In Hinduism religious practice is not limited to believing and praying, but can also cause the presence of a god in a human body. The phenomenon of being possessed by a god as a female individual will be discussed under the aspects what benefits the spiritual possession has for the women, and how this accepted religious act provides power for them as females in a patriarchal society.
Table of Contents
1. Possession and liberation
1.1 Religious practice in Hinduism and the role of mediums
1.2 Matammas and Matajis: Spiritual women as intermediaries
1.3 Socio-political aspects and the status of the possessed woman
Objectives and Topics
This work examines the phenomenon of spiritual possession among women in the Hindu tradition, specifically investigating how serving as a divine medium provides these women with personal autonomy, social agency, and protection within a patriarchal societal structure.
- The role of gender in Hindu religious possession practices.
- Distinctions and parallels between Matammas and Matajis.
- The impact of spiritual mediumship on traditional marriage and gender obligations.
- The creation of alternative, safe social networks for women through religious rituals.
- The use of divine identity as a tool for personal empowerment and self-organization.
Excerpt from the book
Possession and liberation
In Hinduism religious practice is not limited to believing and praying, but can also cause the presence of a god in a human body. In order to create an intermediate connection between the divine power and human kind certain individuals can serve as mediums. Even though, in India a clearly patriarchal order can be witnessed women hold a special position in communication with the gods. Therefore, in postcolonial times girls were given to certain temples to be raised as wives of the deity by undergoing a special education to be able to perform rites. One group was known as the Devadasis who were married to Shiva and tried to set his creative and fertile power free by seducing him into their own bodies. But the female temple dancers were politically fought by the British, and their actions forbidden with the Devadasi Bill in 1947 because they were seen as temple prostitutes. Another group of spiritual women, whose practice still can be seen in some parts of India, are the Matammas. These women are married to female village goddesses and serve as intermediates between them and the village population. They also not only perform rites but claim to be possessed by the goddess from time to time, which allows direct communication with the goddess and her expression of concerns. But not only women married to deities claim to experience the presence of gods in their own bodies. In some cases regular women become mediums and therefore receive high reputation in their society and are then called Matajis. The phenomenon of being possessed by a god as a female individual will be discussed under the aspects what benefits the spiritual possession has for the women, and how this accepted religious act provides power for them as females in a patriarchal society.
Summary of Chapters
1. Possession and liberation: This introductory section explores how spiritual mediumship in Hinduism challenges patriarchal structures by allowing women to act as conduits for divine power.
1.1 Religious practice in Hinduism and the role of mediums: This section defines the historical and cultural context of female possession, tracing the lineage from Devadasis to contemporary practitioners.
1.2 Matammas and Matajis: Spiritual women as intermediaries: This part differentiates between the institutionalized role of the Matamma and the spontaneous possession experienced by Matajis.
1.3 Socio-political aspects and the status of the possessed woman: This section analyzes how these women utilize their status to negotiate autonomy, escape restrictive household roles, and provide a support network for other women.
Keywords
Hinduism, Spiritual Possession, Mediumship, Matammas, Matajis, Patriarchy, Gender Roles, Divine Power, Female Empowerment, Religious Rituals, Social Agency, Devadasis, Trance, Village Goddesses, Autonomy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this work?
The work investigates the religious phenomenon of divine possession among women in India and how this spiritual role functions as a mechanism for escaping traditional gender-based social constraints.
What are the central thematic areas?
The themes include the intersection of religious ritual and patriarchal power, the social standing of female mediums, and the formation of supportive female communities outside of traditional domestic structures.
What is the primary goal of this research?
The primary goal is to analyze the benefits of spiritual possession for women, specifically how it grants them independence, self-esteem, and protection in a male-dominated society.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author utilizes an analytical approach, synthesizing anthropological observations and case studies, such as the experiences of the Matamma Veshalamma, to interpret sociological impacts.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body covers the history of temple dancers, the institutional framework of Matammas, the phenomenology of sudden possession in Matajis, and the resulting social agency gained through these practices.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The work is best characterized by terms such as Hindu tradition, spiritual mediumship, female autonomy, patriarchal structure, and social networking.
How does the role of the Matamma specifically challenge the institution of marriage?
By being married to a deity rather than a human man, the Matamma effectively exempts herself from traditional household obligations and gains the freedom to move independently and prioritize the goddess's commands over social expectations.
What happens to a woman's status when she is viewed as a medium by her community?
Once recognized as a medium, she often gains a higher reputation in society and finds liberation from social ties, as her behavior and needs are viewed through the lens of her divine service, making her temporarily uncontrollable by traditional social forces.
- Citation du texte
- Kati Neubauer (Auteur), 2008, Possession and liberation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/133375
