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

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(36.1.13) at night having stepped over the skeleton of a cow
and should move up to the horns. The breaking out of flames
would then indicate the success in that task (36.3.1-2). To
control the witchcraft powers, one should prepare an altar of
the size of gocarma having besmeared it with cow-dung. One
should enkindle a fire there on three potsherds and should
bow down to it. One should produce a sound with his mouth
(mukha-vädya). As soon as it is heard, there come excellent
damsels with faces terrible on account of flames coming out
of their mouths and producing the sound of jaws and bells.
They will say, "son, we shall give you all that you desire."
If they are touched with the ashes from the rite, they will
be rendered as meek as lambs.
It will be seen from the above statement that Atharvanic
magic is put to diverse uses. It is often employed as a
means of defence against the ills of life. It is used for
self-protection and for the protection of the sacrifice from
the enemy (Cf. AV II.7,12). Self-protection is secured by
making offerings to the various divinities and by counteract-
ing the witchcraft employed by the enemy. This latter is
46 called pratyabhicarana The krtya is removed and her
victim is relieved of the harassment to his life and property.
Another significant use of Atharvan magic is in connection
46. AV V.14; VI.37; VII.59 etc. Cf. Sayana on AV II.2.2:
niväryate parakrta-abhicarana-krtya anena iti pratyabhi-
caranah. There is a separate group of mantras called
krtyäpratiharana gana (AVP 32.2).
gana (AVP 32.2).
Cf. Kauś. 39.7.