UNDERSTANDING BATHOUISM : WHAT IS BATHOUISM?

Religion: The Bathou is one of the oldest religions in the world. The Bodos have unique culture,religion and tradition which is extremely independent from the rest people of this country.Infact, the great Bodos mentioned as The Kiratas or The Meches in early texts have much contributions towards the development of Indian culture.The Bathou(Ba + Santhou) meaning the philosophy of five basic elements namely Ha(Earth),Dwi(Water),Bar(Air),Or(Fire) and Okwrang(Sky/Space) represents the pancha tatva. Bathou is completely independent from the vedas or Hinduism. The supreme god of this religion is known as Bathoubwrai or Sibarai (Siba).The Sijow (Euphorbia splendens) plant signifies the Bwrai Bathou or the highest immortal soul.Sijow plant is usually planted at the middle of the Bathou altar and is surrounded by round fence of small bamboo strips folded in five fastenings that signifies the powers of those five basic elements. There is no any provision of worshipping idols in Bathou infact Bathou does not consist any temple like church,mandir or mosque, Bathou thansali is simply considered as the altar it consist of Sijow in middle, Tulsi plant( Basil tree) towards right and Jatrashi(endangered taxa : Justica assamica Clarke) plant towards left which are surrounded by round fence of small bamboo strips together it is known as "Thansali". Both Tulsi and Jatrashi plant signifies the symbol of goddess of Wealth and Education respectively. Fundamentally Bodos are nature worshippers they believe in the powers of nature. The worship of this nature is "Bathou".

The following verses is often recited during the worship of Bathou at Thansali :

"Oh, apha Bwrai Bathou Khangdw nwngni Ogian phisaphwrkhou. Nwngnw Rangrachi,Gwhwrachi Mwitha haji,
Bari gongthamni Biguma
Nwng saseanw satham,sathamanw sase".

The English rendering of the above verse is as follows:

"Oh, father God Bwrai Bathou Save your ignorant children you are the creator, Preserver and destroyer. You are the owner of the three bhuban (heaven, on the earth and hell) you are the one in three and three in one."

Bathouism of the great Bodo tribes. This is a unique religion that have been binding with the lives of Bodo-Kacharis sinceages. This religion is much more older than the Hindu religion,or in other words it is the oldest religion in the world, as Bodos have been residing on this land since time immemorial,this religion has been prevailing among the Bodos since pre- brahmanic era. The concept of Bathouism lies in the 5 principles of live.We may elaborate the term "Bathouism". Here, "Ba" means five and "thou" refer to the deep sense or philosophy hence "Bathou" signifies.

Philosophy of five. According to Bathou religion live is created from five basic elements namely - Hah(Earth), Dwi(Water), Bar(Air),Orr(Fire) and Ukhurang(sky).. . Thus,we used the term Bathou to denotes all those five basic elements.According to Edward Stack, BATHOUISM is an animistic religion and same statement is given by Rev.Sidney Endle in 1911. According to Endle there are 18 pairs of God and Goddess in Bathouism and the supreme being the "Sibwrai" or Siba Bwrai  or Ba Raja.. . . He holds the supreme position amongst all god and goddess of the Bathouism.. . Among 18 pairs of god and  goddess most notable ones are –

Sibwrai/Siburwi, Aham Bwrai/ Aham Burwi, Mainao bwrai and Mainao Burwi and also Song Bwrai and Song Burwi.. . "Song Bwrai" is mainly devoted by Boro women during their mense period.. Usually Song Bwrai has its altar inside the house hold known as "Dham" all the offerings are done at dham by Women, however at the end of the day the offerings are brought out and laid infront of the Sijow plant that signifies Bathou.On the other hand,we may note one of the most important thing that is the significant of the number "five". Since Earth is created from five basic elements,according to "Bathouism", So,Bodo feels proud to called themselves as:- "Saba mwdai ni fissa" the sons of five god.. Or in short they use the term "Badosa"(Ba-five, "dosa"- fissa) that is children of five god.Even famous,Boro dance "Bagurumba" refers to somewhat same meaning "Ba"- five, "Grumba"- form of dance, hence,Bagurumba is the art of five forms.Bodos worship the lord in

Thansali by uttering the religious verses like-

"Rangrachi ,gwhwrachi Mwita haji gona gongtham,Nwng sase ya nw satam,Satam ya nw sase" meaning- "Thou art the creator,nutritor and dissolator,The tribhuban,thou are the one in three and three in one.." . . Sijow plant(Euphorbia splendes) is the cactus like plant which is
consider as the "Sibwrai".. Usually during religious rituals a pair of goi and patai that is betal nut (areca) and betal leaf is offered.. During Kherai,Marai,Hapsa hatranai festivals animals like Cock,goat etc are offered to the Lord Sibwrai.. B-A-T-O-U.. Letter Signifies "B" for Bar(air), "A" for Hah, "T" for Twi/Dwi(Twi-water in Tipra), "O" for Orr(fire) and "U" for Ukhurang(Sky) These five elements creates the life... A very much prestigious words chant by Sibwrai himself goes- "Ong", "Hring", "Khling", "Fut", "Chai". When "Sibwrai" roars the sound "Ong" air is drawn into his mouth and Sky is created and when he gives out the air "Hring" thus Earth is created.. Here "Ong"- Sky, "Hring"- Earth, "Khling"- Water, "Fut"- Fire, "Chai"- Air, thus Sibwrai creates all five basic elements of life.

 On the hand the five concepts of Bathouism can be explain by a few lines
of verses as goes- "Thaigir ni bekhonga khongba", Sijow ni siria Siriba, "Sifungni gudung a gudungba", "Bathou ni bandw Bandwbha" Boro "Bwrai ni achara bw mwnba"Meaning- Thaigir fitai(Dillenias indica) has five rinds that signifies the five important organs of human body, in earlier times Boros used the rinds of this fruit to earthen lambs,... Sijow (Euphorbia splendes) plant has five ridges, if we see this plant then we can observe its five ridges which signifies those five basic elements, Sijow is none other than Sibwrai(Lord Shiva), "Si"- wet (Immortal one)," Jow" means high or supreme one,hence Sijow means Highest immortal soul, the supreme one which life is endless(infinite), who never dies, Almighty,Absolute one.

Also,Sifung ni gudung gudungba,means five holes of sifung(Boro flute) that signifies five sense organs of human body parts. Bathou ni Bandwa bandwba means there are five philosophy in Bathou - 1. To create 2. To save, 3. To scatter love and affections 4. To praise lord Sibwrai during old period aged 5. Dead.. Boro Bwrai (Sibwrai) ni.achara bw mwnba means there are five characters of great Boro old man. 1. To thnk constantly for Sijow tree that is supreme soul. 2. Adoration of supreme being 3. Realization of god of prosperity 4. To realize the power of Ha,Dwi,Bar,Orr,Ukhurang. And 5. To execute one's duties on earth.

My conclusion is tht these typ of teachings are never seen in hindu religion so it is sure to say that Bathouism was/is never a part of hindu religion.. On the other hand hundreds of both foreign and Indian scholars r of opinion that Hinduism traces its root from the tribal religious practices,During Aryan civilization they destroyed various religious practices including Shaivasm, Saktism,Tantrism that had been one of the major religions of tribals especially of Boros.. They never worshipped Lord Shiva and never followed tantrism which are all pre-brahmanic religions.

All Bodos should respect and understand their ancient religion, we are not beggers to except Hinduism/Christianism/Buddhism etc.Which was never a Bodo religion?

Words by Mwikwm Basumatary

  

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