NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Snake charming

Snake charming is the practice of apparently hypnotising a snake by simply playing an instrument. A typical performance may also include handling the snakes or performing other seemingly dangerous acts as well as other street performance staples like juggling and sleight of hand. The practice is most common in India though other Asian nations such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia are also home to performers as are the North African countries of Egypt, Morocco, and [[Tunisia].] Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (2304 Ã— 3072 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (2304 Ã— 3072 pixel, file size: 3. ... Jaipur (Hindi: à¤œà¤¯à¤ªà¥à¤°, Urdu: Ø¬Û’ Ù¾ÙˆØ±), also popularly known as the Pink City, historically sometimes rendered as Jeypore, is the capital of Rajasthan state, India. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 934 KB) Other versions Originally from en. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 934 KB) Other versions Originally from en. ... This article is about the urban region that is the capital of India. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Hypnosis, as defined by the American Psychological Association Division of Psychological Hypnosis, is a procedure during which a health professional or researcher suggests that a client, patient, or experimental participant experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior. ... blue: sea snakes, black: land snakes Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenopeltidae Typhlopoidea Anomalepididae Leptotyphlopidae Typhlopidae Xenophidia Acrochordidae Atractaspididae Colubridae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Viperidae For other uses, see Snake (disambiguation). ... Busking is the practice of doing live performances in public places to entertain people, usually to solicit donations and tips. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Sleight-of-hand, also known as legerdemain, is a technique of close-up magic in which small items are concealed in and around the performers hands, sometimes by the use of misdirection, to enhance the illusion being performed. ... Northern Africa (UN subregion) geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, generally divided politically from Sub-Saharan Africa. ...

Ancient Egypt was home to one form of snake charming, though the practice as it exists today likely arose in India. It eventually spread throughout Southeast Asia the Middle East and North Africa Despite a sort of golden age in the 20th century snake charming is today in danger of dying out. This is due to a variety of factors chief among them the recent enforcement of a 1972 law in India banning ownership of serpents. In retaliation snake charmers have organized in recent years protesting the loss of their only means of livelihood, and the government has made some overtures to them. Khafres Pyramid (4th dynasty) and Great Sphinx of Giza (c. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... blue: sea snakes, black: land snakes Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenopeltidae Typhlopoidea Anomalepididae Leptotyphlopidae Typhlopidae Xenophidia Acrochordidae Atractaspididae Colubridae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Viperidae For other uses, see Snake (disambiguation). ...

Many snake charmers live a wandering existence visiting towns and villages on market days and during festivals. With a few rare exceptions however they typically make every effort to keep themselves from harm's way. For one the charmer typically sits out of biting range and his animal is sluggish and reluctant to attack anyway. More drastic means of protection include removing the creature's fangs or venom glands or even sewing the snake's mouth shut. The most popular species are those native to the snake charmer's home region typically various kinds of cobra though vipers and other types are also used. Look up Market in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A festival is an event, usually staged by a local community, which centers on some unique aspect of that community. ... Look up fang in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Egyptian Cobra Cobras are venomous snakes of family Elapidae, of several genera. ... A viper is a venomous snake belonging to the Viperidae family. ...

History

Though serpents have featured prominently in man's religions for centuries, the earliest evidence for snake charming comes from Ancient Egyptian sources. Charmers there mainly acted as magicians and healers. As literate and high-status men, part of their studies involved learning the various types of snake, the gods to whom they were sacred, and how to treat those who were bitten by the reptiles. Entertainment was also part of their repertoire, and they knew how to handle the animals and charm them for their patrons.^{[citation needed]} John Dee and Edward Kelley evoking a spirit: Elizabethans who claimed magical knowledge A magician is a person skilled in the mysterious and hidden art of magic, which can be described as either the act of entertaining with tricks that are in apparent violation of natural law, such as those... medicines, see medication and pharmacology. ...

