Five Years of Theosophy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 547 pages of information about Five Years of Theosophy.

Five Years of Theosophy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 547 pages of information about Five Years of Theosophy.
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* This is the process by which the bhagat mesmerizes himself.
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The bharotan as I have above remarked is only resorted to when a matter of grave import has to be inquired about; the bhagat makes a high charge for a seance of this description.  We will fancy that three or four families in a village consider themselves bewitched by a najo, and they resolve to have recourse to a bhagat to find out who the witch is; with this view a day is fixed on, and two delegates are procured from each of five neighbouring villages, who accompany the afflicted people to the house of the bhagat, taking with them a dali or offering, consisting of vegetables, which on arrival is formally presented to him.  Two delegates are posted at each of the four points of the compass, and the other two sent themselves with the afflicted parties to the right of the bhagat, who occupies the centre of the apartment with four or five chelas, a clear space being reserved on the left.  One chela then brings a small earthenware-pot full of lighted charcoal, which is set before the bhagat with a pile of mango wood chips and a ball composed of dhunia (resin of Shorea robusta), gur (treacle), and ghee (clarified butter), and possibly other ingredients.  The bhagat’s sole attire consists of a scanty lenguti (waist-cloth), a necklace of the large wooden beads such as are usually worn by fakeers, and several garlands of golaichi flowers round his neck, his hair being unusually long and matted.  Beside him stuck in the ground is his staff.  One chela stands over the firepot with a bamboo-mat fan in his hand, another takes charge of the pile of chips, and a third of the ball of composition, and one or two others seat themselves behind the bhagat, with drums and other musical instruments in their hands.  All being in readiness, the afflicted ones are requested to state their grievance.  This they do, and pray the bhagat to call before him the najo, who has stirred up the spirits to afflict them, in order that he may be punished.  The bhagat then gives a sign to his chelas, those behind him raise a furious din with their instruments, the fire is fed with chips, and a bit of the composition is put on it from time to time, producing a volume of thick greyish-blue smoke; this is carefully fanned over, and towards the bhagat, who, when well wrapped in smoke, closes his eyes and quietly swaying his body begins a low chant.  The chant gradually becomes louder and the sway of his body more pronounced, until he works himself into a state of complete frenzy.  Then with his body actually quivering, and his head rapidly working about from side to side, he sings in a loud voice how a certain najo (whom he names) had asked money of those people and was refused, and how he stirred up certain spirits (whom he also names) to hurt them, how they killed so and so’s bullocks, some one else’s sheep, and caused another’s child to fall ill.  Then he begins to call on the najo to come and answer

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Five Years of Theosophy from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.