Shadow over Drumshambo

 

This *is* some kind of Lovecraftian performance art, right? Right? 

Right...? 

Mossad´s jinns

 

An absurd rumor about Israel using Kabbalistic magic to attack Iran is being spread by...Iranian officials. Not sure if this reflects real fear of the Mossad´s ability to infiltrate everyone and everything, or if it´s just the usual anti-Semitic tropes. Maybe it´s both? So I have a question for the Shiites who believe this: why didn´t Allah (or the Hidden Imam) come to your aid?   

Don´t try this at home, kids

 

A suggestive but perhaps dangerous mantra to Bagalamukhi, a Tantric goddess associated with Kali. I found this the other night on YouTube under strange circumstances. ChatGPT exegesis below.  

What is the meaning of this mantra to Bagalamukhi: OM HLEEM BAGALAAMUKHI SARVA DUSHTANAM VACHAM MUKHAM PADAM STAMBHAYA JIVHAAM KEELAYA BUDDHIM VINASHAYA HLEEM OM SWAHA

The mantra you quoted is a powerful Tantric invocation to Goddess Bagalamukhi, one of the ten Mahavidyas in the Hindu tantric tradition. She is often associated with stopping negative forces, silencing enemies, and paralyzing harmful speech or actions. Let’s break it down for better understanding.

---

🔱 Mantra:

OM HLEEM BAGALAAMUKHI SARVA DUSHTANAM VACHAM MUKHAM PADAM STAMBHAYA
JIVHAAM KEELAYA BUDDHIM VINASHAYA HLEEM OM SWAHA

---

📖 Translation and Explanation:

• OM – The primordial sound, the universal vibration.

• HLEEM – A powerful bija (seed) mantra associated with Bagalamukhi. It’s considered to carry the energy of paralysis, control, and transformation.

• BAGALAAMUKHI – Invocation of the goddess by name.

• SARVA DUSHTANAM – “Of all evil ones” or “all malicious beings.”

• VACHAM – “Speech”

• MUKHAM – “Face” or “mouth”

• PADAM – “Feet” or “movement/actions”

• STAMBHAYA – “Paralyze,” “freeze,” or “immobilize”

• JIVHAAM – “Tongue”

• KEELAYA – “Nail,” “pierce,” or “bind” (to stop speech or harmful words)

• BUDDHIM – “Intellect” or “intelligence”

• VINASHAYA – “Destroy”

• HLEEM – Repetition of the bija for reinforcement.

• OM SWAHA – Traditional closure of a mantra; offering it into the fire or into the subtle energy realm.

---

🕉️ Overall Meaning:

“O Divine Mother Bagalamukhi, HLEEM! Paralyze the speech, face, and movements of all malicious beings. Immobilize their tongues, destroy their intellects (if they intend harm), and silence their power. HLEEM, OM, SWAHA!”

---

⚡ Purpose and Use:

• Protection from slander, lies, legal battles, or enemies

• To stop gossip, harmful speech, or negativity

• To calm mental chatter (internally or from others)

It’s often used ritually and with care, ideally under guidance, as Bagalamukhi is a Tantric deity with fierce energy. Some practitioners use it for self-discipline as well, not only for controlling external negativity.

---

Would you like a more meditative, non-aggressive form of invocation to Bagalamukhi, or are you exploring this for traditional Tantric reasons?

Very bad news

 

Buddhism always inlcuded magic. Apparently.  

Truth is dead

 

 

Welcome to the post-truth reality, guys. 

Martyrs for rationalism (part 1)

 

Tonight´s somewhat eclectic ChatGPT essay. Or rather part one. Could be interesting! 

How does atheism look in India? For instance, are supporters of leftist political parties atheists?

Atheism in India is a minority position but has deep roots, particularly in philosophical traditions and certain political movements. Here's a breakdown of its status, including among leftist political supporters:

---

🔹 Atheism in Indian Society

1. Religious Identification

• Over 95% of Indians identify with a religion (mostly Hinduism, followed by Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, etc.).

• Religion is deeply embedded in culture, identity, and public life.

2. Atheists as a Minority

• Atheists, agnostics, or non-religious people likely make up less than 1–2% of the population.

• However, public declarations of atheism are more visible than the raw numbers suggest, particularly in urban and intellectual circles.

---

🔹 Traditions of Atheism in India

India has ancient traditions of atheistic or non-theistic thought, especially within:

Tradition	Notes
Charvaka	An ancient materialist, explicitly atheistic school (rejected karma, afterlife, deities).
Buddhism	Non-theistic; does not posit a creator god.
Jainism	Non-theistic; gods exist but are not creators or central.
Certain Hindu schools	Some Vedantic and Samkhya schools focus on metaphysics rather than deity worship.

