The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is undergoing a religious revival.

Susannah Price meets the men who claim to have a direct line to the gods

Several charismatic religious leaders, who call themselves 'godmen' and claim to have supernatural powers have appeared round the state, and they have thousands of followers.

Yet the major political parties in Tamil Nadu have their origins in social organisation preaching atheism.

The words of a 'godman'

Every night one of the growing number of self styled 'godmen', Siva Shankar Baba, puts on an elaborate performance for his followers at the headquarters of his cult outside the city.

Hundreds gather to watch as he builds up a series of props, masks and garlands to represent different popular Hindu deities such as Ganesh, Shiva and Vishnu which are instantly recognised by his captivated devotees.

Religious festivals are on the increase

They believe he can see the spirits of Gods in fire, he has special healing powers and they are blessed by simply watching the show and being close to him.

He told me that he is merely a vessel for the gods: "I am only a container and within me lies the holy spirit, and that holy sprit seems to be me to be all-reigning and all-pervading. It seems to be very powerful.

"I have no say over it, it controls me, and it uses me as an instrument to do the things which it likes, and judging from the experiences it has always been doing good things."

Call to wipe out religion

Despite the godmen's popularity there is a daily newspaper which propagates a very different story.

It belongs to the rationalist or Dravidian movement known as the DK. For the past 15 years the movement has been campaigning against religion.

The DK media secretary, A.Arulmozh, told me the DK holds religion responsible for the oppression of the poor:

"Basically DK views religion as an anti-social element. It has inculcated the divisions among people and it has its own justification for treating people unequally. The DK feels religion should be eradicated for the welfare of human beings."

But devotees do not seem to be concerned about any claims of inequality or oppression, although the DK helped bring in benefits for the lower class and mini social reforms, its success in other areas was limited.

Class is the key

Everyday believers crowd the street on their way to the local temple. It is a scene that has been repeated in towns and villages throughout Tamil Nadu for hundreds of years, and there is no sign that the atheists have had any influence at all on these traditional forms of Hinduism.

While ordinary Hindus continue their age old customs part of the atheist view point is finding some echoes in the more populist form of religion.

Young and old are attracted to the ceremonies

Both the Rationalist Dravidian movement and the growing cults both share an antipathy towards the class system.

Professor of Political Science, Narendra Subramanian says it is class levelling:

"These godmen particularly use levelling techniques - they use rituals that are accessible to people across cast boundaries - not necessarily across gender boundaries - but across cast."

This levelling effect is clearly seen in one of south India's increasingly popular religious movements centred on the bachelor God Lyappa.

During the festival season his followers fast and go on pilgrimages. The devotees say their temples are open to all, irrespective of cast, creed or even religion.