Search for the ghost (Masan) and witch (Tonhi) : Traditional knowledge about herbs used for protection against the evil spirits in Chhattisgarh, India

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

Yesterday was the festival day in Chhattisgarh and the occasion was the Hareli Amavasya festival. This is year's first festival after commence of monsoon rains for the farmers. As the agriculture is dependent on monsoon rains in Chhattisgarh, the farmers never miss to celebrate the occasions through festivals. It is common belief in Chhattisgarh that as rains start, the evil spirits start its activity and in the form of new fatal diseases attack on human beings and their cattle. To protect themselves from these evil spirits, the natives take the help of Baiga (a common group of persons present in almost all villages, performs Tantra and help the villagers to get rid from all troubles; they do not use the herbs as medicine and believe that the evil spirits are the root cause for all diseases both physical and mental). On the request of villagers, Baiga performs special worship and through his Mantras draw the imaginary line around the specific village. This procedure is locally known as Gaon Bandhan or Gaon Bandhana. On specific day when Baiga draw the line, no one is allowed to leave the village or enter into the village in next night. The law breaker is punished heavily by money decided by the Baiga. In the night of restriction, only Baiga is having the freedom to move inside the village. This practice is common in almost all 16000 villages of Chhattisgarh. This practice has got social acceptance and it has nothing to do with the education level or nearness of modern cities. On the festival day, no one goes to field for work. Farmers worship their ploughs and enjoy the holiday. To prevent the entry of evil spirits, the natives put branches and leaves of Neem (Azadirachta indica) in front of their homes and shops. Many natives believe that this tree is a symbol of greeniness (Hareli). The night of Hareli Amavasya is darkest night. It is common belief that at this specific night the ghosts (masan) and witch (Tonhi) come out from villages and perform special worship to gain magical power. The purpose of this special worship is to attack on villagers with magical power. The villagers having this belief never come out from their homes whole night. Many senior villagers make claims that they have seen these evil spirits many times in their childhood. But as the electrification is increasing and darkness is ending, its effects are also ending. In the age of internet, the educated Indians like me, some times feel odd to write or discuss about our traditions to the world community. I am a part of this tradition. Although many educated persons consider it just a blind faith but there are also many persons trying to search and establish the science behind this belief. When the Baiga, do not perform his duty to protect the village, the evil spirits attack in form of human and cattle diseases, the villagers have many such examples. In such cases, he repeats the whole procedures many times in a year. In Chhattisgarh, the natives release the black chicks also in rainy season. They believe that the evil spirits when try to attack any village, the black chicks will act as guard and by giving their lives, protect the natives.

Since last ten years, I am trying hard to give the scientific explanations for this common belief. I have consulted many senior villagers and traditional healers. According to them, in ancient times when there were poor medical facilities, the death toll due to infectious diseases common in rainy seasons was very-very high. To protect the coming generations from these diseases and also to take special precaution, possibly our forefathers have established some hypes related to ghosts (masan) and witch (Tonhi). Neem is a wonder herb for the natives. They use all parts of this tree as medicine from morning to night. The modern scientific research studies have proved that the different parts of Neem possess unique properties to suppress and destroy the natural population of many harmful micro-organisms. In ancient Indian literatures related to different systems of medicine in India, Neem holds a reputed position as air-purifier plant. It is not wrong to say that Neem tree is a boon for the Indians. By keeping the Neem leaves and branches in front of their homes and shops, the natives try to stop the entry of evil spirits (the modern science have named it as bacteria, fungi and viruses). This year, I have noted the use the Neem parts in homes and shops have increased many folds. I feel that this is positive sign. This indicates that the natives from young generation are also understanding the importance of Neem. Few years back, the healers were worrying, by seeing the decreasing population of Neem trees in Chhattisgarh. Now due to awareness, the natives have started its planting. One of my friends, specialise in forestry, tried to explain the use of Neem in his own way. According to him, the collection of Neem leaves and branches from actively growing Neem trees, helps the trees in growing more faster, instead of damage through injuries, as common person may expect. I am expecting more scientific explanations from other experts, so that we can motivate the young generation to continue the traditional practices with scientific temperament. As you know, I am associated as active member with the local non-governmental organization (Andh Shradha Nirmulan Samittee), dedicated to aware the common people about blind faith and to protect them from false persons engaged in the exploitations in name of evil-spirits. To develop the confidence in natives that on the festival night, there is no reason to worry as there is nothing like ghosts (Masan) and Witch (Tonhi), the team of this organization spent all night in remote areas with the villagers. Like other years, this year also we have not seen any such creatures. The media reporters accompanied us. Today morning we came back after long trip to remote areas. The villages were absolutely calm and quiet. No one was outside the houses. Even no one came out in response to our calls. These observations clearly show the depth of faith, the natives have towards this tradition. Tomorrow the newspapers will highlight our trip and we feel that this will create awareness and courage (although very little) among the natives .This trip motivated me to write a separate article on traditional knowledge about herbs used by the natives to get protection from evil spirits. I have written a lot on this aspect with other herbs in my previous articles. In present article, I am giving some new information, I have collected through the recent ethnobotanical surveys. The use of Fudhar roots (Calotropis gigantea and C. procera, both) is an age old practice in Chhattisgarh. The white flowered old plants are selected for the collection of roots. The collectors mostly the Baiga, perform special worship (rather complicated) before digging the ground. The patients having different mental troubles or the patients having poor vital force (considered as susceptible to the attack of evil spirits) are advised by the Baigas to wear the locket having Fudhar roots. In many parts of Chhattisgarh, the roots are put in front of houses to prevent the entry of evil spirits. In my previous articles, I have already mentioned that the presence of white flowered Fudhar herb is considered as a sign of good luck, fortune and prosperity. In Northern parts of Chhattisgarh, the traditional healers recommend to plant Anar (Pomegranate) herb in home gardens to get rid from the problems caused by the evil spirits. The plants (possibly Orchid) growing on Anar tree as epiphyte are collected and after drying, kept inside the houses to get similar effects. The traditional healers of Bastar region, prepare a special locket using Ajwain herb. The white string of locket is coloured with Haldi (Turmeric). From childhood, the mothers tie these lockets around the neck of their young ones in order to protect them whole life from evil spirits. As mentioned earlier, the natives particularly the traditional healers consider the evil spirit as the cause of diseases, through extensive ethnobotanical surveys, I am trying my best find out that how the presence of herbs in contact with human body in form of special lockets or herbal Mala, protects them from any disease. The popularity of these lockets and Malas among natives is enough to prove its efficacies. As I am informing the world community about all aspects of herbs and insects in Chhattisgarh, I feel that it is my responsibility to give details regarding the festivals of Chhattisgarh in which herbs play an important role. Fortunately (or unfortunately?), I have yet not met these evil spirits in their dangerous forms but I am thankful to them (if they are with or around us) for giving my opportunity (as subject) to write a special article focused on them.

Thank you very much for reading the article.