Indian Antiquary Vol 24

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

Page 61

MARCH, 1895.] SPIRIT BASIS OF BELIEF AND CUSTOM.
NOTES ON THE SPIRIT BASIS OF BELIEF AND CUSTOM. BY J. M. CAMPBELL, C.I.E., I.C.S. (Continued from p. 32.)
(c) Metals.
HE class of articles, which, next to fire and water, have special power over spirits, are metals.
power over spirits, gold, are
noticed, but the most important is iron. 100a In all cases of seizures and swooning iron is of great value, either applied hot, or as a lancet to let blood. This seems to be the base of the almost universal belief that iron has great power over spirits. So the Vaishnavas stamp their bodies with red-hot iron seals, and when the body of a pregnant woman is carried out of a Hindu house, a nail or a horse-shoe is driven into the threshold to bar the spirit from coming back. Among the Prabhûs of Bombay, after the birth of a child, an iron bar is thrust across the door of the lyingin room, and a pen-knife is placed under the mother's bed to ward off evil spirits. 100 The first thing a Bombay Prabhû looks at after waking is a gold ring. The Kunbis of Kôlâbâ put an iron hook, or poker, under the cot of a lying-in woman to keep off evil spirits. The belief that spirits are afraid of iron is so strong among the Kôlis, Vâdvals and other lower classes of Thânâ, that whenever they go at night to their fields or gardens they keep with them a stick with loose iron rings to frighten evil spirits. Among the Vâdvals, or gardeners of Thânâ, an iron bar is laid across the threshold of the lying-in room, in order that the evil spirits may not come inside. When a Hindu child is taken to visit a relation, copper or silver coin is put into its hand at the time of leave-taking. During a thunder-storm Kônkanf Marathas throw their axes and sickles out of doors to scare the lightning. Among the Bombay Pârsis, women in child-bed are made to lie on an iron bed-stead for forty days, and the dead are carried on an iron bier. The Pârst women in their monthly sickness are fed from an iron dish. In Gujarat Mâtiâ Kunbi women, for a fortnight after a birth, never go out without carrying a knife or a sickle. The Bhâts of Gujarat set a dagger near the new-born child on the fifth evening when the chhati spirit is believed to come. A dagger and a sword are laid in the Bhâtiâ woman's lyingin room. Among Gujarat Srâvaks the bridegroom carries, for fourteen days before the wedding, a sword. In Kathiawâr gold and curds are put into the dying Râjpût's mouth.10 In Gujarat the Musalmân bridegroom carries a poignard and the Musalmân bride a knife. The Dekhan Ramosis, after a birth, set up in the lying-in room a needle or an arrow in a millet stalk, and at their weddings the bridegroom holds a dagger in one hand and a friend holds a sword over his head.12 The Kunbis of Poons on the Dasahra day worship iron tools, 13 and they use hot iron as a cure in certain complaints. 14 The Pardesi Bhâdbhujâs of Poona tie a piece of iron, about the size of a shilling, to the boy's and the girl's wrists at the time of marriage,15 The Telugu Nhâvis of Poona lay the new-born child by its mother, and at the head of the bed set a dagger, a lemon, and a cane.16 Among the Nasik Mâlis if a woman dies in child-bed, as the body leaves the house, a horse-shoe is driven into the threshold, and while carrying the bier rald grain is strewn on the ground that the spirit may not come back.17 In the possession of the Maharaja of Kolhapur is a gold mohar, and when a woman is in labour, water is poured over the mohar and given her to drink.18 The Kolhapur Lingayats, on the way to the burial-ground, at intervals
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1004 The Parsis in some cases purified a man from a lead ladle (Vendidad, Vol. IV. pp. 40-42). Burton (1621, Anatomy of Melancholy, p. 435) says gold is an antidote to spirits, and gold rings are worn to keep spirits away. Of the use of copper coins and of bells examples are given below.
1006 Mr. K. Raghunath's Pátáné Prabhas, p. 45. Information from Mr. P. B. Joshi.
1 From MS. Notes. Op. cit., loc. cit.. Information from the peon Babaji. 1 Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. Vendidad Fargard, Vol. XVI.; Bleek's Khordah Avesta, p. 121.
10 Information from Colonel Barton.
13 Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. XVIII. p. 419.
14 Trans. By. Lit. Soc. Vol. III. p. 247. 16 Op. cit. Vol. III. p. 381.
17 From MS. Notes.
Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. XI. p. 55. Information from Mr. Govindrao Pandit. XIII. p. 270.
Information from Mr. Bhimbhai.
11 Information from Mr. Fazal, 13 Op. cit. Vol. XVIII. p. 294. 15 Op. cit. Vol. III. p. 321.
18 Information from Mr. Barve,