)odryoO gq8 8blreso38 qer-rC coo.dgeo EdB ec,ei o,6o.6$ Oeg crro.dI,larth Gana tlrloe long, svllables
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brings 1)rosl)erity
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J)ivirie Giina three shor.t s.r,lhbles liriiig,s long lifei, iN) Ga,n:r
Wincl Gana ends n'itlr a lolg. svllable blings exilei, iS) Gtrrra
Suu Grlna riiidtlle' with Iong svllllile lrrings sir_,I<ness, iJ') Qnnn.
Tlre midclle is sh,rrt svliable brings death ther Fire{::ina is (R) Garia
'I'lre ,fir'st is short svllrrble llr,ing* enter,plise, u-a,tt,r.Ij:rrra is (Y) (larra
'{he last is short svlla}rle br.ilgs destmction skr,{ : ir.r is ('l'2 ( innrr
ilhe first is long svllable .bli ngs health hrnal Garra
i, tll) Gana.The follln'ing is the classifica{ion of auspicious anrli r,sl,iciorrs letier... tiz.-Szoo@ddeg,6 z-lg+. SOc 6)55 e O a ao y,t6 oE ..r38 o0 SO 6{i5 a6 ood ues, A.A c\{ +O, ii6al;e: tqO So@'rldz16 O.gg €i 6
l ii .1.111r j a n I tig. ale evil letter,s; u p b g, ir ale lrurinni, ,lels; the lest of the letter.s o{ the alphabet are rlir-ine.
If divirre letters are placed at the hergirrning of a,!r :Ee, ol on eithor sicle of & nrllre, tlrev brirrg gootl lrrclr,
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r98 JoUnr\AI- It.A.s. (LlEYr.oN) [Voi-. XXX.
and er.il ietters tlestrov all goodl as for htmtrn lettels,
their eflect is treutrnl.'I'hele are eig'lll; divisions of letters into different
anirnals.Four of the aniurals ale tlirect enernies o{ eac'}r of
the four othels reslterctive'h'. lflie-r :llre as follows :-MorrgooseEOarg aotI lJr.ri{alo qoOc,O a6dv0wl g2ilr5r€3 ikns J,oollard &,6es(I, igPhCobrrl e gO€ u jbl Horse 6reOq' ritrnrrgCrow oOco eql-Y Deer S d6'3 h'4r(lf tbr:se, the nrolgttose. ltu#alo, 6x'| and leoparcl- are
direct enenries of oobla, hotse, cro\\' and deer"
Lr arr:anging tlie letters in a vel'se, all antagonisticlettel to tbe letter'. rritjr l-hich ther narue of a part\r
re,glrdiug wltoru the verse tleals r-itlr, bring's him evil.9zo oqzo a2dl t*a5 azoler@zl'; +OO ai6eseeO ereoe co.6 9Q +6qlr. 6\ce x 'zB 5)
!.:,:t. lg--rez6] srNu,lresn MAGrc AND spELLS r99
mgO orlc88 +sA€oC era g€8 6\r5rrcaegr:r,gg@ og€r::d qoO.O 8Oc @d.6 gzsJ ororocoO omcarcQd, oocenOc oir:c g8Ocoo$zod ocorg 868 €e S@qC zo@ g@6foO
p€ cniSO oesl O1eo.g@ o.@@ c8ctsd"@ d1g@tsg@ O.mgq@ esorg, o.ri g5g esqa:Coof .
!,.,ir"ds such as:-Ilealth, fame, happy, gootl, plospelity, pleasure"
di; lne influence.Fame, strength, joy, purityo ability, viltue, .victory,
li l ,r,
I)rotection, stabilitv, success, satisfactiori.Ilrightness, completion, goocl, clear, ease, stabilitl.,
g'r' .ru'th, continuaur.e,Existence, stability, tjie.se and others of similar
p 1, :'i)ol't.Take these in accordarrcelvith the usag.e of the
t, i,l. arrtl enrplot- ilrr,rrr in.conrp(,sing, \.er.ses ,,f prlrise.,1fl(1. lnrsor)-, deurer.Lt, sjn. evji. un1,)ensnrrt,
-
IJestructiol, sorro\r,, halm, ill_treatment, death,sr ering,I)espriir, ulsteady, useless, r,vavering,lllind, durnf, deaf, larne, disgust, rlirt, rveak,
- Drooping, unrest, rveeping, sobbing, crying,th,rrcler, bindinp;,
iJreaking, destmction, waste,, no, and u-or.ds of thisltiit;llre should be avoided.
