Bathouism
 Bathou flag | |
| Founder | |
|---|---|
| no | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Assam, Northeast India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal | |
| Religions | |
| ethnic religion of Boro people | |
| Languages | |
| Boro language |
Template:Culture of Assam Bathouism (also, Bathou) is the folk religion of the Boro people of Assam in Northeast India.[1] The name Bathou (Ba, five; thou, deep)[2] in Boro means five principles.[3] The five principles are: bar (air), orr (fire), ha (earth), dwi (water) and okhrang (ether).[4] The chief deity, called Bathoubwrai (bwarai: "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 Mainao, the daughter of Bathoubwrai, who is considered as the "protector of the rice fields".[5][6]
It is reported that Bathouism will be included in the Indian census. About 1% of Boro people are officially identified as followers of Bathouism. This is because a lot of Bathouism followers are currently identified as Hindus. After all, it is not yet officially recognized.[7]
Altars[edit]
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 Kamaika (Khamaikha).[9]
Sijou plant[edit]
The sijou plant, Euphorbia milii var. splendens [10][11] is considered the living embodiment of Bathoubwrai. Families that follow Bathouism plant a sijou shrub at the northeast corner of their courtyard, in an altar called sijousali. Bodo communities that follow Bathouism generally plant a sijou 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 bando, are those that one cannot escape in life; whereas the top two one could.
Gods, goddesses and gurus[edit]
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 sijou 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 dham, 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 sijou 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[edit]
Traditional[edit]
Traditional Bathouism did not have any written scriptures or religious books, nor temples. Worship is performed at the sijousali, 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[edit]
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 Douri and Doudini are replaced by the Gwthari Asari appointed by the organization, and a band of singers who sing in a practice called bathou aroj. The construction of temples, resembling churches or mosques called thansali, have come into being. Bathou aroj is performed on Tuesdays in thansalis. 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 prasad has also become popular.
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ↑ "Bathou is the name of traditional religion of the Boros." Narzary 2014, p. 2
- ↑ Narzary 2014, p. 28
- ↑ "The meaning of the term ‘Bathou ’ is five deep principle of creation." Narzary 2014, p. 2
- ↑ ".(O)f earth, water, air, fire and ether (ha, dwi, bar, or and okhrang). Narzary 2014, p. 3
- ↑ Endle 1911, p. 37
- ↑ Narzary 2014, p. 39
- ↑ Inside NE 2019
- ↑ Bhattacharya, Pramod Chandra (1977). A Descriptive Analysis of the Boro Language. Department of Publication, Gauhati University. p. 17. Search this book on
- ↑ Bhattacharya, P.C (1960). Sino - Tibetan ( Boro ) Elements in the Formation of an Indo - Aryan Toponymy : Kamakhya. Indian Linguistics. p. 43. Search this book on
- ↑ Endle 1911, p. 37
- ↑ "The Bathouism or Bathou is symbolised by the Sijou plant Narzary 2014, p. 3
- ↑ Narzary 2014, p. 43
- ↑ Endle 1911
- ↑ Endle 1911, pp. 35–36
- ↑ Endle 1911, pp. 36–37
References[edit]
- Narzary, Nareswar (2014). Bathou Religion and Its impact on Boro Society a Folkloristic Study (PhD). hdl:10603/114601.
- Endle, Sidney (1911). The Kacharis. London: Macmillan and Co. Retrieved 20 February 2013. Search this book on
- Inside NE (2019-02-06). "Indian Census shall now recognize 'Bathouism' officially". Archived from the original on 2019-02-06. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
