A while ago, I had watched Kantara when it was released in the theatres and it was the first time I learnt about the Panjurli Daiva, a spirit deity which is worshipped in Karnataka. At first, I did not catch the whole essence of the movie, but it surely intrigued me to know and learn more about the diverse practices in various cultures where spirit deities are revered. Stumbling upon the book Daiva was a happy coincidence. Daiva: Discovering the Extraordinary World of SpiritWorship by K Hari Kumar takes you on a journey which is full of mystical Kola performances and gives you a chance to understand the culture of Tulu Nadu.
The author has structured the book in two sections. The first, ‘In Search for Satyolu’, introduces the readers to the various aspects of spirit worship. Hari begins with introducing the readers to the land of Tuluvas, its language, geography and history. Following this, he takes you on an educational journey in the realm of spirit worship.