Wednesday, August 15

Chudail (Daayan) - The story of Indian Witch & Witchcraft

Image Source: aloneatnightscarystories.blogspot.com
India is a land of myths & legends – centuries of profound history has given this land endless fables rising from every nook & corner. When it comes to ghostly icons, one is obviously drawn to the globally acclaimed vampires, werewolves & Halloween charades. However, it is quite interesting to note that Indian Ghost Stories have its own counterparts to compete with this global folklore, some of which have more horrifying track records. 

The Indian counterpart for the witch is called Chudail or Chudel (चुड़ैल )(pronounced as chew-dale). In many places, it is also referred to as Daayan (डायन) (pronounced as dye-en), although there are many conceptual difference of opinions between these two terms regardless of their common origin. A Chudail is an Indian Witch or Female Ghost and is believed to arise from the death of a woman during child birth. Indian witch stories have many variations across the different states of India. For e.g. the north Indian states often believe that the Chudail can change its physical form and lure young men. Once she lures them into a lonely place, she pounces on them to either kill or have physical contact with them. In both the cases, the victim is supposedly drained off his life. The Chudail is supposed to live near graveyards or deep inside the forests.

To prevent the birth of a Chudail from the death of a woman (during her child birth or menstruation or suicide due to social harassment), the villagers (in olden days) used to spread mustard seeds at their doors. In rare cases, tantriks were called to conduct holy rituals (exorcisms) to bid the dead a peaceful goodbye.

In the western & eastern parts of India, the Chudail is believed to look like a hag (an old woman with disturbing looks) who lures small children away from their families and then kills them. Some even believe that she eats little children so as to keep herself younger through centuries. In the western regions of India, the Chudail is sometimes referred to as Haadal (हडळ) (pronounced as Huddle). However, unlike the beliefs of the north Indian people, the people living in Western regions believe that the Haadal haunts a Chinch (Tamarind) Tree or an old Vad (Banyan) Tree. When people prone to ghostly attacks (based on their birth charts) come in the vicinity of this tree, she haunts them to fulfill her unfinished businesses. A tantric is then called to interrogate with the victim so as to understand the Haadal’s story & negotiate her demands. People from the state of Maharashtra also believe that one who dares to strike a nail through the bark of the tree supposedly haunted by a Chudail (or a Haadal) will not only free his village from the witch’s torment but will also gain good luck for his family for the next seven generations. This act needs to be done at the stroke of midnight on a no moon day (amaavas)

Owing to superstitions pertaining within the Indian systems, there have been acts of tragedies & social injustice taking place through centuries. In olden days, it is believe that when a Queen could not conceive a child for years, she used to be pronounced as a Witch or Chudail. She was then banished from the kingdom or worse, killed. And it isn’t just the history – these scenarios are still prevalent in modern India.

  

In remote villages (and sometimes in well civilized cities), a wife is held responsible for any tragedy taking place with her husband. There have been cases where the family members have banished or burnt the poor wife on account of her possibly being a Daayan. A remarkable case took place in a village close to the borders of Maharashtra & Gujarat. An old woman, living all alone by doing odd chores was blackmarked by the villagers. Apparently, she used to gather the little children around and tell them stories. Some of the villagers found this disturbing (since the children seemed to enjoy her company & visit her everyday) and called up the Panchayat (the village council). Together, they pelted the old woman till she was running past her capacity & finally fell down after her lungs gave up. I believe such tragic deaths can sure result in the formation of vengeful Chudails who might strike back for their rightful justice.  

13 comments:

  1. i dont know about so much of chuddail but i wantto know how to kill it ...i listen from someone that cut the hair of chuddail so that she can die.. because all the power of chudail is in her hair..

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  2. I don't know about other states but there is a prevailing legend here in odisha.
    I am a resident of bhubaneswar, the capital of the state... I did a little bit of research and found out this which is similar one. Here it goes:-
    The backward societies living in slums think that when a pregnant woman dies with baby in her womb or while giving birth transformsinto a witch which they call ''guha khia'' (one who eats animal and human dung). They say she sits in the middle of night in cremation grnd with a lantern beside and oils her unborn baby.. And eats the animal remains in upside down manner with her head down and legs up..... People claim that if anyone notices her doing this dies the next day.... But there are people who say they have escaped from this terrifying death because the witch didn't notice them watching her....

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  3. It would be informative if you explain Hindu exorcism process and the real life a witch lives. Thanks.

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  4. wow that's stupid

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  5. Fear and blindfaith is making our culture look so orthodox.

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  6. Hy i have done high reserch on paranorml,flocklore of worled if any quistion regardind it ask me
    my email hardik_09@live.com

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  7. Sometimes Things That Are Very Difficult To Believe May Be True Because We Decide Right Or Wrong, Truth Or Lie Based On Our Level Of Knowledge And Understanding. We Must Know That All Knowledge Is Not Yet In Our Possession . So There May Be Things Beyond Of Present Knowledge Which We Are Reluctant To Acknowledge. Superstitious Or Otherwise We Have To Respect The UNKNOWN.

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  8. to day i m watching ek thi daayan and its a comedy movie

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  9. i myself have encounterd such paranormal beings.. So dnt think of it as sm superstition.. Its as real as u nd me

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  10. fakeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

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  11. witches can't be like as written in your site, its a complete blindfaith ... female who isn't able to give birth to child is chudail or dayan .
    Witchcraft - World of witches, wicca and spells write this and search . you will find that its a kind of religion in foreign

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  12. no body takes my hair....NO BODY...

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  13. Chudel koyi kahata he ki ye khun piti he koyi kagata he ek bar jisane chudel ko dekha vo jinda nahi bacha ji ha ye sach he lekin aadha pura janna he chudel ki kuch kisme hoti he jo insan ki khun ki pyasi hoti he aur kuch chudel bus tabhi hamla karti he tab aap uske ilake me jaoge is liye kabhi rat ko shamshan ya kisi bhi sunsan jaghame mat jana aur rat ko parfum mat lagana chudel parfum se aakarshit hoti he kya aap aur janoge madat chahoge to call me me sarang app ke sath hu mera no.9970141437

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