Bathouism

Template:Infobox religion Bathouism (also, Bathou) is the folk religion of the Boro people of Assam in Northeast India.^[1] The name Template:Lang (Template:Lang, five; Template:Lang, deep)^[2] in Boro means five principles.^[3] The five principles are: Template:Lang (air), Template:Lang (fire), Template:Lang (earth), Template:Lang (water) and Template:Lang (ether).^[4] The chief deity, called Template:Lang (Template:Lang: "the Elder")— omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent— is said to have created the five principles. Though there are other minor gods and goddesses, Bathoubwrai is considered the Supreme God. Bathoubwrai is unseen. The second most important deity is Template:Lang, the daughter of Bathoubwrai, who is considered as the "protector of the rice fields".^[5]^[6]

Evolution and Variations

Bathouism has evolved and adapted over time, shaped by various social, cultural, and historical factors. These influences have led to the emergence of different variants within Bathouism. While the core beliefs and principles remain largely the same, certain practices and rituals have undergone changes or have been interpreted differently among various branches. One significant factor influencing Bathouism has been its interaction with other religions and belief systems, such as Hinduism.^[7]

Currently, within Bathouism, there are various branches, including Bibar Bathou, Bwli Bathou, Aroj Bathou, Moni Bathou, Jangkhrao Bathou, and Sonathon Bathou, among others.

Altars

The altars of Kamaika (Khamaikha), Mainaw and Bathou are situated in the easternmost part of the main house.^[8] Bathou is always worshiped in conjunction with the goddess Mainaw /Kamaika (Khamakha).^[9] when worshiping, Baraja remains on the right side of Bathou and Mainaw remains on the left side and the worshipers always face east. When you bow down to the lamp and incense sticks in the Bathou, you have to rotate it 5 times in the anti-clockwise direction While to the Mainaw one is to rotate it 7 times in the anti-clockwise direction.

Template:Lang plant

The Template:Lang plant, Euphorbia neriifolia ^[10]^[11] is considered the living embodiment of Bathoubwrai. Families that follow Bathouism plant a Template:Lang shrub at the northeast corner of their courtyard, in an altar called Template:Lang. Bodo communities that follow Bathouism generally plant a Template:Lang shrub at a community land, fenced with eighteen pairs of bamboo strips with five fastenings.^[12] Each pair symbolizes a pair of minor god-goddess. The five fastenings signify, from bottom: birth, pain, death, marriage and peace/pleasure. The bottom three fastenings, called Template:Lang, are those that one cannot escape in life; whereas the top two one could. In the past, thulsi and jathrasi plants were also commonly used in place of the sijou plant.

Gods, goddesses and gurus

Sidney Endle differentiates between household gods and community gods.^[13] Of the household gods Bathoubwrai, Mainao, Song Bwrai/Burai and Bura Bagh Raja are considered prominent.^[14] The practice of representing Bathoubwrai by the Template:Lang tree was more common among Boros (or Mech) of Goalpara region, and less so in Darrang. Song Raja is usually represented inside the house in an altar called Template:Lang, a deity who obtains devotion from women, and receives offerings during women's menses; but these offerings are eventually brought out and laid at the Template:Lang tree representing Bathou.^[15]

The eighteen pairs of gods-goddesses are:

Mwnsinsin bwrai-Mwnsinsin burwi
Si Bwrai-Si Burwi
Aham Bwrai-Aham Burwi
Khuria Bwrai-Khuria Burwi
Eheo Bwrai-Eheo Burwi
Mainao Bwrai-Mainao-Burwi
Bwlli Bwrai-Bwlli Burwi
Deva Bwrai-Devi Burwi
Gongar Bwrai-Gongar Burwi
Joumwn Bwrai-Joumwn Burwi
Song Raja-Song Rani
Hasung Bwrai-Hasung Burwi
Rajong Bwrai-Rajong burwi
Agrang Bwrai-Agrang Burwi
Hazw Bwrai-Hazw Burwi
Emao Bwrai-Emao Burwi
Mohela Bwrai-Mohela Burwi
Hafao Bwrai-Hafao Burwi

Worship

Traditional

Traditional Bathouism did not have any written scriptures or religious books, nor temples. Worship is performed at the Template:Lang, and constitutes offering animals and fowls for sacrifice and rice beer. Notable religious festivals were Kherai, Garja and others. These ceremonies are performed by priests called Douri (male priest) and Doudini (female priest). This religion was not organized.

Revivalism/Reformation

All Bathou Religious Union, an organization, was constituted in 1992 and it has begun reviving and reforming the traditional religion. The traditional role of the Template:Lang and Template:Lang are replaced by the Template:Lang appointed by the organization, and a band of singers who sing in a practice called Template:Lang. The construction of temples, resembling churches or mosques called Template:Lang, have come into being. Template:Lang is performed on Tuesdays in Template:Lang. Sacrifices of animals and fowls, and offering of rice beer as modes of worship has been replaced by offering of flowers, fruits and the burning of incense. The partaking of Template:Lang has also become popular.

References

↑ "Bathou is the name of traditional religion of the Boros." Template:Harvnb
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↑ "The meaning of the term ‘Bathou ’ is five deep principle of creation." Template:Harvnb
↑ ".(O)f earth, water, air, fire and ether (ha, dwi, bar, or and okhrang). Template:Harvnb
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↑ Acculturation and Transition in Religious Beliefs and Practices of The Bodos | PDF | Religious Conversion | Faith Healing. Scribd. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
↑ A Descriptive Analysis of the Boro Language{{#if:Bhattacharya|, Bhattacharya}. Department of Publication, Gauhati University(1977)
↑ Sino - Tibetan ( Boro ) Elements in the Formation of an Indo - Aryan Toponymy : Kamakhya{{#if:Bhattacharya|, Bhattacharya}. Indian Linguistics(1960)
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↑ "The Bathouism or Bathou is symbolised by the Sijou plant Template:Harvnb
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