Note 3 — Chapter II · HEROIC GODLINGS

Hanumān is an incarnation of one of the eleven Rudras,34 is a brahmachāri (i.e., one who has taken the vow of celibacy), a powerful and benevolent deity, and a giver of many blessings. At the same time, he is considered to be the master-deity of all bhuts, prets, pishāchas, (ghosts, goblins, fiends), of dākans (witches), shakans, chudel, vantri, of the forty-nine virs (male fiends), of the fifty-two vetāls, of yakshas and yakshinis and of all evil spirits in general, who are believed to obey his commands.5 Vows are observed in honour of Hanumān if a person is possessed by a bhut or a pret, or if he is scared by a jhapat (sudden encounter) with a devil, or if he happens to step inadvertently within the kundalan6 of an utār. Persons who are possessed by evil spirits are exorcised by the bhuvas by reciting the zanzira mantra in honour of Hanumān.7