Similar stories are found in Buddhist lore. We hear of sailors getting shipwrecked on an island, where they meet women who offer them food, clothing, shelter. But over time, the chief of the sailors notices members of his crew disappearing. He realises that he is trapped on an island of man-eating yakshinis. He prays to the Bodhisattva, who appears in the form of a flying horse and takes him out of the island. 

In the folk traditions of India, besides Ancheria fairies of the hills, there are forest-nymphs and water-nymphs, who abduct men and let them return if they pay a price—the men return old and withered, stooping on a stick, or without their shadows. Nath-jogi lore speaks of the enchanted  forest of yogini women, the Kadalivan (plantain orchard) where all men turn into women. 

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Women are seen as creatures who emasculate men and to maintain masculinity, one must shun their company. This idea was very popular in the monastic-tantric traditions, where women were seen as forces who can take men’s power. However, using tantric practices, men could overpower this feminine energy, subjugate the women and claim their power through various chants and rituals. These beliefs continue even today. Thus, the idea of women tempting men, that women are responsible for rape and that women have to be domesticated through matrimony and maternity gains ground. Memory of fairies, Ancheria and yogini is why the modern idea of women being liberated and powerful, terrifies many traditionalists.

The author writes and lectures on the relevance of mythology in modern times. Reach him at devdutt.pattanaik@mid-day.com