A History of Indian Literature v1.c8.s3.64

v1.c8.s3.64

Along with this belief in devilish beings which bring diseases upon mankind, we find in India also the world-wide belief in male and female demons (Incubi and Succubi), which visit mortal women and men by night. These are the *Apsaras* and *Gandharvas* of the ancient Indian popular belief, which correspond in every respect and in an amazing manner with the sprites and elves and fairies of the German popular belief. They are originally spirits of nature, river and forest deities. Rivers and trees are their dwelling places, which they leave only to entice mortals and to injure them by unnatural co-habitation. In order to drive away these spirits, the ancient Indian magicians made use of a pleasant-smelling plant, called Ajaśṛṅgī (*Odina pinnata*), and recited the song Ath. IV, 37, from which I quote the following verses :