Odia Tribal Poetry: Analysis of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Religion and Spirituality

Folktales from the Odia tribal communities, such as Kondh, Kui, Oraon, and Munda, as well as the literary works of several poets like Purnamasi Jani, Bhima Bhoi, Sitakant Mahapatra, and Haldar Nag, successfully depict their sense of religion and spirituality. They have written about how tribal communities maintain their traditional forms of worship, uphold their ingrained religious convictions, and reject anything that feels forced. The research contrasts the poetry of Bhima Bhoi and Purnamasi Jani. Bhoi’s poems show how the Mahima Dharma was developed out of social, spiritual, and religious attitudes and practices, whereas Jani’s rhymes show how she has made serving the Lord Jagannath (the tribal deity) her life’s work. With a focus on the profound beliefs and experiences of the people of Kondh and Kui, the study analyzes the intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity and spirituality in the chosen poems of the two poets, compares and contrasts their belief systems, and offers insight into the varied religious and spiritual practices that are practiced in Odisha.