The time dates back to the year 1978. I had just entered college. The bicycle that I had purchased during my high school days was still with me. I was in the habit of moving here and there around the town, mostly in the evening and on holidays, as I did not get much time in the morning due to studies and preparation to go to college. It was a Sunday. I had been to a nearby village to meet some of my relations. When I started the return journey, evening had already set in. It was getting darker. On the way, there was a place surrounded by dense trees on both sides of the road, and to the right at a distance, there was a cremation ground. Darkness got more intense because of the trees. There was also a heavy wind which made it difficult for me to ride my bicycle as it blew from the front side. While crossing a milestone on my right, I suddenly saw a monkey-like creature sitting on it. Out of curiosity, I turned my face back and tried to recognize the creature. It was not there. But I felt like seeing a woman carrying a child and walking away in the opposite direction. For the first time, I developed a sense of fear, closed my right eye, and tried to speed up my bicycle. After half a kilometre, a small village came on the way and I saw four to five persons playing cards, one of whom was married in our locality. He said that people often complained of experiencing this in that area surrounded by bushes and trees. If I was feeling unwell and doubting the presence of any evil spirit, he would contact a sorcerer living nearby. I said that I was alright and moved away. I was terribly afraid of the incident and throughout the rest of the way felt like seeing a monkey sitting on the milestones. I heaved a sigh of relief when street lights of the town came closer. Reaching near home, when I narrated the incident to a group of friends, they laughed it away saying, “You have seen a ‘Peten’. Now go and see a ‘Devta’.” It may be mentioned here that the Hindi movie Devta had just been released in the town. Even after so many years of life, the incident has not yet been wiped out from my mind, and I am yet to decide whether it was a picture in my subconscious mind, a hallucination, or real.
I was reminded of the incident in the midst of reports and videos on ghosts and spirits being circulated in the media at regular intervals. Even before the appearance of social media, photos of ghosts and spirits were in circulation with stories. It was reported that when people went to picnic spots, a ghost would come, mingle with them, and even stand or sit near them when they would click photographs. People did believe in the photo and the related story despite the idea that since a ghost or spirit does not have a physical body, it can hardly be captured in a still or video camera. Before jumping to any conclusion, let us discuss the following points regarding whether the ghosts are real or fake:
1) What does Hinduism say?
Hinduism, with the longest tradition of religion, does not negate the existence of ghosts. Rather, it accepts Pretas (Hungry ghosts), Bhutas (Earthbound ghosts), and Pisachas (Demonic ghosts). The tradition of ghosts and spirits is very rich in Hinduism with the strong faith that they are yet to achieve ‘Moksha’ or salvation and therefore remain in a hung position. This happens due to excessive attachment to previous life or incomplete rituals. It is therefore seen that after the death of a person, his relations follow a rigorous practice of food and rituals so that his spirit does not remain dissatisfied and attains salvation.
All the spirits are not necessarily evil. They are only dissatisfied and believed to haunt places like trees, deserts, cremation grounds, and old houses. In our childhood days, we heard of a ghost called ‘Matia’ which lived in areas not very far from houses. Small in size, this ghost does not do any harm to anybody. Grandparents often quoted him to make children sleep or lead a disciplined life out of fear.
2) What do the other religions say?
Religions around the globe other than Hinduism do not entirely negate the existence of ghosts and spirits, though they hold varying beliefs.
Buddhism ascribes spirits to past actions and unresolved karma. They also exist due to lack of ‘Moksha’. The religion also calls them hungry.
Islam does not believe in wandering ghosts and attributes it to a Jinn. They are believed to be demonic or misleading entities rather than souls of the deceased. A Jinn is a spiritual being which can take various forms and interact with the human world.
Christianity and Judaism also do not reject the existence of ghosts and spirits outright. Like Islam, Judaism also does not consider spirits to be souls of the deceased. Within Christianity, different sects nurture diverse views on ghosts and spirits.
Almost all the religions accept the theory that ghosts and spirits do possess human beings. The distinction between good and evil spirits is also made. The theory of spirits is therefore present around the globe.
