Mysterious manifestations in a haunted house.
(Here is the introductory letter from Babu Amita Lala Dasa of 29, Kankurgachee Road, (Harrison Road P.O., Calcutta,) with which he sends the further instalment of the interesting account of the Kankurgachee affair: –
“Sir, – I am very glad that you have kindly published the account of the ghostly pranks in our house in the February issue of your widely circulated and much esteemed Magazine for which I feel greatly obliged to you. I am now sending herewith the remaining portion of the account in obedience to your letter received of late. The incidents have been described in detail so that the different aspects of the manifestation may be seen at a glance and studied without the least effort. I have jotted down the incidents as they happened and have not attempted to go deep into the matter, nor have I allowed myself to make any criticism. The whole question is left to you and the readers of your magazine for consideration, so that we may get a sure remedy and speedy deliverance from the pranks of these mischievous beings.”)
V. – Unveiling of the Mystery. – (Contd).
On the following day, i.e., on Tuesday, the 14th of Ashar, another wonderful incident occurred at noon. My eldest brother’s daughter, a baby one year old, was sleeping on a bedstead in my brother’s room. Suddenly she awoke from sleep and began to cry. At that time my mother and eldest brother’s wife were taking their meals in the kitchen, and none else was in the house just then. They hurriedly finished their meal and went to take charge of the little one, lest she fell from the bedstead and received a hurt. But to their utter surprise, they found the child, not in the room but lying on a mat spread in the verandah. They began to question themselves as to how the child could be brought there and laid on the mat. It was also observed that the baby was smiling and playing with someone whom they could not see. From the circumstances of the case, they were forced to attribute the cause of this singular phenomenon to nothing but the mysterious work of our spirit friend.
In the afternoon, when the boys came back from school and were calling for tiffin, a few pieces of copper fell from above, with which they purchased eatables from the confectionery shop. This incident showed that the spirits were not altogether evil in their nature.
Later on in the evening we noticed another strange thing. My eldest brother, on returning from office, found to his infinite surprise that his room was filled with the fragrance of sandal, while marks of water were visible on the floor, as if someone had just finished his evening worship. As before evening none was allowed to enter the room, the doors having been locked up, we naturally concluded that the spirit had just performed his evening service as on the day previous. Afterwards my brother accidentally found that there were two freshly prepared “danadars” placed under his pillow. We asked each other as to who could have brought these sweets there and on enquiry it transpired that no sweets had been purchased that day. We consequently came to the conclusion that the spirit must have given us these sweets to eat, and we gladly partook of them.
From the foregoing two incidenets we thought that our spirit friend was piously inclined, and on the day following we arranged for and procured all the requisites for divine service, namely flowers, sandalwood, “Tulsi” plant, etc., and kept them in the niche at noon, while the room, in which the divine service had been conducted on the previous two days, was kept closed. In the evening we examined the niche and found nothing there, and when brother came from office, we opened his room and to our great amazement noticed that these things had been brought there from the niche and the divine service performed. To our astonishment we saw that ‘batasha’ (sugar cakes) and flowers had been very judiciously arranged round the “Tulsi” plant; that one of the “batashas” was slightly broken as if it had been offered to God; that a little quantity of the sandal had been used for making paste and that water had been sprinkled round the earthen pot on which the plant was placed. We were beside ourselves with joy at this wonderful manifestation as there was not the least shadow of a doubt that all these had been done by the spirit himself.
Afterwards, as brother was going to open his box, he found four sweetmeats (danadars) on it. We at once suspected that, as on the previous evening, they had been kept there by the spirit. Brother was delighted at seeing the sweets and brought them before us. The evening before, when we were partaking the spirit-gift, it suddenly occurred to brother that our two younger brothers, who were then away from home, were being deprived of a share of the presents. So he made up his mind to send some of the sweets to them, if he again got them and now this was done.
From the 16th of Asarh, 1311 B.S. the spirit began to manifest itself in a very different way. From this day forward all divine services were stopped, and the spirit began to torment us in divers ways. As before, our domestic articles, especially eatables, and even money itself, began to disappear. We were at a loss to make out the cause of this change in attitude. The depradations made by the spirit began to increase daily and we lost many valuable things including gold coins.
