Caribbean Shaktism
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Caribbean Shaktism, also known as Kalimai Dharma or Madras Religion in Guyana, and many attend services of Vedic Origin, more Orthodox Tamil Origin, and Madrasi (Syncretic Shakti) origin.
Similar traditions to this (which also have its origins in Tamil Mariamman Worship) can be found in the Tamil populations of South Africa, Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji and Vietnam.
History
Indo-Caribbean Shaktism has emerged within the Indo-Caribbean community residing in countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, and others in the Caribbean region.
Origins in India
Indo-Caribbean Shaktism is a syncretic tradition that has its origins in the Mariamman following in Tamil Nadu.[2] Mariamman was syncretized with Kali while also keeping the individual identity of Mariamman as a manifestation of Kali who is perceived to be the embodiment of Shakti in this tradition. Along this, deities from both Dravidian folk religion and Hinduism were worshipped, some perceived as a manifestation of another God while others were syncretized.[3]
Arrival to the Caribbean and South America
Indo-Caribbean Shaktism emerged as a result of the migration of the Tamil Indians[4][5] to the Caribbean during the 19th century. The British colonial policies led to the introduction of indentured servitude, bringing Indians from various regions to work on plantations in places like Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica, Martinique, Suriname, French Guiana and with that, the indentured servants carried their religious traditions with them, including their beliefs in the Tamil Goddess Mariamman.
The migration of Indians as indentured servants introduced new religious and social dynamics to the British colonies in the Caribbean and South America. These migrants came from oppressed castes and lower socioeconomic backgrounds, creating a distinct class of people who were neither Black nor White.[6]
Double diaspora in the United States
Indo-Caribbean communities have also established temples in countries like the United States. These communities experience a "double diaspora," connecting their traditions to both India and their respective Caribbean or South American countries.[6]
Beliefs and practices
Indo-Caribbean Shaktism is primarily Kalikula, meaning that the primary deity worshipped is Kali.[7]
Beliefs
Indo-Caribbean Shaktism combines their
Indo-Caribbean Shaktism, like most Hindu sects and regional variations, is described differently by different individuals, with some considering it pantheistic, polytheistic, or even monotheistic.[9] Shaktas view the goddess (Kali/Mariamma) as the supreme, ultimate, and eternal reality, embodying creation and its governing energy.
Practices and syncretism
Indo-Caribbean Shaktism encompasses various religious practices that have evolved among the Indo-Caribbean community, influenced by Hindu traditions, and
Ceremonies called Pujas often include the drumming of three to five tappu to invoke the deity to the space.[8][11] Then, the head pujari receives the God or Goddess into their body, acting as a medium. A mixture of water, turmeric powder, and neem leaves are poured onto the medium, as it is believed that the God's energy heats up the body while the water and turmeric with the neem leaves cools the body down again.[12] Puja services are often held once a week[8] and the medium is known as a marlo pujari, who goes into a trance known as "Sami Aduthal". Practitioners use offerings of vegetarian (sadaa) and non-vegetarian (satwik) origin.[13] Often, animals can be sacrificed to the "warrior" or "Madras" Gods, which are gods of Tamil origin, and often are black roosters, pigs, goats, and hens.
