[cinggooft]

Again there is nothing called black or white magic. This is a western term. Vashikaranam, Ucchatanam, Sthambanam, Maranam etc. are part of the mantra prayoga. The powers acquired are misused. That is all. Some of you might have seen a recent serial in Malayalam about Devi where the deity Varthali is portrayed as an evil goddess. This is the common misconception of Malyalees created by the brahmins. Varthali is another name for Maa Varahi who is the commander in chief of Maa Lalitha's army. Varahi Upasana is part of the Krama Diksha of some of the schools of Sri Vidya. Ashada Navaratri is dedicated to Maa Varahi. It seems to be the fact that the "ugram" shown by the manifestations of the gods/goddesses translate themselves into thoughts and actions amongst their followers (mankind)... Siddhis of various ugra moorthis are attained thorugh animal sacrifices... (though not always required)... And hence, maybe these practices are tamasic/rajasic in nature compared to sattvic powers which are purely due to the devotion and love for the deity...

Also isn't ucchadanam, maranam, sthambanam and vaseekaranam a classification of the keralites? (I have read about this, but dont know about its origins)