VI – Remedial measures.
At last we were compelled to adopt certain measures to get rid of these unwelcome attentions. First of all, the help of an astrologer was sought but he failed to do any good. Then our friends and relatives were requested to find a good exorcist for us. This was done on the 26th of Asarh, 1311 B.S. In the meantime, the following manifestations were observed which seemed to be new and peculiar in certain aspects.
On the 31st of that month, on which day the Hindu festival Rathjatra took place, an amusing incident occurred. As it was a festive day, the young children in a body pressed mother to give them something as ‘Parbani’ (present) for the festival. As mother was being teased by their constant importunities, she, in joke, told them to ask the spirit for it. The children followed her advice. But no sooner was it done than copper pieces began to fall, as if from the sky. The boys in high glee, picked up the coins to purchase sweets.
One day, just at candle-light, when my eldest sister-in-law was entering one of the rooms to light it, she saw a pale and emaciated figure standing erect on the floor, at a few yards’ distance from her. As she advanced, the phantom was seen receding from her, which at last disappeared. At first my sister-in-law took it for my youngest brother, as he was then very weak and thin, but as still she had a doubt in the matter, to satisfy herself, she asked mother as to his whereabouts. On being informed that he had long gone out marketing, she became very much frightened and related to mother what she had seen in the room. The figure was that of the spirit, and this was the first time that he appeared in person before any of our family members.
On Tuesday, the 7th of Bhadra, 1311 B.S. another strange thing happened, which showed the spirit’s love and affection for me. It was a rainy day and I felt a strong desire to eat a cocoanut, on return home from office. Accordingly I expressed my desire to mother, but unfortunately there was no cocoanut in the house, that day. So mother sent my youngest brother to some neighbours to get one, but they too could not comply with our requisition. When my youngest brother was relating the result of the errand, a cocoanut fell in the courtyard from above, as if from the open sky. He instantly ran to the spot and picked it up. When it was being peeled, another cocoanut fell and then another. It seemed that some one, remaining invisible in the air, was throwing the fruits into our courtyard. At last I offered my thanks to the spirit for his trouble and begged him not to throw any more. The spirit heard my prayer and the operation stopped.
Again, another day, on return home from school, the children wanted their tiffin. As usual, chapaties had been prepared for them and kept in the proper place, but when my brother’s wife went to fetch them, she found that the food had been spirited away. A careful search was made but to no purpose. Every one guessed that it was the work of the spirit, and the children were told to address the spirit to furnish them with pice to purchase tiffin with. No sooner had the children made their request than a few pice fell from above, with which they appeased their hunger.
On the following day, chapaties were again prepared for the children but again they disappeared in a mysterious way. This day, however, no pice fell from above in spite of repeated entreaties. At night, Sinjan (my youngest brother) brought from bazar a pice of curd in a small earthen pot. As he was counting the change, keeping the pot on the floor, it instantly disappeared, but soon after the empty pot fell from above minus the contents.
Similar and even serious disturbances took place. At last, on the 12th of Bhadra (Sunday), 1311 B.S., we brought an exorcist of established fame. Having heard everything in detail from us, he made a round of the house and then examined each room by smelling the walls. By this means, he said, he could understand that the spirits were not then present in the house – most probably they had quitted their haunt having got intimation of his arrival. He said that several spirits, about six or seven in number, haunted the house; they did not remain at all times there; they were of migratory habits – sometimes they remained in, and sometimes they went away from the house, but that would be for a very short period. There might be many good-intentioned spirits in their company, but most of them were of a wicked nature. The exorcist then tested if any of them were related to us. He placed a vessel full of water before him and began to blow into it uttering words of incantation which, however, we could not understand. He then told us to look into the water, one by one, and to ascertain whether we could see any shadowy figure resembling any of our dead relatives or friends. But none were visible, and he was then convinced that there were none of our relatives in the gang. Having been requested to us to dwell on and explain the mysteries of the spirit-world and its weird manifestations, he delivered a long speech in the course of which he enlightened us to the best of his ability. He seemed to be a good spiritualist, one well-versed in his special subject, and many of our doubts were removed by hearing him. In accordance with his instructions we made arrangements for the expulsion of these spirits from our house. Before departing he advised us to be more courageous and not to take fright, as most probably the spirits might try to do some mischief that night. But nothing was done.