3) The eternal conflict between good and evil
Almost all the religious traditions and scriptures around the globe admit that there has always been a tug of war between good and evil i.e. good and evil forces. Hinduism says that the present era ‘Kalyug’, headed by Kali, an evil force, will end with the tenth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, namely Kalki, when sin will be at its worst. The ghosts and spirits seem to form part of the evil or dark forces, though all religions do not necessarily make a distinction between the two and consider ghosts and spirits to be part of the dark forces.
4) Strong popular belief
Religions undoubtedly have had a strong influence on the minds of the people and guide them in their beliefs. But it is seen that people living in remote and jungle areas, even without any influence from any religion, have developed the view of ghosts and spirits roaming around. In the tribal communities of India, who have mostly stayed away from the mainstream, there appears to be faith in ghosts, spirits, sorcery, and witchcraft. In religious festivals of the Hindus, the ‘Barua’ or possessed being plays a crucial role. Even in the castes and communities of interior and rural areas other than the tribals, ghosts and spirits are dominant, and a ‘Gunia’ or sorcerer is often deployed to tide over them. These may be considered to be superstitions, yet their existence can hardly be denied in the form of strong popular belief and deep-rooted tradition.
5) Good and evil spirits
In belief systems around the globe, spirits have been categorised as either good or evil. Angels, benevolent deities, and nature spirits are good, whereas demons, malevolent deities, and certain nature spirits are evil. The good spirits do good to the humans, while the evil spirits cause harm.
6) Hindu deities and spirits
Certain Hindu deities are closely associated with ghosts and spirits. Lord Siva is the master of all ghosts and spirits. He controls them and has the power even to liberate them. Vetala, a son of Lord Siva, is the chief of ghosts. Lord Siva is also called ‘Bhootnath’. Though Hanuman is not directly associated with the spirits, he has the power to ward off evil spirits and dark forces.
7) Research
Widespread research has been done on whether ghosts and spirits exist or not. Researchers have also come out with their theories and findings. But nothing concrete has come out of it. Centuries of investigations have ended up in smoke.
8) Lack of evidence
There has been sheer lack of evidence in the matter. My personal experience is a case in point. First, I saw a monkey sitting on a milestone and then turning into a woman with a child. I can only tell about it, and it is up to the people to believe it or not. But it is really difficult to provide the evidence of its actual happening.
9) Unscientific
The theory of the existence of ghosts and spirits is considered to be unscientific because of the lack of evidence and failure to prove it. It would come under pseudoscience. Science would accept a theory to be true only when it gets the evidence.
10) Further research
Whatever research has been done should be made the base for further research so that new theories and findings can come out. Though science has not yet proved that ghosts are real, it has also not proved that they are unreal either.
“Whether ghosts really exist or not” is a million-dollar question. Centuries of studies, research, and investigations have failed to prove their existence. Science is yet to accept the ghosts and spirits as real, the way it has yet to accept concepts like Atma, Parmatma, and God. Whether the ghosts and spirits are a hallucination or a creation of the subconscious mind hardly matters in the context of Hinduism and other religions. As far as India is concerned, not accepting the ghosts and spirits is as good as not accepting the deities as real. Popular deities like Siva and Hanuman are closely associated with them. It is mentioned in our scriptures that they formed part of the marriage procession of Siva when he went to marry Parvati, and the bride’s family members and relations fainted on seeing them. Both public as well as researchers have claimed to have seen ghosts. But their existence and living in places as inhabitants have hardly been accepted by science. Neither have they been proved to be unreal. At least in the context of India, it is really difficult to reject them as they are associated with the deities and deep-rooted in the psyche of the people. Notwithstanding researches in the past, further research is highly required in this respect.
(The views expressed are the writer’s own)
Mr. Prafulla Kumar Majhi,
Retired Asst. Director, A. I. R, is an eminent Scholar and freelance writer in English & Odia. His areas of interests are sociocultural, economic, literary, historical and analytical studies and writings.
Email: airprafulla61@gmail.com
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