Marang Buru, also written Maran Buru; (Santali language:ᱢᱟᱨᱟᱝ ᱵᱩᱨᱩ) is a supreme deity of Santal people, Bhumij people, Ho people and Munda people tribes residing in India, Bangladesh, Nepal.
Worship and Rituals
Marang Buru doctrines are found in the both
Sarnaism and
Sari Dharam.
The deity is worshipped by tribal priests known as
Naike among the
Santal people,
Laya or
Deuri among the
Bhumij people,
Pahan among the
Munda people, and
Dehuri among the
Ho people tribes.
The local hills and mountains positioned below the supreme hill deity, Marang Buru.
Scriptures
The worship and holy hymns praising Marang Buru have been compiled in
Kherwal Bonso Dhorom Puthi by Majhi Ramdas Tudu,
Jomsim Binti Itikatha by Somai Kisku,
Karam Binti compiled by Dhirendranath Baskey,
[ Karam Binti] Jomsim Binti [ Jomsim Binti] and
Karam Binti compiled by Kanhailal Tudu,
[ Karam Binti][ Karam Binti] among others.
Dispute
The dispute surrounding Marang Buru (
Parasnath) in Jharkhand is a century old one, between the Santal Adivasi and
Jainism communities over religious rights, cultural practices, and land usage. Jains revere the hill as Sammed Shikharji, where 20 of their 24
Tirthankara attained nirvana, and have established over 40 temples there. In contrast, the Santals worship the hill as the abode of Marang Buru, their supreme deity, and consider it the most sacred site in their animist tradition. The conflict dates back to 1911, when the Swetamber Jain community attempted to legally prohibit Santal hunting rituals, a move rejected by British colonial courts, which upheld the Santals’ customary rights. Post-independence policies, including the designation of the hill as a wildlife sanctuary in 1978, further restricted Adivasi rights over the land. In 2023, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued a directive banning meat, alcohol, and other intoxicants within a 25-kilometer radius of the hill, affecting 99 primarily Adivasi villages. The Jharkhand High Court upheld this ban on May 3, 2025, directing the state government to enforce it and increase security to ensure compliance. While the Jain community views these measures as essential to preserving the sanctity of the site, the Santal community continues to assert their traditional rights, with local organizations filing counter-petitions and celebrating their religious festivals despite mounting restrictions.
