Mythologies of the Irula Tribes

Irula, also known as Iruliga, are a Dravidian ethnic group inhabiting the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, and parts of Kerala and Karnataka. A scheduled tribe, their population in this region is estimated at around 200,000 people. People of Irula ethnicity are called Irular, and speak Irula, which belongs to the Dravidian languages family. The tribe numbers around 200,000 spread across three states: 189,621 in Tamil Nadu, 23,721 in Kerala and 10,259 in Karnataka. Those in Karnataka are named Iruligas. The Irulas are mainly concentrated in northern Tamil Nadu: in a wedge extending from Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts in the west to Ariyalur and Cuddalore districts in the south and Tiruvallur district in the north. Small populations live in Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts and were classified by Thurston as a different population. In Kerala, the Irulas are in Palakkad district, while in Karnataka they are concentrated in Ramanagara and Bangalore districts. The Irula people practice some sort of Animism where they primarily believe in a Goddess named Inga who lives with her 6 sisters worshipped in the form of stones under trees. The Irula people traditionally believe that these 7 sisters created the first Irula man and woman. This traditional concept of 7 Goddesses was Sanskritised as Sapta Matrika. The Irula people also believe in Ancestral Spirits, and they traditionally believe that Kannipe (spirits of virgin girls) can possess anyone. These kannipe spirits are worshipped as guardian deities of villages by Irula tribals. The Irula also believe in the presence of evil spirits known as Pe who can possess and haunt people. In order to keep these spirits away, a Rooster is sacrificed and offered to them. Many Irula people worship Hindu Gods and also take part in Hindu festivals. Some Irulas have also been converted to Christianity.

Irulars is the only Adivasi community living in Krishnagiri district; Irulars derives their name due to tilling Irulars root in the thick forests of Denkanikkottai and consume it as a delicious food. Also they are dark complexion who lead life in the forest with hunting wild animals, collecting minor forest produces and gracing animal husbandry in the forest lands, thus solely depending on the forest for their livelihood. Culturally Irulars are very non-assertive, non-vocal, and live in culture of silence with stay focus on living with nature and maintain intrinsic relationship with forests- amicable living without any conflicts with animals and confrontation with nature as they do not have any greed. They lead only simple subsistence and contented attitudes are the traits of their life. They worship trees, stone and their traditional clan goddess is Mariamman and hence they are matriarchy-based society. They are indigenous and traditional settlers of forests for many centuries. Irulars have a rich culture, heritage, traditions and values of life. They have no practice of horrendous female infanticide, orphan child, widow, dowry system, domestic violence, no extravaganza marriage celebrations performed but practice simple marriage or cohabitation of lovers without marriage. They were leading a commune life in demarcated common places in thatched houses and sleep in an open spaces, have binding traditional Panchayat system to settle the disputes and to engage in decision making for common cause. The management of home is equitably shared among men and women. There is no destitution of old age people as community members are taking care of the elderly and care of children too by extended family in case of parents expired- thus all these positive strides in the cultural domain were prevalent. However, polygamy was also prevalent in the Adivasi society for very long time. Also many values and positive features are gradually fading away now due to so- called forced mainstreaming the Adivasi community with dominant culture and values, thus depleting native culture. Irulars Adivasi community pushed into abject poverty as they do not have access to livelihood sources, they do not have enough cloth, food grain, medicine and this state of deprivation lead to poor health also. Almost all the Adivasi communities of this region basically depend on collection of Honey, Fruit, seed, medicinal plants in the forests and other forest lands related practices for the livelihood and survival. The other communities of this habitation are Lingayath’s (MBC), migrant settlers from Karnataka and though they have been classified as MBC, but they are culturally dominant forward communities. These hill dwellers of this region follow mixed culture from Tamil and Kannada.

