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Adi Deo Arya Devata: A Panoramic View of Tribal Hindu Cultural Interface
On Hindu-tribal interactions, changing nature of Hinduism, local society, Mahabharata tribes and gods, and local tribal gods. Also useful on the process of Sanskritization
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2004
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About the author
Sandhya Jain
14 books11 followersSANDHYA JAIN is a contemporary affairs analyst and independent researcher; she writes a fortnightly column for the daily newspaper, The Pioneer, and edits the web portal www.vijayvaani.com. A post-graduate from Delhi University, Jain is the author of Adi Deo Arya Devata: A Panoramic View of Tribal-Hindu Cultural Interface and Evangelical Intrusions. Tripura: A Case Study.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 3, 2023
Adi Deo Arya Devata by Sandhya Jain establishes the basic unity of Hindu Dharma and destroys the distortions and stereotypes in the historical narrative regarding India's tribal communities and their relationship with the so called ‘high culture' of India. Sandhya also tells us that concept of race and tribe in Indian context are pure colonial constructs and do not have any basis in the Indian culture. The book covers wide range of cultural and traditions features from many different parts of India.
The chapters on Jagannath, Khandoba, Murugan, Ganesh, Naag and Devi, Cow Tribes were interesting to read. I especially loved the chapter on Mahabharata tribes and its entire list. It was eyeopener and stories of Ramayana from different tribes was really interesting. Book goes on detail with lot of deities and tribes from different parts of India. It also breaks the myth that only Brahmins do pooja padh of temples. There are various temples which are managed and run by tribes. Book goes on detail with how some communities were in charge of running some particular work for those particular deity.
It also tells us how Criminal tribes law was introduced by Britishers. This law made sure that male adult members were forced to report to the local police. Even a child taking birth in those tribe will be considered as criminal. The Criminal Tribes Act was passed in 1871 and made it lawful to perform genocide against a list of Indian tribes who were deemed to be 'criminals', including every member of these tribes right from birth. Many tribes were condemned not because they were 'criminal' (even if there is such a thing as a whole tribe being criminal), but because they were fighting against the British destruction of their jungles and other habitats. The Thugs were one such group that got so badly maligned via atrocity literature that their name has entered the English language as being synonymous with criminals.
Sandhya Jain tackling the colonial agenda of creating a schism between tribals and non-tribals in India- two groups who have coexisted & syncretized since prehistory. Book take us to deeper investigation shows caste itself rooted in tribal gotra or clan, but dynamic reality of tribe-caste continuum known to colonial state. At grassroots level they found no difference between Hindus and Tribals, but officers wrote Census Reports and created poison for future generations. There is a constant false propaganda by Breaking India forces that the high culture and low culture within Hinduism are always at conflict with each other. The book shatters the myth about Tribal people not being Hindus. India is the only country and civilization whose tribal communities retain continuity with their roots, even as they live in the contemporary era. Tribals are our living ancestors and anchors. It establishes that Vanvasis or the tribal society constitutes the keynote and the bedrock of Hindu civilisation.
It deserves to be translated into all Indian languages, especially south Indians because the agenda in south is quite strong. Sandhya Jain's book on tribal Hindu continuity is another scholarly forerunner providing fresh Indic frameworks to approach tribal anthropology in India against the colonial framework rooted in the Aryan/ non-Aryan binary. Do read if you are into socio cultural framework of India. This book is available in Hindi and English.
The chapters on Jagannath, Khandoba, Murugan, Ganesh, Naag and Devi, Cow Tribes were interesting to read. I especially loved the chapter on Mahabharata tribes and its entire list. It was eyeopener and stories of Ramayana from different tribes was really interesting. Book goes on detail with lot of deities and tribes from different parts of India. It also breaks the myth that only Brahmins do pooja padh of temples. There are various temples which are managed and run by tribes. Book goes on detail with how some communities were in charge of running some particular work for those particular deity.
