Indian Antiquary Vol 24

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 23

JANUARY, 1895.)
SPIRIT BASIS OF BELIEF AND CUSTOM.
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Hindus light lamps to keep devils off.21 The ceremony of running through fire is mentioned in a Hindu account of Malabar,33 The principal object of Vedic worship is fire, or solar fire.23 Among the Hindus, in performing the áráddha ceremony, a lamp is kept lighted to drive away evil spirits : the lamp is called rakshoghna, the destroyer of demons.24 According to Ward, Hindus used to walk over fire in honour of Siva 26 In India violent sicknesses are cured by applying burning iron to the feet.26
Great fear of spirits seems to be the origin of the Persian worship of fire. Light and fire terrify all that is evil.27 So the Supreme addresses Zoroaster from the midst of a circle of fire 28 Fire and water are the two pure elements, because they make pure by driving away evil spirits.23 The second most joyful land is where fire is placed.30 The Persians worshipped the sun as the mightiest light, being thus the greatest terror to evil spirits.32 The Parsis light a fire for the dead.32 In January (sixteenth of Bahman) the old Persians lighted great fires.33
The Jews had a sacred fire or altar at Jerusalem.34 Lamps were kept burning in Egyptian and Roman tombs.35 In Central Ceylon visitors enter a house between lamps, lighted and set on each side of the threshold to keep evil spirits from coming in.36 The Nintiras of the Malay Peninsula put the mother near a fire to keep off spirits, 37 and other tribes pass the new-born child over fire.38
The Karens of Burma set a burning torch at each end of the back-bone, or other bone, kept as a memorial, and walk round the bone in procession.39 The Chinese let off crackers on the Chinese New-year's Day to frighten evil spirits, 50 and crackers are often fired from Chinese boats to dispel evil influences. At their weddings the Chinese hold lighted torches before the bride, even at noon-day. In August, on the full-moon day, the Japanese hold a feast of lanterns, when they light the graves of the dead.43 In Central Asia to spit on fire is a sin. To blow out a light is a breach of manners among the Kirghis of Central Asia.“ In Turkistân, for eight days after a birth, a lamp is kept barning near the child to keep off the evil eye. The Tartars pass the staffs of the dead between two fires.46
In Melanesia no one goes out at night for fear of spirits without a light, which ghosts fear.47 In Polynesia the only fire that is allowed at night is a light in the lying-in room.48 When they have no liquor to offer the gods, the Samoan Islanders raise a bright fire at the evening meal, and call on the family gods to help, and on the gods of the sea to pass over the land, and take its diseases away with them. The Philippine islanders bury the dead in the fields, and, for many days, keep fires burning in the dead man's house, that he may not come to take those that are left alive.50 Actnal cantery is a common cure among the savage tribes of Polynesia : it is specially used to cure rheumatism. The Australians burn the skin with a lighted stick in grief for a chief or relation.51 Some wild Australian tribes believe in spirits or ghosts, and consider that fire keeps away spirits.62 The Australians burn large fires at the grave, sometimes for a month : the original reason is probably to scare the
21 Tylor's Primitive Culture, Vol. II. p. 195. 23 Maurice's Indian Antiquities, Vol. II. p. 228. 25 Ward's View of the Hindus, Vol. I. p. 20. 31 Bleek's Khordah Avesta, p. 28. 29 Bleek's Khordah Avesta, p. 59. 31 Dábistan, Vol. I. p. 335. 34 Maurice's Indian Antiquities, Vol. II. p. 225. 36 Tylor's Primitive Culture, Vol. II. p. 466. * Op. cit. Vol. I. p. 430. ** Gray's China, Vol. I. p. 251. 11 Carori in Churchill, Vol. IV. p. 352. ** Vambery's Central Asian Sketches, p. 292. +6 Tylor's Primitive Culture, Vol. II. p. 434.
Early History of Man, p. 282. # Careri in Churchill, Vol. IV. p. 184,
22 Wilson's Mackenzie Coll. p. 361. 24 Colebrooke's Miscellaneous Essays, Vol. I. p. 191. * Maurice's Indian Antiquities, Vol. VII. p. 636. * Maurice's Indian Antiquities, Vol. II. p. 224. ** Op. cit. p. 26.
31 Op. cit. p. 44. 33 Op. cit. Vol. I. p. 112. 36 Spencer's Principles of Sociology, Vol. I. p. 297. 37 Op. cit. Vol. II. p. 381. % Fytche's Burmah, Vol. I. p. 333. 41 Op. cit. Vol. II. p. 272. + St. John's Wild Coast of Nipon, p. 220. 15 Schuyler's Turkestan, Vol. I. p. 140. 47 Jour. Anthrop. Inst. Vol. X. p. 284. 4 Pritchard's Polynesian Remains, p. 124, 51 Earl's Papuans, p. 72.
62 Op. cit. p. 217,