The Irulas are indigenous people from Tamil Nadu, whose ancestry can be traced back to Africa. Traditionally, they used to live in the forest and were involved in activities such as capturing snakes and harvesting honey. However due to stringent laws and dwindling resources, many find themselves working as labourers and struggle to make ends meet. They live in mud huts with straw roofs and dirt floors, with no access to electricity. These structures were vulnerable to weather-related disasters including hurricanes, storms and droughts, underscoring the need for a pakka house. The connection of the Irula tribe to the forest remains integral to their livelihood. Environmental issues, coupled with deforestation have made things more difficult for them. To address these concerns, Grow-Trees has developed a project, Trees for Tribals®, Eastern Districts, Tamil Nadu. They have successfully planted 2,95,000 trees to revive the green cover, aiming to establish a vital lifeline for this community. =The tree species selected have been carefully chosen to maximise benefits for the Irula tribe, focusing on their nutritional value and medicinal properties. Everything serves a specific purpose: the roots act as a tonic and laxative, the flowers are utilised in treating conditions such as leprosy and skin diseases, the fruits are not only edible but also aid in promoting hair growth and treating anaemia, and the leaves are valuable as fodder for livestock. Despite residing in their new pakka houses, the Irula tribe continues to grapple with the entrenched issue of casteism, which confines them to living outside the village perimeters and even denies them entry into certain regions. This social segregation has severely limited their options for livelihood and sustenance. Grow-Trees’ tree plantation will offer some relief in the form of food sources and forest produce. Additionally, they have created opportunities for equitable employment aimed at empowering the tribe members so that they can turn their lives around.

Most Irula inhabit the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Although they form a Scheduled Tribe, the Irula are in many ways similar to their nearby Hindu caste neighbors. They have pantheistic and animistic tendencies of their own, but prolonged contact with more orthodox Hinduism has also had its indelible impact. Most Irula live in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu, where the majority are found in the Changalpattu, North Arcot, and South Arcot districts not far from Madras City. While the Irula in general merit additional fieldwork, it is only the Nilgiri Irula who are considered here. They live in the Nilgiri District in extreme northwestern Tamil Nadu, in the adjacent Coimbatore District, and in parts of Karnataka and Kerala states. Tamil Nadu is the southeasternmost state of India. It is thus a region within the tropics that is subject to westerly monsoonal rainfall, lasting mainly from mid-June through August, and to reverse monsoonal rainfall, which is heaviest from September into November. Some Nilgiri Irula occupy higher and cooler slopes, and others occupy plains that by April are hot and dry. After the Malayali (who actually are not the speakers of Malayalam in Kerala) numbered at 159,426, the Irula at 89,025 formed the second-largest Tamil Nadu tribe in the 1971 census of India. There were over 12,000 Irula in the Coimbatore District. As the Nilgiri District had some 5,200 Irula in 1971, only about 6 percent lived there. By 1971, there were altogether 106,939 Irula in south India. Depending on the criteria used, the Irula have been identified as speakers of a distinct Irula language or speakers of a dialect of Tamil. In addition, Malayalam has influenced Irula speech in Kerala, and Kannada has influenced the speech of a subgroup of Irula, called Kasaba, in Karnataka.

The Irula tribe is one of the indigenous people that reside in India. Discovering their fascinating culture can be a truly enriching experience for anyone with an interest in anthropology and cultural exploration. The unique traditions and customs of this tribe are rooted in their deep connection with the natural environment, making them a truly remarkable community.With their deep foundation in agriculture and hunting practices, the Irula tribe has managed to maintain their distinct way of life, even in the face of modernization. Their captivating social structure, beliefs, and daily practices are inspired by their reverence for nature and their coexistence with the wild animals that inhabit their land.From the way they weave baskets to the medicinal herbs they use, every aspect of the Irula tribe’s culture is infused with history, meaning, and purpose. Learning about their farming techniques, huts, and ceremonies is sure to be a humbling and immersive educational experience.If you are passionate about discovering global cultures and traditions, then a closer look at the fascinating Irula tribe undoubtedly deserves your attention. Their history, language, customs, and rituals offer a more profound meaning to the true essence of humanity. A journey into this vibrant culture’s world will leave you mesmerized and in awe; it is truly an opportunity you do not want to miss! The Irula tribe, one of the indigenous people in India, is unique in various ways. Their culture is deeply rooted in their connection with nature, making them fascinating for those who love anthropology and cultural exploration. Despite modernization, they have retained their distinct way of life based on agriculture and hunting practices. With their ancestral grounds located in the forests of the Nilgiri Hills, the Irula tribe has been able to coexist with wildlife, thanks to their knowledge about the animals that inhabit the region. They have profound knowledge of snakes, insects, and other dangerous creatures living in the forests, allowing them to live together harmoniously.

