Marang Buru : The sacred mountain

Introduction

The religion study shows us that people are continuously evolving and moving forward. It takes decades or even centuries to develop a new faith by rejecting the previous practices. The intellectuals in every society have some information that they use for their own benefit. It is a fact that every human being has different capabilities, and they use them wisely. Different religions in the world are recognized by their writings, drawings, crafts, and practices followed by the group of people. But there are many other religions which are said to be pagan, and they follow Totemism, Animism, Nihilism, etc. 

An AI Image of a sacred mountain

The pagan societies around the world, which are known as Tribes, follow different cult practices. In India, the major religions are Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, and Sikhism. Each of them has a concept of Preachers except the Sikh. The preacher's responsibility is to spread the Religion. Each religion has a foundation of core principles of its own. The tribal religions do not have any scriptures, and they do not believe in the spreading of their religion; that's why they don't have preachers and all. Their religion is based on mutual understanding among communities. Now it is very clear that the Tribal religion is the oldest.

An AI image showing tribes worshipping a mountain

Marang Buru references in History

There is a mountain range in Giridih district of Jharkhand known by many names, such as Marang Buru or the Parasnath hills. There are many references to Marang buru in the book "The Tribes and Castes of Bengal: Ethnographic Glossary volume 2" by H.H. Risley, published in the year 1892. On page number 21, it is mentioned that the mountain god (Marang Buru) of the Mundas and Santals. On Monday or Tuesday, goats are sacrificed to him in the months of Magh, Ashar, and Aghan. The flesh is eaten by the worshippers.

On page 101, it is mentioned that the rank next to Singbonga comes Burubonga or Marang Buru, also known as Pat sarna, a mountain god. Here, people of all castes assemble and sacrifice. If animals are killed, the heads are left there and afterwards appropriated by the pahan or village priest. Marang Buru is regarded as the god who presides over the rainfall, and is appealed to in times of drought as well as when any epidemic sickness is abroad. The appropriate offering to him was a buffalo.

An AI image depicting a mountain god

On page 143, it is mentioned that the flesh of the animals killed is appropriated by the sorcerer regarding the names and attributes of the devils. The Oraons ignore the Bongas and pay their devotion to Darah, the Sarna burhi (lady of the grove), and the village bhuts, who have various names. They propitiate him as the bhut, who frustrates the gods' designs of sending rain in due season to fertilize the earth. On page 230, it is mentioned that Marang Buru, the great mountain or the very high one, now stands at the head of the Santal pantheon and is credited with very far-reaching powers in virtue of which he associates with both demons and gods. 

Jains relation

On the other hand, the Jains named this Marang Buru mountain as Parasnath hills. They believed that their twenty Tirthankaras out of twenty-four attained moksha here. The Jains condemn the sacrifice practices happening there by the tribes. Now they want such practices to stop happening around the area. Expectedly, the tribes oppose the Jains for the same reason. It's a very tough situation for the State to resolve this issue.

Conclusion

Now the question arises, is the mountain really so powerful that other religions' supreme gods are attracted towards Marang Buru? Does it really have the power to control nature? Well, in our point of view, the secular nature of the Indian state should allow both the Religions to practice their faith on Marang Buru or the Parasnath hills. This kind of differences in faith continues until and unless one overcomes or supersedes the other by their beliefs. For us, religion is an oxymoron.

Key Takeaways

• Tribal Worship Practices: Marang Buru, meaning "The Great Mountain," is revered by tribes such as the Mundas and Santals. They conduct rituals and sacrifices, including offering goats during specific months, to honor this mountain deity believed to influence rainfall and protect against epidemics.

• Historical References: The 1892 publication "The Tribes and Castes of Bengal" by H.H. Risley documents these practices, highlighting the longstanding cultural importance of Marang Buru among these communities.

• Jainism's Association: Jain followers regard the same mountain, which they call Parasnath Hills, as sacred because twenty of their twenty-four Tirthankaras are believed to have attained moksha (liberation) there.

• Religious Tensions: The differing religious practices—tribal rituals involving animal sacrifices and Jain principles opposing such acts—have led to conflicts over the use of the site.

• Call for Secular Resolution: The article suggests that the Indian state's secular framework should accommodate the coexistence of both religious practices at Marang Buru/Parasnath Hills, respecting the diverse faiths associated with the site.