3

French Studies in South Asian Culture and Society

MbOO

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

LOUIS DUMONT
Translated from the French by
, L . and A. M
Revised by the author and A. S

M. M

offatt

orton
tern

Edited with an introduction by

M

ichael

offatt

D E HI

O X FORD U N IV ER SITY PRESS

OXFORD

NEW Y O R K

19 8 6

MELBOURNE

00250

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Editors 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

SIT U A T IO N O F TH E PRA M A LA I K A L L A R
1. The Kallar caste
2. The Pramalai Kallar
3. Delinquency

9
9
15
26

I B. TH E L O C A L IT Y
1. The territorial unit: Kokkulam
2. The residential cluster: Tengalapatti
3. The house

33
33
37
61

I C. T E C H N IQ U E S
1. Techniques in general
2. The body
3. Domestic techniques
4. Miscellaneous

79
79
80
87
92

I D. A G R IC U L T U R E
1. General considerations
2. Rhythm and social aspects o f the three ways of farming
3. Operations
4. M ain crops
5. Farming expenses, yields
6. Animal husbandry

95
95
103
107
114
118
119

I E. E C 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 II. S O C IA L O R G A N IZ A T IO N
II A . U N IT Y AN D H IE R A R C H Y
1. Introduction
2. Origins

145

*45
148

Vlii

T A B L 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 territory

170
170
180
183

II C THE LINEAGE
1. The lineage as unity 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 life

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

T A B L E OF C O N T E N T S

ix

P A R T I I I . R E L IG IO N
III

IN T R O D U C T IO N

347

III A. TH E C U L T O F TH E G O D S
1. Gods and groups
2. The clergy (Lineage temples)
3. The lineage temple
4. The ritual: calendar and cycles

349
349
374
392
411

III B. TH E R E L IG IO N O F TH E IN D IV ID U A L
1. Demons and evil possession
2. Diverse practices and beliefs

449
449
455

III C. TH E D IV IN E AN D CASTE
1. The belief in spiritual beings
2. The pure and the impure

460
460
461

Appendix. The Headmans Charter

467

Works Cited

471

Index of Transliterated Tamil Words and Expressions

477

Index of Proper Names

484

Author and Subject Index

490

Errata

502