Elaine Craddock

Elaine Craddock is a Professor of Religion at Southwestern University specializing in Hinduism, Tamil literature, and religion-body intersections. Her research focuses on Tamil Śaivism, goddess worship, and transgender (thirunangai) communities in Tamil Nadu. She holds a PhD from UC Berkeley. Recent publications include work on divine embodiment and caste-class-religion intersections.

Key research interests include South Indian religious practices, gender performativity in Hindu rituals, and the role of marginalized communities in sacred contexts. Her work frequently bridges feminist theory and ethnographic fieldwork.

Recent scholarly contributions include articles in International Journal of Hindu Studies and Feminist Review, as well as book chapters in Routledge and SUNY Press publications. She has presented at Harvard University and the South Asia Conference.