Wild sacredness and the poiesis of transactional networks relational divinity and spirit possession in the būta ritual of south india
Asian Ethnology June 30, 2015 M. Ishii 6 citations
Ritual practices of low castes are often interpreted through concepts like Sanskritization, consensus, or resistance to high-caste dominance, which frame them solely in terms of hierarchy and power. This study offers an alternative perspective by focusing on the relational aspect of divinity and the importance of wild sacredness in ritual contexts. It argues that these rituals are not merely reflections of unequal caste relations but form the basis of relationships among all actors—humans, wild animals, and spirits personified as būtas—creating a fluid network within social, ecological, and cosmological spheres.