Spirit possession and ritual praxis in North Malabar: the Teyyam
Theodore Gabriel
Equinox Publishing eBooks November 1, 2010 DOI: 10.1558/equinox.24457 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the Teyyam ritual's popularity stems from its charismatic and ecstatic nature, which provides devotees with a visual and easily accessible revelation of god, making it particularly significant for untouchable and tribal communities in northern Kerala. |
Abstract
The Teyyam, we have seen, is the ritual par excellence in northern Kerala for the untouchable and tribal sections of society, which also attracts considerable attention from other caste groups and even from followers of other religions. The popularity of the ritual resides in its obvious charismatic, ecstatic and awe-inspiring nature and the fact that the devotees can have a visual and easily accessible revelation of god in this ritual.