The exorcist began to collect materials for the purpose of expelling the spirits. In the meantime a series of manifestations were witnessed, of which the following two are more striking and noteworthy. One evening a very wonderful light was observed by my mother, eldest sister-in-law and youngest brother. This phenomenon was observed outside our courtyard. At first my sister-in-law caught the glimpse of a light and the matter was eventually brought to the notice of my mother and brother. The light which was globular in form was seen floating in the air. It did not seem to be the light of a glow-worm, for it was larger and brighter. It was soon lost in the darkness.
Another evening a most strange incident occurred, which filled every member of the household with disgust and dismay. One evening we went in to sit down to dinner. But there was no food for any of us. We then came to the conclusion that this was the work of the spirit. Strange to say the articles of food had been so cleverly stolen by the spirit that not a grain of rice, nor even a trace of the food was visible in any part of the cooking utensils. We then made arrangements for the preparation of another fresh meal, and with this purpose in view went to the store-room for rice, dal, vegetables, etc. But strange to say all vestige of these, locked up as they were in the room, were also found missing! In despair we made up our mind to pass the night with only a light supper of Mohanbhog, made of flour, ghee and sugar. But unfortunately these too had disappeared and nowehere in th ehouse could a trace of them be found. At first we earnestly begged the spirit to give us back our articles of food, but finding our entreaties falling flat on his ears began to remonstrate with him in not very gentle language. The spirit turned a deaf ear to our threat or request and nothing was given back. At length, pinched by hunger, we were compelled to send one to market for some food. What was remarkable in all this was that when these articles were brought from the market, flour was seen falling before us from the ceiling of the verandah followed by the falling of a few handfuls of rice into the courtyard.
That night we had to incur much loss and to undergo great trouble; nay, we were afraid of being constantly disturbed with this sort of harmful pranks. So, we were compelled to adopt energetic measures for the expulsion of the spirit. Next morning this incident was reported to the exorcist. But we were informed that he was too unwell to do anything. Information was therefore sent anew to our friends and relatives requesting them to help us again. In the meantime, it came to our knowledge that the exorcist had had a threatening dream in which he was warned by the spirit to the effect that if he tried to expel him from our house, he would come to grief. This frightened his wife very much and she told us to break off the contract and look for another man.
A few days after, i.e. on the 7th Kar[..], 1311 B.S., exorcists from different quarters began to come from midday till evening; as if a meeting of ghost-doctors was going to be held on that day in our premises, and that there would be a demonical exhibition. The news spread so far and wide that multitudes of people flocked to our house that evening to witness the weird performances of the various exorcists. But they did simply nothing, they discussed on the various modes of manifestations of the spirits and the methods by which they might be expelled. The doctors, in short, failed to expel the ghosts from the house.
What could we do now? We began to set apart as advised by an exorcist, some food consisting of sweets, etc., for the spirits who seemed to be pleased with them, which was evident from the fact that while the food intended for them disappeared, our own portion was not tampered with. Not only would the usual daily food be kept, but whenever any fresh eatables were brought into the house, some portion of it would first be dedicated to them for their propitiation. In this way we continued dwelling with the spirits, as if they were our family members. And there were many occasions on which we got indications of their presence in our midst.
