The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c17.24

c17.24

In the same category of touring jugglers who exhibit their art in the court of princes or in festivities for the entertainment of the people, the snake charmers (ahiguṇṭhika) of our text are to be placed. Of such an ahiguṇṭhika it is said in the Sâlaka Jâtaka (II. 267), that he has trained an ape to which he has given an antidote² and which he then allows to play with a snake and that in this way he earns a livelihood. Another snake charmer has likewise trained an ape; when a festival (ussava) is announced, he keeps it in the house of a grain merchant, travels seven days and then lets his snakes play (ahiṃ kīḷāpento). (III. 198).