ilhelo are objects, rvhose rneltion at the commence_rii,'lit iind at the end of verses, are auspicious and othersir,;ruspicious : u,ords as Buclclha, Ilrahma g.ods, teachers,gr,irl,- co.n's, r.ivels, hcuey, etc., are auspicious; and lr'ar.,fi,,:. lightning, hell, evil spirits, etc., are i"""rpi"i""."
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Count tlie letters in the ordor of ole tlvo three fourIu ea,cir gloltp o{ five letters if unfrientlly anirnals'
are lrlacedDoath, sickrtess, calalrity :.rnd poverty x'ill resultSo recognize these evil auiurals in the composition
of verses.'I'here is also l classification of auspicious arrtl
rnauspicious sourrds. [nauspicious sortnds, if placed at thecolnnlerlcernent ald the entl of a velse, bring ill luch,whereas auspicicitts soulds placod in I similar u'al:bring g'ood luck.
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o$g o'grO.O o@rrJ o,od 6or O,go@E oorqtJo:rJ
.JouRNAL R.A.s. (cEYLoN) [Vor. XXX.
g5@oqoJ qzneo ry689 o:a1 r88g-c13d,6Oe 6Oz19 ae.qA o:otri IPSQ 8SgeorJ
Sqqts'd rt<3 orccr,'l Eea-J Og eJr cEQO'i'ta^ a4A O 8a5C oO ec.oOrg) @c4gf
€apdr gOo.zo:loar@ eger: 600 qg qgltO +. oOrrJ egOterJ 'OigO coCo:al EoonJ
In legaltl to lettels placed at the elid of rhvmes,
there alo four letters whir:h bririg ill luch if used, unless
they are precetled by other letters sinrilar in e'ach case'
'I'he letters tltus counter'-intlicated are Ya, va, ha, lt'
fnstances ale related of poets rvho failing to observe
these directions have sufferetl. ll'he mole popular a
work and the rnore read it is, lvhele r:ules of letters liave
not been follor,vetl, the greatel is the evil effect on the
autlior. There is an instaritle related of a Sinhalese poert
Viittiiwe Unnanse (illie Buddhist rnouli Vtittd'rve) rvho
composed the n'ell-l<nown Sirrhalese poenl Guttila Kavya.It is said n'hen the poet coniposed his l'olk he \\'as Yery
proud of his achievernerit and sent it to another Iearneil
monk a poet of great erninence and asl<ed him for his
opinion on the work. 'I'he critic plonounced it to be
an excelleut poem of exceptional beauty and rnelit, butaddetl that 116g16*" n'i1l this time ltecome an exile "{or the Gana (syllable) in the first verse spelt for himdisaster. Viil,td,we salv that her hatl courted disaster. and
'without rvaiting for sonre calamitv that u'as likelv tosend him to exile, lre r-oluntarily left the Islond and
travelled in distant lands.
Ilowevet, in Va.skaa'i or r'erses cornposetl speciallyfor the prupose of dilecting evil ilfluence, the composel'f ollows irrstructious given f ol the coutbinatiou and
arlang'ement of letters trnd souncls, antl dilect them
against tlre object of his auinrositv or the arrinrositv of
tlre person rr,ho ernplor-s him. The plarttice <tf Traskau'i
is still fairly conunon in tlie Island. Stlrnetilnes o'
pelson engaged in litigation goes to il poet and gets
r.srses composed and leads thetn for a nurnber of daYs
io.79.*rgz(r] stuuat-nsE rrIAGIc AND spELI-s 20r
,.e bring conftsion of rnirid to his rrdr-ersa,r'v; a persorl
,r;lro loses his Jrlo.pelty tLr'oug'li a theft goes similarly,r a poet and gets velsc)s niade aglinst tho unknolvn.lrieves; a persorr l-ho has soue corrtest u.ith another',rgotts to a similar resoulce. Tlre prilctitioner mahes
rore monev out of snch velses tlran from composing. ier'alry rvorlis.
