Vishakhatantra Headcanon #3: Classifications of Magical Creatures and Objects
Wizarding worlds has it’s fair share of things, both living and non-living that serve their daily purpose. In Indian wizarding society, each and every magical object is categorized under two types: Gana (tribe) and Guna (quality). The purpose of such classification helps the Magical authority to distinguish harmless things from dark and cursed magical objects or living things.
Gana (tribe)
Ganas correspond to the energy of one of the three worlds: Heaven, Earth and Underworld. The classification of Gana or tribe is usually used for magizoological creatures which are non-human and near human species. These categorization was done under the MPSA (Mayavi Prani Sangrakshan Ain, or Magizoological Creature Protection Act) in 1245 to preserve the diverse species of wizarding world.
The Idea of “Gana” is derived from the energy of 27 astrological constellations, and each Gana has 9 constellations under it’s type. However this classification of Gana uses rank 1 to 9 to denote the strength of each animal within the Gana.
Deva Gana (Divine type)
A creature that falls under the Deva gana is harmless, often vulnerable, of good temperament, benefic and with exceptionally powerful magical qualities. Many of the creatures falling under this category have many coveted skills or powers that humans seek to posses in both magical and non-magical realm. In India, all the magical creatures under the Deva Gana classification are protected by the law of the land and have special sanctuaries made for them for their protection. coming in contact with them, possessing them, domesticating them without permit is a criminal offence and slaying or harming them is enough to land one a death sentence.
Since many of the Deva Gana creatures yield powerful wand cores, they are extremely coveted by Wandmakers. In such cases, special license and non-slaying agreement to the Indian Wizarding Government must be acquired to be in contact with them. Currently India has Three sanctuaries for Deva Gana Creatures: Shambala (or Shangri-La) in the Himalayas, Dandaka Forest in Central India, and Laccadweep in the western sea: suitable for cold, humid and marine area magical creatures.
Some of the Deva gana creatures protected by Indian Wizarding government are:
Occamy (Paksinaga): grade 1 (Dandaka)
Pegasus (Pakshiraj): grade 7 (Shambala)
Phoenix (Agnipakshi): grade 5 (shambala)
Unicorn (Ekshringa): grade 3 (Dandaka)
Capricorn (Makara): grade 2 (Laccadweep)
Runespoor (Ahirbudhanya): grade 9 (Laccadweep)
Manushya Gana (Human type)
These creatures are graded as safe to cohabit with humans and creatures. These are harmless to medium harmful, but they have mastered the ability to live alongside humans. Some of them are capable of human speech and enjoys human company. Manushya Gana species are categorised according to how close their physical appearance is to the human ones, the closer the appearance, the high the grade.
Lower grade type can be approached, while higher types must be respected as individuals with free will. Higher grade Human tribe species are more physically and mentally powerful than human wizards. Such creatures are allowed to study magic if they are categorised as possessing 60% of human qualities and agree on to swear to harm no human or creature unlawfully in Non-Violence Perpetuity Contract of 768.
Humans cannot establish marital, Romantic or sexual relationships with lower grade creatures of this tribe (or vice versa).The offspring of such union will be slain by the state as a Violation of MPSA act, and the parties involved will be sentenced to death; in case of force or coercion the guilty party would be put to death. Such relationship with Higher grade is it valid with mutual consent. Friendships and other platonic relationship is valid for all grade creatures of this kind.
Some of the Manushya Gana creatures are:
Grade 1-3 (Creatures, Can be approached as benign animals): Mooncalves, Golden swan, Demiguise, Salamander, Niffler etc.
Grade 4-6 (Individuals, Sexual/romantic/marital relationship forbidden, cannot be domesticated): Asvini (Indian Centaurs), Hayagriva (Horse Head, Human body), Vanara (Humanoid Apes), Sarpa (Snake humans) etc, Garuda (Head of eagle, body of man, can fly), Matsyamanav (Merpeople), Daitya (Giants),
Grade 7-9 (individuals; romantic, sexual or marital relationship is legal): Gandharva (human looking male enchanters), Kinnar (Hermaphroditic celestial creatures), Apsara (female gandharva), Naga (humans who can transform into great snakes), Yaksha (humanoid natural spirits), Asura (Demigods)
Rakshasa Gana (Demonic Type)
As the name says, creatures under this category are classified as dangerous and unfit to cohabit within civilized atmosphere and must live away from humans in a secluded place. A colony of such creatures must not have any Deva or Manushya type population within 10 km radius.
The only race that ever ascended from Rakshasa gana to Manushya Gana is the Asuras. The Royal Edict of King Bali was issued when he surrendered his sins as Asura to Buddha and ordered for all Asura kind to cohabit with the humans ever so peacefully. Other such creatures did not agree on this and they declared enmity towards the Human and Divine type creatures. A treaty was signed where the Wizarding laws won’t be applicable to the Demonic types as long as they are on their designated colonies. Once they cross their territory and come to Wizarding soil, they would be subjected to the laws of wizards.
