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Draft:Indigenous religions of India

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Indigenous Religions of India
Tribal_deities
Tribal deities.
Total population
70,000,000+ (estimated total population of known and unknown indigenous religions)
Regions with significant populations
Across various regions of India
Languages
Various Indian languages
Religion
Sarnaism, Gond Religion, Sanamahism, Animism, Niam Khasi, Bathouism, and more
Related ethnic groups
Various indigenous tribes and communities

India is home to numerous indigenous religions practiced by tribes across the country. These include Sarnaism, Gond Religion, Sanamahism, Bathouism, Animism, and others. These religions have distinct spiritual beliefs and practices tied to the land and nature. While the precise number of followers is challenging to calculate, estimates suggest that the total population of adherents to indigenous religions in India exceeds 70 million, including both known and unknown groups.

List of Indigenous Tribes, Religions and their population

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List of Indigenous Tribes and Their Religions along with their population figures
Tribe Region Religion Estimated Population
Santal Jharkhand, Odisha Sarnaism 7,000,000+[1]
Gond Central India Gond Religion 12,000,000+[2]
Meitei Manipur Sanamahism 2,000,000+[3]
Bodo Assam Bathouism 1,500,000+[4]
Toda Tamil Nadu Toda Religion 1,000+[5]
Bhil Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh Bhilala Animism 10,000,000+[6]
Khasi Meghalaya Niam Khasi 1,400,000+[7]
Garo Meghalaya, Assam Songsarek 800,000+[8]
Angami Naga Nagaland Pfütsana 400,000+[9]
Ao Naga Nagaland Animism (Nature Worship) 400,000+[10]
Santhal Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha Sarna Dharma 7,000,000+[11]
Lepcha Sikkim, West Bengal Mun Religion 100,000+[12]
Karbi Assam Hemphu-Mukrang Religion 700,000+[13]
Mizos Mizoram Pathian Worship (Pre-Christianity) 1,000,000+[14]
Kuki Manipur, Mizoram Animism (Ancestor Worship) 1,000,000+[15]
Baiga Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Baiga Animism 150,000+[16]
Munda Jharkhand, Odisha Sarnaism 12,000,000+[17]
Warli Maharashtra Warli Animism 1,000,000+[18]
Nicobarese Nicobar Islands Animism (Totem Worship) 36,000+[19]
Kodava Karnataka Kodava Ancestral Worship 1,500,000+[20]
Irula Tamil Nadu, Kerala Animism (Snake Worship) 100,000+[21]
Bhutia Sikkim Bon (Pre-Buddhism) 200,000+[22]
Chenchu Andhra Pradesh Animism (Forest Spirit Worship) 50,000+[23]
Mishing Assam Donyi-Polo 1,000,000+[24]
Apatani Arunachal Pradesh Donyi-Polo 35,000+[25]
Zeliangrong Naga Nagaland, Manipur Heraka 200,000+[26]

Indigenous religions are often subsumed under broader categories like "Hinduism" in the Indian Census. However, there is growing advocacy to include distinct categories for these religions to preserve their unique identities.[27]

Indigenous Religions in India

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Indigenous religions in India encompass a wide variety of ancient spiritual practices, beliefs, and traditions that predate organized religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. These religions are practiced by numerous tribal communities across the country and are often rooted in animism, nature worship, ancestor veneration, and local myths. They remain an integral part of India's cultural and religious diversity. Indigenous religions in India are often defined by their close relationship with nature, localized practices, and oral traditions. Key characteristics include:

  • Animism: The belief that natural objects, places, and creatures possess a spiritual essence.[28]
  • Nature Worship: Rivers, mountains, trees, and animals are revered as sacred.[29]
  • Oral Traditions: Rituals and myths are passed down orally from generation to generation.[30]
  • Community-Centric Practices: Worship and rituals are often performed collectively, strengthening community bonds.[31]

Major Indigenous Religions

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Adivasi Religions

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The term "Adivasi" refers to the indigenous tribes of India, many of whom practice distinct religions:

  • Sarnaism: Practiced by tribes like the Mundas and Oraons, Sarnaism involves worship of the Sarna (sacred grove) and other natural elements.[32]
  • Sanamahism: The traditional religion of the Meitei people in Manipur, which reveres Sanamahi, the household deity.[33]
  • Kherwalism: Followed by the Santal tribe, Kherwalism emphasizes nature worship and tribal myths.[34]

Dravidian Religions

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Indigenous Dravidian religions predate Vedic traditions and are practiced by groups such as the Gonds, Kurukhs, and Todas:

  • Gond Religion: The Gonds worship the supreme deity Badadev and revere clan deities.[35]
  • Kurukh Religion: The Kurukh tribe venerates Dharmes as the supreme god along with local spirits.[36]
  • Toda Religion: The Todas of the Nilgiri Hills worship sacred buffaloes and perform elaborate rituals.[37]

Northeast Indian Religions

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Indigenous religions in Northeast India are diverse and often animistic:

  • Donyi-Polo: Practiced by the Tani tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, this religion involves worship of the Sun (Donyi) and Moon (Polo).[38]
  • Heraka: A syncretic religion of the Zeme and Liangmai Nagas, blending traditional beliefs with monotheistic elements.[39]
  • Bathouism: The religion of the Bodo people, centered on the worship of Sijou (a sacred plant).[40]

