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Household articles and jewelry of value may be left in the premises of homes guarded by Chattan, and no thief…

Date of account: Published 1912
Source: Omens and Superstitions of Southern India
Reference: Omens and Superstitions of Southern India · selected passage 53
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-25

Record summary

Household articles and jewelry of value may be left in the premises of homes guarded by Chattan, and no thief dares to lay his hand on them

Published source text

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Source passage

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Household articles and jewelry of value may be left in the premises of homes guarded by Chattan, and no thief dares to lay his hand on them. The invisible sentry keeps diligent watch over his master's property, and has unchecked powers of movement in any medium. As remuneration for all these services, the Chattan demands nothing but food, but that in a large measure. If starved, the Chattans would not hesitate to remind the master of their power, but, if ordinarily cared for, they would be his most willing drudges. As a safeguard against the infinite power secured for the master by Kuttichattan, it is laid down that malign acts committed through his instrumentality recoil on the prompter, who dies either childless or after frightful physical and mental agony. Another method of oppressing humanity, believed to be in the power of sorcerers, is to make men and women possessed with spirits. Here, too, women are more subject to their evil influence than men. Delayed puberty, permanent sterility, and still-births, are not uncommon ills of a devil-possessed woman.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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