Indian Antiquary Vol 26

SR No.: 032518
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 253

SEPTEMBER, 1897.j
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DASIS OF BELIEF AND CUSTUM.
247
were annoyed or as they were pleased. Another class of air-spirits was invented by the philosophers, who, in their fear of materialism, placed all secret powers of Nature, both outside of and in man, under the influence of souls or spirits. In the case of morality what was good was angelic, what was blameable satanic, according to the saying of the Prophet - "From goodness arises an angel, from badness a devil."30
The following examples show how widespread in area and in time is the belief that all spirits are air-spirits, and that a spirit lives in the breeze and rides in the storm. In Chaldea (B. C. 2000), the burning south-west wind blowing from the deserts of Arabia causes ruin. So the Sout-west wind is, or is the bearer of, a fiend, and an image is set at the door or window to house the fiend.30 Among Hindus is a sect of wind worshippers, Pavana Bhaktas, who believe that the substance of God is air, and that the intellectual soul also is air. 81 So with the Hebrews; in the Old Testament, Job (Chap. xxxii. v. 8) says: -- "There is a spirit in man and the inspiration or breath of the Almighty giveth him understanding." In the New Testament (St. John, Chap. iii. v. 8), Christ says :- "The spirit or wind bloweth where it listeth. Thou canst not tell whence it comes or whither it goes. So is every one that is born of the spirit or wind." Coleridge (1800) says:-"All forms of animated nature are but organic harpe, diversely framed, that tremble into thought as o'er them sweeps plastic and vast, one intellectual breeze at once the soul of each and God of all."32 Wordsworth lays stress on the still diviner quality in wind, namely, that it gives life to the dead :- “Dry holly-leaves in myriads jump and spring as if, with pipes and music rare, some Robin Goodfellow were there and all those leaves in festive glee were dancing to the minstrelsy."33 So the holiness of the Bull Roarer or wind-maker is widespread, and all winnowing and other fans are guardians because they are wind-makers.34 The Greek sacrificed to Boreas, the North-wind, and beat the Persian.35 The Chinese boatmen talk to Zeng, the Wind-spirit.36 In Cornwall, the moaning wind-spirit is a certain Treg-eagle, who sold himself to the devil.37 “The air," says Burton (1650), adopting the saying of Paracelsus (1450), “is not so full of flies in summer as it is at all times of invisible devils. They counterfeit suns and moons, and sit on ships' masts. They cause whirlwinds and tempestaous storms." 39 The commonness of seeing visions and apparitions in the air shews how widespread is the belief that the air is the great spirit-home. In Germany, girls see white maidens, and the history, even of Western Europe, is full of visions of armies fighting in the sky,39 Some authorities praise air-spirits for their goodwill to men. According to the poet Pope the gnomes or earth-spirits enjoy mischief, but the sylphis or air-spirits are the best conditioned creatures possible. These good air-spirits are the guardian breezes. The spirit of the storm has the featares of the earlier guardian. Odin, the Norse wind-god, sweeps the sky with a following of sonls. The gusts before a storm are the souls of women hanted by Odin. The Indian Maruts or storm-gods, the Skandinavian Ogres or Cloud-ships, Odin's wild huntsmen and crew are all wind-worshippings.2 In Russia, the wind-demon is attended by the souls of anbaptised children. In Rhenish Westphalia, when the wind throws a door open or whistles through the house, they say :-"Thero goes the old one of last year." 44 The Fins during the Middle Ages sold winds in knots. If you untied the knot
21 Scott's Discovery of Witchcraft, pp. 495, 509.
29 Introduction to Dabistan, Vol. I. p. elv. Coleridge (Note to Ancient Mariner) classes all spirits as air-spirite. He arranges them under the three heads of angels, human souls, and a third class found in all climates uud elements. 40 Lenormant's Challean Magic, p. 52.
* Dabistan, Vol. II. p. 243. Al Lines composed at Cleveden.
B3 Quoted in John's Forest Trees, Vol. II. p. 60. 5 Compare Lang's Custom and Myth, p. 36. 38 Bankett's Sea Legends, p. 88. s6 Folklore Record, Vol. IV. p. 90.
* Bassett's Sea Legends, p. 42. * Quoted in Conway's Demonology and Devil-Lore, Vol. II. p. 210. - Grimm's Teutonic Mythology, Vol. III. pp. 913, 950 and 933-6b; also R. Scott's Discowry of Witchcraft, p. 511. + Introduction to the Rape of the Lock; Skeat'. Piera tho Ploughman, p. 110. 41 Bassett's Ses Legenda, p. 40.
12.Clodd's Myths and Dreams, p. 4. * Bassett's Sea Legends, p. 40.
" Grimm's Teutonic Mythology, Vol. III. p. 1000.