Malabar and among the Chela *[1] Nambūtiris, as those are termed who, in the turbulent period of Tippu's invasion, were made Muhammadans by force. True, these returned almost at once to their own religion, but a stigma attaches to them, and they are not looked on as true Nambūtiris.
It is extremely difficult to obtain reliable information regarding magic or anything allied to it among any people, and most difficult of all among the Nambūtiris. They possess magic books, but they will neither produce nor expound them. Hara Mēkhala is the name of one of these, which is most used. It is said that the sorcerer aims at the following: —
- (1) Destruction (marana).
- (2) Subjection of the will of another (vasikarana).
- (3) Exorcism (uchchātana).
- (4) Stupefaction (stambhana).
- (5) Separation of friends (vidvēshana).
- (6) Enticement as for love (mōhana).
Of these, the first may be carried out in the following manner. A figure representing the enemy to be destroyed is drawn on a small sheet of metal (gold by preference), and to it some mystic diagrams are added. It is then addressed with a statement that bodily injury or the death of the person shall take place at a certain time. This little sheet is wrapped up in another metal sheet or leaf (of gold if possible), and buried in some place which the person to be injured or destroyed is in the habit of passing. Should he pass over the place, it is supposed that the charm will take effect at the time named. Instead of the sheet of metal, a live frog or lizard is sometimes buried within a cocoanut shell, after nails have been stuck
- ↑ * Chela, the cloth worn by Māppillas (Muhammadans in Malabar). There are also Chela Nāyars. The word is said to mean the rite of circumcision.
