Boo: What are ghosts ("bhoots," poltergeists)?

Bhoot; Bhootiya Story; Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wikipedia edit

Hungry ghost seen by Buddhist monk on alms

A bhoot or bhuta (Sanskrit भूत, bhūta) is a supernatural creature, a poltergeist or "noisy spirit," usually the ghost of a deceased person in the popular culture, literature, and ancient sacred texts of the Indian subcontinent [Note 1].

Buddhism recognizes the existence of "hungry ghosts" (Sanskrit pretas, Pali petas) living in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts (peta loka) alongside the human world, reborn there as a karmic result of strong attachment and lack of merit.

They can be distinguished from ordinary "ghosts" or gandharvas (Pali gandhabbas) transitioning in an intermediate state yet to be reborn after a human life, as in the concept of the bardo.

Interpretations of how bhoots come into existence vary by region and community. But they are usually considered to be perturbed and restless -- ungrateful dead and shapeshifting goblins of European folklore -- due to some factor that prevents them from moving on (to the next rebirth destination).

This factor could be a violent death, unsettled matters in their lives, or simply the failure of their survivors to perform proper funeral rituals.

Cultural tradition

The belief in unseen spirits and ghosts is deeply ingrained in the minds of the people of India across generations. The various concepts of ghosts trace their roots to the vast bodies of Hindu (Vedic) mythology, its religious texts, literature, and folktales.

There are many allegedly haunted places in India, such as cremation grounds... Ghosts also occupy a significant place in Bengali culture. Various supernatural entities form an integral part of the socio-cultural beliefs of both Hindu and Muslim communities of rural Bengal.

Fairy tales often use the concept of ghost, and references to paranormal activities are found amply in modern-day Bengali literature, cinema, radio, and TV.

Etymology and idiom

Bhūta is a Sanskrit term that carries the connotations of "past" and "being" [2] and, because it has connection with "one of the most wide-spread roots in Indo-European — namely, *bheu/*bhu-," has similar-sounding cognates in virtually every branch of that language family, for example, Irish (bha), English (be [and perhaps boo]), Latvian (but), and Persian (budan) [3, 4].

Characteristics of bhoots

To be killed unfairly or with a grudge

Bhoots are shapeshifters: They are able to alter and assume forms of various humans or animals at will. But they are usually seen in human form [8]. However, their feet often reveal them to be ghosts, floating above the ground or turned backwards [9].

As the earth is regarded as sacred or semi-sacred in many traditions of the Indian subcontinent, bhoots go to lengths to avoid contact with it, often floating above it, either imperceptibly or up to a foot above [9]. Bhoots cast no shadows and speak with a nasal twang [10]. They often lurk on specific trees...

Thwarting bhoots

Ancient Japanese drawings of hungry ghosts

In many regions, bhoots are supposed to fear water and steel or iron objects, so keeping those nearby is believed to scare them off [13]. Iron cross on a church? The scent of burnt turmeric is also said to ward them off [10].

As is typical of ghosts throughout the world, invoking the name of holy figures and deities is also said to repel bhoots. In some regions, sprinkling earth on oneself is said to shield against bhoots [14].

According to Dharmic mythology, a soul (atman, spirit, self, consciousness) cannot be destroyed by any means. As a bhoot is just a deceased, lost, or angry soul/spirit, Hindu exorcists do not (or cannot) destroy them.

Instead, they perform a ritual according to the Atharva Veda ("Knowledge Storehouse of Everyday Life") called atma-shanti, which is just a modified Shraadh or Śrāddha (death anniversary) done by those haunted by the bhoot to promise it that everything in their power will be done to either assure the successful rebirth of the bhoot or finish the works left incomplete by the bhoot (or both).

Thus, the bhoot gets what it wants and stops troubling those haunted by it forever [15].

Bhutas

These poltergeists or restless ghosts of the departed are thought to be the spirits of defied heroes. They are fierce and evil spirits of Hindu deities and of animals, and so on. They are wrongly referred to as "ghosts" or "demons" when, in fact, they are often protective and benevolent beings.

