5 - The symbolism of circumcision

Summary

The preceding chapter examined a particular circumcision ritual and began the process of unravelling its symbolism. In the present chapter, this fragmentary interpretation will be pulled together so that a more general consideration of the meaning of this type of ritual can be undertaken.

The stream of blessing

Again we must start with the notion of tsodrano, of blowing on water, or blessing. This must be our starting point simply because of the informants' statements that the circumcision ritual is a tsodrano, and if we needed further confirmation, we would have it from the words of the first song: ‘It is a blessing that we ask.’

The notion of tsodrano is inseparable from the Merina notion of descent. The notion of descent is central, but it is also vague in so far as it is far from clear which sociological group is identified with descent. In many ways it is a mystical experience.

In Merina rhetoric the whole kingdom is sometimes represented as a descent group. At other times, the semi-territorial grouping that I have called the deme is represented as a descent group. At still other times, the group of people associated with a tomb is talked of as a descent group. Even any apparently ad hoc group of related people can be talked of in the idiom of descent.