Indian Ritual and Belief: The Keys of Power

Indian Ritual and Belief: The Keys of Power

By- J. Abbott

The author believes that the cosmic power is Sakti to the Hindus and Kudrat to the Muslims. And this all-pervasive force acts both for good and for evil. In a sense main’s whole endeavour in magic and religious rituals is to obtain control of this power for his own benefit and accumulate a fund of it as a source of all forms of blessing.

After giving his key concept, the author explains Key of Power or Keys of Punya, those axioms and rules of conduct that man frames in his effort to control power for his own purposes, to preserve it, to transfer it, to coerce it or invoke it. He has also sketched the factors that destroy power. Accordingly, he devotes separate chapters on the power of man, woman, evil-eye, ground, fire, metals, salt, stones, time, colours, numbers, sweet things, trees, grain, grain, bread and animals. There are also chapters on the ritual of agriculture, spirits, and curses and oaths.

John Abbott, B.A. (Oxon), was born in 1884. He joined the Indian Civil Service in 1908 and served in various positions in the Bombay Presidency, retiring in December 1932.

ISBN  81-7304-339-6    2000   576p.   Rs.750/ pounds 75

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