Manv instarlces lu'e lelated of rrell-l<norvn Sinhalese,irets n'lro, on nccasiols, liad con:rposed effective Va.sltar;i,rr atta,ining some useful obiect.
Thele is the instarrce of KurrkunS,rve llrinanse, u'ho.,rcling a brancli of a Ro tree overhang.ing a shrine,,orn, an(l not l.ishiirg to crrt it rlowrr being a sacred tree,
;''rmposed and recited a r'el.se which had tlie effect ofl:;'eaking dou'n the brarrch.
ft is related of the Poet Totag.arruwe Sri Rahula" }elo tliat on a celtain occasion a l{indu Sa,nnvasi, who
r.s carrving an irnage of the g'od of I(atartrgarnal re-, lsed to uncovel arrd shor.l. it t,o hinr whel the Poet:-'rrnposed and recitc.ci a, rielse r'hich had the effect of,,lirning the drapelv which covered the image andlvposing it to his view. 'Ihe, follorving is tlie verser,rputecl to have been cornposed on this occ.sion.-
o69 d"g o,E QQ O1g ,zrOd Eg8d"g Qo qd6 o,srq zr@E3zsre| ggqeg brQ 6ga3 E6Ozn ooQo ggo8g O0 eC6 ga;OO td8rl $rg
'\notlrer l)oet llrrana Ganitar,'a is saicl,irposed the follolving tn,o \ierses to lecoveriro had fled from him on one occnsion:-
$rJAd ggrq qd6rrl SE zsrq :p@
grJo,n:g q6d gqO6 cio ooa:J oer
etoJzoC €Eb3sl@ @oor {o,Eo elqal qCOc ald@ @O rooco zsrQd 91
har-ewife
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2O2 JouRNAi. R.A.S. (CDYLON)
esOdr zoQd gC gg SOzrco\6)ceD15J OO 6oE qldgtsi oa-:cO
eedr ggd atO @oo {o.€o6,gdc @b o168 lrroo OS@
[Vor-. XXX.
qO@c6@@r2iC, (,3
q@@c
Kandahumara ! w'ho beals I'eapons in his lrands, who
In the past vanquisliecl tlre Asuras in btr,ttle
If thou clost not recorer :rtt' l-ife for rtte
I shall send thee at'il\ frotn thv cit.v of l(adirn,gama.
The g'r'ea,t orre u'ho is letreivirrg homage at KaclilapuraI am telling thee l'ithor-rt I'eselYe the sorrorv that
hns fl,llerr rue.
If tliou dost not callse m-fr wife to lepeltt and corne toIne
Know ye, I shall r-rest awav frorn thee tliy consortValliamrna.
In,cat'L,lqliorts .
Charnrs are a,lso recited fol causing evil to others,but these charrits are usuall-y accompanietl by other
devices. Incantations are composed by bringingtogether lettels, s-yllables antl rvords trnd arrangingthem so as to be ellrictive in grinitrg the requir:ed results.Ahnost all Sinhalese c}arms are of oicl origin, some
dating' to tlrousands of \-eals. Sonre of tlre cha,rms are
in colloquial Sirrhtlese, others are a mixture of
Sanscrit arid Sillialese woltls and tr large numbel' are
derived frorn }lallivian l<nowrr as Kaldu. Thesinilalitv of some of the u'o't'rls in the olrl Ma.ltlivianlanguage and old Sinlialese, especially as seen in cliarmsancl incantations, opens a t'itle lleld for inquirv as to theiclentitv of the a,borogirial illiabitants of Ccylon and
the Maldir-es. A nurnbel of charrns cotrtains worils of'l'elugu, Canarese, and the larrguages of Deccan.