Snake charming as it exists today probably originated in India.^{[citation needed]} Hinduism has long held serpents to be sacred; the animals are related to the Nagas, and many gods are pictured under the protection of the cobra. Indians thus considered snake charmers to be holy men who were influenced by the gods.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1256x2032, 268 KB) Description: Title: de: BhÃ¢gavata-PurÃ¢na-Manuskript, Szene: Krishna bezwingt die Schlange Kaliya Technique: de: Papier Dimensions: de: 34,4 Ã— 21,6 cm Country of origin: de: Indien Current location (city): de: Kotah Current location (gallery): de... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1256x2032, 268 KB) Description: Title: de: BhÃ¢gavata-PurÃ¢na-Manuskript, Szene: Krishna bezwingt die Schlange Kaliya Technique: de: Papier Dimensions: de: 34,4 Ã— 21,6 cm Country of origin: de: Indien Current location (city): de: Kotah Current location (gallery): de... Hinduism (known as in some modern Indian languages[1]) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ... The nagas ( snake) are an ancient race of snake-humanoid beings first depicted in ancient Vedic Hindu mythology and oral folklore from at least 5000 B.C.E. Stories involving the Nagas are still very much a part of contemporary cultural traditions in predominantly Hindu (India, Nepal, and the island...

The earliest snake charmers were likely traditional healers by trade. As part of their training, they learned to treat snakebite. Many also learned proper snake handling techniques, and people called on them to remove serpents from their homes. Baba Gulabgir (or Gulabgarnath) became their Guru, since his legend states that he taught people to revere the reptiles, not fear them.^{[citation needed]} The practice eventually spread to nearby regions, ultimately reaching North Africa and Southeast Asia. The term traditional medicine is used with two main meanings. ... A snakebite, or snake bite, is a bite inflicted by a snake. ... Snake handling is a religious ritual in a small number of Christian churches in the U.S., usually characterized as rural and Pentecostal. ... Guru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

The early 20th century proved something of a golden age for snake charmers. Governments promoted the practice to draw tourism, and snake charmers were often sent overseas to perform at cultural festivals and for private patrons. In addition, the charmers provided a valuable source of snake venom for creating antivenins.^{[citation needed]} Tourists on OÊ»ahu, Hawaii Tourism is travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act. ... A festival or fest is an event, usually staged by a local community, which centers on some theme, sometimes on some unique aspect of the community. ... Antivenin (or antivenom, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ...

Today, only about one million snake charmers remain in India; theirs is a dying profession. One reason for this is the rise of cable television; nature documentaries have extinguished much of the fear and revulsion once felt toward the animals and thus demystified the snake charmer. In addition, many people have less spare time than they once did, especially children, who in previous decades could watch a charmer all day with no commitments to school. Animal-rights groups have also made an impact by decrying what they deem to be the abuse of a number of endangered species. Another factor is urbanisation and deforestation, which have made the snakes upon which the charmers rely increasingly rare. This has in turn given rise to the single most important reason snake charming is declining, at least in India: It is no longer legal.^source Coaxial cable is often used to transmit cable television into the house. ... A nature documentary is a documentary film about animals, plants, or other non-human living creatures, usually concentrating on film taken in their natural habitat. ... A civet, or sea fox, photographed in the Zigong Peoples Zoo, Sichuan, 2001. ... The Siberian Tiger, a subspecies of tiger. ... Urbanization is the degree of or increase in urban character or nature. ... Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forest land use such as arable land, pasture, urban use, logged area or wasteland. ...