Irula, also known as Iruliga, are a Dravidian ethnic group inhabiting the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. A scheduled tribe, their population in this region is est imated at around 200,000 people. People of Irula ethnicity are called Irular, and speak Irula, which belongs to the Dravidian family. Irular means “dark people” in Tamil and Malayalam, from the root word irul, meaning “darkness.” Thurston speculated that it either referred to the darkness of the jungles which they inhabited or their dark skin complexion. The tribe numbers around 200,000 spread across three states: 189,621 in Tamil Nadu, 23,721 in Kerala and 10,259 in Karnataka. Those in Karnataka are named Iruligas. The Irulas are mainly concentrated in northern Tamil Nadu: in a wedge extending from Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts in the west to Ariyalur and Cuddalore districts in the south and Tiruvallur district in the north. Small populations live in Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts and were classified by Thurston as a different population. In Kerala, the Irulas are in Palakkad district, while in Karnataka they are concentrated in Ramanagara and Bangalore districts.

Known for their ancient and intimate knowledge of snakes, the Irula tribe’s skills form an important but nearly invisible part of the healthcare system in India. The origins of the Irula community and their interaction with snakes are shrouded in mystery, but their mythology blends local animistic traditions with the vocabulary of mainstream religion. Their main deity is a virgin goddess called Kanniamma, who is deeply associated with the cobra. Many rituals involve the priest entering a trance and hissing like a snake, symbolising the spirit of the goddess. Ironically, for a large part of the 20th Century, tens of thousands of Irulas made a living by hunting snakes for their skin. Out of reverence to their goddess, though, they wouldn’t eat its meat. Local tanners would pay between 10 and 50 rupees for a single skin before processing and exporting it to Europe and the United States for use in the fashion industry. In 1972, however, the Wildlife Protection Act in India banned the hunting of a number of animals, including snakes. “After the Wildlife Protection Act came into force, the Irulas were in bad shape,” said Romulus Whitaker, a herpetologist and conservationist who has worked with the Irulas for nearly 50 years. He explained that the small amount of money they made from selling snake skins was still a large part of the monthly income for many Irula families. “I would say that they were starving.”

One of the major tribal groups in Tamil Nadu, the population of the Irula tribe is 105,759 (Census of India, 1981). Some of them also live in Kerala and Karnataka. In Tamil Nadu, their concentration is more in the north western districts of Tamil Nadu especially in the Chengalpet district. The other districts with considerable population of the Irulas are North Arcot, South Arcot, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Periyar and Nilgiris. They speak the Irula dialect, Irula Basai. According to Irular history, the term ‘Irula’ means means being capable of finding one’s path in the darkness, which is a key characteristic of the Irulas. Born in nature”s lap, Irulas share a symbiotic relationship with Mother Earth. They reside in the hills of northern Tamil Nadu and are one among the six oldest Adivasi tribes. Irulas are natural specialists in Traditional Herbal Medicine and healing practices. According to the tribe, for thousands of years, they served the Chola dynasty, a 3rd century BCE empire (one of the longest-ruling dynasties in history) as night guards before the empires’ demise.

The Irular are the second largest Scheduled Tribe of Tamil Nadu. The name Irula is derived from Tamil word irul meaning darkness or night. Another common name for the Irula of Chennai MGR,South Arcot, Salem, North Arcot Ambedkar, Dharmapuri, Tiruchchirappali and Thanjavur. The Irular speak a Tamil dialect whereas the other groups speak different dialects of the Irula language.

The Irular tribe, indigenous to the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, boasts a rich heritage and cultural diversity that sets them apart from other communities. With their unique set of traditional knowledge, skills, and practices, the Irular tribals have been transforming their lives and communities through entrepreneurship. Organizations such as Arise Charitable Trust are playing a pivotal role in supporting Irular tribal entrepreneurship, providing resources and guidance to help them achieve success. This article delves into the inspiring world of Irular tribal entrepreneurship, exploring the opportunities, challenges, and impact it has on their socio-economic landscape. The Irular tribals have a wealth of traditional knowledge and skills that form the backbone of their entrepreneurial ventures. These include:

a. Sustainable agriculture: Irular tribes practice organic farming, cultivating indigenous crops and conserving biodiversity. They employ traditional techniques to maintain soil fertility and prevent pest infestations, ensuring a sustainable and environment-friendly approach to agriculture.
b. Herbal medicine: The Irulars possess extensive knowledge of the local flora and fauna and use various plants and herbs for medicinal purposes. This traditional knowledge has enabled them to venture into the herbal medicine business, offering natural remedies for a range of health issues.
c. Handicrafts: The Irular tribes are skilled in making handicrafts using locally available materials such as bamboo, cane, and palm leaves. Their unique art forms and designs have garnered interest from local and international markets, providing them with a platform to showcase their creativity.

