Bhuta

Bhuta, derived from Sanskrit bhūta meaning a being or creature, is a term used across Indian languages to denote a spirit or ghost. In everyday speech it can simply mean a ghost, but in certain regional traditions it refers to a class of local spirits or deities believed to inhabit nature, villages, or ancestral sites.

In the coastal region of Karnataka and in parts of Tulu Nadu and northern Kerala, Bhoota (also spelled Bhuta) denotes guardian spirits associated with communities, families, or natural features such as hills and groves. These Bhootas are regarded as powerful beings who can bless or curse, and they are honored through annual ritual cycles that emphasize hospitality, protection, and restoration of social order.

Bhoota worship, often called Bhoota Kola or Daiva Puja, features a dedicated ritual space, drumming, singing, and a host or medium who enters trance to convey the Bhoota’s messages. Offerings typically include rice, flowers, coconuts, incense, and food. The rites may involve processions, elaborate costumes, and communal feasting, and they commonly address issues such as rain, health, crop protection, and family welfare.

There is substantial regional diversity among Bhootas; each is linked to a particular village, lineage, or natural site, and stories about their origins and powers vary accordingly. While rooted in local folk belief, Bhoota practices often coexist with mainstream Hindu rituals, reflecting the syncretic nature of religious life in the region.

Beyond this regional usage, bhūta in Sanskrit and related languages can simply mean a being or creature, and the concept appears in broader South Asian folk and religious contexts as spirits, ancestors, or elemental entities. See also Bhoota Kola, Daiva, and Spirit possession.