The Poison Damsel in Medieval European Medical and Religious Lore
The Pseudo-Aristotle treatise, Secretum Secretorum (“The Secrets of Secrets”) conveys Aristotle warning his pupil Alexander the Great to be careful of lavish gifts from Indian kings.
In one Hebrew version of this treatise, which is likely to be earlier than most, Aristotle says that he fears the clever political strategists of India.
One french version tells a story that Socrates and Aristotle told two slaves to kiss the girl and they both fell down dead instantly. Other versions have her kill by bite, sexual intercourse, or even just an icy glare.
13th century Spanish author Guillem de Cervera declares that Aristotle saved Alexanders life by using the same astrological techniques (Jyotish) to determine a poison maiden and avert the attack.
Incidentally, the german word for poison is “gift.”
Toxicology Branch of Ayurvedic Texts Warning About Visha Kanyas
“A girl who has been exposed to poison from brith, and who has thus been made poisonous herself. She kills a lover just be her touch or her breath. Flowers and blossoms wilt when they come into contact with her head. The bugs in her bed, the lice in her clothes, and anyone who washes in the same water as her, all die. With this in mind, you should keep far away from her as possible.”
Astanga Samgraha of Vaghbata, 1.8.87-89.
Dalhanas commentary on Susrutas verse is even more graphic:
“If she touches you, her sweat can kill. If you make love to her, your penis drops off like a ripe fruit from its stalk.”
Dalhana on Susruta Samhita, 5.1.4-6
Immunity Alteration: Habituation and Suitable Compatibility (“Oka Satmya”)
Satmya is a reason why a diet that works for one culture may not work for another.
When one is introduced to something unwholesome from a young age and becomes habituated to taking it, they can adapt and withstand the negative effects, but not completely.
If one’s family have been taking an unwholesome substance or performing an unwholesome habitual action for generations (e.g. working late at night), they further become immune and compatible with that substance or action, but not completely.
If the unwholesome substance is indigenous to the land and climate that the person resides in, that again increases harmonious compatibility, but not completely.
Harmonious health is not completely maintained because it will can them inflict them later in life. When their immune system becomes weak or they approach vata age (60+).
Mithridatism: Vaccinating Against Poison
More recently in the 20th century, American Herpetologist (zoology) Bill Haast injected himself with snake venom for over half of his 101-year life. He credited this to his longevity and to surviving 172 venomous bites (which he turned into a tourist attraction in Miami and was validated by the Guinness Book of World Records).
Haast also offered transfusions of his blood in place of antivenin to numerous people who had been bitten by snakes for whose poison no antivenin was available.
This supports the notion that snake venom was also used as medicine in Ayurveda. As long as it wasn’t mixed with blood, taken internally along with rain water (akasha jala) it could cure many diseases.
A painting in Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra.
What is your Satmya and do you respect it? Do you know any of the traditional foods your ancestors consumed?
References:
- Penzer NM. Poison damsels and other essays in folklore and anthropology. Compates tales of the poison damsel from ancient Greece, India and Europe. London: C.J. Swayer; 1952.
- Phillip Wexler. History of Toxicology and Environmental Health: Toxicology in Antiquity II.
- feature photo: Pintrest.
- second photo: Chandra Nandni, Vishkanya TV series.
- Bill Haast photo: UK Telegraph
- Cave painting: Indischer Maler des 6. Jahrhunderts, The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei. DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202