Tamil Nadu and Kerala Traditions

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  • Ayyanar Worship: Ayyanar is a guardian deity worshipped in Tamil Nadu and Kerala villages, often associated with sacred groves.[41]
  • Theyyam: A ritualistic performance in Kerala, believed to invoke divine spirits.[42]

Rituals and Practices

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  • Sacred Groves: Many indigenous communities consider specific groves of trees sacred, where rituals and offerings are made.[43]
  • Totemism: Tribal groups like the Bhils and Gonds identify with specific animals or plants as their totems.[44]
  • Shamanism: Shamans or spiritual healers play a significant role in many indigenous religions, mediating between the physical and spiritual worlds.[45]

Impact of Modernity

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Indigenous religions in India face challenges due to:

  • Conversion: Many practitioners have converted to organized religions like Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam.[46]
  • Urbanization: Migration to cities has led to the erosion of traditional practices.[47]
  • Deforestation: The destruction of sacred groves and natural habitats threatens the foundation of these religions.[48]

Revivalist Movements

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Efforts to revive and preserve indigenous religions have gained momentum. The Jharkhand government has recognized Sarnaism as a distinct religion.[49]. Meitei revivalists are promoting Sanamahism through cultural events and education.[50]. Organizations like World Adivasi Council work to protect tribal religions and practices.[51] While indigenous religions are distinct from organized religions, they have influenced and been influenced by larger traditions like Hinduism and Buddhism. Mmany Hindu gods have origins in tribal deities.[52]. Buddhist monasteries in the Northeast often incorporate indigenous practices.[53]

References

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  1. ^ https://www.tribalindia.gov.in/
  2. ^ https://www.tribalindia.gov.in/
  3. ^ https://www.thehindu.com/
  4. ^ https://www.bodo.org/
  5. ^ https://www.toda.org/
  6. ^ https://www.tribalindia.gov.in/
  7. ^ https://www.khasi.org/
  8. ^ https://www.garo.org/
  9. ^ https://www.naga.org/
  10. ^ https://www.naga.org/
  11. ^ https://www.tribalindia.gov.in/
  12. ^ https://www.lepcha.org/
  13. ^ https://www.karbi.org/
  14. ^ https://www.mizo.org/
  15. ^ https://www.kuki.org/
  16. ^ https://www.tribalindia.gov.in/
  17. ^ https://www.tribalindia.gov.in/
  18. ^ https://www.warli.org/
  19. ^ https://www.nicobarese.org/
  20. ^ https://www.kodava.org/
  21. ^ https://www.irula.org/
  22. ^ https://www.bhutia.org/
  23. ^ https://www.chenchu.org/
  24. ^ https://www.mishing.org/
  25. ^ https://www.apatani.org/
  26. ^ https://www.naga.org/
  27. ^ Table ST-14, Indian Census of 2001.
  28. ^ Mills, J.P. The Angami Nagas (1922). London: Oxford University Press.
  29. ^ Hutton, J.H. The Angami Nagas: With Some Notes on Neighboring Tribes (1921). London: Macmillan.
  30. ^ Elwin, Verrier. The Religion of an Indian Tribe (1955). Oxford University Press.
  31. ^ Table ST-14, Indian Census of 2001.
  32. ^ Singh, K.S. People of India: An Anthropological Survey (1992). Anthropological Survey of India.
  33. ^ Hodson, T.C. The Meitheis (1911). Cambridge University Press.
  34. ^ Roy, Sarat Chandra. The Santal: A Study in Culture Change (1912). Ranchi: Catholic Press.
  35. ^ Russell, R.V., and Hiralal. The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India (1916). London: Macmillan.
  36. ^ Dalton, Edward Tuite. Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal (1872). Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing.
  37. ^ Emeneau, Murray B. Toda Songs (1971). Oxford University Press.
  38. ^ Elwin, Verrier. Myths of the North-East Frontier of India (1958). Oxford University Press.
  39. ^ Kamei, Gangmumei. A History of the Zeliangrong Nagas (2004). Spectrum Publications.
  40. ^ Narzary, Bhabendra. Bathou Dharma: An Indigenous Religion of the Bodos (2007). Bodoland University Press.
  41. ^ Subramuniyaswami, Satguru Sivaya. Sacred Groves of Tamil Nadu (1995). Himalayan Academy Publications.
  42. ^ Elamkulam, P.N. Kunjan Pillai. Studies in Kerala Culture (1962). National Book Stall.
  43. ^ Gadgil, Madhav, and V.D. Vartak. Sacred Groves of India (1975). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society.
  44. ^ Risley, Herbert. The Tribes and Castes of Bengal (1891). Bengal Secretariat Press.
  45. ^ Hutton, J.H. Caste in India (1946). Cambridge University Press.
  46. ^ Rao, M.S.A. Urbanization and Social Change (1974). Orient Longman.
  47. ^ Srinivas, M.N. Social Change in Modern India (1966). University of California Press.
  48. ^ Gadgil, Madhav, and Ramachandra Guha. This Fissured Land: An Ecological History of India (1993). Oxford University Press.
  49. ^ Jharkhand State Gazette, 2021.
  50. ^ Sanamahi Cultural Council of Manipur, Annual Report 2022.
  51. ^ World Adivasi Council, Mission and Vision Document (2023).
  52. ^ Sharma, Arvind. Tribal Roots of Hinduism (1990). Oxford University Press.
  53. ^ Bhattacharyya, Narendra Nath. History of Indian Buddhism (1975). Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers.

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