Women’s Work

This chapter begins with the story of Sahaya Mary, a resident of Dhanam’s village who struggled with a difficult pregnancy and marriage and was healed by Mātā, who diagnosed her as being possessed by Pāndi Muni. Her story displays the restrictions placed on the female body through local customs, religion, and Catholic doctrine. As with Rosalind and Nancy, possession by Mātā gives Dhanam authority outside normal gender roles and power structures and, on occasion, allows her to confer that greater authority on others. Her experiences are notably different than those of Nancy and Rosalind. Mātā’s interventions through the body of Dhanam allow women to circumvent certain daily power struggles. Dhanam specifies differences between Mātā and Hindu deities. Changes are coming to the rural community as newcomers stretch land and water resources. One such newcomer threatens Dhanam, and her possession practices wane.