Trance and Spirit Possession
Ideas of Possession October 29, 2024 Svetlana Ryzhakova 1 citation
In South India's Tuḷunādu region, the daivārādhane worship of local deities blends psychology, religious rites, and performing arts. Sacred spirits possess human mediums, enabling visible communication, miracles, and influence over political and economic affairs. This tradition negotiates relationships between deities and people across castes, ethnicities, and genders, and it adapts by incorporating new figures and contemporary issues. However, the possession performances are choreographed to limit spontaneity, restricting unplanned communication with the gods.