India passed the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972. The law originally aimed at preventing the export of snakeskins, introducing a seven-year prison term for owning or selling of the creatures. Beginning in the late 1990s, however, animal-rights groups convinced the government to enforce the law with regard to snake charmers as well. As a result, the charmers were forced to move their performances to less-travelled areas such as small villages, or else to pay hefty bribes when caught by police officers. The trade is hardly a profitable one anymore, and many practitioners must supplement their income by begging, scavenging, or working as day labourers. Children of snake charmers increasingly decide to leave the profession to pursue higher-paying work, and many fathers do not try to make them reconsider. Modern Indians often view snake charmers as little more than beggars.^{[citation needed]} The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 refers to a sweeping package of legislation enacted in 1972 by the Government of India. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Beggars in Samarkand, 1905 Begging includes the various methods used by persons to obtain money, food, shelter, drugs, alcohol, or other things from people they encounter during the course of their travels. ... Scavenging consists of pushing the exhausted gas-charge out of the cylinder, and drawing in a fresh draught of air ready for the next cycle. ... In classical economics and all micro-economics labour is one of three factors of production, the others being land and capital. ...

In recent years, however, the snake charmers have struck back. In 2003, for example, hundreds of them gathered at the temple of Charkhi Dadri in Haryana to bring international attention to their plight. In December of the following year, a group of snake charmers actually stormed the legislature of the Indian state of Orissa with their demands, all the while brandishing their animals. The Indian government and various animal-rights groups have now acknowledged the problem. One suggestion is to train the performers to be snake caretakers and educators. In return, they could sell their traditional medicines as souvenirs. Another proposal would try to focus attention on the snake charmer's music; the charmer would be like other street musicians. The Indian government has also begun allowing a limited number of snake charmers to perform at specified tourist sites.^{[citation needed]} 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... // Charkhi Dadri is a town in Haryana, India. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Orissa (Oriya: à¬“à¬¡à¬¼à¬¿à¬¶à¬¾), is a state situated on the east coast of India. ...

Performance technique

Snake charmers typically walk the streets holding their serpents in baskets or pots hanging from a bamboo pole slung over the shoulder. Charmers cover these containers with cloths between performances. Dress in India and neighbouring countries is generally the same: long hair, a white turban, earrings, and necklaces of shells or beads. Once the performer finds a satisfactory location to set up, he sets his pots and baskets about him (often with the help of a team of assistants who may be his apprentices) and sits cross-legged on the ground in front of a closed pot or basket. He removes the lid, then begins playing a flute-like instrument made from a gourd, known as a been or pungi. As if drawn by the tune, a snake eventually emerges from the container; if a cobra, it may even extend its hood. The reptile then begins swaying to and fro in time with the musician's tune, apparently hypnotised. The snake never strikes, and the charmer may go as far as kissing the creature on the head.^{[citation needed]} Amazed onlookers throw coins and bills to the successful performer. Eventually, as if on cue, the snake returns to its container, the charmer replaces the lid, and he gathers up his earnings. Alternatively, the charmer may handle his animals, daring his audience to touch them. Almost no one does. Once he has earned all he can from his current viewers, he moves on to perform somewhere else. If youre looking for the TV show, see The Apprentice. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A pungi or been is the musical instrument played by snake charmers. ... The hood is the name in anatomy for the flap of skin behind the head of cobras, which can be used to make the snake appear bigger. ...

In reality, standing erect and extending the hood is a normal defensive reaction for a cobra and simply indicates the snake's startled reaction to losing its darkened environment. Charmers may even wave their instrument over the opening (in such a way as to not arouse audience attention) in order to prompt the creature to emerge. As for the snake's swaying movement, it is actually a reaction to the movement of the performer's instrument and sometimes the tapping of his foot. The animal cannot actually hear the tune being played, though it can perhaps feel some of the sound vibrations as well as those from any tapping by the charmer. The serpent's evident reluctance to attack is explained by its timid nature; most snakes prefer to scare off possible predators rather than fight them. Most snake charmers reduce the chances of a bite even further by sitting just out of striking range (about one-third of a cobra's body length). Even kissing the creature is not too dangerous, as cobras are incapable of attacking things above them. Though some claim that snake charmers drug the animals, this is rare, if it occurs at all. In addition, many snake charmers learn to read their animals and can tell when they are ready to strike. In a worst-case scenario, most snake charmers know at least rudimentary methods of treating snakebite. The return to its container is caused by the snake charmer stopping his waving motion. Even the reptile's receptacle plays a part, as it keeps the snake's blood temperature down and the animal groggy.^{[citation needed]} Oral medication A medication is any drug taken to cure or reduce the symptoms of an illness or ongoing medical condition. ...

