Black magic, witchcraft and occultism : secret cultural practices in India / edited by Sajal Nag.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Nag, Sajal, 1958- editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

India--Social life and customs.

India.

India, Northeastern--Social life and customs.

India, Northeastern.

Magic--India--History.

Magic.

Magic--India, Northeastern--History.

Witchcraft--India--History.

Witchcraft.

Witchcraft--India, Northeastern--History.

Occultism--India.

Occultism.

Occultism--India, Northeastern.

Tribes--Social life and customs.

Tribes.

Manners and customs.

Northeastern India.

Genre:

History

Physical Description:

589 pages : illustrations (black and white) ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

New Delhi : Manohar, 2023.

Summary:

"Black magic, occult practices and witchcraft still evoke huge curiosity, interest and amazement in the minds of people. Although witchcraft in Europe has been a widely studied phenomenon, black magic and occult are not yet a popular theme of academic research, even though India is known as a land of magic, tantra and occult. The Indian State of Assam was historically feared as the land of Kamrup-Kamakhya, black magic, witchcraft and occultic practices. It was where different Tantric cults as well as other occult practices thrived. The Khasi Hills are known for the practice of snake vampire worship. The village of Mayong is the village, where magic and occult is still practiced as a living tradition. This book is one of the rarest collections where such practices are researched, recorded and academically analyzed. It is one of those collections where studies of all three practices of Black Magic, Witchcraft and Occult are comibned into one single book"-- Provided by publisher, page 1.

Contents:

List of Illustrations

Preface

Introduction / Sajal Nag

Part I: Tantra And Esoterism : Vaishnavite Occult Practices in Medieval Assamese Society: A History of Acceptance and Defiance / Chandan Kumar Sarma

Kec"aikh"at∂, Eater of Raw Flesh: A Profile of the Multifaceted Goddess in North-East / Jae-Eun Shin

Witchcraft, Sorcery and Tantricism in the Khasi Pnar Society / Hermina B. Lakiang

Magic, Religion and Mother Goddess Kamakhya: Esoteric Practices in Assam / Archana Barua

Part II: Practices Of Occult : Some Astronomical Beliefs in the North-East and other Parts of India / J.H. Hutton

Remnants of Spiritual/Faith Healing System among the Lepcha and Limbu Communities in Sikkim / Mahendra Prasad Gurung & E .K. Santha

Leopard-Men in the Naga Hills / J.H. Hutton

U Thlen

The Snake Vampire: Belief and Practice among the Khasi / Tejimala Gurung Nag

Chon Ritual and Head Hunting among the Kukis of North-East India / Tingneilam Thangew

Human Sacrifice in Assam / Edward Gait

Bej Bejali in the Assamese Socio-cultural Context / Vandana Goswami

Mayong: The Land of the Occult/ Assaduzzaman

Part III: Magic, supernaturalism and divinity

Magical Attributes: Some Glimpses from Medieval India / M. Parwez

The Divine Origin, but Not Right, of Khasi Kings / Kynpham Sins Nongkynrih

Supernatural Belief of the Kuki: A Case Study of Witchcraft and its Cures / D.L. Haokip

'White Magic' Practices of the Adivasis of Jungle Mahals: A Different World View / Nirmal Kumar Mahato

Satanic Cult among the Christian Tribes of the North-East India / Phoibi Lalniropui Tuolor

Sylvan Spirits and Cultural Practices in Assam

Rajib Handique

Part IV: Witchcraft and witch hunting : Witchcraft Viewed through the Legal Lens in Jharkhand: A Study of Witchcraft Practices and the Anti-Witchcraft Law in Jharkhand / Bashabi Gupta

Witchcraft: Power Relations and Totemism of the Bodos / Dina Swargiari

Notions of Witchcraft among the Khamtis of Arunachal Pradesh / Tage Habung & Ranjeeta Mannow

Society, Belief and Practice: Witchcraft and Witch Hunting in Assam / Jahnabi Gogoi Nath

The Enchanted Community: Kaose and Doi (Witchcraft) among the Kukis of North-East India / Jangkhomang Guite

Witchcraft, Witch Hunting, Gender and Property Relationship / Nikita Shandilya

Women as Witches, Women as Homo Sacer: A Study of Contemporary Witch Hunting / Obja Borah Hazarika

Witchcraft Practices in the Plantations of Upper Assam: A Case of the Santhals / Olympia Kurmi And Sarah Hilaly

Magic and Witchcraft (Dawi) among the Mizos / Rohmingmawii

Practice of Witchcraft among the Adis of Arunachal Pradesh / Sarah Hilaly

Practice of Witchcraft among the Rabhas of Assam /Barnali Sharma

Contextualizing Witch Hunting Practices in Assam / Debarshi Prasad Nath.

Notes:

Contributed articles.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9789391928032

939192803X

OCLC:

1363812430