MYTHOLOGIES OF THE BHIL/BHEEL TRIBE

Bhil or Bheel is an ethnic group in western India. They speak the Bhil languages, a subgroup of the Western Zone of the Indo-Aryan languages. Bhils are listed as tribal people of the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan—all in the western Deccan regions and central India—as well as in Tripura in far-eastern India, on the border with Bangladesh. Bhils are divided into a number of endogamous territorial divisions, which in turn have a number of clans and lineages. Many Bhils now speak the dominant later language of the region they reside in, such as Marathi, Gujarati or a Bhili language dialect. Some scholars suggest that the term Bhil is derived from the word billa or billu which means bow in the Dravidian lexis. The term Bhil is used to refer to “various ethnic communities” living in the forests and hills of Rajasthan‘s southern parts and surrounding regions of western India, highlighting the “popularity of the bow and arrow as a weapon among these groups”. It is also used as a blanket term to refer to the autochthonous peoples of these areas.

Bhil, ethnic group of some 12.6 million people of western India. Historically, many Bhil communities have been known for rugged independence, and some have been associated with banditry. The Bhil are distributed widely in upland areas of several states, from Ajmer in central Rajasthan on the north, to Thane in western Maharashtra on the south, to Indore in western Madhya Pradesh on the east, and to Surat in southeastern Gujarat on the west. Nearly all of the Bhil engage in agriculture, some using the slash-and-burn (jhum) method but most employing the plow. The highland Bhil generally live in scattered houses made of wattle and thatch. The relationship between the Bhil and neighbouring peoples is not clear. The Bhil reckon, validate, and dissolve family ties according to Rajasthani tradition in Rajasthan and Maharashtrian tradition in Maharashtra but with easier marriage and divorce procedures. Most Bhil worship local deities in varied pantheons; a few aristocratic segments such as the Bhilala and some plains groups employ Hindu Brahman priests; others are converts to Islam. Their dialects are akin to Gujarati or to other Indo-Aryan languages rather than to the Munda or Dravidian languages of most other Adivasi, or “original inhabitants,” of India.

The Bhils are the third-largest (after the Gonds and Santals) and most widely distributed tribal group in India. Although their racial origin remains undetermined, they have been variously classified as Gondids, as Proto-Australoid Veddids, and as a subsection of the “Munda race.” The name “Bhil” is believed to have been derived from villu or billu, which in most Dravidian languages is the word for “bow,” in reference to the weapon that, until recent times, they seemed almost always to be carrying. Many Urdu speakers, however, equate the term “Bhil” with the English “aboriginal,” leading to speculation that the term is a generic one associated with a number of tribes in contiguous areas bearing cultural similarities. Recent work on the Bhils appears to indicate that what has always been treated as one tribal group in fact is heterogeneous in nature. This is reflected in the 1961 census by the numerous tribes that are to be found under the name of “Bhil.” It seems best to consider the term “Bhils” as covering a number of subtribes that include the Barelas, Bhagalia, Bhilalas, Dhankas, Dholi, Dublas, Dungri, Gamits or Gamtas, Garasias, Mankars, Mavchis, Mewasi, Nirle (Nilde), Patelia, Pathias, Pavadas, Pawra, Rathias, Rawal, Tadvis, Talavias, Vasavas, and Vasave. The Dhankas, Tadvis, Pavadas, and the Gamits or Gamtas may refer to themselves as separate tribes, or at least as distinct from the main stock, with the Dhankas even having an origin myth that upholds their derivation from the Rajputs. The Bhilalas are generally acknowledged as a mixture of Bhils and Rajputs.

Bhils are popularly known as the bow men of Rajasthan. They are the most widely distributed tribal groups in India. They forms the largest tribe of the whole South Asia. Bhils are mainly divided into two main groups the central or pure bills and eastern or Rajput Bhils. The central Bhils are found in the mountain regions in the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujrat and Rajasthan. Bhils are also found in the north eastern parts of Tripura. Bhils belong to the race of the pre-Aryans. The name ‘Bhil’ is derived from the word villu or billu, which according to the Dravidian language is known as Bow. The name Bhil is also finds mentioned in the great epic called Mahabharata and Ramayana. The Bhil women offered ber to Lord Rama, when he was wandering through the jungles of Dhandaka, searching Sita. The popular legend represents them as being descended from Nishada, son of Mahadev by the human female. Nishad was brutal and ugly, who killed his fathers bull and as the consequence he was banished to mountains and forests. During the ancient era they were considered as the great warriors who fought against the Mughals, Marathas and the Britishers.

