History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s4.13

v1.c24.s4.13

There was a widespread practice of using magical spells (mantras) to ward off diseases, insects, birds and beasts destroying the crops. In the Kṛṣi-Parāśara it is termed as the pest-killing spell (vyādhikhaṇḍanamantra). The mantra was written on a leaf and then placed in the field. The practice is evidenced by the Kṛṣi-Parāśara, Vṛkṣāyurveda of Surpāla, Upavanavinoda and the Jyotiṣtattva of Raghunandana24. There are slight variations in the details of the mantra. In the Kṛṣi-Parāśara it is in the form of an imperial order by Rāmacandra to Hanuman to ask the pests to leave the field of a certain person; they are to be beaten by Hanumān witht his tail, if they do not comply. One manuscript of the Kṛṣi-Parāśara adds a second mantra in which Hanumān orders the pests to destroy themselves. The pest averting incantation in another school25 presents the command of Rāmacandra in a changed form. Here the pests are said to be the demoness Triputi and her seven sons in disguise. Hanumān is to strike them with his tail, and tearing them with his nails, throw them in the southern sea. If he tarries even for a moment, he is to be cursed by his father Keśarin and mother Anjanā, and will be disowned by Rāma as his servant.