Is Black Magic for real?

Is it possible for a person to cast an evil spell on another using rituals and spirts? Or is Black Magic just a myth?

A dark room with a black-robed man adorned in bones and with a smear of vermillion on his head…a fire burns in front of him, and he flings a handful of powder in it, chanting something all the while…all of a sudden, he smiles. He has just invoked an evil spirit and he instructs the spirit on what to do. The spirit vanishes and later, shows up at the house of its target and starts wreaking havoc there…

This seems like a scene out of a film or TV show, but these scenes are all too common in India. It is representative of black magic, which is practiced using animal and human sacrifices to gain material wealth, or persuade a desired person into marriage, or even to wreck another human being’s happiness. But though the entire premise of black magic seems unreal, it does leave one with a question: it is possible to unleash evil spirits to destroy another human being?

Black magic is usually performed so that one may get what one desires, but at the cost of another. It involves rituals, prayer and casting of spells on another human being, usually by gaining access to something that belongs to that person. Those who believe in it say that it works, and that it can bring about the downfall of another human being in every possible way. 

But what is it really? At a simple level, it is possible to dismiss it as just a myth. Any action in the world is caused by energy. It requires energy to cast a spell or unleash an evil spirit. At the same time, it requires energy to work hard and stay on the path of honesty all your life. So at a metaphysical level, this means that every act in the world – either good or bad – is guided by energy. It is what we choose to do with the energy at our disposal that separates good people from bad ones.

Every human being has some negative energy inside them, but this energy is largely supressed all their life. This suppression keeps one from acting on every bad impulse – it keeps them from being dishonest, stealing and killing. However, when one gives vent to one’s bad energies is when one commits evil acts.

The basic premise of black magic rests on this bad energy. However, it is can manifest itself in ritualistic worship of objects and animals associated with the netherworld, or direct action using objects such as skulls and crossbones planted at the home of the opponent as a warning. Another way black magic works is by instilling fear in the mind of the object. It begins with planting a seed of doubt in the object’s mind, and then reinforcing this doubt steadily. Soon, the person becomes obsessed with the idea that somebody is out to ruin them and their psyche is completely destroyed. This causes them to lose everything in life – which is again, attributed to black magic.

The story behind the birth of Lord Krishna

Lord Krishna was born under mysterious circumstances to triumph over evil. He was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Our ancient epics have us believe that every time evil forces supersede everything else in the world, the Gods descend to restore order to the chaos. It was at a crucial point in the world’s history when Lord Brahma appealed to Lord Vishnu to do something about the ever-increasing reach of evil across the Earth. Lord Vishnu then replied that he would soon be born on Earth as Krishna, who would vanquish the dark powers and restore goodness.

Meanwhile, the evil King Kamsa, ruler of Mathura, was making things difficult for his people. Oblivious to the growing discontent around him, he had organised a lavish wedding for his younger sister, princess Devaki, to the venerated Vasudev. However, a voice from the heavens proclaimed during the wedding ceremony that Devaki’s eighth child would kill Kamsa. Enraged and frightened, Kamsa tried to kill Devaki, but Vasudev promised him that he would hand over all his children to Kamsa if he spared Devaki’s life.

The evil king then imprisoned the couple. In due course of time, they had seven children while in prison – and Kamsa killed all the new-born infants. However, when the time for Devaki’s eighth delivery was near, Vasudev dreamed that Lord Vishnu told him to sneak the child out of the prison and head to Gokul, where the village’s chief Nanda would take the child in exchange for his own baby girl. Accordingly, the night Devaki had her eighth child – a boy, Lord Krishna – Vasudev started out of the prison. The guards had all fallen asleep, and Vasudev’s shackles opened on their own as he hurried out. Braving heavy rainfall and crossing a deep river, he made it to Gokul, where Nanda was waiting for him with his own baby daughter in his arms.

Vasudev brought the baby girl back to the prison just as Kamsa arrived. When he picked up the baby to kill it, the child darted out of his hands heavenwards. The child assumed the form of Goddess Yogmaya, who taunted the king and informed him that his vanquisher was already born and he would return in a few years to fulfil his destiny.

Thus, Lord Krishna was born on a dark and stormy night and sent to his foster mother Yashoda. He was raised with infinite love and care, and he destroyed each of the assasins Lord Kamsa sent his way. In his teens, he finally encountered King Kamsa and killed him, thus finishing the job he was born for.

Later, Krishna was instrumental in helping the Pandavas win the great Mahabharata war.