Rspalmora at 17:46, 7 May 2026

2026-05-07T17:46:27Z

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{{Short description|Deity of the Santal, Bhumij, Ho and Munda tribes}}

{{Infobox deity
| type = Sarnaist
| image =
| caption = Marang Buru
| day =
| mantra = Johar Gosain Marang Buru ([[Santali language|Santali]])
| affiliation = [[Sarnaism|Sarna Dharam]]<br/>[[Sari Dharam]]
| deity_of = God of Creation and Destruction
| weapon = Ak’ Sar
| symbols = The Great Mountain
| children =
| abode = * [[Parasnath]]
* [[Ajodhya Hills]]
* [[Dalma Hills]]
| mount =
| festivals = [[Sarhul]], [[Baha parab]], [[Sohrai]], Mage
| other_names = ᱢᱟᱨᱟᱝ ᱵᱩᱨᱩ
| member_of =
| consort = [[Jaher Ayo]]
}}
{{Sarnaism}}

'''Marang Buru''', also written '''Maran Buru''' ([[Santali language|Santali]]: ᱢᱟᱨᱟᱝ ᱵᱩᱨᱩ), is a supreme deity of [[Santal people|Santal]], [[Bhumij people|Bhumij]], [[Ho people|Ho]] and [[Munda people|Munda]] tribes residing in [[India]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Nepal]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jha |first=Makhan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Jk6oE4sh18C&q=marang-buru+&pg=PA29 |title=India and Nepal: Sacred Centres and Anthropological Researches |date=1998 |publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. |isbn=978-81-7533-081-8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sengupta |first=Saptarshi |date=2019 |title=Origins and the Early Settlements of the Santhals Through the Writings of Christian Missionaries and Others |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27192927 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=80 |pages=733–741 |jstor=27192927 |issn=2249-1937}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://elibrary.tucl.edu.np/bitstream/123456789/630/1/Chapter.pdf |title=Chapter I Introduction Santhal as People }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= Origin and History of the Santal Ethnic Group of Nepal|url=https://serialsjournals.com/abstract/32312_11_seeta.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= Novelty Journals: High quality scientific journal publisher|url=https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/An%20Ancient%20History-273.pdf}}</ref> This creator is variously called Marang Buru (meaning "Supreme Deity" or literally "The Great Mountain") and is regarded as the "cause of all causes," making the tribal religion deeply monotheistic as well as pantheistic.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kochar |first=V. K. |date=1966 |title=Village Deities of the Santal and Associated Rituals |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40458237 |journal=Anthropos |volume=61 |issue=1/2 |pages=241–257 |jstor=40458237 |issn=0257-9774}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hembram |first1=Mayamani |last2=Tripathy |first2=Dr Sishir Kumar |date=May 2020 |title=The Religious Beliefs and Practices of Santal Tribe in Mayurbhanj District of Odisha: Role of Santal Women |url=https://psychosocial.com/article/35527 |journal=International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation |language=en |volume=24 |issue=5 |pages=9085–9102 |issn=1475-7192}}</ref> It is a hill, which is considered a deity by the Santals.<ref name=":0" />

== Worship and Rituals==
Marang Buru doctrines are found in the both [[Sarnaism|Sarna Dharam]] and [[Sari Dharam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=MPost |date=2023-02-08 |title='State's decision to recognise Sari, Sarna as separate religions likely to deal a blow to BJP' |url=https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/states-decision-to-recognise-sari-sarna-as-separate-religions-likely-to-deal-a-blow-to-bjp-508053 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.millenniumpost.in |language=en}}</ref> The deity is worshipped by tribal priests known as ''Naike'' among the [[Santal people|Santal]], ''Laya'' or ''Deuri'' among the [[Bhumij people|Bhumij]], ''Pahan'' among the [[Munda people|Munda]], and ''Dehuri'' among the [[Ho people|Ho]] tribes.

The local hills and mountains positioned below the supreme hill deity, Marang Buru.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I1orAQAAMAAJ&q=huding+buru |title=Survey Report on Village Rangamatia, Mayurbhanj District |date=1988 |publisher=Controller of Publications |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Behera |first=Maguni Charan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-tcUEQAAQBAJ&dq=huding+buru&pg=PA100 |title=The Routledge Handbook of Tribe and Religions in India: Contemporary Readings on Spirituality, Belief and Identity |date=2024-09-03 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-040-11433-9 |language=en}}</ref>

== Scriptures==
The worship and holy hymns praising Marang Buru have been compiled in ''Kherwal Bonso Dhorom Puthi'' by [[Majhi Ramdas Tudu]], ''Jomsim Binti Itikatha'' by Somai Kisku,{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} ''Karam Binti'' compiled by Dhirendranath Baskey,<ref>[http://libnet.vidyasagar.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=47774 Karam Binti]</ref> ''Jomsim Binti'' <ref>[https://www.biblio.com/book/jomsim-binti-tudu-kanhai-lal/d/304148351 Jomsim Binti]</ref> and ''Karam Binti'' compiled by Kanhailal Tudu,<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/40458237 Karam Binti]</ref><ref>[https://www.abebooks.com/Karam-Binti-Tudu-Kanhal-Lal-Ashaperej/2453812202/bd Karam Binti]</ref> among others.

== Dispute ==
The dispute surrounding Marang Buru ([[Parasnath|Parasnath Hill]]) in Jharkhand is a century old one, between the Santal Adivasi and [[Jainism|Jain]] communities over religious rights, cultural practices, and land usage. Jains revere the hill as Sammed Shikharji, where 20 of their 24 [[Tirthankara|tirthankaras]] attained nirvana, and have established over 40 temples there. In contrast, the Santals worship the hill as the abode of Marang Buru, their supreme deity, and consider it the most sacred site in their animist tradition. The conflict dates back to 1911, when the Swetamber Jain community attempted to legally prohibit Santal hunting rituals, a move rejected by British colonial courts, which upheld the Santals’ customary rights. Post-independence policies, including the designation of the hill as a wildlife sanctuary in 1978, further restricted Adivasi rights over the land. In 2023, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued a directive banning meat, alcohol, and other intoxicants within a 25-kilometer radius of the hill, affecting 99 primarily Adivasi villages. The Jharkhand High Court upheld this ban on May 3, 2025, directing the state government to enforce it and increase security to ensure compliance. While the Jain community views these measures as essential to preserving the sanctity of the site, the Santal community continues to assert their traditional rights, with local organizations filing counter-petitions and celebrating their religious festivals despite mounting restrictions.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-05-17 |title=Story of a sacred Jharkhand hill at the centre of old friction between Jains & Santals |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/story-of-a-sacred-jharkhand-hill-at-the-centre-of-old-friction-between-jains-santals-10011403/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Santhal]]
[[Category:Indian deities]]
[[Category:Sacred groves]]

Marang Buru - Revision history

Rspalmora at 17:46, 7 May 2026