Assimilation and Appropriation of Local Deity Peddamma into Sanskritic Hindu Religion in South India

Abstract

In South India, each village has shrines of local deities known as the mother goddess, considered the supervisor of that village. Belief in these deities fosters a sense of unity and cohesion among the people. South India has a long history of cultural interactions and migrations, resulting in the blending of various religious traditions. Over time, many of these deities have been assimilated into mainstream Hinduism. Local rulers and patronage played a significant role in promoting the assimilation process. In the process of assimilation and appropriation, the local religious traditions change and merge into the major organized religion. Under the new ideological orientation of Brahmins, Brahmins and other upper castes who previously did not worship the local goddess began to worship her. The local deity tradition is never prone to losing its association with the Hindu people, but it is rejuvenated and renewed with the influence of Brahmanical religious rituals.