Herbert William Magoun - The Asuri Kalpa A Witchcraft Practice of the Atharva Veda (2.0 MB)
Book downloads: 555
The ritual literature of the Atharva-Veda, like that of the other Vedas, has attached to itself certain parifistas, or supplements. Of these, the thirty-fifth, according to the best accessible MS, is the Asurl-Kalpa, an abhicara, or witchcraft practice, containing rites to be used in connection with the asurl-plant. The question as to what this plant was will be discussed below. The use of the word kalpa for such a text is explained by a passage in the Atharvanlya-Paddhati, which states, on the authority of Uparvarsa,' that ... More >>>Book can be downloaded.
Note that, unfortunately, not all my books can be downloaded due to the restrictions of copyright. However, most of the books on this site do not have copyright restrictions. If you find any copyright violation, please contact me at 
. I am very attentive to the issue of copyright and try to avoid any violations, but on the other hand to help all fans of magic to get access to information.
If you are having difficulty downloading books, or you are looking for a book that is not on the site (but maybe it is in my home library), please write me a email to
and I will try to help, I can send the book by e-mail
✦ A Call to the Kind-Hearted ✦
Since the dark moon of early 2008, darkbooks.org has endured as a sanctuary for those who seek forbidden knowledge and sacred fire. I give freely of my time to keep this library breathing — but time, like flame, is not without its fuel.
The keeping of this archive, the tending of the digital hearth, and the answering of messages from kindred spirits — all these I do between the labors of earthly survival. My days are divided between devotion and the demands of coin, for the mortal world does not pay in candles and dreams.
Should you find it within your heart to make a contribution, know that your gift lightens my burden and lengthens the hours I may spend among the tomes. Even the smallest coin, placed upon the altar of this work, helps keep the servers breathing and the gates open.
Let this work endure.
Let the library grow.
Let knowledge remain free as fire and as ancient as bone.
The ritual literature of the Atharva-Veda, like that of the other Vedas, has attached to itself certain parifistas, or supplements. Of these, the thirty-fifth, according to the best accessible MS, is the Asurl-Kalpa, an abhicara, or witchcraft practice, containing rites to be used in connection with the asurl-plant. The question as to what this plant was will be discussed below. The use of the word kalpa for such a text is explained by a passage in the Atharvanlya-Paddhati, which states, on the authority of Uparvarsa,' that in addition to the five AV. kalpas--Kau9ika, Vaitana, Naksatra, ^anti, and Angirasa -- which are called ' inspired,' there are certain other kalpas which are to be considered as smrti ' handed down by tradition.'
Three MSS have been consulted in preparing this paper. Two of them are copies ofjhe parifistas of the AV. the third is a commentary to the Asuri-Kalpa. All three are loans to Dr. Bloomfield from the British Government in India, Just here I may say that I am greatly indebted to Dr. Bloomfield for the use of these MSS, for the encouragement and assistance which he has given me, and for his kindness in looking over my work. (Herbert William Magoun)
