Indian Antiquary Vol 45

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 290

30
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
to the Amsa-pâda-mangalê, the exorcist should dance continually, repeating the name of the sick man, and offer fowls and goats. The 7 limes were placed respectively by Odḍisa, Kanda, Râma (the 3rd and 4th), Däḍimunda, Pattini, and levara. The steps are taken by the power successively of Mihi-kata, Nâta, Visņu, Kanda, Däḍimunda, Saman, and the Seven Pattinis, and they cure respectively the feet, arms, head, back, soles and toes, neck and face. The poem Sat-adiya-kavi describes a similar rite, especially exorcising the spell cast by sticking pins into an effigy. At the first step the Pirit, the 24 Buddhas, Säkra, Mini-kata, the holy footprint at Makkama (Mecca), Pattini, etc., are invoked; at the second, powers and exploits of Buddha, Visņu, and Jala Pattini; at the third, figures of Buddhist story and Mangrå Deva; at the fourth, Buddhist powers, Visņu, Teda Pattini, Jamagal Ṛşi, etc.; at the fifth, Buddhist powers, Viśvakarma, Mal Pattini, Vesamunu, Kâli Amma, Sarasvati, and Bhûmi-kântâ, the Earth-goddess; at the sixth, Buddha, the Rsis, Mihi-devi or Earth, isvara, Deva-raju, Bamba Sura, and Nârâyana; at the seventh, Säkra, Bamba, Pattini and her bangle, Saman, Saranankara (Buddha), the Seven Pattinis, Devel, Râma, and Kadirâpura Deva. The H.-a.-vina-käpima prescribes a rite for dispelling various evils by invocation of Buddhist themes in the following 7 groups, one group for each step-(1) frowning, delirium, madness, heart-burn, loathing for food, headache, flushes, heat, dreams of eating; (2) oppression of the chest, evil dreams, shivering; (3) unnatural sounds, swelling of the left leg, pain in the foot, dreams of women; (4) inability to walk, thirst, craving for food, panting; (5) chills and coughs caught after bathing, spasms of the chest, rheumatism; (6) burning of the foot, craving for fried food, swelling of the stomach, bleeding from the lungs, wasting; (7) cramp, looseness of teeth, vomiting blood, possession by devils. The H.-a.-dola describes a seven-step rite to the yakas in which the first step with its offering cures spells causing visions of elephants, terrors, cough, asthma, headache, burning in the belly, aches in the body, and indigestion; the second, bad dreams, leprosy, dim sight, visions of people standing near one's bed and of snakes twisting round one'; the third, spells causing madness, idiocy, fever, visions of women, swelling in the left side, cramp in the feet and hands; the fourth, terror, loss of appetite, wanderings among rocks and trees, burning in the body, strangulation of the throat, itching of the eyes, palsy of the head; the fifth, spells producing constipation, distaste for food, burning of the eyes, pain in the chest and joints, cough, itching of the ear, and deafness; the sixth, dreams of snakes, thirst, pain in the throat, wasting, burning in the soles, bitterness in the mouth; the seventh, emaciation and craving for flesh, arising from spells effected by waxen images enchanted at a grave and buried near the sufferer's style. The Indra-gurulu-hat-adiya prescribes a rite of exorcism by cutting limes with spells of the indra-gurulu type. The limes are placed in order for the symbols of the Gurulu, cat, lion, leopard, serpent, rat, and elephant; the steps are taken successively to represent the ascendance of the Sun, Sikurâ, Kuja, Guru, Senasuru, the Moon, and Budahu; and the limes are cut in reference to different constellations, etc. A H.-a.-upata, which traces this rite to the ceremonies used to heal the spell of Mâra, prescribes 7 steps, heel to toe, each with the invocation of a Buddhist theme and the cutting of limes. This exorcises malign astral influences and the mara spell, which is effected by the letters opposed to the initial letter of the sufferer's name. The Pañca-pakṣi Hat Adiyê prescribes a rite to exorcise spells cast by the astrological form styled Pañca-paksi. Limes are cut and 7 steps taken, heel to toe, with invocation of the vowels A, I, U, E, O, A. I, respectively. Each lime is laid down under the influence of some Buddhist theme. A ritual of "Seven Steps" with cutting of limes is given in Desi-upata; see Limes.