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.