---

🔹 Atheism and Indian Leftist Movements

1. Communist and Marxist Parties

• Parties like the CPI(M) and CPI have traditionally included atheism or secularism as part of their ideology.

• Many leaders and cadres of these parties are personally atheistic or strongly secular.

• However, party members often tolerate or even participate in cultural religious practices due to social and electoral realities.

2. Dravidian Movement (South India)

• The Dravidian movement (especially in Tamil Nadu) has a strong tradition of rationalism and atheism, linked to leaders like Periyar E.V. Ramasamy.

• The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) promoted atheism, anti-casteism, and opposition to Brahminical Hinduism.

• Today, explicit atheism is less emphasized, but the legacy of rationalism continues in parts of southern India.

3. Rationalist Organizations

• India has numerous rationalist associations (e.g., Indian Rationalist Association, Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti).

• Leaders like Narendra Dabholkar (assassinated in 2013) promoted scientific temper and skepticism toward superstition and miracle claims.

---

🔹 Summary

Context	Atheism/Non-belief Presence
General Population	Very low (~1–2%)
Urban, educated elites	Some presence, often discreet
Leftist/Communist Parties	Common among leadership, often secular or atheist
Dravidian Politics (Tamil Nadu)	Historically atheist, now more rationalist
Rationalist Movements	Active, especially in Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu

🔍 Key distinction: In India, public atheism often means opposition to religious dogma, superstition, or social injustice, not necessarily an attack on all spiritual belief.

Would you like a breakdown of atheism in Indian states or among specific demographics like students or Dalits?

Who is Narendra Dabholkar?

Narendra Dabholkar (1945–2013) was an Indian physician, rationalist, and social reformer best known for his lifelong campaign against superstition, black magic, and pseudoscientific religious practices in India.

---

🧬 Background and Early Life

• Born: November 1, 1945, in Satara, Maharashtra.

• Professionally trained as a medical doctor.

• Early on, he was involved in sports (a national-level athlete) and social activism.

---

🧠 Activism and Rationalism

Founder of:

🛡 Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) –

• Founded in 1989, it translates to "Committee for Eradication of Blind Faith."

• Aimed to promote scientific temper, humanism, and oppose superstitions like:

  • "Miracle" healers

  • Occult rituals

  • Black magic

  • Witchcraft accusations

  • Astrology and religious exploitation

---

📚 Advocacy for Anti-Superstition Law

• Dabholkar campaigned for a law to criminalize exploitative and fraudulent religious practices.

• Faced resistance from religious and right-wing groups, who claimed it was anti-Hindu, despite the bill being non-religious and behavior-focused.

• After years of advocacy, he drafted the Maharashtra Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Ordinance.

---

🕯 Assassination (2013)

• Dabholkar was shot dead by unidentified assailants on August 20, 2013, in Pune while on a morning walk.

• His murder shocked India and drew widespread condemnation.

• Days after his death, the Maharashtra government passed the ordinance he had championed.

---

⚖️ Aftermath and Legal Case

• Multiple suspects with links to extremist Hindu organizations (like Sanatan Sanstha) were investigated.

• The case remains complex and politically sensitive, with arrests and charges but no final conviction yet (as of mid-2020s).

---

📜 Legacy

• Dabholkar is remembered as a martyr for rationalism.

• He inspired many rationalist and humanist movements across India.

• His death helped galvanize public opinion in support of scientific temper and legal reform.

---

🧠 His work exemplified Article 51A(h) of the Indian Constitution:
"To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform."

Would you like to know more about the anti-superstition law or about similar activists like Govind Pansare and M.M. Kalburgi?

All of them.

Certainly — here's an overview of three prominent Indian rationalist activists who were all assassinated for their work promoting scientific thinking and challenging religious orthodoxy:

---

🧠 1. Narendra Dabholkar (1945–2013)

Profession: Doctor, Rationalist
Focus: Superstition and blind faith, especially in rural Maharashtra

Key Contributions:

• Founded Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS)

• Drafted the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill

• Targeted exploitative "godmen" and miracle healers

Assassination:

• Date: August 20, 2013 (Pune)

• Circumstances: Shot during his morning walk

• Suspects: Alleged members of right-wing extremist group Sanatan Sanstha

---

📚 2. Govind Pansare (1933–2015)

Profession: Lawyer, CPI (Marxist) Politician, Writer
Focus: Rationalism, history, and social justice

Key Contributions:

• Wrote the popular book "Shivaji Kon Hota?" ("Who Was Shivaji?")

