Caribbean Shaktism

File:Karagam Puja.jpg

Preparations for Karagam Puja, a traditional procession in Caribbean Shaktism honouring Karunai Kamakshi and Madurai Meenakshi

Caribbean Shaktism, also known as Madras Religion in Guyana, refers to the Shakti worship that has evolved within the Indo-Caribbean Tamil community in countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname. It can be found across the Caribbean and any South American country with an Indo-Caribbean community. It is a syncretic blend of Dravidian folk religion and Hinduism and has also been influenced by other cultural and religious traditions found in the Caribbean such as Catholicism.

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 cults of Tamil Nadu. 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.

Arrival to the Caribbean and South America

Indo-Caribbean Shaktism emerged as a result of the migration of the Tamil Indians 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, and with that, the indentured servants carried their religious traditions with them, including their Tamil Mariamman-trance cults.

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.

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.

Beliefs and practices

File:Woman in Trance during a Shakti Puja.jpg

Woman "takes oath" during a Shakti puja (ceremony)

Indo-Caribbean Shaktism is primarily Kalikula, meaning that the primary deity worshipped is Kali.

Beliefs

Indo-Caribbean Shaktism combines their Shakti beliefs of Tamil origin with cultural influences from the Caribbean context. Devotees engage in rituals and practices like puja, mantra recitation, and devotional singing to connect with Shakti. Other Hindu deities may appear in temples and iconography alongside Kali and Tamil gods/goddesses, including Durga, Ganesh, Hanuman, Krishna, Lakshmi, Radha, Rama, Saraswati, Shiva, and Sita. These gods of Hindu origin are worshipped alongside those of Tamil (Madras) origin.

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. Shaktas view the goddess (Kali/Mari Amma) 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 Dravidian Folk Religion. Due to adaptations to the Caribbean region, some practices differ from those found in the Indian Subcontinent (most of all in Tamil Nadu). Common practices include animal sacrifice (now contentious and abandoned by some groups), possession by deities, libations, rites, drumming, and singing devotional songs (bhajans) to invoke the presence of God. Hindu practices like deity meditation, pujas, and religious ceremonies are also observed, along with unique elements from Dravidian Folk Religion such as trance possession and physical manifestations during rituals.

Ceremonies called Pujas often include the drumming of three to five tappu to invoke the deity to the space. 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 it down again. Puja services are often held once a week.

Regional variations

Since Caribbean Shaktism encompases 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.

Maldevidan Spiritism

Maldevidan Spiritism is a syncretic practice originating in Martinique that has its origins in Caribbean Shaktism and Roman Catholicism. They worship hindu gods represented as Catholic saints. They refer to these gods as "les bons dieux coolies" in French meaning "The holy coolie gods", "coolie" being a slang word to signify East Indian.

The primary deity is "Maldevidan", a local regional name for Madurai Veeran who is syncretized with Jesus. . Another deity, Mari-Eman (a local name for Mariamman) is also of importance in the practice, being syncretized with the Virgin Mary. Deities like Katarai (syncretized with St. Michael), among others are also found in the cult.

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.

There is a historic Hindu temple in Basse-Pointe in Martinique built in the 19th century, which is still in use.

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 Mandhirs. There are also practices, such as that of Maldevidan Spiritism in Martinique, that is syncretic.

Other practices that are different include the tradition of trance possession. 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.

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 Sanganie, Mari Amma, Kateri Maa, Muneshwara, among others. Different names may also be used for Vedic deities and some practices may be of regional origin rather than general origin. Some deities may even be new deities created by the indentured servants for a specific purpose. Deities may also have different names such as Agori Baba for Varaha, Permeshwari for Varahi, Kal Bhairo for Kaal Bhairav and Dee Mata for Brahmacharini.

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. Most devotees of Indo-Caribbean Shaktism also practice Hinduism, going to both services of Vedic origin and services of Madrasi origin.

See also

• Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago
• Hinduism in Guyana
• Hinduism in Martinique
• Hinduism in Suriname
• Hinduism in Jamaica
• Indo-Caribbean
• Shaktism