THE UNIQUE NAGA CULTURE OF PRESERVING THE SKULLS
Author(s):
Alovi D Sumi
Keywords:
Skull Cave, Headhunting, Chang Naga
Abstract
The Naga tribe has their own distinct myths and beliefs that has transcend orally from one generation to the other. The absence of written records made this cultural transcendence so valuable and exceptional to the nagas, the responsibilities of disseminating to the younger generations was uphold with utmost sincerity, honesty and integrity. This moral culture was regard to be one of the most unique characteristics of the Nagas in those times. The Naga cultural and traditional practices was also closely involves and inter-woven with varied religious rituals, superstition and beliefs; the Nagas has a firm belief in the afterlife and spiritual world that centers on the idea of the ‘Land of Death’, the final abode of the dead souls. They believe that life continues to exist even after death, and the soul goes to the world of death through a passage of road created in an invisible dead realm. This paper examines on the unique socio-religious practices of preserving the skulls by the Chang Nagas. The Chang Naga also takes a great care of the funerary rites as part of this belief system such as offering foods to the dead by keeping the eatables at the grave of the dead for the smooth passage of soul towards the land of death. The Chang Naga also practices a unique burial system of disposing the death. If a person dies, the body is buried in the kitchen to decay; after the body is decomposed, the head is detached from the body and kept in the cave. Various such rituals was performed, the skulls were also kept in a separate place as a part of fulfilling this religious belief. tribe to have ever preserved the cave of the skull that popularly got the term, “The Skull Cave”
Article Details
Unique Paper ID: 165685

Publication Volume & Issue: Volume 11, Issue 1

Page(s): 1474 - 1483
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