Page 19 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Unit 2: Kinship: Basic Terms and Concepts: Lineage, Clan, Phratry, Moiety ...

Totemism Notes
According to Goldenwisor, when we discuss about totemism we mean a special kind of
ultramundane related to a social organisation generally like sib of a tribe. The contribution of
this ultramundane is done by an special affection towards rare types of animals, plants or natural
substance. This affection is expressed in several forms. Such as, establishment of progeny by
totemic plants or animals. Prohibition on killing or/and eating of totemic animals; condoling
collectively on the death of totemic animal; popularity of mantal and physical relation between
totem and toemics; looking a totem as a godly parents by totemics; to wear as an amulet to totem
signs and even it is to make tattoos of totemic animals and to make celebration for the growth of
totemic organisms, nomenclature of sibs of totemic tribes on the basis of totems etc.
In Dhelaki Khariaos, ten exogamous totemic lineages are found. Members of every lineage
beleives in one common totem and from this, the emotion of social organisation gets strengthen;
their names are —1. Mura (Tortoise) 2. Soren (rocks or stone) 3. Samad (deer) 4. Kage (Quail)
—These are the totem of Samad lineage, 5. Karliha (fruits) 6. Chharhad or Chharaha (Bird)
7. Hansada or Dandung (Snake fish) 8. Mail (waste) 9. Keiro (Cheetah)—This is the totem mel
lineage and 10. Topno (a type of bird).
Kamar is also divided in many exogamous lineages. Every lineage is also joined with any totem
in any way, but gradually this relation is going to an end. The primary function of these lineages
are told to be marriage regulation. These are known lineages: Jagat (Their ancestors had traveled
world wide); Natum (Tortoise) : Marlcam (This lineage worships tortoise and consider enemy to
crocodile); Sori (A wild crecper), Baghsori (Cheetah, Nag Sari (Snake), Kanjam (He-goat), Marai
(Dead body eater) and Chhediha (Children). Many false description of these names are found.
Such as, members of Kanjam lineage are considered a progemy of a He-goat and a Kamar girl.
Natum were saved by tortoise at the time of inundation. Another group was going on the back
of the crocodile but some of them were eaten by crocodile in the middle of the ocean. Remaining
had prayed the tortoise and were saved by the tortoise. People of Natum lineage were already
on the back of tortoise. This second group started calling themselves Markem in people of Jagat
and Chediha lineage, there was no tradition of totemic belief. According to local traits, this list
can be made more elaborated.
Prior to the publication of the famous article of Goldenviser in 1910 on totemism, the research-
ers were very confused on this subject. Till then Leng, Durkheem, Frazor, Reverse etc. had tried
there best to explain it. Some of them had not considered Lineage on Totem in peculiar on mean-
ingful form but merely a system of nomenclature. Others have found the economic motivation
of prosperity of tracle and cooperative labour devision in reference to the critical type elabole
animals and plants vested in it. This second description is of Frazor. Frazor has also profound
another theory on the basis of Australian evidences. He told that primitive people were ignorent
of role of cohabitatian in pregnancy. When pregnancy gets even in developed stage then only
they come to know about it. In such condition, they consider the nearest animal or plants as the
reason of pregnancy.
Hopikans had told that development of faith towards the food providing animals is obvious.
Faith of Todas towards their buffaloes is an universal fact. Durkheem has seen the totemism as
a symbol of group representative-social brain. According to Toyler, it was belief of primitive
people that even after death, the soul of human starts living in an animal or plant and possibley
therefore the protection of all organims is done through totemism. In this way, according to the
description of Toyler also like Durkheem, totemism is a type of religious way of worshipping.
In more clear words, according to Toyler it is a worship of ancestors and according to Dur-
kheem it is a worship of society. According to writers like Boas and Swantun, totemism is an
extension of the personal relation of humans with animal and plants.
Simplication of such relation can be done in form of a special type of kinship relation between
Totem and Totemics.

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