ABSTRACT
The powers which the ascetic attains through his initiation and subsequent austerities fall at once into two distinct groups. First there are those which are put to some practical use, either in the service of the community or in his own daily life. These are found practised by ascetics of all kinds, whether Buddhist priests, yamabushi or solitary professional healers. They consist principally of the powers necessary for the accomplishment of exorcism, but also include the power to ‘open’ a holy place, the founding of temples and shrines on holy spots and the sacralising of mountains for pilgrimage. Also in this category we may include the orphic power to fascinate animals and to communicate with them.
