M. N. Srinivas initially defines it as the tendency among the low castes to move higher in the caste hierarchy within a generation or two by adoping vegetarianism and toetotalism and by sanskritizing its rituals. M. N. Srinivas redefines sanskritization as a process by which a low caste Hindu or a tribal changes his customs, rituals, ideology and way of life in the direction of the upper, frequently twice-born caste.

Major factors of Sanskritization:-

1. Rituals: Inspite of the Theoretical existence of certain restrictions, the low castes or other groups did manage to imitate the customs and rites of “Twice-born” (DWIJAS) castes. This is the best way of claiming higher position in the caste hierarchy.

2. Marriages: According to a strict rule of Brahminism, a Brahmin should give away his daughter in marriage before she attains puberty, failing which he would be committing a great sin. Marriages among the brahmins were indissoluble. Pre-puberty marriages were commonly practiced.

On the other hand, among the low Hindu castes, post-puberty marriages were very common and the dissolution of a marriage was possible. Now in order to rise up in the caste hierarchy, the low Hindu castes started practicing pre-puberty marriages and marriages also became indissoluble.

3. Treatment of Widows: A Brahmin widow for instance, was not allowed to re-many, and received miserable treatment. She was required to shave her head and not allowed wearing any ornaments. She was regarded inauspicious, and not allowed to attend any important functions.

On the other hand, among the low castes marriage was dissoluble and widow re-marriages were practiced. Widows were not required to shave their heads. In the imitation process, these groups, also banned widow-remarriages and started treating a widow in the same way as that of the ‘High’ Hindu castes.

4. Treatment of Women: Comparatively, women among the high Hindu castes receive bad treatment and hold only a secondary position. Virginity in brides and chastity in wives was preferred. A brahmin wife was expected to treat her husband as god. Women would perform a number of ‘vratas’ or religious vows for the long life of their husbands. At certain times, such as menstruation, child birth, then were treated as untouchables and their presence was considered as inauspicious.

Hence they were not allowed to attend important functions. Women among the lower castes generally received good treatment and occupied a good position. In order to imitate the higher castes, they started treating women in a bad manner and gave them a secondary position.

5. Kinship: According to M.N. Srinivas, “In the sphere of kinship, sanskritization stresses the importance in the patrilineal lineage, sanskritization results in increasing the importance of sons. The members of high castes prefer sons to daughters, whereas among the lower castes both boys and girls are preferred.

For instance among Non-Brahmins though a son is preferred, a daughter is also demanded. Their treatment is also not that harsh but that is changing now towords preference for sons.

6. Ideology: Sanskritization also resulted in the use of New Ideas and values, which have been frequently expressed in Sanskrit literature. The ideas and values such as Karma, Dharma, Papa, Punya, Maya, Samskara, Moksha, etc. The Twice-born castes used these ideas in their conversation. Through the process of Sanskritization, lower caste groups were exposed to these ideas and values which now frequent their conversations.

7. Food habits: Brahmins in India are by and large strict vegetarians except Kashmiri, Saraswath and Bengali brahmins. The lower castes are non-vegetarian. Sanskritization resulted in the change of food habits in the direction of the, higher, frequently twice-born castes. Some of the lowers castes became strict vegetarians and practiced teetctalism also, in order to move up in the cast hierarchy.

8. Dress habits: As Dwijas, Brahmins were entitled to wear the sacred thread ‘ Janivar ‘ after the Vedic rite of upanayana, while shudras were not entitled for that. Some of the lowers castes started wearing the sacred thread and also started imitating the P dress style of the brahmins such as wearing dhothi, shalya turban, Kachche panch, etc.

9. Nomenclature: The traditional and typical names of the lower castes (in Karnataka) were Kariya, Kempa, Kempi, Kala, Mala Honni, Timmi, etc. They started giving their new born named common among the Brahmins such as Rama, Krishna Shankara, Madhava Gowri, Parvathi, Lakshmi, Shobha Radha, etc.