Though it is true that they can cause harm in their violent forms, as they are extremely powerful, they can be pacified through worship or offerings referred to as Bhuta Aradhana [16]. [The same seems to be true of related hybrid-human ogres known as yakshas and rakshasas]. More

1. Britannica; Dale Hoiberg; Indu Ramchandani (2000), Students' Britannica India, Volumes 1-5, Popular Prakashan, 2000. Bhut also spelt bhoot, in Hindu mythology, a restless ghost. Bhoots are believed to be malignant if they have died a violent of premature death or have been denied funerary rites...
2. Henk W. Wagenaar; S. S. Parikh; D. F. Plukker; R. Veldhuijzen van Zanten (1993), Allied Chambers transliterated Hindi-Hindi-English dictionary, Allied Publishers, 1993... bhūt भूत (m.) a ghost; an evil spirit... the past tense (also bhūtkāl भूतकाल); (adj.) past, bygone...
3. Leon Stassen (2003), Intransitive Predication: Oxford Studies in Typology and Linguistic Theory, Oxford University Press, 2004... one of the most wide-spread roots in Indo-European...
4. William H. Snyder (2001), Time, Being, and Soul in the Oldest Sanskrit Sources, Global Academic Publishing, 2001... derived in Sanskrit from the two verb roots (Indo-European *es- and *bheu-)... bhūtam n. "being, creature"...
5. Seminar, Issues 525-529, R. Thapar, 2003, 2003... Filmi bhoot savaar tha na [I was obsessed with films]...
6. Nonica Datta (1999), Forming an identity: a social history of the Jats, Oxford University Press, 1999... Is bholepan ke bhoot ko syr se utar de... Get rid of your naivete...
7. Lt Gen Yashwant Mande (2001), Terror in Kashmir & Other Stories, Prabhat Prakashan, 2009... The house had developed a shabby look. No visitors came. It had become a bhoot bangla...
8. R.E. Enthoven; Arthur Mason Tippetts Jackson (1989), Folklore Notes - 2 Vols, Asian Educational Services, 1989... it is believed that ghosts or evil spirits have the form of a human being, but their feet are turned backwards... They can change their forms at any time...
9. Österreichische Leo-Gesellschaft, Görres-Gesellschaft, Anthropos Institute (1962), Anthropos, Volume 57, Zaunrith'sche Buch-, Kunst- und Steindruckerei, 1962, ... its feet are twisted and turned backwards. The bhut always floats one foot above the ground ...
10. William Crooke (1896), The popular religion and folk-lore of northern India, Volume 1, A. Constable & Co., 1896, p. 237... they are very fond of milk... Bhuts can never sit on the ground... three infallible tests by which you may recognize a Bhut. In the first place he casts no shadow... can stand anything in his neighbourhood but the scent of burning turmeric... always speaks with a nasal twang...
11. Office of the Registrar General (1967), Census of India, 1961, Volume 8, Part 6, Issue 9, Manager of Publications, Government of India, 1962... Bhoot: This malevolent male spirit appears in spotless white clothes. Its abode is trees and field-embankments. It appears and disappears in moments...
12. Amaresh Misra (1998), Lucknow, fire of grace: the story of its revolution, renaissance and the aftermath, Harper Collins Publishers India, 1998... bhoot bangla - haunted mansion…
13. Gurnam Singh Sidhu Brard (2007), East of Indus: my memories of old Punjab, Hemkunt Press, 2007, p. 269... desirable to keep water handy, since the bhoot avoided water. Another object useful for warding off the bhoot was anything made of iron. It need not be a sword or knife; even a steel bracelet was supposed to be protective...
14. Ellen Winner (2003-11-01), World Shaman: Encountering Ancient Himalayan Spirits in Our Time, iUniverse, 2003... I saw a huge shadow was moving there and here. Slowly that shadow changed in human's shape and walking towards me. I thought some kind bhut was trying to attack me. I hurriedly speak the mantra, picked up a little dust from the ground...
15. Devdutt Pattanaik (2006), Myth=Mithya, Penguin Books India, 2006, p. 77,78... ghosts are not godless-creatures. They are not exorcised...
16. "Museums of India - National Handicrafts and Handilooms Museum, New Delhi" by Jyontindra Jain and Aarti Aggarwala.