Shamanic Practices in India

 India is often seen through the lens of its prominent spiritual systems like Hinduism, Buddhism, and the diverse yogic traditions. However, when we delve deeper into the vast cultural landscape of the country, we find traces of ancient shamanic practices that reflect a profound connection to the earth, the elements, and the spiritual realms. While not often labeled as “shamanism” in the modern sense, these traditions bear remarkable similarities to indigenous shamanic systems found in other parts of the world, such as Siberia or the Amazon.

Let’s explore the unique shamanic heritage of India, rooted in the intersection of folk traditions, spiritual mysticism, and healing practices.

Tantra is one of India’s most mysterious and often misunderstood spiritual traditions. Contrary to modern perceptions, Tantra is far from being solely focused on the sensual aspects of life. Instead, it involves a vast body of esoteric practices designed to harness and direct subtle energies within the body and universe.

At its core, Tantra recognizes that the entire cosmos is composed of energy. Through rituals, meditation, and specific practices, Tantric practitioners (often referred to as sadhakas) tap into these energies for spiritual growth and healing. In some rural areas, Tantric healers are seen as intermediaries between the physical world and the spiritual realm, offering rituals and prayers to protect against illness, bad fortune, or negative energies. This echoes the role of shamans in indigenous cultures, who act as healers and spiritual guides.

Though Ayahuasca is native to the Amazon basin, its use has gained traction in various spiritual communities worldwide, including India. Some shamanic practitioners in India now facilitate Ayahuasca ceremonies, using the sacred brew to assist participants in reaching deep spiritual states, healing trauma, and gaining insight. While not part of India’s ancient shamanic tradition, its adoption here speaks to the syncretism and openness of India’s spiritual landscape.

In these ceremonies, participants often experience visions, emotional releases, and a deep connection to nature and the spirit world—hallmarks of shamanic healing. While Ayahuasca is not a traditional Indian plant medicine, its principles of guiding participants through altered states of consciousness resonate with indigenous shamanic practices worldwide.

In both Indian and global shamanic traditions, the sound of the drum is central to inducing altered states of consciousness. Drumming helps the practitioner enter a trance, opening a gateway to the spiritual realms. The repetitive, rhythmic sound is believed to help connect the individual with spiritual guides, ancestors, and nature spirits.

In India, various folk traditions use drumming in their healing practices. For example, the Bauls of Bengal—wandering spiritual minstrels—use music and rhythmic chanting to transcend the physical world and connect with the divine. Similarly, tribal communities in the Northeast of India and regions of Himachal Pradesh use drumming to communicate with spirits and offer prayers to deities who reside in nature.

Fire plays a significant role in both Vedic rituals and shamanic practices across the world. In Indian spirituality, fire (Agni) is seen as a divine messenger, carrying offerings and prayers to the gods. Fire ceremonies, or yajnas, are performed to purify the space, invite divine energies, and offer healing.

In India’s tribal areas, fire ceremonies often take on a more animistic character, with rituals designed to appease local spirits or deities connected to natural elements such as rivers, trees, and mountains. Similar to shamanic fire rituals around the globe, these ceremonies serve as a way to restore balance between the human community and the natural world, drawing upon the transformative power of fire to cleanse and renew.

While Ayahuasca is not native to India, the use of medicinal plants for healing and spiritual insight is deeply rooted in Indian traditions. Ayurveda, India’s ancient system of medicine, holds that certain plants possess not only medicinal properties but spiritual and energetic powers as well. Plants such as tulsi (holy basil), ashwagandha, and brahmi are revered for their ability to heal the body, calm the mind, and align the spirit.

In the tribal areas of India, particularly in regions like Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh, shamans known as ojhas or gunis use specific herbs, roots, and plants in healing rituals. These plant medicines are used to treat both physical ailments and spiritual disturbances, often in combination with rituals that invoke the guidance of ancestral spirits.

India is home to a vast number of tribal communities, each with its unique spiritual and healing practices. Among the Gond, Bhil, Santhal, and Naga tribes, shamanic traditions are very much alive. These communities hold a worldview where spirits inhabit not only humans and animals but also natural elements like rivers, mountains, and trees.

Shamans from these tribal groups are often called upon to heal the sick, resolve disputes, or protect the village from malevolent forces. They may enter into trances induced by drumming, chanting, or the ingestion of plant-based intoxicants. In their altered states of consciousness, they communicate with spirits, diagnose illnesses, or retrieve lost souls. This mirrors the shamanic journeys undertaken by indigenous healers worldwide.

While India may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of shamanism, it harbors deep-rooted traditions that resonate with shamanic practices from around the globe. Whether through the energetic explorations of Tantra, the transformative power of fire ceremonies, or the herbal wisdom of tribal healers, India offers rich and varied pathways for spiritual seekers to explore the intersections of body, mind, spirit, and nature.

For those interested in integrating shamanic practices into their spiritual journey, India offers a fertile ground of ancient wisdom that can deepen one’s connection to the unseen worlds, ancestral spirits, and the living energy of nature itself.

~Shanti Freedom Das