Before You Worship Kateri, Read This....

I often encourage those who follow my writings to explore South Indian folk deities. There are many deities across the region, each with its own stories, rituals, and variations. However, not all of them are suitable for worship by everyone. 

Some worship practices are secret and best kept within specific families. If performed incorrectly, the consequences can be severe — it’s like playing Five Finger Fillet on fast mode with your eyes shut.

Lately, I’ve noticed a growing trend where people try to popularize certain folk deities and build a following around them. One such example is Kateri, also affectionately called Kateriamman by her devotees. 

The word Kateri in Tamil literally means “vampire.” While the term directly translates to Pontianak in Malay, Kateri more closely resembles another local spirit known as Langsuir.

Traditionally, Kateri is said to dwell near kaadu (forests) and yeri (lakes) — hence the name. Long before the rise of organized religions, ancient people revered the spirits of the land, both benevolent and malevolent. Kateri was often seen as a fierce spirit capable of disturbing humans, and in Tamil shamanic traditions, she was sometimes invoked to bring harm to one’s enemies.

AI generated image showing Kateri worship by early ancestors

Over time, early settlers who lived near such spirits would have performed rituals to appease them, seeking protection and blessings. Through generations, these spirits became kula deivams — family guardian deities — for those bloodlines. Sacred pacts or spiritual agreements would have been made between them and the Kateri.

This is why venerating a deity like Kateri without ancestral connection can be dangerous. If I were to meditate upon her or invoke her in my home without lineage ties, it could lead to chaos. But for those whose families have long worshipped her as their kula deivam, her presence brings protection, not harm.

So think carefully before venerating Kateri. These are not deities meant for everyone — they belong to those whose bloodlines are bound to them.

AI generated art depicting a Kateri inside a forest