3(g). Charm to Cause Misfortune to One’s Rivals

[Full title: 3. Rites Related to Love and Jealousy, (g): Charm to Cause Misfortune to One’s Rivals]

In contrast to the above rites, practices causing disturbance to the husband and wife were also prevalent. For this purpose, the powder of Bānāparṇī plant was mixed with the diluted curds of a red-coloured she-goat and then, the mixture was consecrated with the recitation of the Atharvavedic mantra, tṛṣṭika…, etc. (7.113.1). Then, it was scattered over the bed.^[1] The same mixture was also used to overcome a co-wife by scattering it on her bed by reciting the Atharvavedic hymn, imāṃ khanāmi…, etc. (3.18).^[2]

Similarly, a rite producing misfortune to a woman was practised by muttering the Atharvavedic mantra, ā te dada…, etc. (7.114.1).^[3]

During this practice, one had to touch or to look at the organs of the woman as indicated by the relevant mantra which states:

‘I take from thy entrails, I take from thy heart, from the aspect of thy face, I take all thy splendour’.^[4]

Apart from these, to bring misfortune to a hated man or a woman, Kauśika^[5] notes another rite applying the hymn, bhagamasyā…, etc. (1.14). While reciting this hymn, the wreath, pillow, toothbrush and hair of the person, against whom the charm was performed, were put into the skin of a cow, slain by Rudra or of a funeral cow and buried in the hole of a mortar under a pile of three stones.^[6]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Vide, Keśava, Ibid.

[2]:

Kauśika-sūtra, 36.19

[3]:

ā te dada iti mantroktāni saṃspṛśati / Ibid., 36.39

[4]:

Vide, Whitney, W. D. (ed. & trans.), Op.cit., Vol. I, p.468

[5]:

Kauśika-sūtra, 36.15

[6]:

Keśava, Ibid.