30 HOPKINS— MAGIC OBSERVANCES IN HINDU EPIC. [April 21, 



The use of charmed weapons was faciHtated by a special cere- 

 mony called Lohabhisara. Thus in 5.160.92, lohdbhisdro nin'rttah 

 means " That ceremony has been performed (for you) which forces 

 the deities named by the Mantras you have used to preside over and 

 govern your ordinary weapons." So all the deities of water, fire, 

 etc., have their names given to the weapons thus inspired, and when 

 a warrior is said to use the Varnna astra it is merely an arrow 

 inspired by the god named, who is temporarily at the disposal of 

 the knight. This is a perfect parallel to the " singing of a weapon " 

 on the part of an Australian savage and the Mantra is felt as 

 nothing more than a magic formula. It is equally efficacious when 

 said over a blade of grass, 10.13. igf. In 8.40.7, an arrow is "pre- 

 served for years in sandal-dust and religiously worshipped," piljitah, 

 that it may be effective when needed." 



When Arjuna makes a lake spring up where there was no water, 

 on the field of battle, he performs a similar magic trick, y.gg.62i., 

 for it is done by piercing the earth with a magic arrow. 



It must be observed that all these practices are in good repute 

 if not exercised for a sinful purpose. The priest who knows 

 magic is the king's domestic chaplain. The king himself is a 

 magical being when as in the case of king Santanu he has the 

 "healing touch," 1.95.46; "Whomsoever he touches with his hands, 

 if worn out he becomes vigorous again." Certain priests are 

 Brahmans of high character and yet have the honorary distinction 

 of being vidyajambhakavdrtikah, that is, " conversant with wizardry 

 and magic" (cf. ib. jambha-sddhakdh) , 5.64.16,20. 



The ordinary means of resisting disease was threefold, drugs, 

 Mantras (holy verses), and "ceremonies," kriyds, as is succinctly 

 expressed in the simile, " Karna attacked Yuddisthira like a fearful 

 disease which has passed Mantras, drugs, and kriyds," 8.49.8. The 

 kriyd is often identical with mdyd (magic, illusion). In 9.24. 54f., 



' The weapon is treated like an idol. One such magic weapon is a dart 

 made by the great Artificer (Tvastar). It is kept for years and worshipped, 

 " with perfumes, garlands, a seat, drink and food " ! 9.17.44. Two magical 

 weapons are described in 8.53.24f. One of them encircles the foes' legs with 

 snakes and the other invokes birds of prey which eat the snakes (padabaiidha 

 or naga, and sauparna). When one's fated day arrives, however, the magical 

 weapon refuses to act, 7. 191. 8. 



