Hello!
Do they still practice black magic in Mayong? I've heard there is a museum in Mayong that shows relics of black magic. Do some of the people still hang on to old traditions of using magic?
About 40 kms from Guwahati, you'll find Mayong, which is considered as the "Land of Black Magic" in India. It's not clear though from where the name Mayong was derived. Some say it's from the Sanskrit word
Maya which means illusion. Others say it's from a Dimasa word
Miyong, meaning elephant. Some say that Manipuris from the Maiibong Clan used to live in the region and in time,
Maiibong became Mayong.
Some still do practice magic or black magic in the region. For instance, fortune telling via seashells and palm fortune telling are still done here. There are also healers here. One quite popular type of healing is the use of a copper dish along with some chants to cure someone off their back pain. This dish is supposed to "eat away the pain."
Oh and how about their way of finding thieves? The witch doctor would put a flower in a bowl and it will start moving by itself pointing to the direction where the stolen item is.
How about stories of men disappearing into thin air or people becoming animals? The truth is, there's a lot of mystery in Mayong. But if you'd like something more real, then consider this story. Human sacrifices were quite common with the worship of Shakti until the early modern era. Swords and sharp weapons were excavated in Mayong. These weapons resemble the tools used for human sacrifices. Thus suggesting that the Ahom Era in Mayong might have practiced such human sacrifices.
There's a museum in Mayong called the
Central Museum and Emporium. Here, you'll find relics pertaining to and used by witch doctors and magic practitioners. How were they obtained? The locals from the village of Mayong have kept these relics and was passed on from generation to generation. Ancient manuscripts of Black Magic and Ayurveda can also be found here.
I have read one anthropologist's study about the
bej in Mayong though. Basically, a
bej is a healer that uses mantras to help his clients. Unfortunately, some practitioners use the negative type of mantras called
abhichara. Hence, the stories of people experiencing mischievous tricks and experiences in Mayong. The other type of mantra, called
bheshajani, is used for healing, safety and primarily positive things. Supposed to be, mantras are powerful and should only be used to help others.
I wonder, would it attract more tourists if Mayong is considered as a healing centre? Somehow, the darkness, magic and mystery always captures the attention of many people.