A boksi (Nepali: बोक्सी) is a person who has knowledge of witchcraft, ''Tuna Muna'' and
Tantra
Tantra (; sa, तन्त्र, lit=loom, weave, warp) are the esoteric traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism that developed on the Indian subcontinent from the middle of the 1st millennium CE onwards. The term ''tantra'', in the Indian ...
. According to Tantra-shastra and
Shivapurana, a boksi or boksa is a woman/ man who is different from normal gods or goddesses and has their own language. Boksi has a divine power and is capable to heal various diseases. A Boksi is capable to differentiate god, goddess, ghosts, ''pret'', ''pichas'' or ''dakini''. They are able to call any of the goddess or witches and ask them to do a job for them. According to mythology,
Parvati
Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi i ...
, the wife of
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
was the originator of boksi knowledge. She gave this power to seven of her sisters. From the youngest sister, this knowledge is believed to be transferred to the humans.
Mostly elderly, unmarried or widowed women are the most likely to have been accused of being a boksi.
In contemporary culture
*''Boksi'' - a Nepali book on child psychology written by
Balkrishna Sama
Balkrishna Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana or Bala Krishna Sama ( ne, :ne: बालकृष्ण सम, बालकृष्ण सम; 8 February 1903 - 20 June 1981) was a Nepalis, Nepalese dramatist. For his great contributions to Nepali litera ...
.
* ''Boksi Ko Ghar'' (Translation: House of Boksi) - a social drama written by Sulakshan Bharati
Legislation
According to Nepalese law, the person accusing someone a Boksi may be subjected to criminal offence and is liable to pay up to NPR 100,000 and a prison sentence of up to five years.
See also
*
Nepalese folklore
Nepalese folklore is a diverse set of mythology and traditional beliefs held by the Nepali people.
Folk beliefs
* Banjhakri and Banjhakrini, supernatural shamans of the forest.
* ''Bir'', a demon
*'' Boksi'', a witch
* Budhahang, legendary Kir ...
*
Witch-hunts in Nepal
Witch-hunts are still occurring in Nepal in the twenty-first century, and the persecution of marginalised individuals of the community, especially women, still persists. Witchcraft is believed to be the exercise of supernatural powers by witches ...
References
Asian witchcraft
Nepalese folklore
Tantra
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