Abhichara

Abhichara

अभिचार, abhicāra

Efforts to remove external destructive influences. This usually includes 6 magical actions of the shat-karmas:

• Shantikarana – pacification, removal of obstacles, prosperity
• Vashikarana – submission
• Stambhana – immobilization
• Vidveshana – causing discord
• Uchchatana – expulsion, eviction
• Marana – murder, destruction

The details of the shat-karma rituals and their results are described in detail (without mantras) in the last, 25th, taranga (chapter) of the well-known compendium of Mantramahodadhi rituals.

Magic and witchcraft in general can also be called abhichara. In this meaning, the word "abhichara" is synonymous with the concept "indrajala" (इन्द्रजाल, indrajāla, "Indra's net"), meaning magic, siddhi of creating illusions that are acquired by mantra-sadhana ("Kakshaputa Tantra" I, 11-13), tricks, deception, and also mystical weapons used, for example, by Arjuna.

Airspace was a net
Sticks for the net - great cardinal directions.
Having surrounded Dasya with its help,
The mighty [Indra] scattered their army. (5)

This great world has been
A net of the great mighty one.
With the help of this net of Indra
I surround all those with darkness. (8)

"Atharvaveda" VIII, 5, 8 'Against the enemy army'