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Bathroom Demons

The document discusses the presence of demons in Talmudic thought, particularly focusing on the bathroom demon named Shiriqa Panda. It highlights the belief that these demons are numerous and can cause discomfort, prompting the use of leeks as a protective measure during Rosh Hashanah. The text suggests reciting specific prayers while visualizing leeks to ward off these malevolent spirits.

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cmccarter1112
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15 views2 pages

Bathroom Demons

The document discusses the presence of demons in Talmudic thought, particularly focusing on the bathroom demon named Shiriqa Panda. It highlights the belief that these demons are numerous and can cause discomfort, prompting the use of leeks as a protective measure during Rosh Hashanah. The text suggests reciting specific prayers while visualizing leeks to ward off these malevolent spirits.

Uploaded by

cmccarter1112
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Cover image: Book of Magic and Astrology, Persia, 1921

Rabbis in the Talmudic period were concerned about The demon named in Talmud as THE bathroom demon is
demons. Berakhot 6a says: Shiriqa Panda, who scholars have identified as an ancient
Babylonian demon called Šulak. Here is yet another
R. Joseph said: They are more numerous than we are, and example of how Jews were influenced by the surrounding
they stand around us like a mound to a furrow. R. Huna communities, cultures, and forms of life.
said: Each of us has one thousand to his left and one
thousand to his right. Abaye said: The pressure at the So why leeks to ward off the bathroom demon? The
kallah (the periodic rabbinic public study session in Talmudic Rabbi Abbaye suggested that on Rosh
Babylonia) 18 is from them, and the wearying of one’s Hashanah we should eat (or just look at, depending on
knees is from them, and the wearing out of the garments of who you ask!) a specific list of symbolic foods, which is
scholars is from [the demons’] rubbing, and the bruising of the root of the Sephardic tradition of Rosh Hashana
one’s feet is from them. seders. On the list are leeks. From the seder liturgy:
Makes sense to be concerned if you've got thousands on May it be thy will lord our god and god of our fathers, to
any side of you. Not only are they rubbing on your clothes cut off our enemies and those who hate us and all who
and bruising your feet, they're lurking in the bathroom. seek to do us harm.
The bathroom is a vulnerable place for any of us and
needing to keep an eye out for demons is often the last "Let Thy hand be lifted up above Thine adversaries, And
thing on your mind in there. But, in Shabbat 67a we learn let all Thine enemies be cut off." (Micah 5:8)
that should be at the top of our priorities list:
Leeks are a powerful weapon. While you might not
To be saved from the demon of the bathroom, let him always have leeks on hand to bring into the bathroom
recite as follows: On the head of a lion and on the nose of with you, you could hang this zine near the toilet and
a lioness we found the demon named bar Shirika Panda. recite the text the Rabbis suggest while looking at the
With a bed of leeks I felled him, and with the jaw of the leeks pictured. Better safe than sorry.
donkey I struck him.
‫ְלֵׁש יָדא ְּדֵבית ַהִּכֵּסא‪,‬‬
‫ֵליָמא ָהִכי‪ :‬״ַאַּק ְרָק ֵפי‬
‫ַדֲאִרי ְוַאאֹוֵסי ְדג ּוַרְייָתא‬
‫ַאְׁש ַּכְחּת ּון ְלֵׁש יַדאי ַּבר‬
‫ְׁש ִריָק א ַּפְנָּדא‪ְּ ,‬בֵמיָׁש ָרא‬
‫ְד ַכָּרֵתי ֲחַבְטֵּתי ּה‪ְּ ,‬בלֹוָעא‬
‫ַדֲחָמָרא ֲחַטְרֵּתי ּה״‬

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