The grades 1-9 is used for these categories: corporeality, size, resembling human form, intelligence and danger level. Some of these creatures are still coveted for wandmaking, mnemonic magic and potion making. In such cases skilled aurors shall accompany wandmakers and ingredient hunters with high-confidentiality permit. Since wizarding laws don’t apply on them, they need to be extra careful. Some of these creatures are:
Grade 1-3 (mild malignant, unable to hold corporal body): Bhoot (ghost), Atma (non corporeal departed spirits), Mohini (white enchantress of the night), Jogini (powerful spirit of a female witch, who died during rituals)
Grade 4-6: (able to hold corporal body, can inflict considerable harm) Pishach (Indian vampires), Aghori (corpse eaters), Preta (Hungry, vengeful ghosts) Bramharakshash (Malignant Spirit of a Dead Scholar), Khokhosh (Small pygmy like creatures), Takshak (Snakes with feet), Betaal (Vengeful natural spirit)
Grade 7-9: (has colossal corporal body, very strong, intelligent, very dangerous): Dragons (western), Rakshash (Demons with human shapes), Danava (demons with non-human shapes), Kalkeya (Dark demonlike creatures that can change from corporal to non-corporal), Daini (Dark witch who turned a demoness), Damor (Indian Incubus), Damri (Indian Succubus)
Guna (quality)
In Tantra or High Philosophy, all things are made of essentially three essences or qualities. These qualities determine the nature of things and keep the balance of nature. These three gunas are used in Indian Wizarding world to signify branches of magic, magical activity, place and energy under the Wizarding Law of India.
Satva Guna (Quality of Preservation)
“Satva” is granted as the essence of living being, the soul and the power that preserves. Dominance of Satva in a magic makes it peaceful, healing, balancing, pleasant to the mind and body and enhances mental agility in such a state. Satva is the essential quality of the Deva Gana creatures and lower branches of Manusya gana creatures. This quality rejects anything dark, defiled or corrupt and thus such existence must always be present in the service of the Good. such as Law enforcement, Jury, etc.
Although Satva guna is called the Best quality of the Three, it lacks greatly in drive and creativity and it is very passive in nature. Healing magic, Charms, Spirit Fire, Patronus, Corporeal magic, History of Magic, Ayurveda (Indian Herbology), Care of Magical Creatures, Mnemonic magic, some branches of Legillimency are considered Satvik (possessing the quality of Satva) in Indian Magic. People who mostly practice Satvik magic has the same temperament in their characters: they are calm, affectionate of all, peace and justice loving, forgiving, believer of truth and morality and they make great teachers, healers, diplomats, scholars and researchers. These qualities are also imparted in some wand woods and cores which are also marked as Satvik.
Rajas Guna (Quality of Creation and taking action)
“Rajas“ is granted as the life force of living being, the will to live and the power that creates, initiates actions and acts. Dominance of Rajas in a magic makes them simulating, exciting, that induces creativity, emotional discharges and motivates the wizards to take action. Rajas is the essential guna of all the creature because it is the passion, hunger, sexual impulses and emotional responses that makes their life meaningful in the Earth.
In High Philosophy or Tantra, Magic itself is a Rajasic existence, because it forces mundane human beings to be creative with higher power. Despite that, there are specific magical branches that are more rajasik than others. Battle Magic, Spell seals, Sacred Mathematics, Alchemy, all are considered “Rajasik” (Possessing the quality of Rajas). People who mostly practice Rajasic Magic are lively tempered, easily excited, creative, impulsive, original, go-getters and followers of principles and they always make great politicians, aurors, entrepreneurs, magical artists or architects even experimental practitioners. These qualities are also imparted in some wand wood and cores which are also marked as Rajasik.
Tama Guna (Quality of restriction, destruction and Transformation)
“Tama“ is granted as the force that destroys, restricts and transforms. Tama is limitation, destructive force and power to change one form of energy to the other. Dominance of Tama in a magic makes it destructive, illusion-inducing, transmuting, restricting and fear inducing. Tama is the quality that enables the creatures to rest, to fear the danger and die in order to survive in their lifetime.
Tama is often misinterpreted as something “Dark” or “Defiled”. Although Tama is the essential quality in Dark Magic, but it is also prevalent in Light Magic. It is said that western Magic is More Tamasic and Eastern Magic is More Rajasic in Nature. Thus many of the Western Magical Branches: Defence Against the dark arts, Transfiguration, Potion making, are considered Tamasic in Nature. People who practice Tamasic Magic (on the side of Light Magic) are very restrictive, rule following, inflexible, practical individuals, who would rather follow textbook rules than doing anything original. People who practice Dark Tamasic Magic are violent, ruthless, uncouth and often manipulating in nature. Tamasic qualities when harnessed positively makes one great soldier, wizard lawyers, Unspeakables and other job-holders that require restriction and secrecy. There are wand cores and wand woods that are also marked as Tamasik.
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