DEMON POSSESSION. 



105 



blows in this case, being but an ordinary man and not a Capua, and 

 no charms or invocations being made to any demons or gods for 

 assistance, the marks of the blows might or might not remain, with- 

 out in either case compromising the correctness of the doctrine. 



The following is the charm Kattu Mandiram used by the 

 Annevy in the exorcism of demons. 



"Oh God! May my head, neck, and throat be under the pro- 

 tection of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ! May they be 

 under the protection of the powerful Commander, the Archangel 

 St. Michael and his sword! May my right shoulder be under the 

 protection of the Archangel Gabriel and his sword! May my left 

 shoulder be under the protection of the Archangel Raphael and his 

 sword! May my breast and back be under the protection of all 

 the Saints! May my navel be under the protection of the twelve 

 Apostles! May my private parts be under the protection of the 

 11,000 virgins! May my feet, legs, the soles of my feet, and the 

 20 fingers and toes with their nails be under the protection of all 

 the Saints! I have taken God to be my protection. I have 

 brought the Ten Commandments to my mind. In the name of the 

 Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, who sit on a throne of glory 

 resplendent with the effulgence of starry gems, in the Holy Name 

 of the Divine Mother, who obeys the Divine Will, I expel all ini- 

 mical demons, who come from the East, the West, the North, and 

 the South; demons who come from hell beneath the earth, from 

 the five points of the sky, and the sixteen points of the world. I 

 bind all poisonous creatures, be they beasts, birds, or fishes; be they 

 those, that creep upon their bellies, or that move on their legs, or 

 that fly through the air by their wings. I bind elephants, horses, 

 bears, lions, tigers, and all other animals, that may be dangerous. 

 I bind all these, so that An gam, Pilli, Hooniyan, the dangers of 

 passing over, and all the demons, preteyas, and the diseases caused 

 by these, may break, break, flee, flee,* and be expelled again and 



* Repetition of the same word, especially words like those in the text, is a 

 very common practice in charms, because such repetition is supposed to in= 

 crease the force and efficacy of a charm. 



