History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s4.15

v1.c24.s4.15

The spell was incorporated with some changes and elaborations in a few other texts and anonymous manuscripts. In the Upavanavinoda (VII.2) the incantation is recommended to be used when there is an apprehension of danger from locusts, rats, birds and ants. It is to be muttered one hundred and eight times before being written on a leaf. In it Hanumān commands the vermins, rats, birds, ants, locusts, young elephants, cranes, insects, gandhikā, bimbī etc. In the mantra occurring in one manuscript of the Vṛkṣāyurveda of Surapāla26 those who are happy at the feet of Śrī Rāmcandra command Hanumān to destroy the pests, the harvest-destroying brood of demon Taraka, not dispersing from the field.