  • Argued that Shivaji was a progressive king, not a religious chauvinist

• Worked for labor rights, caste justice, and secularism

Assassination:

• Date: February 20, 2015 (Kolhapur)

• Circumstances: Shot outside his home with his wife; he later died from wounds

• Suspects: Again, links to Sanatan Sanstha were alleged

---

📖 3. M. M. Kalburgi (1938–2015)

Profession: Scholar, Former Vice-Chancellor of Kannada University
Focus: Kannada literature, Lingayat history, criticism of idol worship

Key Contributions:

• Critiqued superstition within Hindu practices, particularly idol worship

• Spoke against Brahmanical domination and for rational interpretation of Lingayatism

• Viewed by some as a heretic among religious conservatives

Assassination:

• Date: August 30, 2015 (Dharwad, Karnataka)

• Circumstances: Shot at close range at his home

• Suspects: Investigations suggested a common modus operandi with other assassinations

---

🧵 Common Threads

Feature	Dabholkar	Pansare	Kalburgi
Challenged superstitions	✅	✅	✅
Attacked right-wing orthodoxy	✅	✅	✅
Assassinated in public/residential space	✅	✅	✅
Cases linked to extremist Hindu groups (esp. Sanatan Sanstha)	✅	✅	✅

---

⚖️ Investigations and Outcome

• All three murders remain partially unresolved, with:

  • Arrests made

  • Connections drawn between killings

  • National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state police involved

• Critics accuse authorities of slow progress, possibly due to political sensitivities

---

🕊 Legacy

• These three figures have become symbols of rationalist courage in India

• Sparked public debates on:

  • Freedom of expression

  • Religious extremism

  • The right to scientific critique

• Inspired writers, activists, and students to continue the fight for reason and secularism

---

Would you like more detail on any one of these figures, or on the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act that Dabholkar promoted?

Yes, the act. Is this the act that prohibits Aghori practices (or alleged Aghori practices)?

Great question.

The Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act that you're referring to is officially called the:

Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013

Yes — the act explicitly mentions "Aghori practices" among the prohibited activities. However, it’s important to understand what this means in legal and cultural context:

---

🔍 Key Facts about the Act:

• Drafted by: Dr. Narendra Dabholkar

• Passed in: Maharashtra in 2013, shortly after Dabholkar’s assassination

• Scope: Criminalizes a list of practices labeled as harmful, fraudulent, or exploitative under the guise of religion or superstition

---

⚖️ What Does the Act Ban?

It does not target all religious or spiritual practices but focuses on specific actions considered:

• Exploitative

• Violent

• Deceptive

• Unscientific

Examples of Prohibited Practices:

• Claiming to perform miracles or cures to cheat people

• Black magic for harm or control over others

• Human sacrifices or rituals involving physical injury

• Using so-called divine powers to sexually exploit someone

• Forcing people to eat excreta, hair, urine, or other humiliating substances

• Banning people from medical treatment in favor of superstition

---

⚠️ Aghori Practices in the Act

The Act specifically prohibits:

“Practices falsely associated with the so-called Aghori tradition, such as compelling people to eat excreta, urine, or participate in degrading acts under spiritual pretenses.”

• The law targets alleged Aghori rituals when they are used fraudulently or harmfully

• It does not criminalize Aghori identity or beliefs per se

• Legitimate religious asceticism (if non-violent and consensual) is generally not affected

---

🧘🏻 Religious Freedom vs Public Safety

The Act was carefully worded to avoid banning religions or faiths wholesale. Instead, it targets:

• Exploitation of gullible or vulnerable people

• Coercion or harm in the name of spiritual authority

• Commercial or sexual abuse masquerading as spiritual healing

---

📍 States with Similar Laws

Besides Maharashtra, other Indian states have passed or considered similar laws:

• Karnataka passed its own anti-superstition law in 2017

• Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have limited laws targeting black magic or witch-hunting

---

👥 Criticism and Support

Supporters	Critics
Rationalists, human rights groups, medical associations	Some religious conservatives, traditional healers
Say it protects the vulnerable from fraud and harm	Claim it could be misused against cultural or religious traditions

---

Would you like a full list of banned acts under the legislation?

Have a N.I.C.E. day

 

New threat to humanity...or the same old superstition about everything we don´t understand being "demonic"? Is there a ghost in the machine, or are all ghosts just figments of our vivid imagination?

I suppose we´re about to find out. 

Abdullah-town

 

Is this the next suicide cult? A character who calls himself Abdullah Hashem Aba al-Sadiq used to be a student of religion and counter-cult activist before he became a cult leader himself?! I didn´t know that he was briefly based in the Swedish town of Örebro. Iraq, Egypt, Malaysia and the United Kingdom also show up in the story. 

AROPL (as the cult is known) has a bewilderingly eclectic message spiced with disturbing apocalypticism. Note the Woke stuff! It´s very nominally Muslim, but is really a classical personality cult around Abdullah himself. The group´s present compound is in the UK. Indeed, AROPL is registered as a legitimate religion in both the UK and the US. Meanwhile, Abdullah calls on followers to sell their homes, give their money to the cult and come live with him at the compound. 

