Socio-psychological Reflection of Religious Mobility: A Case of Thachanadan Moopan

This paper deals with religious life of Thachanadan Moopan, a tribal group of Wayanad, Kerala, with an intention to focus upon the changes that are taking place in their life, especially in the religious sphere. They still practice some traditional elements of culture. Traditionally, they believed in ancestral spirits and they have their own deities. The social and political structure of the traditional Thacahandan Moopan completely is contingent with the religious beliefs and practices. Traditional religious pattern and behavior is mainly based on the myths, sacred and secular performances, sorcery witchcraft etc. The present study focuses on the changes happening in the religious life of Thachandan Moopan. The main research questions were: What are the factors that lead to religious mobility? What are the subsequent changes appearing in the social institutions after religious mobility? It is revealed that the close cultural contacts and the socio-psychological conditions are the strong determinants for their option for other religions such as Hinduism and Christianity. The major factors for such adoptions are the influence of missionaries, mass media and the longing to move upwards in the social stratum. To be equal with the other plains people, they have to imitate them because they are surrounded by the vast environment of Hinduism. Education and medical camps are the attracting factors behind Christianity. The process of Hinduization and Christianization is increasing day by day fragmenting Thachanadan Moopan into segregated smaller groups with new identities.