A young mother in Kuliyapitiya met with a tragic end due to her obsession in black magic, recently. Ishara, a mother of two in her early thirties paid dearly after she took a voodoo concoction during an exorcism ritual to ward off evil spirits. Her death bares open a deep rooted social issue that is both, less ventured into or addressed by policy makers and the law enforcement.
There are no specific provisions in the Sri Lankan legal system to discourage voodoo practices and prevent fraudsters from taking advantage of the distressed.
Troubled by a broken marriage, and burdened with responsibilities of two small kids, the young mother turned to the exorcist to keep her family safe from evil, and to put a stop to the troubles that never seemed to cease. Her troubles indeed was terminated, but is that really what she wished for? In the end, two young kids lost their last hope and a mother’s love.
In the 21st century, despite vast strides in development, technology and education, people still believe in black magic, be it in the US, Japan, India or Sri Lanka.
We tend to conclude that the belief of people being possessed by evil spirits or their own dead and gone, is more popular in Eastern countries. It resonates with their religious beliefs. But, a simple internet research tells you a different story, altogether.
A recently compiled collection of ten bizarre and gruesome exorcism cases around the world, listed only one case from Sri Lanka as against nine from the United States. Some were from places such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, where you would least expect such behaviour. While we Sri Lankans believe humans are possessed by the dead – relatives or otherwise-elsewhere, it is mostly by demons referred to in the Bible. In New York, five year old Amy was killed during an exorcism ritual that involved violent beatings. To drive away the demons that possessed her body, Amy was beaten to death by her own mother and grandmother.
Thriving business
And in 2014, in Maryland, one year old Norrel and two year old Zyanna were stabbed to death. The mother and her accomplice who killed the children said, the kids were possessed by the devil. In Sri Lanka, an exorcist himself died during his battle with the evil spirit. Maxi Castro, 32, temporarily buried himself in a pit with a sword in his hand to fight an evil spirit, in a bid to drive it away from a possessed woman. The arrangement was to dig him out when he shows a signal. But, after three long hours, the onlookers decided to take him out, sans a signal. The man who came out unconscious was pronounced dead later.
Fortunately, instances of children getting killed due to black magic is rare in Sri Lanka. But, the danger is the tendency of the believers to drag in others, and as a result, create a whole new generation of fresh converts. There is no ethnic or class divide to this practice, we find Kapuvas representing all religions and ethnicities. A Muslim man in Maligawatte in the heart of Colombo, runs a very thriving business of black magic. His clientele includes Sinhalese and Tamils both, the rich and the poor. The first job of any kapuva is to instil fear in the minds of potential victims and once under his ‘spell’, there is no turning back.
Ven. Prof.Pathegama Gnanissara thera, who specializes in exorcism and related rituals says, curiosity and enthusiasm in the after-life among easterners have driven people to black magic and voodoo practices.
He says, there is a vast difference between belief and truth. “When we face certain difficulties in our day to day life, people tend to accept their beliefs as truths, and find relief from unseen forces. This is the weakness.” And, for the ‘unscrupulous souls’ this weakness is a gold mine.
Ven. Prof.Gnanissara thera has conducted a research sampling a random group of 100 people who believe in devalayas, the powers of kapuvas and various voodoo practices, like, ‘Ana-Wina’, ‘Kodiwina’ and ‘Bandana’.
“Among the 100 people, I observed that 60 per cent had some sort of mental illness. Among them were people with severe mental disorders and others with less severe conditions. Apart from this there was a group of people who suffered from hallucinations.”
Ven.Thera said, of those who belong in these three categories, the first two groups cannot be cured by performing rituals in devalayas. Such people need professional help and medication. But, the third category who suffered from hallucinations can be cured through such activities.
He has found that thirty per cent of the selected people in his research group fall under the third category. They found relief through activities such as, tying an ‘epa nuula’ (a blessed thread around the neck), Pirith chantings or ‘Bali-thovil’ acts. “But, the so called Kapuralas must have the ability to understand their clients, before undertaking a ritual to cure them. If not, the results can be very serious.”
Kapurala’s credibility
According to him it comes with proper training and education.
Unfortunately, Sri Lankan kapuvas in makeshift devalayas are not specially trained or educated. More often than not, they are fraudsters after a quick buck, given that we are dealing with a very lucrative trade. The believers of black magic, mostly the poverty stricken, will pawn all they possess to find a cure, and, despite the outrageous costs involved in a session of vodoo, it is not easy to convince them against the Kapurala’s credibility.
 Pix: Thilak Perera |
The business of erecting a Devalaya to perform black magic has become a popular mode of livelihood for the ‘unemployed-uneducated’. It is a serious social issue that thrives behind closed doors, not just in the rural, but in urban areas as well. For those who profess a blind faith in magical cures, the background of their ‘saviour’ is one of the least concerns.
Perhaps, the victims are not in the proper state of mind to decode reality.
In this backdrop, to whom should we point the finger at, the state? A regulatory mechanism or setting a basic education criteria or a specially tasked police force may not have the key to resolve this deep rooted social issue.
The Ven. thera says, this is not the only bizarre case he has come across.
There was a recent incident in Dehiattakandiya where a child was stabbed.
On another occasion, a man kept excavating beneath his house looking for hidden treasure as per instructions he got in a dream. He excavated, until one day, the house collapsed leaving him in great misery.
In another instance, a 40-year-old man in Kataragama, a school teacher, claimed that Gautham Buddha was communicating with his mind. He was so obsessed with this belief that he could not be convinced that he needed medical help.
Another man, a Catholic, in his 60s claimed that he received,information that a violent gang was coming to sexually abuse Virgin Mary. The man was ready with whatever weapon he could lay his hands on to ward off the rapists. These are types of mental disorders which need proper medication, not black magic.
Troubled backgrounds
Ven. thera says, the media is also partly responsible for promoting this sub-culture. To popularize their television stations and newspapers, the media highlight such bizarre stories which have no basis at all. It fuels the beliefs of the vulnerable.
“I have closely monitored the producers behind such programs. They have troubled backgrounds, either broken marriages, families or similar issues. These are also important things the government must look into when formulating Media policies,” Ven. Gnanissara Thera said.
In Kuliyapitiya, a mother of two paid dearly for her beliefs fuelled by a fraudster. Her death may have put a stop to numerous such activities she would have resorted to in the past, seeking solace. But, she will not be the last life lost due to black magic.
Consultant Psychiatrist at National Institute of Mental Health, Angoda
Dr.Jayan Mendis confirmed Prof.Gnanissara Thera’s point of view that a large majority of people chasing behind exorcists share mental disorders. He says, Eastern cultures are more vulnerable for these practices.
However, he said, the reported incidents are becoming less than what was heard two decades ago. “The key I think, is the improved education for females.”
Dr. Mendis said, such behaviour is more common in uneducated females. Thus, improving facilities for educating the girl child may hold the key to saving people from falling prey to black magic.
It is something we should pin our hopes on, no matter how difficult a conviction it may be, given the many rich, famous and the educated from all walks of life, beseeching kapuvas for favours from the unseen and the evil.