Sarnaism

Sarnaism is a Indian religious belief in eastern regions of the subcontinent.[1] The belief is based on worship at Sarna, the sacred groves in the Chota Nagpur Plateau region in the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.[2] According to local belief, a Gram deoti or village deity resides in the sarna, where sacrifice is offered twice a year. Their belief system is alternatively known as "Sarna Dharma", or "Religion of the Holy Woods".[3][4] Many tribal organization seek its recognition as a distinct religious category for indigenous peoples.[1] The tradition is predominantly followed by Munda peoples, as well as other Scheduled Tribes in India.

Sarnaism
Flag of Sarnaism
The Sarnaism Symbol used by Santhals
Total population
c. 7,841,870 - 9,341,870
Regions with significant populations
 India  Bangladesh    Nepal  Bhutan
Jharkhand4,223,500
West Bengal2,512,331
Bihar1,349,460
Chhattisgarh768,910
Odisha478,317
 Bangladesh500,000

Etymology

Sarna means "grove" and is etymologically related to the name of the sal tree.

Theology

The adherents of Sarnaism believe in, worship, and revere a village deity as protector of village called Gaon khunt, Gram deoti, Dharmes, Marang Buru, Singbonga, or by other names by different tribes.[5] 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 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.[6]

Demographics
S. No. State Population
1. Jharkhand 4,223,500
2. West Bengal 2,512,331
3. Bihar 1,349,460
4. Chhattisgarh 768,910
5. Odisha 478,317
Total c. 7,800,000 to 9,300,000
Source: 2011 Census of India[7]

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.[8]

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.[9] Several tribal organisations and Christian missionaries are demanding a distinct census code for Sarnaism.[10][11] 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."[12] 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.[13] 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".[14]

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.[15][16]

Many tribal organizations seek its recognition as a distinct religious category for indigenous peoples.[1] Several Christian churches also support the recognition of Sarna as a different religion from Hinduism.[17] But the RSS is against the recognition of Sarna as a separate religion as it believes that tribal people are Hindus.[12]

Organisations
  • Akhil Bharatiya Sarna Dharam (ABSD)
  • All India Sarna Dharam Mandowa (AISDM)
  • Kherwal Saonta Semled (KSS)

See also

References
  1. "Explained: What Is The Sarna Religious Code And What Are Its Followers Demanding?". outlook india. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  2. "Religious Complexity in Northeastern South Asia". GeoCurrents. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  3. Minahan 2012
  4. "In India, Believers in an Ancient Indigenous Faith Seek Formal Recognition". Los Angeles Times.
  5. Amit Jha (2009). Contemporary Religious Institutions in Tribal India. ISBN 9780557090532.
  6. Srivastava (2007)
  7. "Fewer minor faiths in India now, finds Census; number of their adherents up". The Indian Express. 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  8. Tribals torn apart by religion, The Hindu. 014.
  9. "ST panel for independent religion status to Sarna". The Times of India. 6 February 2011.
  10. Kiro, Santosh K. (2013). "Delhi demo for Sarna identity". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014.
  11. 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.
  12. All tribals are Hindus, no need for Sarna code: RSS, Times of India, 1 May 2015.
  13. "Minister faces ire for Sarna row".
  14. "Minister faces ire for Sarna row".
  15. "Jharkhand Assembly passes resolution on Sarna Code". The Hindu. 12 November 2020.
  16. Bisoee, Animesh (25 September 2021). "Tribals from nine states seek Sarna code in 2021 census". The Telegraph.
  17. Church writes to Hemant demanding Sarna code for tribals, Telegraph India, 19.09.2020.

Bibliography

Books
  • Sachchidananda, A.K. (1980). Elite and Development. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Co. ASIN B000MBN8J2.
  • Minahan, James (2012). Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific: An encyclopedia. Ethnic Groups of the World. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1598846591.
  • Niketan, Kishor Vidya (1988). The Spectrum of Tribal Religion in Bihar: A study of continuity & change among the Oraon of Chotanagpur.
  • Hembram, Phatik Chandra (1988). Sari-Sarna (Santhal religion). Mittal Publications. ISBN 8170990440.

Journal articles
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