Charmers often supplement their performances with juggling, sleight of hand, and other tricks. One occasional feat is "turning a rod into a serpent", a trick that has been known since Biblical times (see Exodus 7:12). This is reportedly accomplished by putting pressure on a particular nerve behind the snake's head, which causes it to stiffen up.^{[citation needed]} Sometimes, charmers stage mock combats between their snakes and other animals, such as mongooses. North African snake charmers usually set up battery-powered loudspeakers with which they advertise a wide array of charms, medicines, and healthcare pamphlets. They may also demand exorbitant fees from hapless tourists who snap photographs of them.^{[citation needed]} It has been suggested that Pharaoh of the Exodus be merged into this article or section. ... Subfamiles Herpestinae A mongoose is a member of the family of small cat-like carnivores. ...

The snakes

The first task a would-be snake charmer must tackle is to get a snake. Traditionally, this is done by going out into the wilderness and capturing one, not too difficult, as most South Asian and North African snakes tend to be slow movers. The exercise also teaches the hunter how to handle the wild reptiles. Today, however, more and more charmers buy their animals from snake dealers. A typical charmer takes in about seven animals per year.^{[citation needed]}

The exact species of serpents used varies by region. In India, the Indian cobra is preferred, though some charmers may also use Russell's vipers. Indian and Burmese pythons, and even Mangrove Snakes are also encountered, though they are not as popular. In North Africa, the Egyptian cobra, puff adder, carpet viper and horned desert viper are commonly feature in performances.^{[citation needed]} Except for the pythons, all of these species are highly venomous.^{[citation needed]} Binomial name Naja naja Linnaeus, 1758 The Indian Cobra or Spectacled Cobra (Naga Raja) is a species of venomous snake native to the Indian subcontinent. ... Binomial name Daboia russelii (Shaw & Nodder, 1797) Synonyms Daboia - Gray, 1840 (nomen nudum) Daboia - Gray, 1842 Chersophis - Fitzinger, 1843 Daboya - Hattori, 1913[1] Coluber russelii - Shaw & Nodder, 1797 Coluber Russelii - Shaw, 1802 Coluber Daboie - Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801 Coluber trinoculus - Schneider In Bechstein, 1802 Vipera daboya - Daudin, 1803 Vipera... Trinomial name Python molurus bivittatus Kuhl, 1820 The Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus) is a very large python native to southern Asia, and common in the exotic pet trade. ... Mangrove snake may refer to: Boiga Liophis cobellus Category: ... (Naja haje) (asp) is a type of venomous snake native to North Africa and the Middle East. ... Binomial name Bitis arietans (Merrem, 1820) Synonyms Cobra lachesis - Laurenti, 1768 Cobra clotho - Laurenti, 1768 [Coluber] Lachesis - Gmelin, 1788 [Coluber] Clotho - Gmelin, 1788 C[oluber]. Bitin - Bonnaterre, 1790 Col[uber]. Intumescens - Donndorff, 1798 Vipera severa - Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801 [Vipera (Echidna)] arietans - Merrem, 1820 Vipera inflata - Burchell, 1822 Echidna... Synonyms Echis - Merrem, 1820 Toxicoa - Gray, 1849 Turanechis - Cherlin, 1990[1] Common names: saw-scaled vipers, carpet vipers. ... Binomial name Cerastes cerastes (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms [Coluber] Cerastes - Linnaeus, 1758 Coluber cornutus - Linnaeus In Hasselquist, 1762 Cerastes cornutus - ForskÃ¥l, 1775 Vipera Cerastes - Sonnini & Latreille, 1801 Cerastes Hasselquistii - Gray, 1842 Cerastes Aegyptiacus - DumÃ©ril, Bibron & DumÃ©ril, 1854 Echidna atricaudata - DumÃ©ril, Bibron & DumÃ©ril, 1854 Vipera Avicennae - Jan... It has been suggested that Snake poison be merged into this article or section. ...

