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

Abstract

The article explores the cultural significance of the sacred groves (kāvus) of Kerala and their relationship to various notions of nature, ecology and indigenous spirituality. We employ a mixed method of research that combines textual sources and oral exegesis as well as anthropological fieldwork to investigate the spaces within the kāvus that are designated for Tantric healing and empowerment. We pursue this line of inquiry with particular attention to the idea of indigenous reverential eco-fear, the fear and awe that indigenous communities have of the sacredness of nature. In the first part of the paper, we attempt to shed light on the Tantric spirituality of the groves by analyzing the indigenous reverential eco-fear, the festival rituals, the acts of reversal of misfortune and the conferral of blessings in Kaḷiyāṭṭakkāvu. The second part of the paper examines how the mantravādins and Tantric experts invoked the various animal spirits and interacted with the natural and supernatural environment through spiritual practices. The paper shows how different forms of indigenous environmental knowledge are motivated by fear and how they emerge from encounters between humans and forest spirits, multi-faith communities and local Tantric experts.