Mayong: The Land of Black Magic

Adrita

Mayong: The Land of Black Magic

Now-a-days everyone wants to discover something that is exotic, something interesting. And I believe Magic is something that catches everyone’s eyes. Since the dawn of time, the concept of magic has been used in literature, films, series and so on. While everyone has heard about J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, did you know India has its own Hogwarts where one can find people performing actual magic. Unbelievable right? So, bringing to you here is the story of Mayong – the Land of Black Magic.

Mayong; Image source : makemytrip

Located in the Morigaon district of Assam, Mayong is a charming small village filled with mystery and silence. It has been the centre of black magic and sorcery in India for centuries. Raja-Mayong, a village in Mayong was the origin of tantrism in Assam and it was once considered the cradle of Tanta-Kriya in India. Witchcraft, sorcery, and necromancy were not only practised here, but were also passed down from one generation to the next. Mayong is often believed to be the origin of Black Magic in India and is also regarded as India’s Black Magic Capital.

Every aspect of Mayong is shrouded in obscurity. Even regarding the origin of the name ‘Mayong’, there are a lot of stories, though there is no substantial evidence how much of is it accurate. Some claim it comes from the Sanskrit word maya, which means 'illusion,' the Chutia/Tiwa/Deori word Ma-yong, which means mother, the Kachari word for an elephant (Miyong), or maa for Mother Shakti and Maa- R- Ongo (parts of the goddess) and later it became Mayong.

The references of Mayong along with Pragjyotishpura (ancient name of Assam) have been found in historical epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata and Alamgirnama. Legends say that Chief Ghatotkacha participated in the Mahabharata battle after gaining magical powers in Mayong. There are also stories of how individuals vanished into thin air, humans transformed into animals, and that anyone who sits on a peera (a wooden stool) and consumes a bowl of tea in any Mayong family would have it attached to his rear.

A popular story that has been going around for ages of the place is of Muhammad Shah and his army when they attacked Assam in the 1330s. It says that when Shah’s 100,000 horsemen suddenly disappeared into thin air near Mayong due to black magic and witchcraft. Though there’s no concrete evidence to all these stories, locals and elderly residents claim that they themselves have witnessed such events in Mayong and hence believe these stories to be true.

Dr Hahiram Lahkar, a Geography professor who was born in Mayong and now teaches in Marigaon College says:

One day as usual, we were in our college when suddenly a snake charmer or you can say he was a bon manuh (forest man) came along with his associate. He marked the area around the college with some white powder and then sat in a down under a tree and closed his eye. He, then, with his fingers, gave directions to his associate to dig the nearby areas. And every time the latter did, he would catch a snake. They caught around 6/7 snakes in total. He later told us that he had learnt all these magic spells in Mayong and they are going to use the snakes’ poison to make medicine.

The professor further recalls how when he was young, he was taught a magic spell:

One day, I was going to school when this uncle approached me and as we started having conversation, he taught me this spell to cure headache, and it did work for some time. But now as I moved away from the place, I stopped believing in magic. It works only when you believe in it.

Mayong is known as the land of ‘necromancy’, with a plethora of magical and mythical secrets hidden beneath layers of scenic beauty. It is still a mystery to many and the stories that exist may or may not be true. Nevertheless, one cannot deny its presence since ancient times. As Edward Gait in his book A History of Assam writes:

… No one who entered this country ever returned and manners of this country were never known… the people of Hindustan used to call the inhabitants of Assam sorcerers and magicians… They say that whoever enters this country is overcome by charms and never comes out of it

In her book “Devi”, Dr Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi talks about how Mayong was famous for magic and sorcery in Assam since the medieval period. The king of Mayong, Late Minaram Sinha was himself a Magician and locals have found some manuscripts in his name. Mayong still practices the custom of the lineal king or monarchy. Despite the fact that he does not exercise any powers of a king, he is seen as a reverend figure in society, and the locals value his judgement.

The people of Assam have long believed that the magical form of Mayong is efficacious towards enemies. In Assamese, there is a popular saying: “Dimaria mantra gum jat pat, Mayangar mantra gum aaste, Surpanakhar gum dhari dhari hate” (meaning: The mantras of Dimaria are quick but less effective but the mantras of Mayong are slow in their action but very efficacious causing even death.)