Abstract:
Social boundaries of groups in the Hindu caste system are rigidly defined in a
manner in which members of depressed caste groups have restricted ways of interaction with
high caste members in public sphere. Rigidity of such restriction on relationship between Hindu
caste groups is mostly associated with Agamic religious practices of Hinduism. The Agamic
religious practices still play vital role in discriminating depressed caste groups and cause for
caste-based conflicts between the high caste members and the depressed caste members.But
this study finds the non-agamic religious practices, which is mostly followed by the rural people
of Hindu communities in Eastern Sri Lanka, as having the potential for interaction of members
of caste groups, which are in diametrically opposed positions in the caste status ladder. This
study is mainly based on the analysis of non-agamic rituals of Mari Amman worship of Tomtom
beater in Kaluthavalai of Batticaloa. The main objective of this study is to analyze how
the non-agamic Hindu worship works as a mean for making relaxation on the rigidity of
restrictions of interaction between high and lower caste members. The study is a descriptive
research and is based on qualitative and ethnographical research methods. The study further
analyzes that how this non-agamic religious rituals, unlike agamic rituals, bring high caste
members to the depressed caste members’ places so as to make harmonious public conduct
and cooperative participation in religious worship.
