(11) Cheda is the ghost of an unmarried Mahár. It resides on mountains, in jungles, and the outskirts of the village.[83] Cheda attacks domestic animals. It haunts fields and farms, and resides at public places where the Holi fires are annually kindled. To avoid being troubled by it, people offer annual sacrifices of fowls and goats.[84]
(12) Mhasoba is the lord of the ghosts, and is equal in might to Vetál.[85]
(13) Jákhin or Alwant. Jákhin is the ghost of a woman who has a husband alive. Alwant is believed to be the spirit of a woman dying at childbirth or during her menses. It resides at burial or cremation grounds. Persons attacked by this spirit are taken to Narsoba’s Wádi or Gángápur, which are celebrated as shrines for the removal of malignant spirits.[86]
(14) Lávsat is the ghost of a widow. It generally resides in burial and burning grounds, and attacks domestic animals and their calves. It is also said to tear clothes and eat corpses.[87]
(15) Hadal or Hedali is the ghost of a woman who dies within ten days of childbirth or during her menses. It is supposed to be an evil spirit, but it can be kept in check by the use of a cane. It attacks all sorts of persons, but leaves them as soon as it is beaten.[88]
This spirit is also known as Dákan in the Kolhápur district.[89] Satavi is the ghost of a woman. It troubles women in childbirth, and kills their children on the 5th or 6th day after their birth.[90] Shákini is the ghost of an unmarried girl. Talkhámba is the ghost of an unmarried Shudra or a person from the low castes.[91] The people of Vijayadurg believe that one who hates and troubles the Bráhmans and speaks ill of their religious duties becomes a Brahma Sambandha after death.[92] At Poládpur in the Kolába District the ghost Bápa is represented by a stone painted with red lead and oil and placed at the boundary of a field. It is the guardian of the field, and protects the owners’ interests. Offerings are made to it annually. If the annual offerings are neglected, it troubles the owner of the field. It also troubles others when disturbed.[93]
The spirits known as Kálkáiche Bhut and Bahirobáche Bhut are not troublesome. When they favour any person, he enjoys health and happiness for a period of twelve years. But after that period he is ruined.[94] In addition to the varieties of malignant spirits already described, the following spirits are known at Shirgaon in the Máhim taluka of the Thána District. They are—Hirwa, Wághoba, Asarás, Gángud, Saitán and Chaitannadya. The spirit known as Hirwa requires the offerings of a bow and an arrow, bháng, bájri bread, and a chatni of garlic. The Wághoba haunts jungles and troubles domestic animals. Cocoanuts and lamps of ghi are offered to it. Asarás are the deities that dwell in water. They infest the wells and ponds, and attack women and children at noon time and in the evening. Red lead, cocoanuts, flowers, parched rice (láhya) and nádápudi are given to them.[95]
At Ibrámpur in the Ratnágiri District it is said that the evil spirit Zoting goes about headless.[96]
The people of Medhe in the Rohe taluka believe that the spirit known as Girha, which resides in water, goes about headless.[97]
At Shirgaon in the Máhim taluka it is believed that the spirit Hirwa goes about headless. It troubles human beings and animals. The sea and the jungle are its places of abode. To avoid being troubled by it, bháng, cocoanuts, fowls are given to it.[98]