ABSTRACT
A long time ago, when I used to live in Vijayawada, I had an interesting encounter at the local temple (Kanaka Durga Temple on the bank of the Krishna river). I used to see a Madiga drummer daily performing his occupation as an official drummer during the temple rituals. I asked the priest if his presence at the temple was indeed not considered polluting! The priest remarked as a matter of fact:
Their caste is obligated to perform this duty for the temple in return for a share of the grains donated to the temple by the devotees. Similarly a washerman washing our clothes can come through the kitchen entrance to collect the clothes and no pollution is warranted. It is purely an arrangement sanctioned by caste rules.
