ABSTRACT
Viewed from a distance participation in the worship of the gods in a Hindu village seems determined by the degree of purity ascribed to individuals. Thus the Brahmin priest is more pure than other men and worships the gods in the te:nple on behalf of other villagers. Men and women must purify themselves before worshipping gods in shrines and temples. Low castes may not worship in temples of high castes because they are considered impure.
