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)

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This comparative study sheds light on the agency of nature and provides a lens through which to examine the intersection of ritual, ecology, and indigenous environmental consciousness in South Asia. The paper argues that the sacred groves are not just passive backdrops for human rituals, but dynamic spaces in which fauna, flora, rocks and other natural entities are actively involved in spiritual practices and ecological processes. We compare two case studies: one from South India (Kerala), the Vallikāṭṭu sacred grove (kāvu), and one from Nepal, the shamanic forests of Nagarkot. While the beliefs and rituals connect people with the environment and impose certain restrictions as to the mode of conduct in the groves, we point to the agency of non-human animals In the case of Vallikāṭṭu we show that while the worshippers and priests of the groves may be inclined to restructure the groves or ritual patterns, the groves’ monkeys are perceived as emissaries of the spiritual-natural forces who preserve the ecosystem of the grove. Similarly, the trees and stones at the sacred sites of Nepal are seen as spiritual guides of the shamans or physical manifestations of the spirit of nature. This ethnographic study, combined with botanical research on plant animal interactions in the groves and philological study of sacred texts of the priests and shamans, highlights the existing indigenous ecological knowledge systems that are inextricably linked to and transmitted through ritual practices, spirit possession, trance and visionary journeys.