Koyapunem

The Gondi people, who refer to themselves as Koitur, are a central Indian ethnolinguistic group. From the 14th to the 18th century Gondwana, the Gondi heartland, was ruled by a succession of powerful Gond dynasties. During era of Mughal (Muslim) domination, Gondwana remained largely independent or served as a tributary chiefdom. After the Gonds were conquered by the Marathas (an early modern Indian empire) in the 18th century, many Gonds took refuge in the highlands and became tribal raiders. In the early 19th century the greater part of the region passed to the British, although some minor Gond rajas continued to rule until India gained its independence in 1947. The native Gond religion, Koyapunem (the way of nature), was, according to legend, founded by Pari Kupar Lingo. Thousands of years ago, Kupar Lingo became the ruler of the Koya race and established the Gondi Punem, a code of conduct and philosophy that the Gondi continue to honor. Adherents worship a high god known as Baradeo (alternatly called Bhagavan, Kupar Lingo, Badadeo, or Persa Pen). Baradeo oversees the activities of the lesser clan and village deities as well as the spirits of ancestors. Baradeo is respected, but he does not receive the same degree of devotion that the Gond reserve for clan and village deities, ancestors, and totems that directly impact their daily lives. Village deities include village guardian Aki Pen, and the anwal, the village mother goddess. Before any festival can begin these two deities must be worshipped. Each clan has their own persa pen, or great god who is typically benign but can display violent tendencies that are reduced if a pardhan, or bard, plays the fiddle. Three people are important in Gond religious ceremonies: the baiga (village priest), the bhumka (clan priest), and the kaser-gaita (leader of the village). A principle of the Gond religion is munjok, which consists of non-violence, cooperation, and self-defense. Another Gond belief is called salla and gangra, which represents action and reaction. It is similar to the Hindu concept of karma. To prevent people from destroying themselves in conflict and discord, they are supposed to honor and embrace Phratrial society (kinship groups that may incorporate a number of clans). Among the beliefs relating to Phratrial society is the need to defend the community from enemies, a requirement to cooperate with others and maintain harmony with nature, and to abstain from consuming the flesh of totem animals. Gonds believe their clan and village deities can possess people, and that those possessed by a spirit can no longer held responsible for their actions. Gonds also believe that disease is the result of spirit possession.