At home, snake charmers keep their animals in containers such as baskets, boxes, pots, or sacks. They must then train the creatures before bringing them out into public. For those charmers who do not de-fang their pets, this may include introducing the snake to a hard object similar to the punji. The snake supposedly learns that striking the object only causes pain.^{[citation needed]}

The care given to performing serpents is often described as poor at best. In an effort to remove any danger from their performances, snake charmers routinely de-fang their animals or remove their venom glands. An even more severe technique is to actually sew the creature's mouth shut, leaving only a small opening through which its tongue may flick in and out (the stitches can be removed for periodic feedings). An even more extreme method is total removal of the animal's jawbone and the venom glands with it. These methods often cause infection [1] and lead to the snake's death. Jawbone can refer to the following: part of the body Mandibula A blues musician Jawbone (musician) A musical instrument made from the jawbone of a horse. ... An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. ...

Feeding methods are often no better. Some snake charmers give their animals only milk, which the snakes are incapable of digesting (though some sources claim this practice is a myth). Others feed them leaves and herbs that are thought to cause the snakes to become lethargic and confused. Still others do not feed them at all and simply find new animals once the old ones die. Animal-rights groups report an average lifespan of six months for a performing snake^{[citation needed]}.

Steve Irwin had also stated such ideas, saying that the snakes will slowly die after their fangs are ripped. Additionally, he had said that to the viewers to "Never stop and pay money to these people(snake charmers)". Stephen Robert Steve Irwin (February 22, 1962 â€“ April 25, 2007), nicknamed The Crocodile Hunter, was an Australian wildlife expert and television personality. ...

That said, a few snake charmers treat their animals quite well, feeding them properly and not maiming them in any way. In fact, some performers seem to have an uncanny rapport with their snakes, the reptiles seeming almost tame. These charmers may even learn rudimentary veterinary medicine.^{[citation needed]} Veterinary medicine is the application of medical, diagnostic, and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife, and production animals. ...

Lifestyle

Snake charming is typically an inherited profession. Most would-be charmers thus begin learning the practice at a young age from their fathers. Part of this is due to India's caste system; as members of the Sapera or Sapuakela castes, snake charmers have little other choice of profession. In fact, entire settlements of snake charmers and their families exist in some parts of India and neighbouring countries.^{[citation needed]} In Bangladesh, snake charmers are typically members of the Bedey ethnic group. They tend to live by rivers and use them to boat to different towns on market days and during festivals. North African charmers usually set up in open-air markets and souks for their performances. Their trade is primarily aimed at the tourist market, so they tend to work in resort towns and near large hotels.^{[citation needed]} The word Caste is derived from the Portuguese word casta, meaning lineage, breed or race. ... The souq in Marrakech, Morocco A souk (Ø³ÙˆÙ‚, also sook, souq, or suq) is a commercial quarter in an Arab city. ...

In previous eras, snake charming was often the charmer's only source of income. This is less true today, as many charmers also scavenge, scrounge, sell items such as amulets and jewelry, or perform at private parties to make ends meet. Snake charmers are often regarded as traditional healers and magicians, as well, especially in rural areas. These charmers concoct and sell all manner of potions and unguents that purportedly do anything from curing the common cold to raising the dead. They also act as a sort of pest control, as villagers and city-dwellers alike call on them to rid homes of snakes (though some accuse snake charmers of releasing their own animals in order to receive the fee for simply catching them again).^{[citation needed]} Pest control refers to the regulation or management of another species defined as a pest, usually because it is detrimental to a persons health, the ecology or the economy. ...

References

Contents

History

Performance technique

The snakes

Lifestyle

References

See also