Eoil EJ'e, Et,il l4/ords and Euil Thoushts.There are l)ersons to l-hotn iire attrihuted certain
l)owers, through rvhich the1. i11'€) able to cast spells on
o{hers without anv c}rarms or devices. These persons
often do not cause the injury voluntarily, trut theirlook. wn"ds ond fhnrrghts whon dirpnf s":t towards a'fi
object or & porsorl affect such persons adversoly.
.. 7t1 -19z6l srNuar-osr xrAcrc -A.ND SPELLS
Esraha, or evil eye is averted by ma,ny :r device,I , instanco, one coulmonly notices a scarecr.ow or the,..:,,leton of the head of a, hu#alo or son)e strang,c obiecti , .-r g arden or field n'h ere c u ltiva lrion i s c,ar.ried orr .
'i. ri'ge olijects heirig c.,in*picrrous irftlirr.t the eve of the,.,, rser-by berfore he could observe thc cultir-ation anrli,:,,evii e{Tects of his sight or l-olds or thoughts t}rere-{,:,.. stlilce the scareclos'ilnd the g,r.owing r:rop is sar-erlf ;,:irr disaster. Similallrt one rrotices a c,hlrrh shell or1',,i1 irung lound the rreclr of cows, bulls and horses as
1 l,rotection rrg'a,insl sinrjlar evjl effec'ts. Children are1',.,tle to 'wear am.ulets for the sArne reasorl.
[Iil,tti,yam, is the generic ter.rn for all folns of cbar,rrrsi,:,ii spells, that are nsecl rvitlr solre device for r.ontrolling.ti,'. lctivitjes of olhels and for causing. thern jrarm and'i ,'.ilrry. Ore of the princilral fornrs ol f{il,ni.yu.tn is wliati,, linorvn as ltt,a, or control]ing tlie rvill of otirer.s. For:tl,ir purpose, various charrrrs ald trr,ticles ale used. A1,, r'sorl, seehing a favour from rnother,, will lvear afi+r..-or, lrse a perfunie or. oil or.carl'v a stick or an anruletoir give some chamied footl or dr-irl<. These devit.esalir believed to gain hirrr the favour. of the partyclr;icerled. A rnar in love will lesort to siririlar der-icesfr,'' obtaining favours.
"Ma,rang'ana Sriiiilll," describing tire telilrtirt.i,rrstr, n.liich Pr.ince Siddhartha rvas subjectetl to by the l!i'ilrt;,r,, g'ives tr description of a medicament, l-hir:h clescr.ibesiri Ecneral the preparation of such clnrgs ancl lheir use.
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azl: oqe).@ tO argoq) Sero C 2n
@rr:r ogeeO f.Odt oOoor&J' A€ A 25\
g,mr oogr errJq.E +e5 sq(,) c.(,) 5)
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On tliat day the da,ughters of the EriI ole, hnving
plepared tlie medicaruent.
Having tthallned it on
banh of the streartr
Getting' the dernori ofthe dnrg
the n'irshennan.'s stone at the
passion to ta]<e Possession of
Ilade it into pills by mixing it with five kinds of oil'
Having preparerl ancl channetl the Inrr pills
Rubbing tlte santo on tlr'e e1'e-brox's aurl on the
foreireadAritl with tliese three pills l'ell pleparr:d (said thov)
Will he be a,ttrlcted to us anrl tronte to usi)
Anothel form of charm is linol'n a's Anqanq'
Wlr.en the lterson l'ho charnts blon's his breath on tothe victim, it is believed that the lictim falls dorvn in
a fit.pitti is another iolrn. \yLer.e munrrnified uuintals
ancl hrurtart beings are used, it is believeti to be so
elfective tlrat au evil tlenron talies possess'ion of the
rnurll.rrll n-hiclr ilIoYes about aud carries ont olrlers' The
deatl borlies g'enerall1'- used itre those of heetles, owls anil
hruuan lteirrg's. In the case of lree tles and orvls tlre evil
ote is able to flv and attack a ptrticnlar persol and
cause him injury arrtl illnetss. fu reg'artl to hrtman
fonns, tlie Pilli is usetl for ctrusilrg'the cletrtli of a nametl
pu".ori rvho is at a dis{a.rrce. The llet'fornter repeats his
