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FOLKLORE OF THE KONKAN
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begins to speak through the victim. The At Náringre in the Ratnagiri District, persons sorcerer enquires what the snake wants. The suffering from snakebite are given the juice of snake gives reasons for biting the person. When Kadulimb leaves, and are kept in the temple any thing thus asked for by the snake is
of Hanumán. The feet of the deity are offered, the victim comes to his senses, and is
washed with holy water, and the water is given cured. There are many witnesses to the above
to the victim to drink. 5 fact.1 At Mitbáv in the Ratnagiri District chickens
A snake is believed to have a white numbering from twenty to twenty-five are
jewel or mani in its head, and it loses its life applied to the wound caused by the snakebite.
when this jewel is removed. This jewel has A chicken has the power of drawing out the
the power of drawing out the poison of poison from the body through the wound, but
snakebite. When it is applied to the wound, this causes the death of the chicken. The
it becomes green, but when kept in milk for
sometime, it loses its greenness and reverts to remedy above described is sure to be successful if it is tried within three hours of the
its usual white colour. It gives out to the person being bitten. There are several other
milk all the poison that has been absorbed medicines which act on the snakebite, but they
from the wound, and the milk becomes green.
This jewel can be used several times as an must be given very promptly. There are some men in this village who give charmed water for
absorbent of the poison of snakebite. The snake or any other bites. Many persons
green milk must be buried under ground, so suffering from snakebite have been cured by
that it may not be used again by any one the use of mantras and charmed water.2
else. Water from the tanks of Vetávare in the
It is believed that an old snake having long Sávantwádi State and Mánjare in Goa territory hair on its body has a jewel in its head. This is generally used as medicine for snakebite. It jewel is compared with the colours of a is believed that by the power of mantras a snake rainbow. The snake can take this jewel from can be prevented from entering or leaving a its head at night, and search for food in its particular area. This process is called 'sarpa
rocess is called 'sarpa lustre. Such snakes never come near the bándhane'. There are some sorcerers who can habitation of human beings, but always reside draw snakes out of their holes by the use of in the depth of the jungle. This species of their mantras, and carry them away without
snake is called Deva Sarpa, i. e., a snake touching them with their hands,
belonging to a deity. It is related that a At Adivare, in the Rájápur taluka, roots of
of snake was born of a woman in the Kinkar's
snake was certain herbs are mixed in water and applied house at Tardál in the Sangli State, and to the wound caused by the snakebite, and another one in the Gabale's house at given to the sufferer to drink.
Kolhápur.7
1 Ráo Saheb Shelke, Kolhapur.
* School Master, Mitbáv, Ratnagiri. 3 School Master, Ubhádánda, Ratnagiri. * School Master, Adivare, Ratnagiri. School Master, Náringre, Ratnagiri. • School Master, Kálshe, Ratnagiri,
Ráo Sáney Shelse, Kolkapur.