After the Gonds and the Santhals, the Bhil Tribe, native to the western and central India is known to be the third largest tribal community in the country. The Bhil people are indigenous to the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh and even in the far- eastern corner of India in the state of Tripura. There are several hypotheses regarding the origin of the Bhil tribe but it is known that they belong to a race of Indo- Aryans. The name ‘Bhil’ is derived from the word Villu or Billu, which according to the Dravidian language is known as bow. And thus, the Bhils are popularly known as the bow men of Rajasthan.There also has been mention of the Bhils in sacred historical texts like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Their contributions from the ancient era are also highlighted when the Bhils were considered to be the great warriors who fought against the Mughals, Marathas and the British Empire.

The Bhils have traditionally been classified as animists; this classification is reflected in the 1901 census, wherein 97.25 percent were labeled as animists and the remainder were associated with the Hindu faith. The process of Hinduization has, however, been a long-term process, and the lower level of Hindu belief integrates much animistic belief for which the Bhils would have found much affinity. There are localized deities, such as Wagh deo, the tiger god. Nandervo, the god of agriculture, is paid homage to after the rains have brought a new growth of grass. Shrines to lesser gods are built on slightly elevated and secluded land that is believed to preserve their sanctity by keeping them away from the pollution of the lower regions. Images of deities are also kept near their agricultural fields, to be propitiated with offerings to ensure the safety and quality of the crops. Today Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism are the major faiths that the Bhils adhere to, with the latter two having had the most impact on the belief systems. Among the Ratanmal Bhils, Hinduism is widespread, with four main elements predominating. (1) The few Hindu gods that they have adopted are powerful but benevolent rather than malevolent. (2) They believe in the existence of an afterlife where one’s senior relatives maintain authority and control over events in this life, even in death. (3) There are many spirits of the earth, some that unite in bands with maleficent intentions and require personal devotion and regular propitiation. (4) There are malicious individuals among them that wield supernatural powers in the form of witchcraft and sorcery that must be neutralized. Bhagwan is the predominant name for the supreme deity among the Bhils, although in Ratanmal he is also referred to as Mahaveda. Kalika, the “earth mother,” is another deity who evokes reverence and fear. Holi, an important postharvest festival, is celebrated for her. A person who did not die of natural causes—a murder or a suicide, for example—is believed to become a malevolent spirit who will consume People. Twins and babies with unusual features or deformities are believed to be manifestations of an evil spirit that must be destroyed immediately lest they be a source of danger to their kin (the practise is now illegal). Two Muslim sections of the Bhils are the Tadvi of Madhya Pradesh and the Nirle or Nilde in Maharashtra. They maintain, apart from the main body of Islamic faith, a belief in a pir or guardian spirit of the village for whom a shrine ( mazar ) is built, and this is the focal point for the annual urs or jatra festivals that celebrate the death anniversary of the spirit.

Bhills are considered as one of the oldest tribe in India. Once they were the ruler in parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. They are a cross section of great Munda race and a wild tribe of India. Bhills could be identified as one of the Dravidian racial tribe of Western India and belong to Austroloid group of tribes. They speak a language of Dravidian origin. In Tripura total Bhill population is 3,105 as per 2011 Census. This tribe has migrated to Tripura from central India mainly from Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Their economy is centralized with Tea garden, Brickfield and Agriculture. Their major concentrations in Tripura are mainly in Akinpur of Belonia, Bagan Bazar of Khowai Sub-Division. They are also found in North Tripura working in Tea gardens. Bhills are Hindus by religion. They appease deities of forest and evil spirits beside pujas of Lord Shiva and Durga. Small percentages among them follow Christianity. They cremate their dead followed series of rites as per their traditional customs and believe. Bhills are also fond of dance and music with traditional tune of Flute and Drum. In all family and community ceremonies they enjoy whole night by drinking and dancing. Bhills in other part of the country are well literate and enjoy modern weave of life.

The name Bhil identifies various ethnic communities inhabiting the hills and forests of southern Rajasthan and neighboring areas of western India. Some scholars argue that “Bhil” comes from the Dravidian word for bow (billa or billu) and reflects the popularity of the bow and arrow as a weapon among these groups. The term is also used in a broader sense to refer to the aboriginal peoples of this region. Bhils are divided into numerous tribes and subtribes, including the Barela, Bhilala, Garasia, Gameta, Mina, Tadvi, and Vasave. Many of these groups, however, see themselves as quite distinct from the Bhil community. The Bhils are mostly tribal in nature. In the past, they acquired a reputation for a fierce sense of independence. Isolated from the rest of Indian society by their rugged environment, Bhil groups have managed to preserve many of their ancient tribal customs. At the same time, close social and economic ties with their neighbors have exposed them to Hindu cultural influences.

