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Ramala Sarma

Nowgong College, Philosophy, Faculty Member

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Dr. Ramala Sarma is an Assistant Professor at Nowgong College (Autonomous). Prolific writer Dr. Sarma has authored several books of which "Buddhism in Tai Life of Assam", "Theories of Universals", "Understanding Mind, Consciousness and Person", and "Yogasana: A Stepping-stone to Cittavrttinirodha" have earned wide popularity. Yoga and Buddhism are her research interest. Then, she has a secret love for Transhumanism. Recently, her innovative design work on the material culture of the Assamese Buddhists has been registered at the Patent Office, Kolkata, Govt. of India.

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Papers by Ramala Sarma

Non-judgemental Awareness in Contemplating Historic Buddhist Aniccā: Its Relevance to Mental Happiness

Utkal Historical Research Journal, 2021

In Buddhism, true happiness is when the mind is free from attachments and aversions. A mind that ... more In Buddhism, true happiness is when the mind is free from attachments and aversions. A mind that does not dwell on those mental defilements is a non-judgemental mind. Attachments and aversions arise because we make judgements like liking or disliking etc. These mental defilements go so long as there is ignorance of the impermanent nature of things. The Buddha has given the Eightfold Path to attain the truth, mindfulness being one important step. Cultivating non-judgemental awareness helps one look at the things without any attachment of self or "I" and hence know the non-substantial nature of self and worldly phenomena. This paper is a humble attempt to analyse how contemplating historic Buddhist aniccā (impermanence) through non-judgemental awareness helps one attain happiness. With this intent, discussions have been made on suffering, suffering and impermanence, finally, non-judgemental awareness through which one can look at things as they are and thus attain happiness.

MANUSCRIPTS ARCHIVAL AND OFFERING IN THE TAI BUDDHIST TRADITION OF ASSAM: AN ANALYSIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF DĀNA AND SĪLA PARAMĪS

Dharmadoot, 2022

A study of the vihāras in the villages of Assam where the Tai Buddhists inhabit reveals that ther... more A study of the vihāras in the villages of Assam where the Tai Buddhists inhabit reveals that there is a good archive of the Buddhist scriptural manuscripts written in the Tai language. This practice of archival is strengthened by the Tai Buddhist ritual of writing the scriptural texts and offering them to the Buddha (puthidāna) at vihāras on auspicious occasions. The ritual of offering scriptural manuscripts and their archival in the vihāra is one of the merit-making acts that can be justified by the Buddhist pāramīs of dāna and sīla that say how our existence can be purified by the generous giving and practicing virtues. The paper discusses the unique practice of archiving scriptural manuscripts in the vihāras of the Tai Buddhist villages of Assam in the context of their ritual of puthidāna and looks into its relevance to the Buddhist pāramīs. Finally, the paper tries to find out if the practice of offering and archiving scriptural manuscripts goes with the real spirit of the dāna and sīla that they mean to be in the proper sense of the terms.

Universals - Essence or Mental Construction: Buddhist View

Philosophy Pathways, 2012

In the history of philosophy, the problem of universals has occupied an important position. From ... more In the history of philosophy, the problem of universals has occupied an important position. From the time immemorial, philosophers have taken a keen interest in this problem only because of its knotty character. In our daily life, we perceive particular things as belonging to a certain class. They have something common in them by virtue of which they are grouped together in the same class and called by the same name. This something which is common to all the members of a class is called universal or generality. Now the questions bound: What is common to a group of things or particulars? What type of thing is the universal? Does the universal stand for something that is objectively real? These are some of the basic questions that the philosophers dealt from time to time. In this article the Buddhist concept of universal is discussed.
Keywords: Universals, essence, mental-construction, Buddhism