incantations ou iI cleatl llody at a g't'aretar:d or the
rnrtmmifiecl bodv of rr chiid. When tbe chu'ru becomes
efiectir.e, the tlernon takes possession of tl'e bodv aldgives it alirnation. ()rr tllis, he place-" a srvtlrtl irt its
harrd antl olders it to its rlestination, elen if the
victin riiill. be hutrth't-.tls of niilcts al'aY frorn the place'
The performer lrinrsel{ is said to mtr a rish, for if tlte
I\lli firitl that it is riot able to atlach the r-ictirn ol-ingto precautiolial'y nleuslltes titl;etr Itv hirn lrr. the use of
an amulet ol a cotttitet-chrtni, the ?illi teturns ald
:, .1,. 79.--rg26l STNHALESE IIA(;IC AND spELLs 205
, , rls tlie oligilator'. ilhere rl'e lrnlilerous storiesi :i; l'ellt legalding' sur:lr prl,cr,ie-,ers not only as village; ,i:;iiip, but strch. inc,itlerrts are related in stories d:itingi: :r:k sevelal hundleds of yells. Tlrele is sucli a story,., llre Sadtilillni5lankd,rrr,, a l)l'ose Sirrlralese u'ork, an,, i;rlrtiou oli l l)rli n-olli Rasii,r'5,hili rvrittel about the
' ,,3'lrth r:errtulv A.C. 'l'he storv is rr'oltlr lepea.ting. A: ,rg''s lerellle offir:el rna,de his lreriodir;al visit to a sea
r .:i-ct to-,r'n for the coller:tion of taxes. The ailvent ofii: ,relelue officel rr'ls helrltletl x-ilh muclr portrp. Ther:. l ('ets ard lrouses ryelei decolu.terl f or, his r.eception, anrli, sp{i(rial }rouse pleparerl for his stay. I{e lvasr,'eived irv the e,ltlers of tlie p)a,r,e a,rrd condurrtetl inri:(x-'ession. Ori this occu.,iion, l'hile ht-. rvas l,lssing' a
, , r'tairr stleet illrabited bv wealtliv l,rtrders, a ladv otr' r'eptional beaut-v attended lrv her rnaids \rrls l\.r,tcliin€li ':{r ,plocessloll frorn the ten'llce of lrer house. Ther.y$ll1re ofiic,el hairpened to uotice liel and u.as sor.rl'atrrated r,vith her lreantv tlrat he sent presents and a
'i,,.)fisage to hel inrit,ing her: to corne to liirn. The lady
i,,rlig'rrant1.1' r:efused the oveirtut'es and told the ntessengerri.:ri. hel emplover \yirs a foolish deiudecl rriau arrd thatir 'r, \\'as ir nran'ied \yollan faitliful to lier husband rvho":rs a\yay on it vovage. t[]he rc,venue ofiicel. was not'..,,fe11'sd bv tliis rnessage, Jrut tlrought tLat, if lre s-ere::i;|e 1r, get the hrrsbald hilletl, he rnirr Iiire lr chance
';i uran'-\'ing. 1he l-ornarr. \\tith tlris object. he calledI:q'etlrt-'r' expelt urag'ic-ian.s arrd aslred tlierrr rvhetirelI:it:v crirlrl <levise a clralrn lr-t' 1'hi"rr tliis rirerrcharrt 'rvho
rr.,iir orr lroar:d his slrip could be killed. ( lrre nrugir'ianr',,'-, eed. Tlie reyen ue oilcer accornpa,rried lrirn to a{ i lilete,rl u.here the rnagician selected a colpse arrdi:'l ilcantations lrere so efiectivc tliat he x.as able to.-,r :itke an evil demrlrr tahe possession of the colpse. Al r' old rvas placed iu the hands of the rlemon antl he g'asr' tler:ed to proceed ard destrol. tho merchant. Peoplo:': tLe ship snl- tir eril ore apllroa.,hing'tlreur and they
i
205 iouRNAL, R.A.s. (cElrLoN) . lVor-. XX)(.
lvere struck n.ith ter:ror'. The mercharit who hepthimself self-possesserd knerv tlie rnetliori of averting. sucfucalamities.I{e l-as a leligious rnan iind he' orclered all hiumer to join hirn in tlre muditatiorr of univelsal goodivill.This acteci ils a counter'-chalm, ariri tlre tlernon turnedback and retrirned to tlre rirag'iciari. 'Ihe mag'iciansenl, hirn Jrack i,]rlee times, arid three tirnes hereturned and on tlre lnst occlLsion the denion turrred ontlie ma,gician and the revenue o{ficel and liackerl thernrvith the su'ord intended fol tlieir victim ancl hilledthenr on the spot.
