Folk Lore Notes. Vol. I—Gujarat

Dākans are of two kinds, human and of the order of ghosts.1

Girls born in the Ashlesha nakshatra on the bij or second day of a month, in the Kritika nakshatra on the seventh day of a month and in the Shatabhigha nakshatra on the twelfth day of a month, are believed to be human dākans. They cause the death of their husbands, and their evil eye injures all things and individuals that come under its influence.2

Women who die in child-bed, meet an untimely death or commit suicide, become Dākans or Chudels after death.2

Some people believe that women of such low castes as Kolis, Vāghris and Chārans become Dākans. High caste Dākans are rare.3

A ghostly Dākan dresses in fine clothes and decks her person with ornaments. But she does not cover her back, which is horrible to look at. It is so frightful that any one happening to see it dies of horror.4

Ghostly Dākans trouble only women. When possessed by them, the latter have convulsive fits, loose their hair, and cry out without any reason.5

A ghostly Dākan lives with a man as his wife, brings him dainties and turns the refuse of food into flesh and bones. The man gradually becomes emaciated and ultimately dies.6

It is believed that generally a Dākan kills a man within six months.7

The Dākans do not allow calves to suck, cattle to give milk, and healthy persons to enjoy sound health. Sometimes they cause cattle to yield blood instead of milk.8

A Dākan by virtue of her powers, can ascend to the sky. She lives upon the flesh of corpses.9

A Dākan can assume any form she likes. She appears as a cat, a buffalo, a goat or any other animal. She can swell and shrink her body at will. Her feet are reversed.10

Dākans haunt trees, cemeteries, deserted tanks, mines or other desolate places.11

They also haunt ruins and places where four roads meet.12