Insides of Spirituality (local demigods and gods), Devi Devtas (Part-1)

The depth of spiritual manifestation varies across different locations, as does the nature of the associated energies. By scientific principles, since energy cannot be created or destroyed, spirits are regarded as conscious energies. Through my experiential and scholarly endeavors, it has become evident that energy, or what is commonly referred to as spirits in spiritual contexts, can be preserved or harnessed through a specialized methodology known as Tantra.

Tantra encompasses three fundamental phases: Yantra (instruments), Mantra (chanting), and Tantra (technique). It is worth noting that traces of Tantra can be discerned in diverse religious traditions, albeit under various appellations and methodologies. Drawing from my scholarship in the northern region of India, specifically Uttarakhand, I have borne witness to a myriad of ritualistic occurrences. These rituals, performed at intervals across Uttarakhand, are locally designated as Jagar, Gadali, and Baisi, among others. Notably, these rituals involve specific individuals known locally as Jagri, Gurus, and Dangri. During these rituals, the demigods, known as devi and devtas, infuse the human form, and the individuals thus possessed are termed Dangris.

It is crucial to underscore that Jagar embodies a form of Tantra distinguished by an array of rituals, encompassing the utilization of specialized implements to produce distinct sounds with specific frequencies, all to invoke particular devi and devtas. Furthermore, these rituals entail the offering of specialized sustenance to the aforementioned devi and devtas. Markedly different from other modalities, the clandestine art and technique of beckoning conscious spirits from higher dimensions are fervently embraced in the rural enclaves of Uttarakhand. This practice persists as a testament to traditional beliefs, wherein the inhabitants invoke their ancestral figures through ritualistic acts that are entrenched in the rural milieu, distanced from contemporary societal adaptations.