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ojha

ओझा ojhā

The village ritual specialist, defined in Indian statute as a person who claims power to control, cure or treat a witch or the witch-afflicted. In the case files he more often confirms a witch accusation than starts one, and the naming licenses violence.

Where this term appears

  • What is Navaratri? Worship

    …ld episode, prominent in the Bengali Krittivasi Ramayana of Krittibas Ojha in the fifteenth century and in the eastern Goddess tradition, has Rama himself worship Durga before the final battle, performing an ou…

  • Duhāī: eight books, counted Treatise

    Three applications they had tried. Material obtained from sādhus and ojhās .

  • The channel and the algorithm Treatise

    A search sweep in English and Hindī, run on 18 August 2026 with six exact strings printed in the chapter, returned no journalism, no judgment and no official or…

  • The harm ledger Treatise

    …na Nivaran Act, 2005, defines the word ojhā in Indian statute law : "'Ojha' may he be known by any other name whatsoever, means person who claims to possess power to control, cure, treat Tonahi or any person or…

  • The healer and the witch Treatise

    The woman a village sends for when a child is feverish holds one capacity, and it is understood to point both ways. Whether she is called a healer or a witch is…

  • Two Śābaratantras Treatise

    At section 2, sub-section 3, the Act defines an ojha as a person who claims to possess the power to control, cure or treat tonahi , or any person or animal alleged to be affected by tonahi , and to render that …

  • Vācā, phuro, ājñā Treatise

    Each section is titled by what that person sent in: three applications they had tried themselves, material they had obtained from sādhus and ojhās , an item in Punjabi, a set described simply as rare.

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