Worshipping animal figures is a fascinating and widespread practice around the world. Cultures such as Ancient Egyptian Culture, Hinduism Culture, Chinese Culture, Indigenous Cultures of the Americas, Ancient Greek and Roman Culture, African Traditional Religions, Shinto (Japan), all have very colourful beliefs about this animal figures, some cultures view these animals as spiritual guardian, messenger of god, spiritual guider etc. Similarly, the Santal tribal community of India also holds such beliefs in their lifestyle. If you ever visit this tribal community in a festive season then you can see that in their worship places (Jaher Than), you won’t find any figures in their worship places that represent any god or goddess. In spite of that you can find some small and big or even some tiny figures of Horse and Elephant.
Now the question is why only the Elephant and Horse? Why not others animals? To know the answer of this question at first you have to understand the characteristics of these to animals and what relation they have with Santals. Also keep in mind that Santals do not believe in Idolatry. You can’t find any figures in their worship places which indicates any god or goddess. Through out the ages Santals worship hills, rock, river, forest after some modernization they started to worship in a specific places in the name of their guardian god and goddesses. Then the time comes where this forest dwellers started intersection with other developed community (Aryans). Santals were got their Idolatry mind set by following these developed communities.
But here another big problem appeared. How their god and
goddesses looked like? They had no description or visual representation of
their guardian spirits in their mythology or folklore. So they turned into symbolism.
God who shows what is wrong and what is right, never forget about karma,
protect his/her devotees, he guide everyone who got lost their paths. Any
creature that embodied these traits could serve as a symbol of their gods.
After a long inquisition they find out that among the all others creatures
horse and elephant are the most relevant to this traits. So they chosen this two
animals as symbol for their god and goddesses and started worshiping in their
worship places. Also these two animals are herbivorous, peaceful by nature, and
closely connected to the Santals’ forest and hill environments.
