Indian Antiquary Vol 15

SR No.: 032507
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 446
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1886.
the meat had become frozen; but no doubt morning to make a black mark on her infant's the servants of both families preferred to forehead and nose with a bit of burnt stick, in adhere to the theory that the provisions had order to preserve it from evil influences during been bewitched.
the day. On the principle above explained, if So far we have been dealing with the Evil a man be blind of one eye, or has any other Eye properly so called, but the modern Hindus- optical defect, he is believed to be likely to cast tânî word nazar for a mischief-glance is not nasar should he meet any one with a particuquite equivalent to the English expression The larly fine pair of eyes, and for this reason many Evil Eye, as it is much more comprehensive of the natives of India are said to put kajal and implies the ill effects which may result (lampblack) on their eyelids, or a piece of from the gaze of any one, even of the most white thread hanging downwards, anything in benevolent and affectionately disposed, if that short, to distract the attention of others, and gaze has induced in the mind of the gazer avoid rousing feelings of covetousness in complete satisfaction at the object observed, their minds. They also hold that if a person's whether animate or inanimate.' Evil intention eyes are encircled with kajal they are themis here left out of the question, and it is for selves also incapable of casting nazar, and this reason that Hinda mothers do not like deem it a pretty thing for a woman thus to any one (Europeans in particular) to admire adorn herself, for in this case she can neither their little ones too openly, nor to look at receive the ill effects of nazar nor impart them when they are eating, lest they should them to others. cast the Evil Eye on them. This view of the | The custom of using colours to distract atEvil Eye is not confined to India, for in certain tention from the thing to be protected is parts of Greece if a child is admired, it causes naturally not confined to black, and in other its mother the greatest consternation, and parts of India the natives sometimes paint all there mothers frequently decorate their infants' kinds of strange subjects in gaudy colours on caps with coins or other bright ornaments to the exterior of their houses, so that should any distract attention from the child to these unlucky glance be turned towards their dwelling, objects; an idea of which more anon. An it may be attracted by these representations and expression of approval or admiration is met rest upon them, rather than on the house itself with the entreaty "Don't give it the Evil Eye," or its inmates. Similarly, we find Madame and the mother immediately points with two Carla Serena in her interesting work Seule fingers at the person or object in question, dans les Steppes which appeared in 1883, saying accompanying the gesture with the word for that the Khirghiz have a great fear of the Evil garlic, as garlic is deemed a sovereiga anti- Eye, and ornament the heads of their beasts dote against this malign power: the origin of with bright-coloured ribbons to frighten it away. which notion is probably to be found in an She speaks of having seen in her wanderings idea prevalent both in parts of India and in whole troups of camels thus decorated. Spain to a very great extent, that garlic and A mixture of all the above notion in one onions are preservatives against fever.' person once attracted my attention. In Corfu
Another development of the notion that the in 1883, I met a Christian woman from AlexEvil Eye is inherent in certain people is to be i andria, whose nationality was doubtful, but found in Smyrna, where the lower classes she spoke Italian fairly well, and I fancy she believe it very unlucky to be looked at by a had a mixture of European and Egyptian blood person with grey eyes.
in her veins. She was carrying an infant of In India the black or dark blue colours are about eight months old in her arms, whose frequently considered as protective against waist was encircled with strings of coral to which nazar. Thus in Upper Kunâwar, in the Satlaj were attached a silver whistle and bells, a boar's Valley, it is quite a common occurrence-I may tusk, coral charms like those used at Naples say almost the usual thing,--for a mother each against the Evil Eye, a piece of mother-o'-pearl
[See Panjab Notes and Queries, Vol. I. passim.-Ed.] * The people of Sweden, if they happen to meet any one who is maimed or afflicted with any grievous dis-
order, immediately call out "pepper !" thinking by this means to avert any evil consequences from themselves.
[See Pañjab Notes and Queries, VOL. I. passim.-ED.]