Volume : II, Issue : XII, December - 2013

Priesthood among the Misings tribe of Assam

Dr. Ranjit Kaman, Mohendra Doley

Abstract :

In Mising society, the ‘Mibu’ or ‘Mírí’(the traditional priest) performs all sorts of religious rituals as well as ceremonies. The Mibu plays a very significant role in their society. He is the mouthpiece of the people to communicate their grievance and suffering to the spirits for redress. The Priest is believed to have knowledge of a divination. When he is summoned in case of sickness or temporal distress they consulted omens by rice, egg and rice beer (Poro Apong). Further, he determined kind of Sacrifice to be offered and detect the spirit, whom it is to be offered. The function of a Mibu are varied and multifarious, when he performs Puja and other rituals, he is a priest, when he is attending it he is a spiritual guide. Further, he maintains the great responsibility of keeping records of oral history. In normal life Mibu invokes the blessing of benevolent deities on behalf of the family and the peoples. The Mibu,a priest in their beliefs is a very important person. He is recognized to be a mediator between mankind and supernatural power. In Mising society, Mibu Performs all the works of propitiation and offering of sacrifices while officiating in community socioreligious functions, individual rites connected with life cycle and illness. So, Mising society has conferred him highest authority of religious administration. In Present situation, due to emergence of Bhakat, Sattula, and modern education had greatly minimized the position of Mibu in Mising society. In this paper an attempt have been made to reflect origin, education, position, functions of Mibu in the society. Present position of Mibu would be discussed in the paper.

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Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijsr  

Cite This Article:

Dr. Ranjit Kaman, Mohendra Doley Priesthood among the Misings tribe of Assam International Journal of Scientific Research, Vol.II, Issue.XII December 2013

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