Same old, same old. Let´s hope it won´t end in the same old way...    

Midnight Man

 

Some kind of Bloody Mary stuff. The YouTube clip above is about a "paranormal" game called Midnight Man, supposedly an ancient pagan ritual. In reality, it´s an internet phenomenon from circa 2010. Another urban legend mentioned in the clip is called the Elevator Game.

Here is what ChatGPT says:

What is the magical ritual known as "Midnight Man"? Is it really an ancient pagan ritual? It seems to be connected to 22 tarot cards, but tarot isn´t really ancient.

The Midnight Man ritual is not an ancient pagan rite, despite some online claims to that effect. Instead, it's best understood as a modern creepypasta or internet urban legend—a fictionalized horror ritual that gained popularity online, particularly around the early 2010s.

Overview of the "Midnight Man" Ritual

According to the lore, the Midnight Man ritual is a game in which participants summon a malevolent entity known as the Midnight Man into their home at exactly midnight, usually by writing their name on a piece of paper, pricking their finger to mark it with blood, and then placing it in front of a door with a candle.

Participants are then supposed to walk around their home in the dark with the candle lit, trying to avoid the Midnight Man until 3:33 a.m. If the candle goes out, it's said the Midnight Man is near—and you must relight it within a short time or risk hallucinations, harm, or spiritual possession.

Connection to Paganism?

• The ritual is often falsely described as an “ancient pagan banishment ritual,” but there’s no credible historical evidence supporting that claim.

• No known pagan culture practiced anything resembling this game.

• The "ancient ritual" framing is part of the horror narrative style, meant to enhance the mystique and danger of the game—it’s fiction, not folklore.

Connection to Tarot?

• Some versions of the Midnight Man story have included a connection to the 22 Major Arcana cards of the tarot, supposedly as symbolic representations of the Midnight Man's moods or stages of the ritual.

• But as you rightly noted, tarot cards are not ancient—they originated in 15th-century Europe as playing cards and only later became associated with mysticism and divination in the 18th–19th centuries.

• The use of the tarot in connection with the Midnight Man is a modern invention, likely meant to add an occult or esoteric flavor.

Bottom Line

• The Midnight Man ritual is fictional, created as a scary game or test of courage (much like Bloody Mary or the Elevator Game).

• There is no historical or pagan origin for the ritual.

• Any connections to tarot or other occult systems are modern embellishments with no authentic tradition behind them.

Would you like a breakdown of the ritual's steps or a comparison to other "paranormal games" from internet folklore?

What is the Elevator Game?

The Elevator Game is a well-known urban legend and supernatural game that allegedly allows a person to enter a different dimension or alternate reality by using an elevator in a very specific way. Like the Midnight Man ritual, it's part of modern internet folklore (often labeled as "creepypasta") and has no basis in real occult practice.

---

🕹️ How the Elevator Game Works (According to the Legend)

To play, you need:

• A building with at least 10 floors.

• A functional elevator that no one else will use during the ritual.

• To be alone while performing the game.

The Basic Steps (Summarized):

1. Enter the elevator on the first floor.

2. Press the buttons in this exact order:

   • 4th floor

   • 2nd floor

   • 6th floor

   • 2nd floor

   • 10th floor

   • 5th floor

3. At the 5th floor, a woman (or "other entity") may enter. You must not speak to or look at her.

4. Press the button for the 1st floor. If the elevator instead goes to the 10th floor, the ritual is working.

5. When you reach the 10th floor, you may choose to step out—this is the “other world.”

   • The “other world” is usually described as empty, dark, and eerie, with red lights outside windows and no signs of life.

   • If you step out, you may have difficulty returning.

To Return:

You must reverse the steps precisely, and even then, it's said that you may find yourself in the wrong version of reality, with subtle or disturbing differences.

---

👻 Themes and Interpretations

• Isolation, thresholds, and liminality are key motifs: you're in a confined space, moving between levels, crossing into the unknown.

• The “woman” on the 5th floor is often likened to a ghost, demon, or test—much like the "stranger" figure in many myths.

• It's part of a modern fascination with forbidden knowledge and hidden portals, especially in online horror culture.

---

🧾 Origins

• The game originated in Korea or Japan, where it circulated on online forums in the early 2010s.

• It gained wider attention after being translated into English and shared on sites like Reddit, YouTube, and creepypasta wikis.

---

🕯️ Real or Not?

• There is no evidence that the Elevator Game leads to anything paranormal. It's a narrative experience, a way to evoke fear and curiosity.

• However, like many urban legends, the story endures because it taps into psychological fears—elevators, being alone, other realities, and the unknown.

Would you like a comparison between the Elevator Game and mythological themes like the descent into the underworld?