Morā Parittā, Peacock Fable, and Moral Teaching in Therāvāda Buddhism: A Study

Prācyā, 2022

The Buddha was predominantly an ethical teacher. His chief concern was to show humans a path to p... more The Buddha was predominantly an ethical teacher. His chief concern was to show humans a path to peaceful life through the cultivation of the right knowledge, conduct, and concentration. That he did through various methods. Teaching through fables is one of them. These fables underpin some of the Parittā chanting (protective chanting) that the Buddhist followers, particularly the Therāvādī, recite during their observance days. This paper throws light on the Buddhist chanting of Morā Parittā (peacock's protective chanting) and traces back to the Morā Jātaka tale that underpins this practice. Then, the work tries to find out the relevance of the peacock story to the Buddhist concept of tanhā (desire) and its resultant suffering and tries to establish how the fable behind this chanting is a moral lesson on the efficacy of walking a righteous path and keeping suffering at bay.

Yoga and Transhumanism-In Quest of Immortality

Darshan-Drishti, 2014

Despite the difference in time and space of their rise and the tools used, yoga and transhumanism... more Despite the difference in time and space of their rise and the tools used, yoga and transhumanism seem to come closer when it comes to enhancing human condition. Both try to help humans in attaining their best selves that may be termed as immortality or moksha. In their pursuit, they regard the limitation of the biological body and its offshoots as the hindrance. This paper is a humble attempt to explore some parallels between yoga and transhumanism while keeping in mind their obvious differences.

Ecological Concern in the Therāvāda Buddhist Robe

Bodhi Path, 2022

This paper analyses the whole set of the Therāvāda Buddhist robe with the objective to ascertai... more This paper analyses the whole set of the Therāvāda Buddhist robe with the objective to ascertain how it adheres to the Buddhist principle of wholesome roots or kuśala mūla and thus has ecological value and also to bring in light the cosmic principle of harmonious coexistence of the elements of the universe and the mutual relationship between the whole and the parts through a creative lens towards the aesthetic aspect of the robe the design of which is made under the model of rice fields. The work explains kuśala mūla in contrast to akuśala mūla to understand the efficacy of the wholesome roots in sustainable existence. In the discussion, the paper gives an account of the total set of the robe used by the Therāvādi monks and the nuns along with its development from robe-scavenge to robe offering ceremony referring to the suttas regarding the use and backdrop to the offering of the robes with a brief portrayal of robe offering ceremony. Finally, it concludes that so far as the design, organisation, and use are concerned, the robe is a symbol of the Buddhist care for nature.

Niskama Karma and Letting Go: Human Action Management Keys for a Peaceful Life

Third Concept, 2022

This paper looks into how peaceful life could be achieved through the practice of Niskama Karma o... more This paper looks into how peaceful life could be achieved through the practice of Niskama Karma of the Gita and letting go of Buddhism. So far as their significance and practice are concerned, both these practices have a pretty close similarity, for they suggest some keys to guide our actions so we can give up desire that binds. However, both hold up a desire which does not mean total annihilation, but something which the self is well aware of and thus helps build a life immune to evils which in turn makes life a peaceful one. These two practices, though they differ in the metaphysical front, have the same ethical value and workability so far as the regulation of human activities and thus the establishment of a healthy social life are concerned.

Post-pandemic Dukkha and the Middle Way: Buddhist Principle of Avoiding the Extremes for Overcoming Dukkha

Prajna, 2022

Reality is Experiential: A Buddhist Analysis

Bodhi Path, 2022

The present work is a humble attempt to explore the experiential nature of reality in Buddhism th... more The present work is a humble attempt to explore the experiential nature of reality in Buddhism through a brief analysis of the views of reality expounded by different Buddhist schools, particularly the early Buddhism, Yogacara, and the Madhyamaka. Reality in early Buddhism is the passing phenomena with no underlying essence yet connected by a causal principle. Understanding it and getting rid of the tendency of mistaking ephemeral things for eternal is Nirvana. For the Yogācāra, reality is cittamātra that denies the existence of any worldly phenomena outside consciousness. The Mādhyamaka śūnyavāda espouses the intrinsic emptiness of all phenomena-mental and physical. Finally, the paper tries to establish that in the Buddhist enterprise of reality, there is hardly any space between reality and experiencing reality. Hence the attempt to describe reality through language seems futile. Under the veil of differences in adopting methods and thus using different words/languages to delineate reality, there seems an unuttered consensus among the Buddhist thinkers regarding the notion that reality is experiential.

