Trance and Spirit Possession

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Possession in India can be studied at the meeting points of psychology, religious rites, and performing arts. The daivārādhane worship of local deities is the major social and religious institution of Tuḷunādu in South India. Ritual knowledge comes from sacred spirits who can visit humankind in visible forms and through the bodies of mediums. They can possess anyone, address anyone, perform miracles, and influence political and economic affairs. The negotiation and means of communication between local deities and people of various castes and walks of life, including issues of ethnicity and gender, can be analyzed in detail to show that while ancient and even archaic in some respects, the tradition is open to change, incorporating new figures and contemporary issues. At the same time, the performance of possession in daivārādhane worship can be choreographed as to withstand spontaneity and thus restrict any role for unplanned communication with the gods.