The Irula inhabit the northern districts of Tamil Nadu, a state in noutheastern India. Located not far from the city of Madras, they live in a tropical area subject to monsoon rains. Their language, Irula, is related to Tamil and Kannada, which are southern Dravidian languages. In the Tamil language, the name Irula means “people of darkness.” This could refer to their dark-colored skin or to the fact that all important events traditionally took place in the darkness of night. Living in caves, they used to hunt and procure forest resources. They were descendants of Romani. Subsequently they began to live in huts made of bamboo and slowly learnt the art of cultivation. Irulars had to look on helplessly when licensed contractors were going on a deforestation spree. Due to scarcity of bamboos, they began to build huts with soil and stones. When the hills were occupied by the people of the valley, Irular drew back to interior woods.

Karathittu is predominantly an Irula tribal hamlet in Tamil Nadu. The region is geographically very vulnerable due to its close proximity to the coast and backwater. The Irular community is primarily engaged in agriculture labour, rat and snake catching and other menial and low income jobs. The community faces extreme poverty as they have very limited skills and options to secure their livelihood. The rate of illiteracy is alarmingly high and people from the tribe are often ostracised by other caste groups. All families are largely dependent upon unstable and irregular work and their financial security and well-being remain a matter of concern. Few families in the tribe are currently rearing and raising livestock (cows and goats) for lease from non-tribal communities. In return, they are given the first calf. This highlights that the tribe has experience in rearing livestock but the dearth of opportunity to own livestock due to financial constraints persists.

Much of the movie Jai Bhim is about how the Irular tribe of Tamil Nadu is marginalised in society. It has realistically portrayed how tribal communities are routinely exploited by other communities and by institutions that misuse their powers. It has very honestly shown real events and has sown the seeds of change. Jai Bhim has not only left its viewers in tears but also made a huge impact on their minds. The movie has captured the world view of the tribals, which has been incomprehensible and mysterious for others to understand. The injustice done to them is completely expressed through the scenes, dialogues, music, silence and emotions. The Irulars in the plains worship the common resources found there, such as land, water and the goddess Mullai Nilam. In some areas, they call themselves Villiers. Anthropologists believe that these people have nothing to do with the Irulars living in the forest, but they fail to realise that the two share similar worldviews. The Irulars are those who not only do not produce anything for the market but also have no faith in ownership. But in the context of globalisation, especially for the last generation (25 years), the lands and natural resources that had depended on these tribals have fallen into the hands of big bosses, thereby strangling the livelihood of the Irular community.

The Irula tribe, one of India’s oldest indigenous communities, lives along the borders of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Irulas are specialists in traditional herbal medicine and healing practices, and Irula ‘vaidyars’ (practitioners of any Indian systems of medicine) are mostly women and practice traditional healing systems which use over 320 medicinal herbs. Along with their knowledge in medicine, their skill at capturing snakes, especially venomous ones, is almost legendary. According to this report, for a large part of the 20th Century, tens of thousands of Irulas made a living by hunting snakes for their skins. Out of reverence to their main deity, a goddess named Kanniamma who is deeply associated with the Cobra, they wouldn’t eat the meat, but sell it to tanners who would process and export it to Europe and the USA.

The Irulars are one of the most impoverished tribes in Tamil Nadu. These traditional forest-dwelling people have drifted towards cities and towns over generations. In urban areas, they live in secluded tarpaulin-roofed huts without access to electricity or toilets. Even today, their main source of livelihood is cutting wood and hunting small animals. Irula, also known as Iruliga, are a Dravidian ethnic group inhabiting the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. A scheduled tribe, their population in this region is estimated at around 200,000 people. People of Irula ethnicity are called Irular, and speak Irula, which belongs to the Dravidian family. During the pre-monsoon season when termites leave their mounds and swarm, Irulas use a special seed to simulate the smell of rain, catching bagfulls of this winged protein and eating it raw or roasted. But their most famous hunting feat is that of tracking and catching snakes.

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