One evening a few friends came to satisfy their curiosity and see the ghost if possible. I told them all that we had suffered, but they refused to believe us. One of them said, “If you could show anything wonderful in our presence, then would we believe.” We cared very little whether anybody believed in ghosts or not, but on this occasion, for the friends’ sake at least, we requested the spirits to shew them some phenomenon. And this was done immediately. At first cloves and cardamoms began to be showered on the head of my brother who was then engaged in prayer. These were then brought to my friends, but they did not believe yet, as this had been done within the house. But when they came to the courtyard, a rupee fell before them as if from the sky. Still they ignored this potent fact and remained firm in their disbelief. Then one of them stretched out his hand and said, “If anything happens to fall on this palm, then there will remain no shadow of doubt in our mind.” As soon as he had uttered these words, a rupee fell from above on his palm, and all were thunderstruck. We learned subsequently that when the coin touched my friend’s fingers, it was hot while, it seemed to him, that an electric shock passed through his whole body.
Here is the testimony of my friend to the fall of a rupee in his hand: – “I do not feel any hesitation in endorsing my opinion and belief regarding the existence of spirits in the house of my friend, Amrita Lala Dasa of Kankurgachee, and this statement of mine will be corroborated from the following fact. One evening I went to his house along with other friends and had a conversation with him anent the haunting of spirits in his house. At first i did not believe in his accounts and told him that if he could show some manifestations in my presence then I might believe them. On this, he began to supplicate the spirit (or whatever it may be called) for the purpose, and no sooner had he done this than a rupee fell from above before us. I then stretched out my hand, ignoring the former manifestation and addressed the invisible being to drop something on my hand. As soon as I uttered these words, another rupee fell on my palm to my great amazement. Seeing this mysterious phenomenon I came to the conclusion that this was nothing but the doing of the spirit and I was fully convinced of its existence in my friend’s house. (Sd.) Nripendra Nath Majumdar, Senior House Surgeon, Bengal Veterinary College, 18-3-09.”
Two years rolled by in this way. During the first year there were slight disturbances only which we did not care at all, as we got accustomed to them. During the second, there was a complete cessation of all sorts of ghostly pranks. Consequently we began to entertain the idea that henceforward we would be able to live in peace. But we were not fortunate enough to enjoy the blessings of peaceful days for long. Disturbances again broke out and money began again to disappear from places considered to be quite safe. This time it was observed that the spirits directed their attention only to money and not to other things. This sort of things became unbearable in the long run and we lost our patience.
One evening, i.e., on the 14th of Pous 1314 B.S., as I was about to sit down to my supper I heard a sound as of the fall of a heavy substance on the floor, and instantly mother screamed out saying that a brick had fallen on her back. Immediately I rushed towards her and with the help of a lamp began searching for it, but instead of a brick-bat we found an orange lying on the floor. We then concluded that not the brick but the orange had been thrown in mother’s direction which accidentally fell on her back. This orange together with many others had been kept in an almirah which was under lock and key. Soon after, the almirah was opened and an orange was found missing. We thereupon inferred that this was the doing of the spirits, and when we were talking on the subject another orange fell before brother, and this was followed by another which fell again on mother’s back in the kitchen.
The disturbances now continued as before. We observed a peculiarity this time. Stones, brick-bats, etc., began to fall on the persons of members of the family as had not been the case on previous occasions. Not only this, human excreta too began to fall on beddings and eatables. One morning it was found that a handful of human excreta, enveloped in a piece of paper, was placed on the bedding in my room. It was emitting a very bad smell. We understood that it was nothing but the wickedness of the spirits. Again, two days after, i.e., on the 23rd of Falgun, when mother was extracting the juice from the tender leaves of hincha (Fuhydra heloncha) for brother, a little quantity of human evacuation was thrown into the cup in which the juice of the vegetable was being kept. Thus the whole thing was spoilt. A few hours later, it was found that brother’s office tiffin, which had just been prepared, was missing from the kitchen, though the cook and several others were present there.
VII. Communications with the spirits.
When we were undergoing these troubles we heard of the Hindu Spiritual Magazine, and ventured to knock at the door of Babu S.K. Ghose, the Editor. He advised us to form a circle in our house, and at last we had the satisfaction of opening communication with the spirit, but of this in my next. The spirits now seem to be in a much better mood though of course the disturbances have not ceased altogether.
Amrita Lala Dasa.
The Hindu Spiritual Magazine, Vol. IV, part 1 (March – August 1909). Calcutta.