Sarnaism

Last updated
Sarnaism
Sarnaism flag.svg
Flag of Sarnaism
Sarna sb.png
The Sarnaism Symbol used by Santals
Total population
c. 5 million [1]
Regions with significant populations
Flag of India.svg  India
Jharkhand 4,131,282 [2]
Odisha 403,350 [2]
West Bengal 403,250 [2]
Bihar 10,407 [2]
Chhatisgarh 8,057 [2]

Sarnaism is a religious faith of the Indian subcontinent, predominantly followed by indigenous communities of Chota Nagpur Plateau region across states like Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh. [3] [4]

Contents

The essence of the Sarna faith revolves around Nature worship. Its core principles emphasize jal (water), jaṅgal (forest) and jamīn (land), with adherents offering prayers to trees and hills while believing in the protection of forests. [3] This belief centers around the reverence of Sarna, the sacred groves of village communities where the village deity, known as Gram deoti resides, and where sacrificial offerings are made twice a year. It is also referred to as "Sarna Dharma" or the "Religion of the Holy Woods", [5] [6] and it holds the distinction of being India's largest tribal religion. [1]

Etymology

The term "Sarna", derived from the Mundari language, means "sacred grove", referring to the sites where tribal religious practices take place, although the term for sacred grove varies among tribes; for instance, the Santals call it Jaher Era , Oraons call it Kurukh Kuti, Hos call it Desauli. [7] [8] However, Sarna is etymologically related to the name of the sal tree. [9]

History

Sarnaism emerged in the 1930s when tribal activists in the Chota Nagpur region of Bihar proposed it as a unifying term for the diverse, nature-based ancestral practices of tribal communities, distinct from mainstream religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity. [10]

However, initially, the concept of unifying tribal belief was prevalent among the Oraon tribe of Ranchi as a way to assert tribal identity and resist assimilation and conversions. Later, the Munda joined its fold when a concession was made to use "Sarna" as the name of the religion. Sarnaism gained broader acceptance through socio-political leaders like Jaipal Singh Munda, who spearheaded its cultural and political significance. [7] [11] Post-independence, Sarnaism experienced steady growth, with significant developments in 1971 and 2001 when larger tribes like the Santals and Hos embraced it, resulting in over 100 percent decadal growth. Politically, Sarnaism played a key role in advocating for tribal identity and cultural autonomy, ultimately contributing to the creation of tribal state Jharkhand in 2000 by bifurcation of Bihar.

Theology

The adherents of Sarnaism believe in, worship, and revere a village deity as protector of village called Gaon khunt, Gram deoti, Marang Buru , Singbonga, or by other names by different tribes. [12] Adherents also believe in, worship, and revere Dharti ayo or Chalapachho Devi, the mother goddess identified as the earth or nature.

Practices

Sarna worshippers following their religious rites Sarna worshippers following their religious rites.jpg
Sarna worshippers following their religious rites

Sarna is place of worship which is sacred grove in Chotanagpur. It is called Jaher than or Jaher gar among Santal, and can be found in villages. Sal trees are in the sacred grove. The ceremonies are performed by the whole village community at a public gathering with the active participation of village priests, pahan and assistant Pujar in Chotanagpur. The priest is called Naike among Santal. The sthal typically has multiple trees like sal, mahua, neem, and banyan.

The main festival of Sarnaism is Sarhul, a festival in which devotees worship their ancestors. During the festival, the pahan brings three water pots to the sarna. If the water pots reduce in level, they believe the monsoon will fail, but if it stays the same the monsoon will come as normal. Men then offer sakua flowers and leaves. [13]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1961428,687—    
1971951,558+122.0%
19811,391,178+46.2%
19911,820,454+30.9%
20014,075,246+123.9%
20114,957,467+21.6%
Note: In 1981 and 1991 census, the religion 'Sarna' was recorded as 'Swarna'.
Source: Census of India [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [2]
Distribution of Sarnaism, 1961 Census Sarnaism in 1961.svg
Distribution of Sarnaism, 1961 Census