Oneness of Self Culminates in Collective Oneness: Relevance of Vedic Wisdom to Society

Abhishek Prakashan, New Delhi, 2018

According to the Veda, the ultimate reality is the Brahman. It is all-inclusive, though it is var... more According to the Veda, the ultimate reality is the Brahman. It is all-inclusive, though it is variously described by the Vedānta thinkers. Attaining Brahman-jñāna is the ultimate goal or the highest knowledge for us. And by the realisation of the highest knowledge, it means knowing our identity with the Brahman and also knowing the falsity of the many-ness of the things. However, to attain that knowledge we need not go beyond; we have to realize it within. It is to comprehend the oneness of the self or the wholeness within where the differences, whatever, fuse. When the individuals attain this truth within, they would realize that the multi-colouration of the world is true only in appearance. This metaphysical truth has many bearings on our socio-ethical life when it comes to the harmonious coexistence of the humans in society. For to lead a tuneful worthy life we need to drop the feeling of otherness. This paper throws light on how the attainment of the oneness of self has a positive impact on the collective oneness and again how this collective oneness helps form a healthy society.

Transhumanist Transcendence of Gender for Liberating Women: A Yogic Perspective

Abstract Women’s vulnerability that their biological bodies often leave them with and the rising... more Abstract
Women’s vulnerability that their biological bodies often leave them with and the rising crimes against women have always led the conscious people to find a way out. Many movements and groups have come up with different measures. The 20th century international movement transhumanism has an item on its agenda that seem an unprecedented step to solve the women issues. It is the transcendence of sex. Transhumanism is an international intellectual movement that aims at transforming the human condition by developing and using widely available sophisticated technologies to greatly enhance human intellect and biology. According to this new movement, humans would be able to opt any sex they like according to their needs, choices, and the situations they fall in. This, the transhumanist think, would allay many of the problems of women and eventually solve the gender issues. For, this would place the humanity in a position where they realize themselves as simply existent with no construct attached to them. This notion comes pretty closer to the yoga concept of liberation where no difference is felt save the consciousness. This paper tires to look into the transhumanist transcendence of sex in liberating the women from a yogic point of view.
Keywords: Gender issues, transhumanism, transcendence of sex, yoga

Yoga in School Curriculum— A Measure to Make Teens Happy with What They are

This paper throws light on the relevance of the proposal of incorporating yoga into the school cu... more This paper throws light on the relevance of the proposal of incorporating yoga into the school curriculum. This work, however, does not aim at analyzing the pros and cons of the announcement made by the concerned government machinery. Its focus rather is on ascertaining how this age-old practice, if taught in school effectively, may come as handy to the teens for realizing the happiness within. For most of the teens are often found to be gloomy because of their tendency to be happy with what they are with. Now, what keeps them away from knowing the happiness which they already own is a big question. Thus this work is an attempt to find if yoga could be an aid for the teens to explore the happiness within. To arrive at this finding, the paper would briefly discuss the common teen issues and analyze them from the perspective of yoga psychology. Tags: Yoga in school curriculum, teen issues, yogic practice, happiness Proposing yoga for the teens 'Health, happiness, and well-being' is a slogan for every yoga enthusiast when it comes to incorporating yoga in any institutional curriculum. It is hoped that yoga if taught in school

