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A Series of Lessons on the Inner Teachings of the Philosophies and Religions of India1340
to be in the crowd catch the contagion of the thought and fall victims to
“the psychology of the crowd,” as it is known in the West. All this is a kind of
hypnotism or mesmeric influence, of a certain form known to the fakirs, and
to those who have made a study of the subject. The crowd is placed in a
“suggestible condition,” and filled with the “expectant attention” which is so
important a condition for the successful carrying off of these feats. In addition
to this method, the fakirs also possess the power of “mental materialization”
in which they produce illusion by sending forth strong “thought-forms” of
that which they wish the crowd to see, and which are then apparently “seen”
by the people witnessing the performance, although a photograph snapped
at the time will fail to disclose any of the remarkable scenes being witnessed,
thus proving that the effect is purely psychological. Let us describe a typical
performance of this kind, by one of the best and most successful traveling
fakirs of India, in which the various classes of phenomena are manifested.
At the beginning of the performance, which is given in the open air, in
a large vacant space, the fakir seats himself on the ground in the typical
Hindu fashion, his legs being folded in front of him, and his hands arranged
in the style familiar to those who have seen the image of a Hindu deity
in the temples, and with his eyes closed. The crowd has gathered around
him, at a respectful distance, and prepares for the usual long wait. Then the
assistants of the fakir, usually youths of a tender age, begin to beat cymbals
and drums, not loudly but with a muffled peculiar monotonous sound. Then
the fakir begins to chant slowly and drowsily, choosing words that end in
“um-m-m” sounds (not a difficult thing in India), until after a bit a rhythmic
vibration is set up and the air seems to quiver with its tremulous movement.
Then, perhaps, the assistants will release several cobra snakes from jars, or
boxes, and the serpents will writhe around in harmony with the music, and
lo! they are seen swelling and stretching and increasing in size, until at last
they become as immense boa-constrictors swaying before the affrighted
audience; then at a wave of the fakir’s hand the music changes a little and
the snakes begin to decrease in size until they vanish from sight entirely.