A South Indian Sub Caste

3 

MbOO 0 0 2 5 0

 Fre  Fren nch Stud Studies ies in Sou South Asian Cult Cultu ure and and So Society iety I

A SOUTH INDIAN SUBCASTE Social Organization and Religion of  the Pramalai Kallar

 by

LOUIS DUMONT

Translated  f rom rom the French by M . M o f f a t t ,  L . and A. M o r t o Revised by the author and A.

St

n

e r n

Edited with an introduction by M

i c h a e l

M

o f f a t t

D E L HI HI

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS OXF ORD

NE EW W YO RK

1986

MELBOURNE

TABLE OF CONTENTS Editor’s Introduction to the English Edition Introduction

xiii i

P A R T I. T H E G R O U P F R O M W I T H O U T I A

SITUATION OF THE PRAMALAI KA LLA R 1. Th e Ka llar caste 2. The Pramalai Ka llar 3. Delinquency

9 9 15 26

I B. T H E L O C A L I T Y 1. The territorial un it: Kokkulam 2. The resi dential cluster: Tengalapatti 3. The house

33 33 37 61

I C. TEC HN IQU ES 1. Techniques in general 2. Th e body 3. Domestic techniques 4. Miscellaneous

79 79 80 87 92

I D. AG RICU LTU RE 1. General considerations 2. Rhythm and social aspects o f the three ways of farming 3. Operations 4. M ain crops 5. Farm ing expenses, yields 6. Animal husbandry

95 95 103 107 114 118 119

I E. EC O N O M Y 1. Preliminary remarks 2. The family budget 3. Land ownership 4. Subsidiary occupations

122 122 123 129 139

P A R T I I. S O C I A L O R G A N IZ A T I O N I I A . U N I T Y AN D H I E R A R C H Y   1. Introduction 2. Origins

145

*45

148

Vlii

TA BL E OF CONTENTS

3. Headmanship 4 . Hierarchy

153 159

II B, THE PROVINC ES 1. Internal constitu tion a. Relations between nads 3. Kinship and territor  y

170 170 180 183

II C THE LINEAGE 1. The lineage as unit y and community a. Situation and segmentation 3. lineage and locality

185 185 188 191

II D. MARRIAGES AND OTHER UNIONS: PREFERENTIAL MARRIAGE l. Marriages and other  unions a. Rules governing the choice of a spouse 3. Marriage alliance: matrilateral marriage

196 196 200 206

II E. THE FAMILY I. Marriage from the legal point of view. Divorce a. Inheritance 3. Family lif e

216 216 223 225

II F. CEREMONIES AND PRESTATIONS 1. The wedding a. Birth 3. Circumision and puberty 4 . Funerals

237 237 258 263 272

II G. A THEORETICAL VIEW OF PRESTATIONS: THE MATERNAL UNCLE 1. Reversible prestations and oriented prestations a. The maternal unde

284 284 285

II H. SENIOR AND JUNIOR I. Illegitimate unions and offspring (Retrospect) a. Examples 3. The principles

293 294 294 297

II I

301 301 302

KINSHIP TERMINOLOGY I. The general scheme of classification a. The Kaliar terminology 3. Particular features

II J. JUSTICE s. Conflicts, murder a. Traditional justice 3. Official justice 4.  Appendix (Excommunication and reintegration)

305

310 310 315 334 340

TABLE

OF

CONTENTS

ix

P A R T I I I . R E L I G I O N III

INTR OD UC TION

347

III A. THE C U LT OF THE GODS 1. Gods and  g roups 2.  The clergy (Lineage t emples) 3. The lineage temple 4. T he ritu al: calendar and cycles

349 349 374 392 411

III B. THE RE LIGIO N OF THE INDIVIDU AL 1. Demons and evil possession 2. Diverse practices and beliefs

449 449 455

III C. THE DIVIN E AND CASTE 1. The belief in spiritual beings 2. The pure and the impure

460 460 461

 Appendix. The Headman’s Charter

467

 Works Cited

471

Index of Transliterated Ta mil Words and Expressions

477

Index o f Proper Names

484

 Author and Subject Index

490

Errata

502