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''Daayan'' ((ヒンディー語:डायन)) or Daayani is a term for a witch in India descended from the Sanskrit word dakini, which refers to a female supernatural being. The dakini appeared in medieval legends in North India such as in the ''Bhagavata Purana'', ''Brahma Purana'', ''Markandeya Purana'' and ''Kathasaritsagara'' as a demon in the train of Kali who feeds on human flesh.〔Monier-Williams, ''A Sanskrit Dictionary'' 1899〕 They are comparable to malevolent or vengeful female spirits, deities, imps or fairies in other cultures, such as the Persian peri.〔David Templeman , ''Iranian Themes in Tibetan Tantric Culture: The Ḍākinī'' 〕 ==History== The ''daayan'' cult refers to a secret society which emerged during the 15th century in Harangul, a village in the Latur district of Maharashtra. The concept of ''daayans'' has permeated Indian culture, and may be seen on popular television programs. Belief in ''daayans'' has existed in most regions of India, particularly Jharkhand and Bihar. "'Victims of witch-hunting are usually old or widowed women. These women are victimized for their property, or due to problems in the family or for sexual exploitation,' said Vasvi Kiro, a member of the Jharkhand Women's Commission." It is prevalent in rural and semi-rural areas, with "witch-hunts" causing women to be killed or ostracised. In Harangul it is believed that daayan lives in an area of the village, and an evil spirit resides within them. Villagers believe these women destroy everything good. ''Daayans'' are reported in and around cemeteries, abandoned battlefields, crossroads, toilets and squalid places.〔Fane, Hannah (1975). "The Female Element in Indian Culture". Asian Folklore Studies (Nanzan University) 34 (1): 100. JSTOR 1177740.〕〔Raymond Buckland (2009). The Weiser Field Guide to Ghosts: Apparitions, Spirits, Spectral Lights and Other Hauntings of History and Legend. Weiser Books. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-57863-451-4.〕 Folklore suggests that a woman treated badly by her family or who died in childbirth as a result of family neglect returns as a daayan, haunting the family and drinking the blood of male family members.〔Cheung, Theresa (2006). The Element Encyclopedia of the Psychic World. Harper Element. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-00-721148-7.〕 Beginning with the youngest male in the family, draining his blood changes him into an old man before she progresses to the other men.〔Janet Chawla (1994). Child-bearing and culture: women centered revisioning of the traditional midwife : the dai as a ritual practitioner. Indian Social Institute. p. 15.〕 A daayan is also said to target young families, young women and other family surrogates.〔Bane, Theresa (2010). "Chedipe". Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. McFarland. pp. 47–8. ISBN 978-0786444526.〕 Assuming the form of a young, attractive female, she hunts for young men on roads and seduces lone travellers into accompanying her. Imprisoning a man, she feeds on his blood or sweat.〔〔 One legend says that a daayan will hold a young man captive until he is old, using him sexually until he dies and joins the spirit world. Another says that a young man seduced by the ''daayan'' who eats her food returns at dawn to the village as an old man.〔Melton, J. Gordon (1999). The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead. Visible Ink Press. p. 372.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Daayan」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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