Anol]rcr from of HTtniyarn is to charm a thrcador tho stern of N creoper and rnalie the victim step overit. The thi'ead ol tlie creeper is 1<ept rrith themag'ician, and until it is tlestloverl tire victim is believedto sufie'r in various rvavs.
'lhere is :rlso a clialnr, that is ver), often used bylitig'ants to confuse the rnilds of witnesses. The nameof the lictini is rvli1,1.en orr pieces of palm leaf rvliich nrec[alrrred arrd ilroppetl iu a vessol fillerl rvith water. Atthe tirne the rvitriess is to give his evitlence a Irersontakes the vessel of r,r.irtel aud starts shaking it. It isbelievecl tllat as long as the process of clisturhalce iscontinued the rirind of the victim gets tlisturbed, andhe is prerventerl frorn g,i ving cohersnt ans\yers toquestions ptit to hilr.
.\ rrol her rrretlrotl,,I,.ir irsi rr g. I ernl)orar). i n,.orr i.t rr ierrceto oue's erremies is to errg.r.ar-e tlie victirn's name on apiec" of r.lrnr.rrr"rl rrrci:rl. :trrrI n{ lrrrr. 1inr,,t]esir.erI themetal plate is put on the lire; rs long as the metal isorr fir.e ilre vict inr is *,rirl lo *rrffer. 1,:rin, irrrrl rr lrt,rr thetuetrl slrt'*t is {ltkerr orrt ol' rlre fir." r,r,rl ,.,roled, lhevictirir I'ecol,els. ffhe construction of r srnall irnage torepresbnt a r.ii:tirn aritl tLe use of pirrs and needles at
,r'alions points is largely resortecl to, and there trle a l'erylarg'e nurnber of. sutft der-ices. TIio follrlrvi,rg o"rr",
l..i:i fg. rSz6) STNHALESE MAGrC AND spEi-r.s.
lra,,rrt Dhd,ttr, StintiEa OcqeccaJ6o repeatecl as a curativo.i..rl,rsure for iils caused by spells, aive descriptions of atl;ae number of such dsyjc.ss 1-
207
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tcord eerrI3qg ic, a-lje@qa q.6oO g66e
fE ee@ pO cc@ ooar EcoSefeE_ z:,zoor ald d.Oq f*<oesUlrJ E:c zsrQ dr2d g86\q?rirrr ge qdcoO gc8 o.e
g@C €o oco.6 600 oo-rgqOec zn,zoor r>-:)zqd 860ryzoC ir:OoO ;oQg cnee
+ree.,6J E.6coO gcts o,e
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s:@ ,8o q8ood O,@ od'6Oed qgsoJ 6d zodlc s)b)Ls) io)12^ E6,c0rstrt orslQ OaoOq6Oce2 q.6oO 966'q9
cnoOc$ zor,oO rlr@ 6.00 oogg.Od qru5 pe6 r?o9,9t3 qd.6oJ e.o2d qe)eOOrq qidoceal gr6og
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58.
49. An inrage is rrii,rde 'lr'ith five kilds of bees's'ax, ilnd a{ter insclibirrg nine evil lettels. a charmedrreedle is put tirlough tlie image arid bulied in a
cenretery.
50. An irnage is made of tlre root of HonQ.ala,(Modaccct,, paltnatu, 11t'r,ttt), attd needles rnade of fir'ekind;s of nietal are irserterl.
