Harijan religion: consensus at the bottom of caste

Abstract

The religion of Indian Untouchables (Harijans) is often described and analyzed variationally, suggesting that Untouchables differ significantly in religion from those above them because of their lowermost position in the caste system. This paper challenges this variational emphasis. It examines the conceptualizations and ritual actions of a group of South Indian Harijans in their worship of “divine beings” and concludes that Harijan religion is characterized by deep, tacit consensus with higher‐caste religion. The variations that do exist are different from those previously proposed; they must be evaluated in relation to the deep framework of cultural unity, and they do not imply a change in collective consciousness at the bottom of the system.