Tonight’s lecture is a Hallowe’en special! After all, Śaiva and Śakta Tantra is chock full of ghoulish mortuary iconography: Mā Kālī’s garland of skulls, Lord Śiva’s garland of snakes, their retinue of ghosts, goblins and vampires, their home in the cremation grounds (ghat), fierce fanged dākinī and yoginīs and so much more.
It’s no wonder Hallowe’en is my favorite holiday!
Tonight, to celebrate, let's discuss Tantrik demonology and the role of mortuary and gory iconography in texts like Bhairava Stava of Abhinava Gupta, Candi and Swami Vivekananda’s poems to Mā Kālī.
The first part of this lecture is just an introduction to the zoology of supernatural beings mentioned in Indian literature and spiritual texts like the Purānas, Rāmāyana and Mahābhārata etc. (listed below for your convenience) and the second part of the lecture is a discussion on 4 or 5 ways to "exorcise" or at least banish the influence of these spirits in your own home so that you may practice safely and uninterruptedly.
Dangerous Supernatural Beings
पिशाच, Piśāca
वेताल vetāla as seen in the वेतालपञ्चविंशति, Vetala Panchavimshati
राक्षस Rākṣasa (like Rāvaṇa, Hidimba and Hidimbi, Ghatotkacha, Bakasura, Alamvusha)
असुर Asura (like Madhu and Kaitabha, Mahishasura, Shumbha and Nishbumbha in Candi)
Somewhat Dangerous but Mostly Just Mischeivious and Often Good Supernatural Beings
अप्सरा Apsarā (story of Menaka and Vishwamitra as told by Shakuntalā, story of Arjuna and Urvashi)
गन्धर्व Ghandarva (like Pushpadanta who composed the Shiva Mahimna stotra)
यक्ष Yaksha यक्षिणी Yakshini (Fairies)
Happy Hallowe'en!
Jai Mahākāla!