Conquering Death Through Ritual

Chapter 7 traces the historical development of possession to argue in favor of a literary tradition that undermines the argument that such beliefs were only held by the disempowered. It shows that exorcism and demonic possession have a long history in literary Tantra and therefore must not have been an idea that existed only among the non-elite. The chapter then explores ideas of immortality and the conquering of death in the Sanskrit literary tradition. This sheds light on the corporeal yoga tradition of the Netra Tantra. The first of three chapters on yoga, the Netra Tantra’s sixth chapter offers a detailed description of ritual oblation to escape death. The translated passage offers a look at the natural products offered to the ritual fire. These objects must be protected with enveloping mantras and accompanied by recitation.