Marang Buru
Deities

Marang Buru

Maraṅ Buru — Great Mountain, high-god of the Santal

Status · Anusandhāna
Source · Tier 3
Tradition · Santal
Period · varies by tradition

Marang Buru

Maraṅ Buru ("Great Mountain") is the high-god of the Santal people — the second-largest tribal community in India. In Santal cosmology, Maraṅ Buru is the creator and the arbiter of human fate, worshipped alongside Jaher Era (the goddess of sacred groves).

Santal Sarnaism is the traditional religion of the Santal people — spoken in Santali, with central rituals conducted in sacred groves (jāher or sarna) of sal trees. Maraṅ Buru is the primary deity; Jaher Era ("Lady of the Grove") and Moreko-Turuiko (five-seven group of subordinate spirits) complete the central pantheon. The annual Sohrai festival honours cattle — a fascinating example of tribal agrarian religion paralleling the Vedic Gopāṣṭamī. Santals are actively campaigning for recognition of Sarna Dharma as a separate religious category in the Indian census (2021+).

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✦Wisdom Graph: Divine Associations✦

MantraNone
Vāhana
None
Sacred trees
sal (Shorea robusta) — sacred groves known as jāher
Offerings
rice beer (haṇḍiā)fowl sacrificesal leaves
Sacred colours
redsaffron

🛕 Principal Temples

🎊 Festivals

  • Sohrai
    Kārttika (Oct–Nov) · 5 days
    Cattle-honouring harvest festival
  • Baha Porob
    Phālguna (March)
    Spring-flower festival; sal and mahua blossoms offered