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Maciej Karasinski

2 papers in the library · publishing 2026

Papers

The Abodes of Serpents and Dancing Leopards: Tantric Spirituality and Reverential Eco-Fear in Sacred Groves (kāvus) of Kerala

Entangled Religions July 16, 2026 Maciej Karasinski, Fathima Fasleena

Sacred groves (kāvus) in Kerala hold deep cultural and spiritual significance, shaped by indigenous reverence, fear, and awe of nature. Using textual sources, oral exegesis, and anthropological fieldwork, the article examines spaces within the groves designated for Tantric healing and empowerment. It focuses on indigenous reverential eco-fear, festival rituals, acts reversing misfortune, and the conferral of blessings at Kaḷiyāṭṭakkāvu. The paper also explores how mantravādins and Tantric experts invoke animal spirits and interact with natural and supernatural environments. Indigenous environmental knowledge emerges from encounters between humans, forest spirits, multi-faith communities, and local Tantric experts, motivated by fear.

DOI: 10.46586/er.16.2026.12611 (opens in new tab) Shamanism Spirituality Indigenous culture Traditional knowledge +10

The Blessing of the Monkeys, the Whisper of Enchanted Stones: A Case Study of Indigenous Ecology in the Sacred Groves of Kerala (India) and Nagarkot (Nepal)

Religions February 12, 2026 Maciej Karasinski, Prasad Erancheri

Sacred groves in South Asia are dynamic spaces where non-human entities actively participate in spiritual and ecological processes, not merely passive backdrops for human rituals. Comparing a sacred grove in Kerala, India, and shamanic forests in Nagarkot, Nepal, the paper shows that monkeys in the Indian grove are perceived as emissaries of spiritual-natural forces that preserve the ecosystem, while trees and stones in Nepal act as spiritual guides or manifestations of nature's spirit. Combining ethnographic, botanical, and philological research, the work highlights indigenous ecological knowledge transmitted through ritual, spirit possession, trance, and visionary journeys.

DOI: 10.3390/rel17020224 (opens in new tab) Shamanism Indigenous Blessing Ethnography +15