Astronomy of tribals of central India

Abstract

A summary of the astronomical beliefs of four tribes Gond, Banjara, Kolam and Korku from Nagpur region of Maharashtra has been presented. Primary conclusions are that the tribals are mainly focused on the winter sky with Big Dipper (Saptarshi), the Orion region including Orion, Taurus, Auriga, Gemini, Canis Major and Pleiades. They are also quite conscious of the Southern Cross (Crux) and the region around it. Many tribes are aware of Scorpius but are often unable to define its location in the sky. Gonds are aware of the Great Square of Pegasus and of Leo. We discuss these beliefs in the background of the region of the sky that occupies them and the similarity and differences in their beliefs of these regions. We then summarize the results in the general framework of human intellectual development and the environment in which they live.