Traditional knowledge about common herbs used for Vashikaran or Sammohan in Chhattisgarh, India

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

As a student of science, it is very difficult to accept that the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use different herbs to attract, to hypnotise and to gain control on other's mind. The natives and healers specialize in Vashikaran or Sammohan are very less in number. They use their power in treatment. They informed me that due to their power, they can reduce the pain to great extent. Also they use this power to fill positive thoughts in the mind of depressed patients. Most of the healers use this power to stop their patients to get involve in bad habits like alcoholism. According to the natives and healers, they have gained this knowledge from their forefathers after hard work and with promise that they will never use this power for their own benefits. They use both common herbs and Mantras during practice. They further informed that both herbs and Mantras are useless if used alone for Vashikaran. For researchers and ethnobotanists it is very difficult to get information on both herbs and Mantras. Through my surveys I have collected a lot of information on this unknown aspect. I have seen practical uses of some herbs but still not convinced. I am in search of scientific explanations. Many scientist friends have advised me not to waste(?) Time on these information but I personally feel that from documentation point of view, these information are very valuable and this is our moral responsibility to transfer these information to the next generations. For Vashikarn, the roots of Safed Fudhar (Calotropis gigantea) are used commonly. On specific days roots are collected after performing special worship. The washed roots are mixed in fresh urine of black coloured goat and an aqueous paste is prepared. This paste is applied on forehead. It is common belief among the natives and healers that this application is able to attract any patients or person coming to meet them. As herb researcher, I am aware that this paste keeps the head cool and more efficient but I am not aware how it helps in Vashikaran. Many healers use human semen in place of goat urine to make the paste more potential. In Northern parts of Chhattisgarh, the healers use cow milk in place of urine or semen. The healers give second preference to the roots of Chirchita (Achyranthes aspera). It is a common wasteland herb in Chhattisgarh. The water is used to prepare an aqueous paste from Chirchita roots. This paste is also applied on forehead. It is common belief in Chhattisgarh, that any family dispute can be stopped by the use of Chirchita roots. The healers give power to the roots through Mantras and throw it in houses where disputes are common. In Internet, I read many advertisements claiming the discovery of human pheromone, to attract the females. The natives are using herbs for this purpose, since generations. In general, the wives are advised by the natives to apply the aqueous paste prepared from roots, barks, fruits, leaves and branches of Anar (Pomegranate). In this paste all parts are mixed in equal proportions. The special Mantras are uttered during the application of paste. It is common belief that this paste is enough capable to attract their husbands and to stay with them whole night. In many tribal belts, this paste is used by young natives to attract the girls. The traditional healers of Southern and Central parts of Chhattisgarh use the roots of Nagdamani to attract and to control other persons. The roots are cut into small pieces and with the help of 108 pieces, special Herbal Mala is prepared. In this Mala, red coloured string is used. The healers wear this Mala around the neck during their routine practice. Many healers use the roots as earrings and fingerings to get more powerful effect. As the description of Nagdamani is coming for the first time in my articles, I am describing its botany in brief. According to reference literatures, Nagdamani (Crinum asiaticum, family :Amaryllidaceae) is a herb with tunicated bulb; bulb 5-10 cm diam; narrowed into a neck clothed with leaf-sheaths' leaves 20-30, thin, linear-lanceolate, flat, with a sheathing base, bright green; scape 45-90 cm; Flower 15-50 in an umbel, white, fragrant at night, perianth tube greenish-white, cylindric, lobes 6, linear, as long as the tube; Fruit sub-globose, beaked; Seeds one (rarely two). It is grown as ornamental plant in home gardens. The natives use the herb Gunja (Abrus precatorius) also for the same purpose. The roots are used in same manner as the roots of Fudhar and Chirchita. Many healers use whole herb to prepare the aqueous paste. The above mentioned information is not available in reference literatures with reference to Chhattisgarh. This article is first written document on this important aspect. Although the natives and healers are using different pastes and Herbal Malas for Vashikaran, but in general, these uses have some positive and beneficial effects on human body and when the healers examine their patients after application of these paste and Malas, it helps them to perform in more efficient ways. This is the scientific explanation, I have noted from the other healers. I am expecting more explanations from the readers. I am fortunate that without using these paste and Malas, I am getting the success in attracting the attention of the readers like you through my articles and hoping the same response in future also. Thank you very much for reading the article.