Regional variations
Since Caribbean Shaktism encompasses a wide range of similar traditions from across the Caribbean and South America, there are some regional variations which may differ from one another. It may be due to more or less influence of Tamil culture, or other aspects. The regions where the largest amount of Shakti practices can be found is in
Maldevidan Spiritism
Maldevidan Spiritism is a syncretic practice originating in the French Caribbean that has its origins in Caribbean Shaktism and
The primary deity is "Maldevidan", a local regional name for
This is practice is common in the northern regions of the island with many shrines and gathering places throughout the region. Rituals include playing drums, dancing on sharpened machetes, and sacrificing animals such as roosters and sheep.[15]
There is a historic Hindu temple in Basse-Pointe in Martinique built in the 19th century, which is still in use.[16][17]
Caribbean Tamil Christianity
Some syncretists in the
Differences from mainland Indian Shaktism
There are many differences in Indo-Caribbean Shaktism that are different from the form of Shaktism practiced in Mainland India and Nepal. One such feature is that of syncretism, where you may often find Catholic or New-Age Spiritual figures in Shakti Mandirs. There are also practices, such as that of Maldevidan Spiritism in Martinique, or Caribbean Tamil Christianity in the English Caribbean and Dutch Caribbean that is syncretic.[18]
Other practices that are different include the tradition of the physical manifestation of the deity. Although there are some practices in Indian Shaktism that do include possession or trance, the tradition of trance possession by Hindu gods is most certainly from Dravidian Folk Religion.[10]
Another practice that is different is that of the deities worshipped. While Vedic Hindu deities are worshipped, deities referred to as "Madrasi" Gods (meaning Dravidian or Tamil Gods) come from Dravidian Folk Religion. Such Gods are
Indo-Caribbean Shakti Bhajans and Kirtans (devotional music) is often done in Tamil and Caribbean Hindustani rather than in Sanskrit (although Sanskrit bhajans are used) and practices such as Karagam Puja is not found in Indian Shaktism.[19] Most devotees of Indo-Caribbean Shaktism also practice Hinduism, going to both services of Vedic origin and services of Madrasi origin.
Temples
Guyana
- Supply Jagadamba Devi Temple, Triumph, Guyana
- Maha Kali Kovil, Guyana
- Shree Bhadra Kali Amman Ashram, Guyana
- Maha Kali Shakti Temple, Timehri, Guyana
- Kali Temple, Guyana
- Mariamman Temple, Whim, Berbice, Guyana
Trinidad and Tobago
- Arjune Davi Niraj Shakti Temple, Marabella, Trinidad and Tobago
- Skanda Mata Shakti Kovil Barrackpore, Trinidad and Tobago
- Muneshwarran Mandir, Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago
- Sri Kaliamman Kovil, Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago
- Shri Adi Shakti Para Brahm Swaroopini Mandir, Siparia, Trinidad and Tobago
- Jai Kali Shakti Mandir, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
Suriname
- Tri Shakti Kali Devi Mandir, Suriname
Martinique
- Temple Hindou, Basse-Pointe, Martinique
Guadeloupe
- Shingam's Kovil, Le Moule, Guadeloupe
- Temple Mariamman Lalsingue, Les Abymes, Guadeloupe
Venezuela
- Shri Kali Amman Chakti Poderosas Covil, Bolivar, Venezuela
North America
- Shri Maha Kali Ammaa Mandir, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
- Shree Maha Kali Temple, Orlando, Florida, United States
- Jamaica Kali Mandir, New York City, New York, United States
See also
- Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago
- Hinduism in Guyana
- Hinduism in Martinique
- Hinduism in Suriname
- Hinduism in Jamaica
- Indo-Caribbean
- Shaktism
References
- ^ "Kali/Mariamma Worship in Guyana: A Brief Overview" (PDF). Dr. Marcelo Moura Mello.
- ^ "Madrassis". Peepal Tree Press.
- ^ "Kali/Mariamma Worship in Guyana: A Brief Overview" (PDF). Dr. Marcelo Moura Mello.
- ^ "Girmitiya System-Indentured Labour" (PDF). Vajiram & Ravi.
- ^ "C. Madrasi Sangam – Caribbean Hindustani". caribbeanhindustani.org.
- ^ a b "History of Indo-Caribbean Hinduism · Minnesota Hindu Milan Mandir · Religions in Minnesota". religionsmn.carleton.edu.
- ^ a b "Madrassis".
- ^ ISBN 978-0-252-09433-0.
- ^ "Hinduism". Lumen.
- ^ S2CID 201339190– via journals.openedition.org.
- ^ a b "Invoking the supernatural and the supranational: Tappu, trance and Tamil recordings in Indo-Guyanese 'Madras Religion' and the politics of sonic presence".
- ^ "Un Karagam Perantha Amma". Shri Maha Kali Ammaa Mandir.
- ^ Da Costa, Kimberli. "Dee Baba". Wordpress. Kimberli Da Costa.
- ^ JSTOR 27853612.
- ^ http://www.worldmap.org/uploads/9/3/4/4/9344303/martinique_profile.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Martinique".
- ^ "Basse-Pointe Review – Martinique Caribbean – Sights | Fodor's Travel".
- ^ "Martinique Profile" (PDF).
- ^ "Hindu Temple".