Indian Antiquary Vol 05

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 29

JANUARY, 1876.]
ARCHÆOLOGICAL NOTES.
ARCHÆOLOGICAL NOTES. BY M. J. WALHOUSE, LATE M.C.S.
(Continued from vol. IV. page 305.) IX.-Foll-lore--Omens, Spells and Charms, Europe, ancient and modern. In Southern India
Popular Beliefs and Superstitions. sneezing once is a good sign, twice a bad Occasion is here taken to collect such in- sign; more than twice is not regarded. Gaping, stances as would fall under the above heading as amongst the old Jews, is held to be a moment as came to my notice in the Madras provinces when Bhutas and evil spirits effect an enand on the western coast. Most of these are com- trance into the body: hence most Brahmaņs on monly known, and prevail widely over India. gaping snap their fingers as a preventive. The list might doubtless be greatly increased In dangerous sickness the hair is sometimes were inquirers to record the odds and ends cut off and offered to a deity, as in old Greece. of popular notions that chance to come before Childless women often go to anthills, where them.
snakes dwell, and place offerings of milk with Omens (sakuna) form quite a wide and im- prayers and invocations, hoping thereby to reportant subject, and are the twenty-fourth on move their barrenness, which they believe to be the list of the sixty-four Hindu sciences. The due to an injury done to a snake in a former following are some of the evil omens, on en- life. Besides barrenness the following evils are countering any of which, Hindus about to start ascribed to offences done in a former life, by on a journey or begin any undertaking will which malignant spirits gain power over moroften desist :-Seeing, on issuing from the house, tals : -The death of children whilst the parents a crow on the left hand (sinistra cornix) or a are alive, brotherly hatred, conjugal discord, unBrahmani kite on the right. Seeing or meeting dutifulness of children, being reduced to beggary, a monkey, a sick man, an oil-man, a leper, a moodiness of temper, impiety and neglect of snake, a hare (as formerly in Scotland), a Brahman ceremonies, bad luck in trade or farming, conwidow, a Brahmaņ alone, a mendicant, a man stant ill-health, loss of employment. with dishevelled hair, a quarrel, buttermilk, any Amongst charms and spells the following are empty vessel, a smoky fire, a bundle of sticks. considered good against Bhatas or evil deIt may be noted how many of these objects are mons, whose worship is so widely spread :-The just the things likely to be encountered on com- tooth or claw of a tiger worn on the neck or ing out early in the morning.
near the loins, wearing an iron ring set with Amongst good omens are a virgin, a cow, the pearls (iron and steel have everywhere and at sound of a drum, the sound of a horn, milk, all times since the days of Ulysses (Odyss. XI.) curds, fruit, flowers, a clear-blazing fire, two been powerful against ghosts and bad spirits), Brâhmaņs, a horse, an elephant, a bullock, two a lime placed in the turban, a figure of Hanufishes, two vessels full of water, spirituous li- man graven on any ornament. When any quors, cooked food, meat, a dancing-girl, hearing mischief has been set on foot, repeating the kind words, a parrot.
name Govinda! Govinda! is held materially to The little familiar house-lizard (balli) that assist its progress: once before mo a man was runs up walls often utters a chirping cry; this convicted of arson against whom suspicion was proceeding from the east wall of a house is first aroused by being overheard repeating Go. very lucky, but from any of the other three vindâ ! Govinda! whilst watching from a diswalls extremely bad, and sufficient to break tance a fire that he had kindled. I know not off any enterprise. Readers of Aristophanes the origin of this belief. will remember how the meditations of Socrates, The old classicalt and medieval superstition as he lay with mouth open, pondering on the that the death of an enemy may be effected by paths and changes of the moon, were dis- making a waxen image of him and causing it tarbed by a balli from the roof. Sneezing is to melt gradually before a fire with certain a serious affair all over the East, as well as in ceremonies, still flourishes in India, -indeed is
Much curious matter may be found in Professor Kern's translation of the Brihat-Sanhita in the Journal of the
Royal Asiatic Society N. S. vols. V. to VII.
Theocritus, Pharmaceutria; Virgil, Bucol. VIII.