This article examines changes in the death rituals performed among Hindu Nadars in a South Indian village. It emphasises the importance of understanding ritual changes within their specific micro-level local contextual framework, including changing social structures at household and village level. This empirical evidence showcases how changing rituals connected to death reflect various adaptations through imitation, substitution and alteration of specific ritual elements and performants. It also identifies emerging class distinctions among Nadars and their connection with changes in rituals associated with death. This analysis of the changes depicts how Nadars use ritual actions in pragmatic ways, symbolically expressing and realising their aspirations for status enhancement through such ritual performances.

本文研究了在南印度村庄的印度教纳达尔人中执行的死亡仪式的变化。它强调了在特定的微观层面的当地背景框架内了解仪式变化的重要性，包括在家庭和乡村层面上改变社会结构。这一经验证据表明，与死亡相关的不断变化的仪式如何通过模仿，替代和改变特定的仪式元素和表演者而反映出各种适应。它还确定了纳达尔人之间新兴的阶级区别，以及它们与死亡相关的仪式变化的联系。对变化的这种分析描绘了纳达尔人如何以务实的方式使用仪式行动，通过这种仪式表演象征性地表达和实现了他们提高地位的愿望。