. fg.-, 19z6] stxller.EsE I{AGIc AND SPELLS. zot)
51 . A piec'e of skiri of it lerlpaltl ol cleel is taken-
, il-rage is ilrarvn and tlie rttrme of the Nehat (constell-i,rrr) urttler rvhich the victirn is born, is wlitten ancl
:rlrled rreerlles are irtselferl through it'52. ;lrr irntrge is hel'rr o{ hnbul (.Eriotl'enlron'
,lruttt.osl.,rrr T).(.\ stelit, thtr rtarnes of the da.v, and
,r ('olrsiellatiotr rutclel n'hich tlre I'ictirrr is liorn, ale
,'iiter as well its rile elil letters, alld needles al'o
'r:rtecl thlough these.
5il. An egg is takel arrd aftel c'irippirrg it at the
i:.;) sonle hair antl ti tlil'eatl frotn ir cloth rrolu by tlie
r l, t,irn is put in tind chalrnod.5+, 'I'he image is dra\r'r on ,r leaf ancl placed in a
r,, '1 of red an.ts.
55. A fruit of Citnts lirnetta is takerr and after
, r,ilrpirig the top; hair'. urine aud sand ale charmed ald
1,,,i, irside and the tnrit is iluried in mud'
5ti. Sanrl from the fooistep of the victim is tahen
:,';rl charrned, arrtl placertl ilside the steu of l)aluk'i.:', trph.orbia, antiquorun. 2)'
57. A brick is slraped like an image, er-il letters
;.,,. insc,ribetl attd throl'rr ilrto al ant-hill il the jungle'58. Ash, clialcoal anrl sancl from a place of
r ,.rnatiorr ale tahetr artrl sliapetl iuto arl imag'e, ancl
i l':rrnied rie€dles inserted.59. An irnag'e is urade flom t'he root of ginger
,')tt(ti/)et' o,fidttalt: Rox) and nee-d1es inseltetl aI1 rounil'
, ,;11'11sd anil throl'n itr a, forest.
60, Tlie cast skirr of a serpent is tateri and human
, ,:iis nntl hair ale stulfeil into its reck charmerl and
I rrried in a bypath.61. An itnage is n,atle from the root of 'l'olabo
'..'rirntrn, asicttit:trttt ?) alrcl r'hamtetl needles are inserted'
62. ,\rt image is dral-n ou tlie leaf of kaluhabarala
-'r, l.or:asicr. ttt ut:rrtrhizrt), chalrrred antl rolled, itnd throl'n;:r ll'ater.
JouRNAr_, R.A.s. (cEYi_oN).
ocorosrc?rJ SgQ Oz€ +c!6q ctrnoc d.u 8eczolQq c:ee
+zete5zrr c8ddC 6"e" an6egcprAre q,docerrJ 96oggqd, SoC o@ d.oes zsrer
&96" a1o2O Eeezogq 99@qd qesr cna{ qdo.6 q@ca8 Oro2 EdoorJ grio13
ccerqec oe8or G,o'6 6d ,tod6ooerr4 geo6\?od oQ6fgO zsrO
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a,el6rrJ or::cg o'eDJ +CocosJ drocs@rrJ SeozoQ qertstd SOSocgconr m.@rr:.rr: rA.6 6E oq6tOsl E8m oozrJ rsrQ gc8 od
arg oOdg ozrr ,1.r,6\ei +eqozsrd +reec €oo$ QOEc,ccc<r:o roee6aj 68@ <o,oes68zsro: qoooJ $8o rr':eo
oeoros:co-J roOoe ered gO e6al6ormc d,OO ereS olQoco.6 orec
odzoQ gdoc,:6 cfidoO zstdorqoOc6i aea:@ q.6 qqEO gdg
a-:O@1E q6a6 d.oo rlr:-:o>ac 6100 esd zstQood <oeo
eeeq $€ -qg Ocqo^J OSEed4i gooocorrJ EdzolQ ry,og
o96 qo qelnd rslQq coes
ur@ il@ @co6ai .aoQq 6reo
gdrri esorg Soorcool Ozl oOeibJ5'6 g.uoorrJ OEo [t8
lVor. XXX.
