Lineages Of Kalamelutto In Kerala - From Tantric Buddhist antecedents to the configuration of the Brahmanical Pantheon

Book Name in English : Lineages Of Kalamelutto In Kerala - From Tantric Buddhist antecedents to the configuration of the Brahmanical Pantheon

This book examines Kaļameļutta as a tradition of religious symbolism centred on the drawing of figures of non-Brahmanic deities such as Bhagavati, Ayyappan, Nagam, and Cattan. Practised in kävūs, köttas, and domestic spaces, it follows established iconographic conventions and involves ritual offerings, mantras, songs, and dances. Situating Kaļamelutta outside Brahmanical temples, the study highlights non-Brahmanical participation, the prominence of female deities and female ritual roles, and the emphasis on ferocious and maithuna forms, arguing for its roots in early medieval Tantric Buddhism and its later assimilation into Brahmanical religion in Kerala.