The Bhil Tribe—native to Western and Central India—amongst approximately 50 other Indian tribes, is the third largest community today. Originally, hunters and great archers living in Madhya Pradesh’s thick jungles—they have long taken to agriculture and some have migrated to large cities taking up masonry, road making and other manual labour. There are several hypotheses that suppose the origin of the Bhil tribe and as a result historians and researchers so far have not quite confirmed any one theory to be true. Numerous attempts have been made to discover the original status and cultural conditions of the tribe since the times of Aryan invasion on Indian subcontinent, if not its racial origin. Although, closer to modern times the Bhils have been mentioned more frequently in the historical texts. The Bhils belong to a close-knit community, and only marry within their own clan and classes. Their close relationships are tightly based on mutual love and respect. The Bhils are popularly seen as highly superstitious tribal people who strictly follow a designed set of rules and regulations. Their religious sphere is represented by variety of spirits, ghosts, gods, goddess, and deities. Art is integral to the Bhil community. Song, dance and painting, accented with feasting and drinking is used to mark events, store memories and fight despair and disease. Steeped in rituals, symbolism and tradition, the rich textures of their paintings connect them to nature and the Adivasi life that is their legacy.

The Bhil languages are a group of Indo-Aryan languages spoken by around 10.4 million Bhils in western and central India as of 2011. They constitute the primary languages of the southern Aravalli Range in Rajasthan and the western Satpura Range in Madhya Pradesh, northwestern Maharashtra, and southern Gujarat. According to the 52nd report of the commissioner for linguistic minorities in India, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Bhili is the most commonly spoken language of the district of Dadra and Nagar Haveli constituting 40.42% of its total population. Bhili speakers are also significant in the states of Gujarat (4.75%), Madhya Pradesh (4.93%) and Rajasthan (4.60%).

To anybody familiar with Hindu lore, the Bhils need no introduction. These forest folk have dwelt in the forests of central, northern and western India for thousands of years. They are mentioned in the Ramayana and Mahabharata. In the Ramayana, a Bhil king acted as boatsman to Rama in the early part of his exile from Ayodhya.Shabari, the famous devotee of Rama, also belonged to the Bhil community. She lived her life in the expectation that the Avatar would visit her one day – and indeed he did, eating the berries she had collected for him. The Bhils are probably the oldest community of the forests. They can be fearsome – and never let a trespasser cross their land without inflicting a serious injury on them. Even today, a war-cry (kilki) from a Bhil would cause hundreds of Bhil youths to gather within minutes!Bhils have been a part of the Hindu world through the ages, and have on several occasions been distinguished by their valour.

One of the largest tribal groups in India, the Bhils are spread across different parts of India including, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The Bhil tribes have a very long history of existence, and are even mentioned in the Ramayana (in context of Shabri) and Mahabharata in context of Eklavya. The word Bhil is derived from Bil or Vil, which means bow. In ancient times, when Indian society was classified on the basis of their jobs, people from the Bhil tribe used to furnish the needs of Prices of Mewar with bowmen, supplies or by guarding their families. They were also employed by the Rajputs as Shikaris,who guided people along dangerous and rocky terrain. Known for their valour and courage, this tribe continues to be a fascinating community with rich traditions in music, dance and craftsmanship. Baneshwar Fair is the main festival of the Bhils and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It takes place on the Som and Mahi rivers, with traditional performances, magic shows and acrobatic feasts. That’s not all. Bhils’ popular dance form, the Ghoomar is an incredible demonstration of movement and colour and truly merits both your time and attention.

The Bhils are considered one of the oldest tribes in India. It is also the second largest tribe in the country. The Bhil tribe is an expert in the use of bow and arrow. It is believed the name “Bhil” came from the Dravidian word “billu”, which means bow and arrow. Today, the Bhil community can be mainly found residing in Rajasthan, western Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and northern Maharashtra. Some have also moved to other states like Tripura for jobs in tea gardens. In Gujarat, Bhil is the dominant tribe comprising 46 per cent of the total tribal population of the state, according to the government’s Gujarat Tribal Research and Training Society. Today, most of them are into farming or work as agricultural labourers. Some are also skilled sculptors. The Bhils revere Eklavya, who, as per the Mahabharata, cut off his right hand’s thumb as ‘guru dakshina’ to Dronacharya. In fact, according to a report in Hindustan Times, Bhil people never use their thumbs while shooting a bow and arrow as a symbolic protest against Dronacharya.

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