Magic and ritual in India

Indian tradition, where human being is a part of incarnation, where everything has the power of sense perception and where is higher good in total harmony of the universe order, is the most fascinating magic of all.

Vedic text

Vedic phase of Indian history began with influx of Aryans ( tribe of nomads from central Asia, who settled on the plains of the Ganges around 2000 BC.) Their agrarian culture depends on the forces of nature and this was reflected in the canonical body of texts called the Vedas ( veda = Sanskrit for ´what is known´) Vedas praised and appeased nature forces and higher beings depicted as gods.
Vedas are source of magical ideas. There are no differences between substances or beings and their qualities.
The Vedas show the unity. Each organism, element or species has a purpose and is sacred.

Indra, the Aryan god of war

Aryan gods and rituals

Aryans were polytheistic ( believed in many gods, spirits and demons) Main four gods were: Indra, god of weather and war; Varuna, god of moral order and water; Agni, the fire god; Soma, god of plants. Rituals performed by Brahmin class were not organized to control nature but to maintain stability and good relation with powers of the unseen. Special rituals were held on specific occasions like exorcism or curing the disease. Sometimes it included witch-finding and manipulation of spirits and deities. Very important was sacred power in action of sacrifice. Sacrifice was supposed to have good effect on the person on whose behalf it was made.

Spells in Vedas

Varuna, guard of moral order

One of the oldest collection of Hindu scriptures are Atharva-Veda. This compilation contains spells and magical procedures. Later they were divided into part with positive welfare or the pacification of evil influence, and part directed against hostile powers or individuals.

The key to hidden reality is the realm of sound. This can be manipulated by the power of sacred, ceremonially uttered word or mantra. These spells commands deities to carry out the magician´s orders. Some mantras can be used only under guidance of guru and might involve long preparation, regulation of breath and astrological reading.

Use of the plant soma in magico-religious rituals shows us the importance of using drugs and intoxication to activate experiences beyond this world.