1 - The abodes of serpents and dancing leopards: power animals and spiritual protectors of the Kerala kāvus

This paper discusses ecospirituality in the context of tantric and magical practices in the sacred groves of Kerala, the kāvus. I attempt to show that the ritualism of the kāvus is eclectic, combining elements of indigenous magic (mantravāda) with tantric rites. The paper highlights the different manifestations of the sacred sites and discusses the ways in which the spiritual protectors of the sacred groves (kāvus) are supposed to influence the lives of the faithful. The mantravādins (local magicians) and tantric experts created a space in the groves where various spiritual forces could be invoked and appeased. In addition, the magicians invented rituals to summon spirit animals, earthbound spirits and other entities such as the yakṣīs (female nature spirits). The paper attempts to explore the power relations in the kāvus and the spiritual aspects of nature embodied in the form of their animal guardians: serpents, leopards and tigers. How are these mystical beings and forces of nature invoked and controlled in Kerala? Who has the right to communicate with them, and how do the ancient customs and rites empower the devotees living near the modern groves? In an attempt to answer these questions, the paper interprets previously unexamined textual sources (ritual manuals with palm leaves followed by contemporary tantric practitioners in Kerala) and incorporates findings from interviews with families who inherited the sacred groves from their ancestors.