1st Edition
The Cultural Heritage of Śākta Tantric Communities in India Goddesses and Magicians in the Holy Groves of Kerala
1 Introduction: Tantra and Śāktism in the Keralan context
2 Tantric communities of Kerala: fieldwork among the Śākta practitioners
3 Śākta Tantra and the martial arts temples
4 Tantric Brahmins and castes in Kerala
5 Entering the Śākta tradition: initiations, ritualism, and the notion of eligibility
6 Tantrics and Mantravādins: sorcery and witchcraft in Kerala
7 From Kashmir to Kerala: the Krama ritualism of Śākta Brahmins
8 Conclusions: the many journeys through Śākta paths in Kerala
Appendix 1 Nityapūjā (palm-leaf manuscript, private library, Calicut) Edited and translated by Maciej Karasinski and Ophira Gamliel
Appendix 2 The Nityapūjā manuscript and language at a glance (Ophira Gamliel)
Biography
Maciej Karasinski holds a PhD in Sanskrit from the University of Calicut (Kerala). He studied Indian philology at the Jagiellonian University and participated in academic projects on Sanskrit and Malayalam manuscripts. He is currently pursuing a second PhD in the Department of Religious Studies at Stanford University. His research focuses on the rituals of Śākta Tantra communities in Kerala and healing practices in South Asia. He was awarded a Government of India fellowship (ICCR) to conduct research on Tantric traditions in Kerala. His other research interests include the history and practice of Śrīvidyā and Krama, shamanism, and environmental anthropology.
