Understanding the Magical Property of the Desharis, Bejunis (Witch Doctors) of the Kandhs of South Orissa
Gokulananda Patro
Dr. Gokulananda Patra*, Head, Department of History, K.M. Science College, Narendrapur, Ganjam (Odisha).
Manuscript received on June 20, 2021. | Revised Manuscript received on July 30, 2021. | Manuscript published on July 30, 2021. | PP: 24-26 | Volume-5, Issue-11, July 2021. | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijmh.K13540751121 | DOI: 10.35940/ijmh.K1354.0751121
Open Access | Ethics and Policies | Cite | Mendeley
© The Authors. Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Deshari, Bejuni, Shamanins are known as indigenous physicians or Vaidyas among the Kandhas of south Orissa. The Deshari is well acquainted with the medical effect of the roots and herbs required for curing of the diseases using charms and spells. Bejunis are experts for the treatment of mental patients. Through magical spells and charms (known as white Magic), she takes up the cases of mental illness. The services of Shamanins are requires for harming an enemy by mantras and tantras.They are expert in Black Magic. Kandhs are experts or specialists in treatment of drowned, night goblin, labour pain and pain in mother’s breast and pulta-bagha. This particular magical property enabled them to transform themselves into tigers and in this shape to attack human beings and their cattle1 . John Campbell* , a top ranking ICS officer witnessed such cases of Pulta-bagha in his own eyes. Their magical properties are amazing and tremendous. But they had no written books on this magical property. It goes from mind to mind, mouth to mouth and generation to generation. The charms, spells, magic-lores, magic cords, folk method of treatment and folk medicines are the traditional heritage of these people. If we will not collect, document or preserve in digital form, this valuable wealth of the centuries will disappear from the society very soon. An humble attempt has been made in this paper to present a vivid account of the role of Desharis, Bejuni, Shamanins and their magical property for the treatment of the diseases.
Keywords: Desharis, Bejunis, Shamanin, Ojhas, Guniyas, Sakhas, Maits, Boyas, pulta-bagha, Panji, Ahiraj, Pat-Bejuni, Dharani-Penu.