Author: Chandra Shil
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/03010027
Abstract: The study explores the creation of the universe in Sarna mythology and its educational implications within indigenous communities of Eastern India, particularly among the Munda, Oraon, and Santal tribes. Sarna belief, centred on the sacred grove (Sarna Sthal or Jaherthan), portrays creation as a divine act by Thakur Jiu, Dharmesh, or Sing Bonga (the Supreme God), establishing moral and ecological harmony among humans, nature, and the sacred. Through myths, songs, and rituals, Sarna cosmology functions as an indigenous educational system transmitting values of cooperation, humility, and respect for the environment. The research adopts a qualitative, descriptive approach, interpreting religious, spiritual, moral, ethical, and social dimensions of Sarna narratives as frameworks of value-based and ecological education. Findings reveal that Sarna mythology integrates religion with education by fostering moral discipline, environmental awareness, and communal harmony. It demonstrates that indigenous knowledge systems preserve ecological ethics and moral values through oral and experiential learning. The study concludes that Sarna mythology offers a holistic educational philosophy relevant to contemporary issues of sustainability, ethical living, and cultural preservation, providing timeless lessons for moral and environmental education in modern society.
Keywords: Sarna Mythology, Indigenous Education, Creation of the Universe, Dharmesh, Sing Bonga, Moral Values, Ecological Harmony, Tribal Religion, Spiritual Education, And Environmental Ethics.
Page No: 228-234