The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c14.145

c14.145

Along with the signs in the human body, other means are mentioned in the already quoted chapter of the Dîgha Nikâya which contains a complete list of superstitious practices, which serves the Brâhmaṇas for purposes of fortune-telling. The question here is of prophecies from things, like cloths eaten by rats, pieces of cloth, etc., of fortune-telling from the flights of birds, the crowing of the raven, from interpretations of certain signs in precious stones, sticks, clothes, swords, arrows, bows, weapons, in women and men, boys and girls, male and female slaves, elephants and other animals; there is further mentioned here the prediction of coming natural phenomena, such as solar and lunar eclipses, falling meteors, earthquakes, etc., and the reading of the future from such events and from the position of the stars. In the Jâtakas we come across various Brâhmaṇas who are occupied in practising such "common arts (tiracchâ navijjâ) and swindling trades" (micchâjîva) as are indicated in the Mahâsîla; we have already been acquainted with the asilakshaṇapâthakabrâhmaṇa who predicts from the smell of a sword whether its use will bring luck or not, and the sâṭakalakshaṇabrâhmaṇa who sees an unlucky omen in a cloth eaten by rats. Even the art of interpreting the stars—to which probably even a Buddhist will make no objection—was, according to the Nânacchanda Jâtaka, practised by the Brâhmaṇas in such a manner that it deserved the name of "a swindling trade." The king is attacked at night by robbers and listens, while the former purohita of his father, now removed from office, who reads the stars in a neighbouring street, says to his wife, “My lady, our king has fallen into the hands of enemies.” “My lord, what does the king matter to you; the Brâhmaṇas will become aware of it.” The king succeeds in escaping and as he returns he hears the purohita inform his wife of his escape through the position of the stars. At daybreak the king summons the Brâhmaṇas and asks them if they observed the stars at night. “Certainly, O king.” “Was the constellation favourable or unfavourable?” “Favourable, O king.” “Did no eclipse occur?” “No, O king.” The king orders the former purohita to be brought and asks him likewise whether he observed the stars at night and whether he noticed any eclipse. “Yes, O king, last night you fell into the hands of your enemies, you were free, however, in a moment.” “This is a reader of the stars (nakshattajânanaka), as he ought to be,” cries out the king, removes the other Brâhmaṇas from his service and from that day onward keeps the purohita to himself.