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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
burning desire to possess the bodies of of high caste people not emancipated from deceased persons. 1
the trammels of birth and rebirth have their A belief runs that the trunk of the evil abode in the Pipal trce 10 spirit called Suro puro, that is the spirit It is related that once a number of boys, on of ono who meets a heroic death, moves about their return from a tank to which they had like a Khavis.2
gone oa a swimming excursion, passed by a It is a common belief that evil spirits haunt Khijada tree, when one of them suggested to trees, groves, deserted tanks and woods.3 the others to throw stones at the tree, saying
Vetàl roums orcr burial and cremation that any one not doing so would fall under grounds, as also Bhuchar, Khechar, Kàl the displeasure of God. One of the boys Bhairav and a number of other ghosts.* threw a stone at a neighbouring Bàbul trec
The Jimp, Babaro and some other ghosts with the result that on reaching home he fell reside in fortresses and unoccupied houses and ill in a fit of terror. He began to shake and roam about in the burning grounds. Chudela, said "Why did you strike me with a stonc? I Kotda and Brahm. Rikslusa make their had resorted to the Babul tree from the abodes on the tamarind, Shami (Prosopis Khijado and you struck me there. I shall not spicigera), Babul and Kerado trees and indepart until I take your life." Evidently it deep tanks and wells in deserted places was the Khijadio Màmo who had possessed Their favourite haunts are river banks. the boy who spoke the above words; and an
It is stated by some people that the Chudel, | exorcist was called who drove him out by the Vantri, Dåkan, Jimp, Khavis and other incantation of mantras ; after which the boy ghosts generally haunt cremation grounds, recovered.11 fields where battles have b:en fought, thres- It is believed that a woman who dies an holds of houses and latrines and cross unnatural death becomes a Chudel and roads,
troubles her husband, her successor or co-wife, Some declare that ghosts are also to be or her children 12 found in temples in which there are no images There are three classes of Chudels, and in dry wells.7
(1) Poshi, (2) Soshi and (3) Toshi. Those The ghost preta is said to be as tall as a women that have not enjoyed before death cafuel, the passage of its throat being as small the pleasures of this world to their satisas the bore of a needle. It is therefore faction enter the order of Poshi Chudels. believed to be always wandering about in They fondle children and render good service quest of water.
to their widower husbands. The evil spirit Jan haunts mountains and Those women that are persecuted beyond forests and Mamo the centres of filth, while endurance by the members of their families V'etàl is found in cremation grounds.
become Soshi Chudels after death. They Jàn, Brahma Rakshasa and Khavis reside dry up the blood of men and prove very in woods, trees, or on mountains, Khijadio troublesome to the members of the family. Màmo lives in the Khijada or Shami tree and Those women who bear a strong attachAmatho Mamo in a grove of trees. Spirits ment to their husbands enter the order of
1 The School Master of Gondal, 3 The School Master of Dbánk. 5 The School Master of Vanod. 7 The School Master of Kolki. 9 The School Master of Dbánk. 11 The D. E. Inspector, Gohilwad.
· The School Master of Baatva.
The Schcol Master of Talpur and Luvaria. 6 The School Master of Dadvi. 8 The School Master of Chhatrasa 10 The School Master of Kolki, 12 The School Maste: of Dhank,
