Indian Antiquary Vol 27

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

Page 27

JANUARY, 1898.)
SPIRIT BASIS OF BELIEF AND CUSTOM.
says of the spirit called Browny :-"Browny was a sturdy fairy, who, if he was fed and kindly treated, would, as they said, do a great deal of work. They now pay him no wages, and are content to labour for themselves."30 Heron in his journey through part of Scotland, 1799, Vol. II. p. 227, says “The Brownie was a very obliging spirit who used to come into houses by night, and, for a dish of cream, performed lustily any piece of work that might remain to be done. Sometimes he would work and sometimes eat till he barsted: if old clothes were laid out for him he took them in great distress, and never more returned."31 Sir Walter Scott describes the Brownie as thin, shaggy and wild, hating rewards. Scott likens the Brownie to the Roman Lar who was human, roughly clothed in dog's skin, and, like Milton's lubber fiend, lived near the fire.32 The Welsh farmer still puts out a bowl of milk for the fairies,33 Trolls or droiles were found in Scotland and in Shetland. Like the Brownie the Troll worked for man. They came to houses where feasts were held, especially at Yule or Christmas time.34 Shakespear describes Puck or Sweet Puck as another name for Hobgoblin. For those who called him Sweet Pack, Hobgoblin worked and brought them luck. Puck describes himself as the merry Wanderer of the night who jested to the fuiry king and made him smile, neighing like a filly to beguile the borses, lurking in a gossip's bowl and bobbing against her lips, or as a three-legged stool slipping aside from those about to sit.35 Coleridge (1790) describes the Devonshire Pixies or little Pucks, a friendly race too small to be seen, as before dawn in robes of rainbow hues, sipping the furze flowers, shedding soothing witcheries over their favourite poet, sighing with the lover and dancing on the fairy grass rings.36 The Phynnodderre, a spirit of the Isle of Man, was believed to help peasants in cuttiny and gathering grass.37 Ariel was a kindly spirit, glad to help man, especially the weak and ill-used. The Ban-she or Irish woman-fairy warned Irish families, and corresponding family spirits warned Scottish families, before the death of any of its members.38 Another English guardian or good genius was Billy Blind or Blind man's Buff,39
As a class, Indian spirits are considered unclean in their habits, and, as they never bathe, their bodies are said to have a peculiar smell. So the Marathi proverb runs:-Jéthen shuchirblut paná áhe, téthén bhut näki, - Where there is cleanliness there is no spirit. On the other hand some spirits are represented as specially clean and pious. Thus Vêtàl is very clean in his habits, and spends much of his time in the worship of the god Shiv. The Brahmapurush batbes daily, wears clean white clothes, performs sandky a adoration, and observes all the religious duties of a pious and orthodox Brahman Sinilarly fairies are font of neatness and cleanness of apparel, of strict diet, and of an upright life.co
Certain spirits were believed to have connection with men. Thus the apsará or fairy named Urvasi was believed to have come on earth and lived for some time with an Indian king named Parurava. The story runs that while king Pururava had gone hunting he heard a woman cry, and, on looking back, saw a beautiful damsel being carried off by a demon. He turned, slew the demon, and released the damsel. Out of gratitude the damsel who was a fairy agreed to live with the king, with the condition that he should never come before her undressed. She lived with him happily for a year during which a son was born to
50 Brand's Popular Antiquities, Vol. II. p. 489.
31 Op. cit. Vol. II. p. 499. 52 Border Minstrelay, Introduction (1980), p. 7.
53 In Gipsy Tents. ** Dalyoll's Darker Superstitions of Scotland, p. 533 ; Jamieson's Scottish Dictionary.
58 Midsumingrs Night's Dreum, Act III, Scene 1. The word Pack is apparently the Welsh Pwoca or spirit. Compare Grimm's Teutonic Mythology, Vol. II. p. 500. In Breeknock is a Cwm Pwoon (Coom Pooky) or Goblin Vale which Shakespeare is believed to have known (Vaugban's Poems, Pt. XVI., Ed. 1883). In 1803, imps are called puckrels (Sharpe's Witchcraft, p. 211). Grinim (Teutonic Mythology, Vol. II. p. 411) notices & division of elves iuto aibs who are white and good, and duargar dwarfs who are dark and bad.
86 Songs of the Pixies, Poems, Moxon's Ed. 1870, p. 8. 97 Brand's Popular Antiquities, Vol. III. p. 415. 38 Shakespeare's Tempest; Jamieson's Scottish Dictionary: Guthrie's Old Scottish Customs, p. 217. * Scott's Border Minstrelay, Vol. II. p. 32.
10 Brand's Popular Antiquities, Vol. II. p. 498.