KOR | THE COVETOUS SPIRIT OF THE LIVING

There are two types of living person's spirits called Soen-drey (གསོན་འདྲེ) and Kor (དཀོར) in the beliefs of Bonism and Buddhism. If a person is possessed by Soendrey, he or she suffers from backache and often marks of scratches are left on the back. Buddhist's belief on Kor differ slightly from that of Bon. However, both agree on its existence. 

Simply put, Kor is a covetous spirit of the living that gets attracted towards somebody's possessions and wealth. Say for example, if I desire for my neighbour's milking cow, the next day, their cow will either suffer from diarrhea or it will stop to dispense milk. There will also be various illnesses at home often causing deaths. If one's house is possessed by Kor, wine brewed at home gets spoiled. Soen-drey, on the other hand, is a living person's spirit that gets attracted towards the opposite sex for their appearance and bodily appeals, often sexually. 

To ward off Kor, from Bon tradition, the popular ritual was 'Kor-mem choeni'. A Pow or Paam performs a ritual in the middle of the night and lures the Kor spirit to come into the home possessed by the spirit. Foods and drinks of varieties are displayed to attract the spirit. Near the foods, a snare made out of zam (earthen pot) is laid to capture the wandering soul. Lights should be put out completely. The Pow or Paam will begin interacting with the Kor spirit. "Kor-ka Sho-wai" is repeated to lure the spirit. Kor refuses to come if it senses anyone staying awake. One time, during the ritual, a member of the house could not control his fart, and as he farted, Kor overheard and ran off. So, there has to be pin-drop silence. 

Moment the Kor moves furtively towards the food, like a rat's trap, the spirit touches the hook and the pot falls over it. Instantaneously, the Pow or Paam will step onto the pot and subjugate the spirit with a mantra that basically warns the spirit never to return to this house. Elderly folks who had witnessed this Kor-mem ritual proceedings say that they would also hear the spirit struggle inside the pot making some creepy noises. 

The covetous person who transmitted Kor and later subjugated by a Pow or Paam would be found bedridden the next day, is what most elders say. 

As a mark of warning, an earthen pot is hung upside down from the ceiling of the entrance of the main door.

This Bon tradition, once widely practiced in the west and central region of Bhutan is no longer seen.

Picture: Atlas Bhutan Tours and Travels.