Characteristics and Functions of Rural Religion!
i . Sense of the World:
Rural religion explains the meaning and direction of human existence. Rural religion gives an outlook to the rural people about their survival in the world. The rural people believe more in the Karma theory. This theory guides the day-to-day activities of the rural people.
Every individual in the rural society is aware that if he does not behave properly in this birth, his next birth will be full of sorrows and miseries. Thus, the theory of transmigration of soul controls and regulates the lives of the rural people.
In sharp contrast, people in urban areas do not believe much in this theory, as their outlook is more scientific and rational. The theory of transmigration is accepted by the rural people due to their ignorance about the reality of the world. Such a situation makes them to believe whatever is specified by the religion.
ii. Religion as a Body of Rituals:
Religion in India is basically the observation of rituals. Rituals form an important aspect of religious life of individuals. Such observation of rituals is more in rural areas than in urban areas. The rural people are generally illiterate. They do not possess the knowledge to make out the meanings in the religious and sacred texts. This situation makes the rural masses to observe all the rituals as said by Brahmins, who officiates these rituals, without even knowing their theoretical interpretations.
Prayers, sacrifices to gods and goddesses and rituals form an integral part of any religion. Prayers are offered to the deity at home as well as in the temples. Usually, prayers are offered at home for family gods. Rural people offer a variety of sacrifices, which range from sprinkling of water drops, leaves or grains to animal, and rare even human sacrifices (A. R. Desai).
Rituals are referred to as means through which the purity of the individual and social life becomes guaranteed. The inherited rural religion prescribes a complex pattern of behaviour for the individual as well as for social groups in all spheres of life. They are complex because rituals are associated with their numerous significant and even insignificant activities (S. L. Doshi and P. C. Jain).
Rituals differ from one ethnic group to another. People observe rituals, whether they are difficult or easy, irrespective of their structure and function, because they fear that if they violate any ritual it might cause harm to them or to their family as a whole. The mindset of these rural people with regard to the observation of rituals is highly superstitious in nature, because of which they hesitate to violate any rituals,
iii. Religion as an Institution:
In India, apart from a majority of Hindus, there are followers of various religions, such as, Jains, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, Parsis and other tribal groups. Religion has all the characteristics of any other institution and is also undergoing change. The spread of scientific knowledge and rational thinking of the people has made the institution of religion undergo change. However, with the growth of urbanization certain rituals are being observed with more enthusiasm, and pomp and show. There are also instances of the emergence of new cults, and renovations made to the old shrines, which are quite contradictory to the process of modernization.
Functions of Rural Religion:
The functions of rural religion have both positive and negative sides. The positive functions help in maintaining the unity of the village. However, this unity is being disturbed by the caste politics, which has recently crept into the rural society. In this section, we will be discussing both the positive and negative functions of rural religion.
Some of these functions are as follows:
i. Religion as a Means of Social Control:
It is believed by most of the religions that whatever we do in this life, we will reap the same in the next life. With this fear in their mind, people try to lead a sacred life, which is approved by the religious norms. There is a practice among rural areas, that the wrongdoers or deviants should host a dinner for the entire community or themselves in the holy waters of Ganges in order to purify themselves.
Thus, religion acts as an important agent of social control, which is exercised in the form of village traditions, customs and conventions. However, the rigidity of religion in urban areas is not as powerful as seen in rural areas. This is due to scientific ethics and rational thinking of the urban masses.
ii. Religion Helps in Preserving Rural Social Order:
Religion, as stated earlier, is the belief in the supernatural. It provides a moral code to its followers, which helps in maintaining social order in the society. Due to the fear of anger of gods, the individuals adopt a moral life. In this way, religion is able to preserve the social order of rural society. There are various instances in history, when leaders sought the help of rural people, by uniting them in the name of religion.
Whenever a crisis occurs in village, the institution of religion unites people. The moral order, religious lectures of the saints, stories from religious texts, etc., all are meant for maintaining the social order of the rural society. The people of rural areas are well aware that any disturbance in the fabric of religious life will lead to the breakdown of social order.
iii. Religion Provides Leisure and Recreation:
The religious rituals and activities provide an opportunity to the rural people to enjoy and relax from their busy life. Most of the rural India observes many festivals and rituals, which are related to agricultural activities. Some of them are Makara Sankranti and Pongal in South India, Baisakhi in Punjab, etc.
Fairs are also organized in the name of religion, such as Kumbhmela. Thus, religion through fairs and festivals is associated with rituals and provide a kind of recreation and leisure to the rural people. These religious festivals also serve the purposes of social gatherings of the family members, who stay in some other villages or towns cities.
iv. Rigid Stratification System:
The division of society into various castes on the basis of their occupations is also advocated by villages. Even the customs and traditions pertaining to each caste are provided by the religion. Caste system continues to have a stronghold in rural society due to the presence of its inherent values.
Even today, the commensal relations are based on the concept of purity and pollution. The high castes do not accept kaccha food from lower castes. However, in urban areas there are no restrictions with regard to the commensally.
v. Imposition of Rules of Impurity on Individuals:
Though the village life is being characterized by new changes in economic, political and educational fields, it is rigid in certain aspects of social life. The concept of pollution and impurity is more dominant in rural areas. Women, during their monthly periods, do not enter kitchen or places of water.
This is because of the belief that their entry would pollute such places. Even after delivering a baby, many such restrictions are imposed on women. Similarly, widows are not allowed to participate in auspicious occasions.