Adherents of Sarna, 2011 census [19]

   Santal (30.48%)
   Oraon (21.35%)
   Ho (17.87%)
   Munda (12.48%)
   Bhumij (1.72%)
  Lohra (1.70%)
   Mahali (1.07%)
   Kharia (0.87%)
   Bedia (0.67%)
  Other Tribes (4.42%)
   Other Backward Classes and Non-Scheduled Communities (7.39%)

The statistics show solely Sarna adherents, without consideration of Sari Dharam or other denominations claimed to be synonymous.

According to the 2011 census of India, apart from the six major religions, namely Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and the "Not Stated" category, other religions are categorized as "Other Religions and Persuasions," within which the Sarna belief is included. In the 2011 census, the Sarna religion counted 4,957,467 followers in India, primarily in the eastern states of Jharkhand (83.33%), Odisha (8.14%), West Bengal (8.13%), Bihar (0.21%), and Chhattisgarh (0.16%), with smaller numbers of followers in Assam (301), Punjab (190), and Madhya Pradesh (133). [2] Scheduled Tribes comprise the majority of believers at 92.60%, while Other Backward Classes and Non-Scheduled Communities accounted for 7.39%. [19] Among the prominent tribes practicing Sarna are Santal (30.48%), Oraon (21.35%), Ho (17.87%), Munda (12.48%), Bhumij (1.72%), Lohra (1.70%), Mahali (1.07%), Kharia (0.87%), and Bedia (0.64%). While other tribes, such as Kisan, Kolha, Gond, Kharwar, Chik Baraik, Asur, Bhinjia, Karmali, Kora, Kol, Kawar, Birja, Mal Paharia, Savar, Birhor, Gorait, Parhaiya, Lodha, Chero, Khanwar, Suria Paharia, Mundari, Baiga, Korwa, Sounti, Binjhwar, Nagesia, Mahli, and various generic tribes, collectively constitute 4.42%. [19]

Additionally, there are 506,369 followers of Sari Dharam in India, [2] primarily followed by the Santal tribe of West Bengal, representing 94.43% of the total Sari Dharam adherents. [19] The religious denomination, which often considered as synonyms or sect of Sarnaisim.

Religious status

As a result of Western colonialism and imperialism in Asia, several attempts of indoctrination and forced conversion were carried out by western Christian missionaries in colonial India, which went on for a century, and have caused sectarian conflict in the tribal areas of the Chota Nagpur region. The arrival of the first German Protestant missionaries in 1845 was followed by Roman Catholic missionaries; conflict between Christian and Non-Christian tribals became evident in 1947–1948, when British colonial rulers left India. [20]

Politics

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has suggested that Sarna religion be accorded independent category in the religion code of the Census of India. [21] Several tribal organisations and Christian missionaries are demanding a distinct census code for Sarnaism. [22] [23] The then Indian Minister of Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram, had, however, claimed in 2015, "There is no denial of the fact that tribals are Hindus." [24] The comment led to protests from 300 tribals, over 100 of whom were arrested by the police to clear the way for Oram, who was going to inaugurate a fair. [25] Adivasi Sarna Mahasabha leader and former MLA Dev Kumar Dhan said that followers of the Sarna religion were not happy with the statement made by Oram and added, "If Jainism, having a population of hardly 60 lakh, can have a separate religion code in the Census forms, why can't Sarnas? This tribal religion have more than 10 crore followers spread over the Fifth Scheduled states like Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharastra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Odisha. Instead of taking steps to ensure a separate religion code, he is saying Sarnas are Hindus". [26]

In 2020, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM), which was in power in Jharkhand at that time, passed a unanimous assembly resolution on 'Sarna Code' for the inclusion of Sarna as separate religion in 2021 census, and sent to central government for approval. [27] [28]

