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Bhagawan Mahavir ]
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of books. The major part of their lives was spent in reading and writing only.
(62) "SARPA-MARDANA” Overcoming the snakes:-. This art taught the following things. Where do the snakes live ? Where are they found ? What changes are brought about by the changes of seasons in their holes ? What are the curative medicines for snakes ? Where are they found ? What are those herbs whose smell only can act as an antidote against the poison of the most venomous cobras ? Which of the snakes bear precious stones ( in their hoods ) How are the snakes charmed ? How, where and when are the charms and incantations mastered ? How many kinds of snakes are there ? How are the snakes compelled to come from a distant place to a fixed spot by force of charms and to take back poison from the wound they made when biting a certain individual? Those men who were fearless,distinguished, courageous, conversant with the use of spells and those whose eyes were well trained, were selected for the purpose of learning this art.
(63) “BHUTADI-MARDANA” Overcoming tlie spirits:The fearless, the courageous and the patient people were taught the following things by means of this art. What are spirits ? Which of them are regarded as the prominent ? Which are strong and which are weak? What are the methods of overcoming them ? Which of the Mantras and Tantras render them powerless ? How, where, when, and how long have they to lie mastered ? What difficult deeds can a ghost be made to do after he has been overcome ? Which kind of people are generally possessed by ghosts? etc. : (64) “MANTRA-VIDHI” Method of mastering a certain Mantra or Incantation:-The good-charactered, enduring, pious,
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