Eco-cultural Impact of the Divine Agents: Understanding the Role of <i>Jōgnī</i> s in Kullū

Abstract The present study investigates how jōgnīs, liminal deities revered as vital forces of power, fertility, and protection, and associated with natural elements like forests, hills, ponds, rivers, and waterfalls, play a crucial role in shaping ecological order in Kullū, Himachal Pradesh, governing human interaction with the environment. Drawing on eight months of ethnographic research carried out in five villages of the district, which are closely associated with jōgnīs and ecological conservation practices, the study examines how sacred cosmologies contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability. It situates jōgnī worship within the broader discourse of deity worship, ecology, and indigenous conservation ethics. The study also notes how the enduring influence of jōgnīs exhibits the resilience of indigenous ecological traditions and highlights their potential to inform contemporary conservation paradigms, ensuring the sustained ecological equilibrium of the region.