Indian Antiquary Vol 46

SR No.: 032538
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 508
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

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106
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
teeth, long matted hair and a height that reaches the sky. At times they assume the form of a child and cry heart-breakingly at a concealed corner of a road. Should a passer-by, out of compassion, try to save it, the supposed infant begins to lengthen its legs to show its benefactor its real and supernatural dimensions. Sometimes it transforms itself into a gigantic and terrible being, taking possession of the man if he becomes afraid.1
Some evil spirits manifest themselves as showers of burning charcoal, while some are so forward as to offer their services as guides to strangers from one village to another. Some assume the form of Bhensàsur-a demon in the form of a buffalo-said to be a most malignant ghost.2
The throat of a ghost is as narrow as the fine end of a needle, and yet it is believed to require a dozen potfuls of water to quench its thirst. It cannot get pure water, as such water is guarded by the god Varuna. It has. therefore, to quench its thirst with such dirty water as it can get. Similarly, it cannot get clean food, and has to satisfy its hunger on human excretions, the droppings of birds and other animals, urine, and the
filth of houses,3
It is generally believed that evil spirits do not cast shadows. All attempts to catch them prove futile, as they vanish in the form of a flame,
If it is sought to catch hold of a goat-shaped ghost, the goat swells into such a monstrous size that the spectator gets terrified, whereupon the ghost finds an opportunity of disappearing in a flame.
It is believed that ghosts prefer darkness to light and silence to noise. They
The School Master of Kolki.
3 The School Master of Ganod.
5 The School Masters of Sanka and Songadh.
7 The School Master of Dhank.
The School Master of Vanod.
live on the Pipal (Ficus religiosa) or Shami (Prosopis spicigera) trees,5
A ghost presents itself to the vision of a man by blocking its way in the form of a goat or some other animal.6
Ghosts are believed to infest woods, unused wells, cellars and old tanks. They are also found in ruins and cemeteries. As far as possible they keep themselves aloof from mortals; but at times they are visible to human beings, mostly to those destitute of religion and morals. They roam about and terrify people. Sometimes they enter the persons of human beings. Such men either gain in strength, fall sick, or become senseless. The ghosts who possess them make them laugh or work, without being fatigued, with ten times the vigour they originally possessed."
Ghosts keep their persons uncovered, feed upon flesh and blood, sleep during the day, and roam about at night.8
Often a large concourse of ghosts meet together and dance, sing and make merry uttering loud and fierce shrieks. A ghost has no back, and has its feet reversed. It
keeps away from man, but terrifies him by
pelting him with stones from a distance."
On the fourteenth day of the dark half of Ashvin (the twelfth month of the Gujarati Hindu year) all ghosts are believed to go about playing pranks with poor mortals and possessing them. 10
The Navaratra holidays is the season when ghosts appear in many places.11
Ghosts enter corpses or possess human beings and speak through them as a medium. Sometimes they assume their original human form, and often torment people with disease.
The School Master of Dadvi.
The School Master of Bantva.
6 The School Master of Charadva.
The School Master of Kotda Sangani.
10 The School Master of Kolki.
11 The School Master of Lilàpur,