It also tells us how Criminal tribes law was introduced by Britishers. This law made sure that male adult members were forced to report to the local police. Even a child taking birth in those tribe will be considered as criminal. The Criminal Tribes Act was passed in 1871 and made it lawful to perform genocide against a list of Indian tribes who were deemed to be 'criminals', including every member of these tribes right from birth. Many tribes were condemned not because they were 'criminal' (even if there is such a thing as a whole tribe being criminal), but because they were fighting against the British destruction of their jungles and other habitats. The Thugs were one such group that got so badly maligned via atrocity literature that their name has entered the English language as being synonymous with criminals.
Sandhya Jain tackling the colonial agenda of creating a schism between tribals and non-tribals in India- two groups who have coexisted & syncretized since prehistory. Book take us to deeper investigation shows caste itself rooted in tribal gotra or clan, but dynamic reality of tribe-caste continuum known to colonial state. At grassroots level they found no difference between Hindus and Tribals, but officers wrote Census Reports and created poison for future generations. There is a constant false propaganda by Breaking India forces that the high culture and low culture within Hinduism are always at conflict with each other. The book shatters the myth about Tribal people not being Hindus. India is the only country and civilization whose tribal communities retain continuity with their roots, even as they live in the contemporary era. Tribals are our living ancestors and anchors. It establishes that Vanvasis or the tribal society constitutes the keynote and the bedrock of Hindu civilisation.
It deserves to be translated into all Indian languages, especially south Indians because the agenda in south is quite strong. Sandhya Jain's book on tribal Hindu continuity is another scholarly forerunner providing fresh Indic frameworks to approach tribal anthropology in India against the colonial framework rooted in the Aryan/ non-Aryan binary. Do read if you are into socio cultural framework of India. This book is available in Hindi and English.
June 13, 2019
Actually i read this book in Hindi. I read the kindle version and bought it at 51 rupees. It was quite a easy buy for me. I love the way Sandhya Jain wrote this book. The amount of research she did is immense. Britishers always claimed that the Tribal were far away from Hindu mainstream society. But this book was really eye opener for me. Book is backed with lot of historian references and places. Book tell us how Hindu and tribals used to live in harmony regarding cultures, society and Sanatan dharma.
Its a must read. Wish i could have this book in my library.
Its a must read. Wish i could have this book in my library.
April 25, 2022
A historical non-fiction book looking back at how and why India was divided into Urban, Rural and Tribal population during the Raj. How the people from cities, villages and forests interacted and transacted with each other before the census and forced categorization.
This book is a study on the social construct, the religious framework and the cultural integration of a complex nation like India; and the importance of Kul-devta and/or Gram-devta on how people of various sections moved among each other socially and/or culturally. The impact of a kul-devta's movement from forest to rural or rural to city could be traced along with the upward trajectory to its associated people and family, and vice versa. How fluid the social structure of the olden times were and Gods, the religious practices and rituals played a very important role in assimilating people and their beliefs into the social system of a place.
This book is a fantastic piece of research to look at the oft demonized aspect of Hindu society, its Gods and rituals; and its very important role in the socio-cultural-economic framework of Indian society. And the reasons behind the intial attacks at this very fabric which made up the beautiful tapestry that was India of the old.
This book is a study on the social construct, the religious framework and the cultural integration of a complex nation like India; and the importance of Kul-devta and/or Gram-devta on how people of various sections moved among each other socially and/or culturally. The impact of a kul-devta's movement from forest to rural or rural to city could be traced along with the upward trajectory to its associated people and family, and vice versa. How fluid the social structure of the olden times were and Gods, the religious practices and rituals played a very important role in assimilating people and their beliefs into the social system of a place.
This book is a fantastic piece of research to look at the oft demonized aspect of Hindu society, its Gods and rituals; and its very important role in the socio-cultural-economic framework of Indian society. And the reasons behind the intial attacks at this very fabric which made up the beautiful tapestry that was India of the old.
January 20, 2023
Mind blowing eye opening book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews