Final answer:
True, lower caste villagers in Yanaimangalam used myth and ritual to protest against higher caste dominance, mirroring the historical resistance against the oppressive caste system that has manifested in various forms, including religious conversion and political advocacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Yanaimangalam, lower caste villagers did use myth and ritual to protest the dominance of the higher castes. This statement is true, reflecting broader historical patterns wherein lower-caste groups have engaged in various forms of resistance against caste oppression. For centuries, the caste system enforced social order based on inherited status with the Brahmins at the top and the Dalits, or untouchables, at the bottom, often living with severe restrictions and outside the four-tiered caste structure. Lower-caste resistance has taken many forms, including conversion to other religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, or Islam, which traditionally rejected the rigid caste hierarchy. Additionally, political action has been a means for lower castes to seek social advancement and challenge the propriety and justice of traditional caste-based inequalities.
The caste system maintained its structure through religious sanctions and was intertwined with Hindu beliefs, which suggested that one's social position and occupation were the results of past actions and that upward mobility could challenge the divine order. Despite these religious underpinnings, various historical movements, including Buddhism, offered alternative paths and criticized the prevailing caste system, attracting women and lower castes by promoting greater independence and spiritual equality.