Yoga in School Curriculum— A Measure to Make Teens Happy with What They are

Witch Hunting in Assam Lacks Canonical Affiliation: An Analysis

Uprooting Witchcraft

One of the sad stories of Assam is the recurring episodes of witch hunting. It would probably be ... more One of the sad stories of Assam is the recurring episodes of witch hunting. It would probably be discomfiture for any modern Assamese to think that its root lies in traditional beliefs. Is our tradition that bad(?)— an uncomfortable feeling that perhaps anyone would have when they reflect on the issue. Our beliefs and practices are mostly derived from our faiths. Then so long as we are true to our faiths, our beliefs cannot veil our mind from the truth. But when beliefs turn into prejudice, the mind gets shrouded, what happens then would probably be inexplicable to any faculty of rationality. This paper makes an analysis of the cause of witch hunting in Assam with reference to the verses of the scriptures. It tries to find if there is any concept that comes close to that of daini (witch of Assam) and if they support the odious practice of witch hunting. In its course, it gives a brief account of the incidents of witch hunting and the witchcraft practiced in Assam. Finally, it arrives at the conclusion that our tradition— which always promotes non-violence— does not seem to prop up such a heinous practice.
Key words: Witchcraft, scriptural evidence, dakini, daini, witch hunting in Assam, Biro Bala Rabha, Thakurvilla village.

Witch Hunting in Assam Lacks Canonical Affiliation: An Analysis

One of the sad stories of Assam is the recurring episodes of witch hunting. It would probably be ... more One of the sad stories of Assam is the recurring episodes of witch hunting. It would probably be discomfiture for any modern Assamese to think that its root lies in traditional beliefs. Is our tradition that bad(?)— an uncomfortable feeling that perhaps anyone would have when they reflect on the issue. Our beliefs and practices are mostly derived from our faiths. Then so long as we are true to our faiths, our beliefs cannot veil our mind from the truth. But when beliefs turn into prejudice, the mind gets shrouded, what happens then would probably be inexplicable to any faculty of rationality. This paper makes an analysis of the cause of witch hunting in Assam with reference to the verses of the scriptures. It tries to find if there is any concept that comes close to that of daini (witch of Assam) and if they support the odious practice of witch hunting. In its course, it gives a brief account of the incidents of witch hunting and the witchcraft practiced in Assam. Finally, it arrives at the conclusion that our tradition— which always promotes non-violence— does not seem to prop up such a heinous practice.

Non-judgemental Awareness in Contemplating Historic Buddhist Aniccā: Its Relevance to Mental Happiness

Utkal Historical Research Journal, 2021

In Buddhism, true happiness is when the mind is free from attachments and aversions. A mind that ... more In Buddhism, true happiness is when the mind is free from attachments and aversions. A mind that does not dwell on those mental defilements is a non-judgemental mind. Attachments and aversions arise because we make judgements like liking or disliking etc. These mental defilements go so long as there is ignorance of the impermanent nature of things. The Buddha has given the Eightfold Path to attain the truth, mindfulness being one important step. Cultivating non-judgemental awareness helps one look at the things without any attachment of self or "I" and hence know the non-substantial nature of self and worldly phenomena. This paper is a humble attempt to analyse how contemplating historic Buddhist aniccā (impermanence) through non-judgemental awareness helps one attain happiness. With this intent, discussions have been made on suffering, suffering and impermanence, finally, non-judgemental awareness through which one can look at things as they are and thus attain happiness.

MANUSCRIPTS ARCHIVAL AND OFFERING IN THE TAI BUDDHIST TRADITION OF ASSAM: AN ANALYSIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF DĀNA AND SĪLA PARAMĪS