Many tribal organizations seek its recognition as a distinct religious category for indigenous peoples. [3] Several Christian churches also support the recognition of Sarna as a different religion from Hinduism. [29] But the RSS is against the recognition of Sarna as a separate religion as it believes that tribal people are Hindus. [24]

Organisations

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jharkhand</span> State in eastern India

Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. The state shares its border with the states of West Bengal to the east, Chhattisgarh to the west, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Bihar to the north and Odisha to the south. It is the 15th largest state by area, and the 14th largest by population. Hindi is the official language of the state. The city of Ranchi is its capital and Dumka its sub-capital. The state is known for its waterfalls, hills and holy places; Baidyanath Dham, Parasnath, Dewri and Rajrappa are major religious sites. Jharkhand is primarily rural, with about 24% of its population living in cities as of 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santhal Pargana division</span> Division of Jharkhand, India

Santal Pargana division constitutes six district administration units known as the divisions of Jharkhand state in eastern India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santal people</span> Ethnic group of India, Nepal and Bangladesh

The Santal are an Austroasiatic-speaking Munda ethnic group of the Indian subcontinent. Santals are the largest tribe in the Jharkhand and West Bengal in terms of population and are also found in the states of Odisha, Bihar, Assam and Tripura. They are the largest ethnic minority in northern Bangladesh's Rajshahi Division and Rangpur Division. They have a sizeable population in Nepal. The Santals speak Santali, the most widely spoken Munda languages of Austroasiatic language family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adivasi</span> Varied tribal groups in the Indian subcontinent

The Adivasi are heterogeneous tribal groups across the Indian subcontinent. The term is a Sanskrit word coined in the 1930s by political activists to give the tribal people an indigenous identity by claiming an indigenous origin. The Constitution of India does not use the word Adivasi, instead referring to Scheduled Tribes and Janjati. The government of India does not officially recognise tribes as indigenous people. The country ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 107 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the United Nations (1957) and refused to sign the ILO Convention 169. Most of these groups are included in the Scheduled Tribe category under constitutional provisions in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurukh people</span> Indigenous (scheduled) tribe from India

The Kurukh or Oraon, also spelt Uraon or Dhangad, are a Dravidian speaking ethnolinguistic group inhabiting Chhotanagpur Plateau and adjoining areas - mainly the Indian states of Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal. They predominantly speak Kurukh as their native language, which belongs to the Dravidian language family. In Maharashtra, Oraon people are also known as Dhangad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munda people</span> Ethnic group of India, Bangladesh and Nepal

The Munda people are an Austroasiatic-speaking ethnic group of the Indian subcontinent. They speak Mundari as their native language, which belongs to the Munda subgroup of Austroasiatic languages. The Munda are found mainly concentrated in the south and East Chhotanagpur Plateau region of Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. The Munda also reside in adjacent areas of Madhya Pradesh as well as in portions of Bangladesh, Nepal, and the state of Tripura. They are one of India's largest scheduled tribes. Munda people in Tripura are also known as Mura. In the Kolhan region of Jharkhand the Munda people are often called Tamadia by other communities.

The Mahli are a community in the Indian states of Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. Basketry is their main occupation. They speak the Mahali language, which belongs to the Munda group, and many of them also know Odia, Santali, Bengali, and Hindi. They are included in list of Scheduled Tribe.

The tribes of Jharkhand consist of 32 scheduled tribes inhabiting the Jharkhand state in India. In 1872, only 18 tribes were counted among the scheduled tribes from which Banjara, Bhatudi, Chik Baraik, and Mahli were marked as semi-Hindu aboriginal and Kora as proletariat Hindu. In the 1931 census, including the above four semi-Hindu aboriginal and Kora, a proletariat Hindu, the number was raised to 26 from 18. They were Birajia, Godait, Karmali and Paharia, but Kisan was excluded from the list. In the 1941 census, Baga, Bedia and Lohra were included again taking Kisan in the annexure and the number came to 30 which prevailed till June 2003. Kanwar and Kol were added on 8 June 2003 in the annexure and the number of Schedule Tribes came to 32.

