Indian Antiquary Vol 11

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 53

FEBRUARY, 1882.]
FOLKLORE IN THE PANJAB.
39
Bansa Rani tëri dohát,
quotations from the Kurdn or Hindu religious Anársingh Jodhů tért kår, **
books, aooording to the faith of the wearer. Here Bhai Birsingh Jodhk tért kår.
the word means merely protection, like the Hind.
raksha, which is taken direct from the Sansk. Jo hamri" kár na mâne galle vich kar!
rakshd, protection. Monier Williams (Sansk. Dict.) Chal, re mantar! Phur waz !" mantar teri
says of rakshd or raksh that it is a piece of kar.
thread or silk bound round the wrist on particular Charm for Headache.
occasions, especially on the full moon of Srdvana, The protection of God and Muhammad is either as an amuletor preservative against round you !
misfortune, or as a symbol of mutual dependence, A rampart of iron with moat like the ocean,
or as a mark of respect : among the Rajpats it is Hanuman, the Messenger, protects you.
sometimes sent by a lady of rank or family to
person of influence whose protection she is desirous Come you seven demons, come you women
of securing, and whom she thus adopts as it were as of the twelve castes,
a male relation or brother. Fallon (New Hind. Be yon Hindu, Musalman,
Dict.) says of it, "A red or yellow thread of silk or Goldsmith, Leather-worker,
a tinsel bracelet bound round the waist of a Scavenger, Bawaria,
brother, or sent him by his sister on the festival Cobbler, Weaver,
of Salono or the full moon of Sdwan, as an Gandhâlâ, Sansi,
amulet or preservative against misfortune, or as Bearleader, Fishwife;
& symbol of mutual dependence, or as a mark of Shah Wall make them come!
respect." Two and a half pounds good food in front,
Tod was much taken with the Rajpat custom
of the rakht, and in his grandiloquent way he Two and a half pounds good food behind.
twice mentions it in the Annals of Mewar; p. Banså Queen protects you.
263, (Madras ed.) of the Rdjasthan, ho says: Anärsingh, the warrior, charms you,
"the festival of the bracelet (rakht) is in spring, Holy Birsingh, the warrior, charms you. and whatever its origin, is one of the few when an Who disobeys our charm, may he in the charm intercourse of gallantry of the most delicato naturo dissolve!
is established between the fair sex and the caveWork on, you charm ! Act you voice! The
liers of Rajasthan. Though the bracelet may be
sent by maidens, it is only on occasions of urgent charm charms you.
necessity or danger. The Rajpat damo bestows This is a characteristic mantra, and shows most
with the rakht the title of adopted brother and of the peculiarities of the Sans superstitions.
while its acceptance secures to her all the protecThe invocations include all classes of saints and
tion of a cavaliere servente,' scandal itself never objects of worship, thus there are invoked Allah,
suggests any other tie to his devotion. Ho may Muhammad and the Jinns (Musalman); H &
hazard his life in her cause, and yet never num& n, B&B R&nt and An&rsingh for
receive a smile in reward, for he cannot even see Narasimha (Hindu); Bhai Birsingh
the fair object who, as brother of her adoption, (Sikh). The charm mainly turns on the supersti
has constituted him her defender. But there is tion that headache is produced by the malignant
charm in the mystery of such a connexion, nover action of a jinn or of a churél, popularly the ghost
endangered by close observation, and the loyal to of a woman who dies in childbed. The demon
the fair may well attach a value to the further or ghost is first invoked and then propitiated
recognition of being the Rakhband Bhat, the by a small offering of food.
"bracelet-bound brother of a princess. The inRakh, Hindi and Panjabi, Panj. form also trinsic value of such a pledge is never looked to rakhri, Sansk. raksha (cf. Hindi and Panj. rdkhd, nor is it requisite it should be costly, though it a man sent to guard a field), in the Panjab is a
varies with the means and rank of the donor, and protecting amuleto consisting of a paper encased
may be of flock silk and spangles, or gold chains in silver or copper, and attached to an armlet
and gems. worn on the upper part of the right arm as a "The acceptance of the pledge and its return is protection against evil. On the paper are usually by the káchut or corset of simple silk or satin or * Kar, see notes to 1st mantra.
A vulgar Panjabi word for this amulet is tavtt,(P) · Hamrf for hamart, our; this is not a Panjabi, but corruption of the Arabia ta'avis, an amulet. charm. POrbis form.
40 Salono is the day of full moon in the month of Vich kár, i. e. kar vich, in the circle.
Swan (Panj. SAdn), or our July-August. 41 Chal, re mantar! Phur sods! see lst mantra.