Rajawar Marwa where Dhesbandhya Gurwa worships. Photo by Uday Raj Aaley

Shamanism has evolved into a more specialized form within the Tharu community. It is founded on the belief that the visible world is pervaded by invisible spirits that affect the lives of Tharu people. This religious phenomenon is centered on Guruwa, the Tharu Shaman, who is believed to possess supernatural powers enabling communication with the spirits. Guruwa strives to achieve mystical communion with the spirits and his role is to shield individuals from evil spirits by neutralizing their destructive power.

Animistic beliefs and practices are often disregarded by modern society as an outdated superstition. However, the Tharus have been following shamanism for ages. Like other indigenous communities worldwide, they adhere to a religion that consists of worshipping numerous divinities and spirits. Tharu religion is a complex system of beliefs and practices woven into their culture characterized by both veneration and fear of supernatural spiritis. They believe that displeasing the spirits can lead to natural calamities and epidemics. These spirits play significant roles in shaping the fortunes, so, the whole social structure and system is guided by such beliefs and practices.

Tharus install the ancestral deity in their house where they worship for the wellbeing of the family. Each Tharu village has a Marwathan (village shrine) near the village. Marwathan consists of hands like wooden carved boards (as seen in the featured photo) erected on the ground under the thatched hut where villagers worship and make offerings when they fall ill. They also believe that the worship promotes crop growth and ensures bountiful harvests.

According to Tharu belief and cosmology, the entire universe is inhabited by several kinds of spirits. These spirits can be, both benevolent and malevolent. The benevolent spirits are approached with ritual performances and offerings to secure a happy life and prosperity. These spirits are installed in the Deurhar (deity room) of homes and the Marwathan. conversely, the malevolent spirits have to be appeased through ritual offerings. Those who perform the traditional rituals are called the Guruwas, typically men from Dahit, Pacchaldangra, Madwa, and Demanraura clans of Tharu, who traditionally practice shamanism as a profession.

The shaman known as Guruwa is expected to manipulate the supernatural spirits and protect the people and village from evils, witches, diseases, and natural disasters. They diagnose the causes of illness and misfortune and are essential for performing religious functions in the community throughout the life cycle. Each household appoints a family Guruwa, whose role is to manage all the religious affairs of that family.

Shamans hold great power and prestige within the Tharu community, recognized by their ability to enter autohypnotic trance and séances, during which they deal with the spirits. No man can become the Guruwa without being first induced into a trance under the guidance of experienced shamans in a specially arranged ceremony. Once trained in the ceremony, he is deemed capable of conducting shamanism.

Guruwas inherit shamanistic knowledge from their forefathers, who are officially decreed, stamped Lal Mohar (formally recognized) by the king to control and protect the community from evils. When someone falls ill or any disaster strikes, the Guruwa is called for to identify the responsible spirit, ghost or witch and perform the appropriate rites.

What are Ghar Guruwa, Deshbandhya Guruwa and Kesauka Guruwa

There are two types of Guruwas in the Tharu community: Deshbandhya and Ghar Guruwa. The Deshbandhya is recognized by the entire village and performs rituals for the whole community acting as a local healer and priest. He conducts rites twice a year to appease various spirits and divinities ensuring they do not harm corps, inhabitant and livestocks. Whereas Ghar Guruwa is the family Guruwa who is assigned shaman to individual village families. Deshbandhya may serve as Ghar Guruwa. But Ghar Guruwa on the contrary may not serve as Deshbandhya.

Additionally, there is Kesauka Guruwa, who acts as a spiritual link between the deity or spirits and the people. He is the assistant Guruwa of the Deshbandhya. The Kesauka serve as traditional healers, and he has to recite certain mantras to exorcize the evil spirits, epidemics, and pests in the community.

Although it's fundamentally based on myths and tradition of the art of divination, Shamanism is an integral part of Tharu religious life deeply rooted in their beliefs that supernatural spirits influence human fortunes. Their faith extends to attributing diseases and natural calamities such as drought, excessive rainfall, and crop damage to crops to the malign intentions of the spirits.

Tharus believe that every household and village must maintain friendly relations with supernatural entities. And the Guruwa using specific words and actions shields them from malign forces and ensures the evil spirits become inactive.