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2IO JouRNAr.. R.A.s. (cEr'-LoN) iVor_. XXX
fj3. Ifive kincls of bees' \\-ax ll'e rnelterl ir a shull,an irnage is rnatle Lntl rreedlc-.s ilserted, ancl tlten lreatedin n fir'e made of the ch'y u'oocl of .fir-e r.ar.ieties of Cjitms.
6+. An ima,g'e is rnade of file clav and rrine chirrmgdnee,lles a r.e irrser.lerl.
65. Thr.ee iirne fmits are charrned, tlie name ofthe victim wr.itterr alcl leedles inserted, etc.
It is staterl tlrat thr:re lre four thousantl fourhundred ancl sevent,y folrris rijl eril spells practisecl byill-disposed, cruel inclividuals to bring disaster, onhuma,rr beings.
'lhe belief in the crxistence of tliese evils naturallygave rise to a class of charms ancl c,erernolies throughrvhich the er-il ellects are countelacted. Tlrese counter_acting charrns ar.e of tl'o liincls, fir.st rrur.atire, secondcura,tive and rererrg,eful. fu the last case, no1 olly is thevictim c*r,erl of the ill efte.ts, lr*1. also the pe'sorr *.hois
'eslrorisible 1'l riir.sirg tlre .spelr is inj*rc'd irr 'et*r'.I gir.e belou, tryo velses out of a large rrunrlrel ofchirrms iintl verses to iridicaie tire rrat.r.e of the rreliefirr being able to letur.rr eril for evil .
8. 6,6nJ 06o gdece oE8onJ Ogoo bJ6BrrJ OEm 66eslaJ' qrqd o6 .dJ
gr&.al at6,, g@c zslgQal Ogcoli 6Jg6rJ oaptr3 egoC oesCgc rorgloO 6J
15. oOBrrJ 6orrJ Bgotc enloJ Ogrg@t:rJ 6ocd ceo €rn :::,sJ 69,coa:6aj 6o<i* OgooJ pg@ zsrroeCgs o@rna': to.go,O6 $atmO erg
or:J(j)!'J
orJo:rJ
u. Tlirorrg.li the porro:s of the g.ods Sun rrnr.l Moonabove and the g,lace of the g,oclrless of Earilr who is below
Lay the pelpetr.atols of tlris er.jl ir.r. dazzliug thernQuit -ve the evil orre frir f liave solelecl the spell
rvhich u'ill returr l.o the doer.
, 7q -tt7z6l STNHALESE N{AGrC AND SPELLS. 2rr
15. Xlalli n.lrere the fellog"s cattle ar.e
J{ar:k rvhere his children g'0
I)estroy his n'hole clanI ha,ve severed the spell here and le,turn ye to the
: i doe.r'.
'llie practice o{ couuleltrcting aud curative char.ms:.,, natulall\- g.ener.al and rvidell- distrib,uted, and the.'rrnories al'e so nunelous and varied that thev .will
' lre described separatelv. In tlre ueantirne, it rnay, irrieflr' rotetl that these curative rrrethotls consist ofi.rlllrs, incantations, dances, tho cutting of charmed,;re fmits, creepers, r'oots, coconuts, pileapple antlr:irplir'n arrd the g,iving of ruedir,ines aftel certain:,rantntion". In tlie iucraltations, rer.\- often religiousi,rls ore meltioned. A specimen of such a verse ie'uf€'d bs]611. ;-:1 o13O eo:os)O g@rdeeo oEgt ooqm@) pr,A 06 olltgr ;'tstC glgeDO Eee0al co.6ozrl go..@O Ocad" oO oer:B,,iirrg pdgoor qu:@ Eo6aJ oOO coanaJO 8<# a6 oo8'i' rotj +5.oO zogSm OzrJqrr: gp.dj E6aJ zoo our8
l'lre. frord Gautana Muni arriled to give success totli,- tlrlee worlds
ITe attained enlig,htenrnent aud fol ueurs becametil.. teacher of the good rnessilge
Through the vir.tue of the r-ords of the meritorious'I'"r,oher' I send fir.e to t]rese tleurolrs.
Aird I sevel a]l evil spelis il tlie rranre of the Great'lt ,llier.
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