Dharmadoot, 2022

A study of the vihāras in the villages of Assam where the Tai Buddhists inhabit reveals that ther... more A study of the vihāras in the villages of Assam where the Tai Buddhists inhabit reveals that there is a good archive of the Buddhist scriptural manuscripts written in the Tai language. This practice of archival is strengthened by the Tai Buddhist ritual of writing the scriptural texts and offering them to the Buddha (puthidāna) at vihāras on auspicious occasions. The ritual of offering scriptural manuscripts and their archival in the vihāra is one of the merit-making acts that can be justified by the Buddhist pāramīs of dāna and sīla that say how our existence can be purified by the generous giving and practicing virtues. The paper discusses the unique practice of archiving scriptural manuscripts in the vihāras of the Tai Buddhist villages of Assam in the context of their ritual of puthidāna and looks into its relevance to the Buddhist pāramīs. Finally, the paper tries to find out if the practice of offering and archiving scriptural manuscripts goes with the real spirit of the dāna and sīla that they mean to be in the proper sense of the terms.

Universals - Essence or Mental Construction: Buddhist View

Philosophy Pathways, 2012

In the history of philosophy, the problem of universals has occupied an important position. From ... more In the history of philosophy, the problem of universals has occupied an important position. From the time immemorial, philosophers have taken a keen interest in this problem only because of its knotty character. In our daily life, we perceive particular things as belonging to a certain class. They have something common in them by virtue of which they are grouped together in the same class and called by the same name. This something which is common to all the members of a class is called universal or generality. Now the questions bound: What is common to a group of things or particulars? What type of thing is the universal? Does the universal stand for something that is objectively real? These are some of the basic questions that the philosophers dealt from time to time. In this article the Buddhist concept of universal is discussed.
Keywords: Universals, essence, mental-construction, Buddhism

Morā Parittā, Peacock Fable, and Moral Teaching in Therāvāda Buddhism: A Study

Prācyā, 2022

The Buddha was predominantly an ethical teacher. His chief concern was to show humans a path to p... more The Buddha was predominantly an ethical teacher. His chief concern was to show humans a path to peaceful life through the cultivation of the right knowledge, conduct, and concentration. That he did through various methods. Teaching through fables is one of them. These fables underpin some of the Parittā chanting (protective chanting) that the Buddhist followers, particularly the Therāvādī, recite during their observance days. This paper throws light on the Buddhist chanting of Morā Parittā (peacock's protective chanting) and traces back to the Morā Jātaka tale that underpins this practice. Then, the work tries to find out the relevance of the peacock story to the Buddhist concept of tanhā (desire) and its resultant suffering and tries to establish how the fable behind this chanting is a moral lesson on the efficacy of walking a righteous path and keeping suffering at bay.

Yoga and Transhumanism-In Quest of Immortality

Darshan-Drishti, 2014

Despite the difference in time and space of their rise and the tools used, yoga and transhumanism... more Despite the difference in time and space of their rise and the tools used, yoga and transhumanism seem to come closer when it comes to enhancing human condition. Both try to help humans in attaining their best selves that may be termed as immortality or moksha. In their pursuit, they regard the limitation of the biological body and its offshoots as the hindrance. This paper is a humble attempt to explore some parallels between yoga and transhumanism while keeping in mind their obvious differences.

Ecological Concern in the Therāvāda Buddhist Robe

Bodhi Path, 2022

This paper analyses the whole set of the Therāvāda Buddhist robe with the objective to ascertai... more This paper analyses the whole set of the Therāvāda Buddhist robe with the objective to ascertain how it adheres to the Buddhist principle of wholesome roots or kuśala mūla and thus has ecological value and also to bring in light the cosmic principle of harmonious coexistence of the elements of the universe and the mutual relationship between the whole and the parts through a creative lens towards the aesthetic aspect of the robe the design of which is made under the model of rice fields. The work explains kuśala mūla in contrast to akuśala mūla to understand the efficacy of the wholesome roots in sustainable existence. In the discussion, the paper gives an account of the total set of the robe used by the Therāvādi monks and the nuns along with its development from robe-scavenge to robe offering ceremony referring to the suttas regarding the use and backdrop to the offering of the robes with a brief portrayal of robe offering ceremony. Finally, it concludes that so far as the design, organisation, and use are concerned, the robe is a symbol of the Buddhist care for nature.