The Kol people referred to a group of tribal communities of Chotanagpur in eastern parts of India. Historically, the Mundas, Oraons, Ho and Bhumijs were called Kols by the British.

The Tea-garden community is a term for a multiethnic, multicultural group of tea garden workers and their descendants in Assam. They are officially referred to as Tea-tribes by the government of Assam and notified as Other Backward Classes (OBC). They are the descendants of peoples from multiple tribal and caste groups brought by the British colonial planters as indentured labourers from the regions of present-day Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh into colonial Assam during the 1860-90s in multiple phases to work in tea gardens. They are primarily found in districts with a large concentration of tea estates, such as Upper Assam districts of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, and Golaghat, and Barrak Valley districts of Cachar and Karimganj. The total population is estimated to be around 7 million, of which an estimated 4.5 million reside in residential quarters built inside 799 tea estates spread across tea-growing regions of Assam. Another 2.5 million reside in the nearby villages spread across those tea-growing regions. They speak multiple languages, including Sora, Odia, Assam Sadri, Sambalpuri, Kurmali, Santali, Kurukh, Kharia, Kui, Chhattisgarhi, Gondi and Mundari. Assam Sadri, distinguished from the Sadri language, serves as lingua franca among the community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tribal religions in India</span>

Roughly 8.6 per cent of India's population is made up of "Scheduled Tribes" (STs), traditional tribal communities. In India those who are not Christians, Muslims, Jews, or Zoroastrians are identified as Hindus. The reason being varied beliefs and practices allowed in Hindusim and according of Hindusim as a geographical identity than merely Religious ones. Though, many of the Scheduled Tribes have modes of worship not typical to mainstream Hindusim but ontologically form part of the cultural practices of the land, as Nature or ancestral worship, with varying degrees of syncretism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ho people</span> Ethnic group of India, Nepal and Bangladesh

The Ho people are an Austroasiatic Munda ethnic group of India. They are mostly concentrated in the Kolhan region of Jharkhand and northern Odisha where they constitute around 10.7% and 7.3% of the total Scheduled Tribe population respectively, as of 2011. With a population of approximately 700,000 in the state in 2001, the Ho are the fourth most numerous Scheduled tribe in Jharkhand after the Santals, Kurukhs, and Mundas. Ho also inhabit adjacent areas in the neighbouring states of Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar bringing the total to 806,921 as of 2001. They also live in Bangladesh and Nepal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khunti district</span> District of Jharkhand in India

Khunti district is one of the twenty-four districts in South Chotanagpur division of the Indian state of Jharkhand. The district of Khunti was carved out of Ranchi district on 12 September 2007. As of 2011, it is the second least populous district of Jharkhand, after Lohardaga. Khunti town is the headquarters of the district. It is historically known as the birthplace of Birsa Munda, and being the centre of activity of the Birsa movement. It is the part of State Capital Region (SCR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Jharkhand</span>

Christians are a religious community residing in the Indian state of Jharkhand. As per 2011 Census of India, 4.3% of people in Jharkhand are Christians. Christians are majority in Simdega district of Jharkhand.

Kuchai block is a CD block that forms an administrative division in the Seraikela Sadar subdivision of Seraikela Kharsawan district, in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

Kharsawan block is a CD block that forms an administrative division in the Seraikela Sadar subdivision of Seraikela Kharsawan district, in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

Sarna is a place of worship in the Chotanagpur region of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. It is a sacred grove, where people of village gather to perform rituals in village festival.

