By Budha Kamei
The present article is a humble attempt to look into the Heraka religion of Zeliangrongs of North East. Heraka literally means pure and not impure. Hera means smaller deities; Ka means fence, or give up, to obstruct, to avoid. So all prohibitions and sacrifices associated with the smaller gods must be fenced out, avoided and only Tingwang must be worshipped. This is the meaning of Heraka. Here, the purity indicates no blood sacrifices and adoption of a single God or worship of Tingwang, so it is monotheism. In fact Heraka is not a departure from the traditional Zeliangrong people but a rational improvement on it. (N.C. Zeliang 1980:9) The main concept of Heraka religion is that those who can obey the authentic principle of Heraka religion will be blessed good fortune in their life and the immortal souls of good doers will go to God’s kingdom. They use an earring as a symbol of Heraka believer.
Religion is the system of worship of God by men with a code of spiritual, moral, social behaviour dealing with God, men and society. The Heraka religion is a primordial religion existing since the beginning of time, ancient and eternal. Once upon a time, the western anthropologists had described the Tribal religion as Animism. When this concept is applied, every religion has some beliefs in spiritual beings. Animism was a primordial stage of every traditional religion. Now, it becomes a mistaken notion because it was quickly outgrown by the religious and spiritual development of the community concerned. Western observers including the anthropologists and sociologists describe that historically evolved religion is not animism. (Gangmumei Kamei 2004:262-263) So, Heraka is not an animistic cult.
The Zeliangrong people believe in the existence of one supreme God recognized as Tingwang who is the creator of the Sun, Moon, Stars, Earth, Water, Air, Human, Animals and all living things.( Ramkhui Newme 1991:4) Tingwang literally means the Heavenly God, or God of the sky or Lord of the Universe. He is eternal, no beginning and no end, source of life, giver of the soul and the ultimate goal of the human soul. He is the architect of men’s destiny, holy, source of holiness, source of knowledge and wisdom. He is not created. He creates out of nothing by His will. He just exists. He is benevolent, dispenser of welfare and prosperity to men. He is really omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. (Gangmumei Kamei 2005:5-6) Thus, Heraka people believe in Him only.
The Zeliangrong traditional religion is polytheism; worship of multiple gods in different categories though it gives emphasis to the worship of Tingwang. It was Haipou Jadonnang, the prophet of the 20th century who first introduced reformation in their traditional religion. As a part of purification of his religion, he abolished irrational taboos and gennas. He worshipped Tingwang through prayer. He said “Worshiping consisted of facing east, putting the hands together and saying, ‘Tingwang’, Do what is good for us.” He composed religious hymns to be sung during the worship of Tingwang. He constructed temple called Kao Kai for the purpose of worship of Tingwang. He also introduced idol worship on the way of Hindu idolatry but he did not worship Hindu deities. Some scholars observe that the new religion of Jadonnang is a synthesis of Christian Monotheism and Hindu temple idolatry culture.