Chapter 2a - The nature of the Parisistas (of the Atharvaveda)

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to be destroyed, should be made of finely powdered black
mustard (35.1.6) or of the flour of rice or black gram
(māsa) (36.5.1,3). It may also be made of earth 33 (33.6.6).
Even the mere writing of the name of the enemy and the pierc-
ing of it with the nails of the hand is said to be sufficient
to make him ill or go mad (AVP 36.8.1).
The Procedure and Effect of Magic
A magical ritual is just like any other ritualistic
ceremony. Its procedure, therefore, begins with an initiation-
rite and a preparatory vow. The celebrant is to lie down to
the west of the fire, without turning to the other side for
twelve nights (Kaus.47.30). Guarding oneself against the
danger of the magic perpetrated by others is, of course, the
first essential. Hence, first of all, the deities presiding
over all the quarters are prayed to to counteract the evil
influences arising out of those quarters. Generally speaking,
so far as the magical ritual is concerned, it is not necessary
to look to an auspicious day or an auspicious constellation
for its performance (35.1.4; 36.2.1). On the contrary, it
has been prescribed that the abhicara rite should be started
on an inauspicious day (tithi-chidra), in the dark half of
the month, and under a fearful constellation like the Maghã,
Aslega, Mula, Revati or Ardra (31.8.5-6). It is also said
33. Cf. BS4.21: नृण्यमरिं विभिन्बाच्छूलर स्थले विप्रः । [nṛṇyamariṃ vibhinbācchūlara sthale vipraḥ |]