________________
FOLKLORE OF THE KONKAN
65
At Poladpur in the Kolába District, there formerly sages and saints used to make lived a sorcerer who used to give such amulets such sacred circles round their residence, reand charmed threads. He placed about ten peating certain mantras, for their protection or twelve copper rings or amulets in a copper
from evil spirits. It is believed that the plate kept in the sun. While thus exposed to
spirits cannot enter or leave these enchanted the sun, these amulets were continuously watch
circles. They used to bury bottles containing ed by the sorcerer for soine two hours, repeating
such spirits at the boundaries of these circles. certain mantras. 1 At Málad in the Thána District, copper
There are many such places in the Kolhapur Amulets and charmed black cotton threads
District, such as Buránsáheb of Brahmapuri, in the name of Kál Bhairav, an incarnation
the Sádhubuwa of Panhála, and Bábu Jámil of the god Shiva, are used as protective
at Kolhápur. against evil spirits. They are tied to the aims It is a general belief among all classes of or the neck of the diseased on an eclipse day, Hindus in the Bombay Presidency that Saturon the last day of the Hindu calendar month, day is an unlucky day, and in some places or on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Friday and Tuesday are also considered
At Kolhápur, the use of amulets is generally inauspicious. resorted to by people suffering from the Sunday is considered as an ordinary day. attacks of evil spirits or from malarial fevers. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday are The sorcerer who exorcises the evil spirits writes certain mantras on a paper, or draws
believed to be auspicious or lucky days. certain symbols and repeats che mantras over
It is said that a thing suggested or thought them. The paper is then wrapped in an of on Friday cannot be carried out successamulet made of copper or silver, and fastened fully.? to a cotton thread. This amulet is tied round Sowing seed and watering trees is strictly the arm or the neck of the diseased. Before forbidden on Sunday. It is believed that tying it to the arm or the neck, it is once
trees do not bear well if watered on Sundays.8 held over burning incense.
Tuesday and Friday are considered unlucky A sacred circle is frequently used as a pro
days for beginning a new task. Wednesday tection from spirits. The sorcerer draws a circle
and Saturday are said to be ina uspicious for on the ground, with his stick, and the following
visiting another village, articles are put inside it. Cocoanuts, lemons. red lead, and a Kohala gourd. Fowls are also
The numbers 2, 6, 11, and zero are believed sacrificed to this circle. The filling in of this to be lucky, 4, 5, 10 and 8 are unlucky, and circle is called manda bharane by the exorcists. 1, 3, 7 and 9 are considered as middling or
Rice or Udid grain, and ashes charmed by moderate. mantras, are scattered round a certain area The figure zero is by some considered of land, or are given to a person supposed to inauspicious 10 be affected by evil spirits. The spirits cannot
The numbers 5, 7,9 are said by some to ! enter a place charmed in this manner. They
be auspicious, and 1, 3, 11 and 13 are also scattered round the place supposed to be haunted by evil spirits in the belief that
inauspicious 11 neither evil spirits nor snakes can transgress Odd numbers are auspicious, and even numthe boundary thus marked by a sorcerer." bers are said to be inauspicious, 12
1 School Master, Poladpur, Kolába. + RÁO SÁheb, Shelse, Kolhấpur, $ School Master, Ubbádánda, Ratnagiri.
School Master, Ubhádánda, Ratnagiri. 9 School Master, Khopoli, Kolába, 11 School Master, Bándivade, Ratnagiri.
2 School Master, Málád, Thána. 4 School Master, Bándivade, Ratnagiri. 6 Ráo Saheb Shelle, Kolkapur. 8 School Master, Basani, Ratnagiri. 10 School Master, Rái, Thána. 4 Ráo Sáheb, Shelse, Kolhấpur.
