Gaining power by linking events

A classic example that I observed of an event to event exchange as way of exercising power in the village was that of the 'Pujaris'. People their had a lot of faith in God and his power and the 'Pujaris' would exploit this by stating the reason for a bad harvest or illness in the family as the failure to have performed certain Pujas, thus linking these events. This gave them tremendous power as in case of any crisis they would be contacted for solution and to give direction.