Niskama Karma and Letting Go: Human Action Management Keys for a Peaceful Life

Third Concept, 2022

This paper looks into how peaceful life could be achieved through the practice of Niskama Karma o... more This paper looks into how peaceful life could be achieved through the practice of Niskama Karma of the Gita and letting go of Buddhism. So far as their significance and practice are concerned, both these practices have a pretty close similarity, for they suggest some keys to guide our actions so we can give up desire that binds. However, both hold up a desire which does not mean total annihilation, but something which the self is well aware of and thus helps build a life immune to evils which in turn makes life a peaceful one. These two practices, though they differ in the metaphysical front, have the same ethical value and workability so far as the regulation of human activities and thus the establishment of a healthy social life are concerned.

Post-pandemic Dukkha and the Middle Way: Buddhist Principle of Avoiding the Extremes for Overcoming Dukkha

Prajna, 2022

Reality is Experiential: A Buddhist Analysis

Bodhi Path, 2022

The present work is a humble attempt to explore the experiential nature of reality in Buddhism th... more The present work is a humble attempt to explore the experiential nature of reality in Buddhism through a brief analysis of the views of reality expounded by different Buddhist schools, particularly the early Buddhism, Yogacara, and the Madhyamaka. Reality in early Buddhism is the passing phenomena with no underlying essence yet connected by a causal principle. Understanding it and getting rid of the tendency of mistaking ephemeral things for eternal is Nirvana. For the Yogācāra, reality is cittamātra that denies the existence of any worldly phenomena outside consciousness. The Mādhyamaka śūnyavāda espouses the intrinsic emptiness of all phenomena-mental and physical. Finally, the paper tries to establish that in the Buddhist enterprise of reality, there is hardly any space between reality and experiencing reality. Hence the attempt to describe reality through language seems futile. Under the veil of differences in adopting methods and thus using different words/languages to delineate reality, there seems an unuttered consensus among the Buddhist thinkers regarding the notion that reality is experiential.

Oneness of Self Culminates in Collective Oneness: Relevance of Vedic Wisdom to Society

Abhishek Prakashan, New Delhi, 2018

According to the Veda, the ultimate reality is the Brahman. It is all-inclusive, though it is var... more According to the Veda, the ultimate reality is the Brahman. It is all-inclusive, though it is variously described by the Vedānta thinkers. Attaining Brahman-jñāna is the ultimate goal or the highest knowledge for us. And by the realisation of the highest knowledge, it means knowing our identity with the Brahman and also knowing the falsity of the many-ness of the things. However, to attain that knowledge we need not go beyond; we have to realize it within. It is to comprehend the oneness of the self or the wholeness within where the differences, whatever, fuse. When the individuals attain this truth within, they would realize that the multi-colouration of the world is true only in appearance. This metaphysical truth has many bearings on our socio-ethical life when it comes to the harmonious coexistence of the humans in society. For to lead a tuneful worthy life we need to drop the feeling of otherness. This paper throws light on how the attainment of the oneness of self has a positive impact on the collective oneness and again how this collective oneness helps form a healthy society.

Transhumanist Transcendence of Gender for Liberating Women: A Yogic Perspective

Abstract Women’s vulnerability that their biological bodies often leave them with and the rising... more Abstract
Women’s vulnerability that their biological bodies often leave them with and the rising crimes against women have always led the conscious people to find a way out. Many movements and groups have come up with different measures. The 20th century international movement transhumanism has an item on its agenda that seem an unprecedented step to solve the women issues. It is the transcendence of sex. Transhumanism is an international intellectual movement that aims at transforming the human condition by developing and using widely available sophisticated technologies to greatly enhance human intellect and biology. According to this new movement, humans would be able to opt any sex they like according to their needs, choices, and the situations they fall in. This, the transhumanist think, would allay many of the problems of women and eventually solve the gender issues. For, this would place the humanity in a position where they realize themselves as simply existent with no construct attached to them. This notion comes pretty closer to the yoga concept of liberation where no difference is felt save the consciousness. This paper tires to look into the transhumanist transcendence of sex in liberating the women from a yogic point of view.
Keywords: Gender issues, transhumanism, transcendence of sex, yoga