Marang Buru, also written Maran Buru; is a supreme deity of Santal, Bhumij, Ho and Munda tribes residing in India, Bangladesh, Nepal. This creator is variously called Marang Buru and is the "cause of all causes," making the tribal religion, in a deep sense, monotheistic as well as pantheistic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sari Dharam</span> Religion of the Santal people

Sari Dharam is the religion of the Santal people residing in India. Sari Dharam is one of the religious belief in eastern region of Indian states like Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Assam. However, Santals also practices Sarnaism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaherthan</span> Sacred grove in India and Bangladesh

Jaherthan, Jahirathan or Jahergarh is a sacred grove which is a residing place of Jaher Ayo and worshiping place of Santal, Bhumij, Paharia and Bedia tribes present in India and Bangladesh. It is a characteristic feature of a Bhumij and Santal village on the edge of the village where many holy spirits live and where a series of annual festivals take place. This sacred grove is set aside in the founding of the village and left undisturbed except at times of festivals. Inside is set a series of natural (uncut) stones which represent the Bongas, but are not substitutes except during festival.

References

  1. 1 2 Kramer, Stephanie (September 21, 2021). Religious Composition of India (PDF) (Report). Pew Research Center. p. 21. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 2, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "C-01 Appendix: Details of religious community shown under 'Other religions and persuasions' in main table C01 - 2011". Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India.
  3. 1 2 3 "Explained: What Is The Sarna Religious Code And What Are Its Followers Demanding?". outlook india. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  4. ↑ "Religious Complexity in Northeastern South Asia". GeoCurrents. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  5. ↑ Minahan 2012
  6. ↑ "In India, Believers in an Ancient Indigenous Faith Seek Formal Recognition". Los Angeles Times.
  7. 1 2 Hembram (1982)
  8. ↑ Sharma (2022) , p. 38
  9. ↑ Krishna, Nanditha (2017-12-26). Hinduism and Nature. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN   978-93-87326-54-5.
  10. ↑ Hembram 1988.
  11. ↑ Borde (2017) , p. 167 "In the mid-1950s, Jaipal Singh Munda, the leader of the Jharkhand movement is reported to have formulated the basic tenets of what is now known as the Sarna Dharam."
  12. ↑ Amit Jha (2009). Contemporary Religious Institutions in Tribal India. Lulu.com. ISBN   978-0-557-09053-2.
  13. ↑ Srivastava (2007)
  14. ↑ Hembram (1982), p. 88
  15. ↑ Special Tables For Scheduled Tribes, Part V-A (ii), Series-1, India (PDF). p. 305.
  16. ↑ "Household Population by Religion of Head of Household, Series-1, Paper 3 of 1984, India - Census 1981" (PDF). Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. 1984. p. 54. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 July 2024.
  17. ↑ "Religion, Paper 1 of 1995, Series-1, India - Census 1991" (PDF). Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. 1995. p. 50. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 September 2023.
  18. ↑ "C-01 Appendix: Details of religious communities shown Under 'other religious and persuasions' in main table C-01, India - 2001". Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India.
  19. 1 2 3 4
  20. ↑ Tribals torn apart by religion, The Hindu. 014.
  21. ↑ "ST panel for independent religion status to Sarna". The Times of India. 6 February 2011.
  22. ↑ Kiro, Santosh K. (2013). "Delhi demo for Sarna identity". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014.
  23. ↑ Mukherjee, Pranab (30 March 2013). "Tribals to rally for inclusion of Sarna religion in census". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 2 October 2013.
  24. 1 2 All tribals are Hindus, no need for Sarna code: RSS, Times of India, 1 May 2015.
  25. ↑ "Minister faces ire for Sarna row".
  26. ↑ "Minister faces ire for Sarna row".
  27. ↑ "Jharkhand Assembly passes resolution on Sarna Code". The Hindu. 12 November 2020.
  28. ↑ Bisoee, Animesh (25 September 2021). "Tribals from nine states seek Sarna code in 2021 census". The Telegraph .
  29. ↑ Church writes to Hemant demanding Sarna code for tribals, Telegraph India, 19.09.2020.

Bibliography

Books

Journal articles

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.