Megalithism and Tribal Ritualism: A Passage through the Kurumbas of Attappadi
Author(s)
Manjula Poyil*
ABSTRACT
The study of mortuary practices of Megalithic communities and its use as the basis for reconstructing the past society is unique in archaeology as it represents the direct and purposeful culmination of conscious behavior of the followers of this cultural trait. There are voluminous studies on the Megalithic builders of South India, including Kerala, written by prominent archaeologists and anthropologists from the early decades of the nineteenth century. Most of them ignored the continuity of Megalithic tradition, except a scant reference to the erection of funeral edifices among tribes like the Kurumbas and Mudugas of Attappadi and Mala-arayans of the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. A study of the living Megalithic practices provides clues to ethnographic parallels, existing belief systems and habitation sites of the present communities. The present study discusses the cultural aspects of the rituals related to living Megalithic tradition among the Attappadi tribes, of the Palakkad district of Kerala. The study of the mortuary practices of the Kurumbas raises two important questions-firstly, how far this tribe can be seen as the actual successor of Megalithic builders of Kerala and, secondly, how does the social differentiation within the Kurumba community got reflected in its mortuary practices, just like the Megalithic builders of the past.
The study of mortuary practices of Megalithic communities and its use as the basis for reconstructing the past society is unique in archaeology as it represents the direct and purposeful culmination of conscious behavior of the followers of this cultural trait. There are voluminous studies on the Megalithic builders of South India, including Kerala, written by prominent archaeologists and anthropologists from the early decades of the nineteenth century. Most of them ignored the continuity of Megalithic tradition, except a scant reference to the erection of funeral edifices among tribes like the Kurumbas and Mudugas of Attappadi and Mala-arayans of the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. A study of the living Megalithic practices provides clues to ethnographic parallels, existing belief systems and habitation sites of the present communities. The present study discusses the cultural aspects of the rituals related to living Megalithic tradition among the Attappadi tribes, of the Palakkad district of Kerala. The study of the mortuary practices of the Kurumbas raises two important questions-firstly, how far this tribe can be seen as the actual successor of Megalithic builders of Kerala and, secondly, how does the social differentiation within the Kurumba community got reflected in its mortuary practices, just like the Megalithic builders of the past.
Cite this paper
Poyil, M. (2013). Megalithism and Tribal Ritualism: A Passage through the Kurumbas of Attappadi. Advances in Historical Studies, 2, 54-56. doi: 10.4236/ahs.2013.22009.
Poyil, M. (2013). Megalithism and Tribal Ritualism: A Passage through the Kurumbas of Attappadi. Advances in Historical Studies, 2, 54-56. doi: 10.4236/ahs.2013.22009.
References
[1] Alekshin, V. A. (1983). Burial customs as an archaeological source. Current Anthropology, 24, 137-138. doi:10.1086/202960 [2] Bondo, E. W. (1932). Highlander. London: Oxford University Press. [3] Grigson, W. (1950). Maria gonds of bustar. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [4] Hutton, J. H. (1992). The meaning and methods of erection of monoliths of Naga tribes. Journal of Royal Anthropological Institute, 52, 242-249. [5] John, K. J. (1975). Early man in Wynad. Journal of Kerala Studies, II, 125-131. [6] John, K. J. (1978). The megalithic culture of Kerala. In V. N. Misra, & P. Bellwood (Eds), Recent advances in Indo-Pacific pre-history (pp. 485-489). New Delhi: Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. [7] Kapp, D. B. (1985). The Kurumbas’ relationship to the “megalithic” cult of Nilgiri hills (South India). Anthropos, 80, 493-534. [8] Krishna Iyer, L. A. (1939). The disposal of the dead among the primitive tribes of Travancore. Man in India, XIX, 61-62. [9] Krishna Iyer, L. A. (1948). The pre-historic archaeology of Kerala. Trivandrum: L.K. Balaratnam. [10] Krishna Iyer, L. A. (1967). Kerala megaliths and their builders. Madras: University of Madras. [11] Mawlong, C. (1990). Classification of Khasi megaliths: A critic. Proceedings of Northeast India History Association, Imphal, 9-14. [12] Murphy, R. F. (1989) Cultural and social anthropology: An overture (3rd ed.). Eagle Wood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. [13] Poyil, M. (2009). Farewell ritual and transmigrating souls: Secondary funeral of the Kurumbas of Attappadi. The Anthropologist, 11, 31-38. [14] Tylor, E. B. (1871). Primitive culture, I. London: John Murray.
[1] Alekshin, V. A. (1983). Burial customs as an archaeological source. Current Anthropology, 24, 137-138. doi:10.1086/202960 [2] Bondo, E. W. (1932). Highlander. London: Oxford University Press. [3] Grigson, W. (1950). Maria gonds of bustar. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [4] Hutton, J. H. (1992). The meaning and methods of erection of monoliths of Naga tribes. Journal of Royal Anthropological Institute, 52, 242-249. [5] John, K. J. (1975). Early man in Wynad. Journal of Kerala Studies, II, 125-131. [6] John, K. J. (1978). The megalithic culture of Kerala. In V. N. Misra, & P. Bellwood (Eds), Recent advances in Indo-Pacific pre-history (pp. 485-489). New Delhi: Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. [7] Kapp, D. B. (1985). The Kurumbas’ relationship to the “megalithic” cult of Nilgiri hills (South India). Anthropos, 80, 493-534. [8] Krishna Iyer, L. A. (1939). The disposal of the dead among the primitive tribes of Travancore. Man in India, XIX, 61-62. [9] Krishna Iyer, L. A. (1948). The pre-historic archaeology of Kerala. Trivandrum: L.K. Balaratnam. [10] Krishna Iyer, L. A. (1967). Kerala megaliths and their builders. Madras: University of Madras. [11] Mawlong, C. (1990). Classification of Khasi megaliths: A critic. Proceedings of Northeast India History Association, Imphal, 9-14. [12] Murphy, R. F. (1989) Cultural and social anthropology: An overture (3rd ed.). Eagle Wood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. [13] Poyil, M. (2009). Farewell ritual and transmigrating souls: Secondary funeral of the Kurumbas of Attappadi. The Anthropologist, 11, 31-38. [14] Tylor, E. B. (1871). Primitive culture, I. London: John Murray.