Yoga in School Curriculum— A Measure to Make Teens Happy with What They are

This paper throws light on the relevance of the proposal of incorporating yoga into the school cu... more This paper throws light on the relevance of the proposal of incorporating yoga into the school curriculum. This work, however, does not aim at analyzing the pros and cons of the announcement made by the concerned government machinery. Its focus rather is on ascertaining how this age-old practice, if taught in school effectively, may come as handy to the teens for realizing the happiness within. For most of the teens are often found to be gloomy because of their tendency to be happy with what they are with. Now, what keeps them away from knowing the happiness which they already own is a big question. Thus this work is an attempt to find if yoga could be an aid for the teens to explore the happiness within. To arrive at this finding, the paper would briefly discuss the common teen issues and analyze them from the perspective of yoga psychology. Tags: Yoga in school curriculum, teen issues, yogic practice, happiness Proposing yoga for the teens 'Health, happiness, and well-being' is a slogan for every yoga enthusiast when it comes to incorporating yoga in any institutional curriculum. It is hoped that yoga if taught in school

Yoga in School Curriculum— A Measure to Make Teens Happy with What They are

Witch Hunting in Assam Lacks Canonical Affiliation: An Analysis

Uprooting Witchcraft

One of the sad stories of Assam is the recurring episodes of witch hunting. It would probably be ... more One of the sad stories of Assam is the recurring episodes of witch hunting. It would probably be discomfiture for any modern Assamese to think that its root lies in traditional beliefs. Is our tradition that bad(?)— an uncomfortable feeling that perhaps anyone would have when they reflect on the issue. Our beliefs and practices are mostly derived from our faiths. Then so long as we are true to our faiths, our beliefs cannot veil our mind from the truth. But when beliefs turn into prejudice, the mind gets shrouded, what happens then would probably be inexplicable to any faculty of rationality. This paper makes an analysis of the cause of witch hunting in Assam with reference to the verses of the scriptures. It tries to find if there is any concept that comes close to that of daini (witch of Assam) and if they support the odious practice of witch hunting. In its course, it gives a brief account of the incidents of witch hunting and the witchcraft practiced in Assam. Finally, it arrives at the conclusion that our tradition— which always promotes non-violence— does not seem to prop up such a heinous practice.
Key words: Witchcraft, scriptural evidence, dakini, daini, witch hunting in Assam, Biro Bala Rabha, Thakurvilla village.

Witch Hunting in Assam Lacks Canonical Affiliation: An Analysis

One of the sad stories of Assam is the recurring episodes of witch hunting. It would probably be ... more One of the sad stories of Assam is the recurring episodes of witch hunting. It would probably be discomfiture for any modern Assamese to think that its root lies in traditional beliefs. Is our tradition that bad(?)— an uncomfortable feeling that perhaps anyone would have when they reflect on the issue. Our beliefs and practices are mostly derived from our faiths. Then so long as we are true to our faiths, our beliefs cannot veil our mind from the truth. But when beliefs turn into prejudice, the mind gets shrouded, what happens then would probably be inexplicable to any faculty of rationality. This paper makes an analysis of the cause of witch hunting in Assam with reference to the verses of the scriptures. It tries to find if there is any concept that comes close to that of daini (witch of Assam) and if they support the odious practice of witch hunting. In its course, it gives a brief account of the incidents of witch hunting and the witchcraft practiced in Assam. Finally, it arrives at the conclusion that our tradition— which always promotes non-violence— does not seem to prop up such a heinous practice.