Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c21.70

v2.c21.70

The Yakshas, already marked as genii of plant life and fruitfulness through the fact of their abiding in trees and water, likewise eat children, at any rate the female ones do, as we are shown especially in Buddhistic literature. The Rākshasī Jarā is painted on walls as youthful and surrounded by children, and is worshipped with flowers, incense, perfumes and food. If this is done, then well-being holds sway in the house; otherwise it fares ill (ii, 18.1 ff.). In Magadha a festival was held for her (çl. 10). Now the souls of the dead in Indo-Germanic belief further the growth of plants and fruitfulness; and in India the Pretas, like the Rākshasas, dwell in trees (e.g. K., i, 163.28), and from trees there comes, indeed, in India, as is well-known, the blessing of children. Cp. my notes on pp. 158 and 223.