There are both similarities and differences between Adivasi and Hinduism. Some similarities include that Adivasi culture predates Aryan culture and Hinduism, and thus Adivasi religion and traditions influenced early Hinduism. Examples in the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics show connections between tribes and characters. However, Adivasi communities also maintain that they practice Adi-dharma, an indigenous religion distinct from Hinduism. While some connections exist, Adivasi reject being considered merely an offshoot of Hinduism and assert their separate religious identity.

1. Adivasi and Hinduism : Similarities with differences (An Anthropological Analysis)
Dr. Ambrish Gatuam
Assistant Professor,
Amity University Jharkhand, Ranchi
Mo-+919835142785
Email: amb_admn05@yahoo.co.in
Abstract
G.S.Ghurye said in his famous book Scheduled Tribes that “Adivasis are Backward
Hindus”. This statement shows that there is certain connections between Adivasis and
Hindus.Hinduism believes that they are the Pre-Aryan culture of India and at that time no other
belief system existed in the world, so the group tribals are also related with them. Shrikant
Talageri puts it in the context of the Aryan Invasion Theory, the cornerstone of the division of
Indians into natives and invaders. As per the Aryan Invasion Theory itself, Hinduism is an Aryan
religion. When quoting the examples of Ramayan and Mahabharat, it explore that in Ramayan
Nisadraj kewat has helped God Rama to cross the river,Nisad may be related with the existing
tribal communities. In Mahabharat, pandavas have married with one lady Draupadi i.e.
polyandry marriage, Toda tribal communities also follow the same tradition and believe that they
are decent of Pandavas. As we go through the nomenclature among tribal we find that they use
the name of Hindu deity in between their name like Dinesh Shankar Oraon, here name Shankar
represent the Hindu deity. These instance shows that there is some commonality and
interrelationship between the tribal and Hinduism. However, no conscious Hindu now accepts
the ideologically weighted term Adivasi, much to the dismay of those who espouse the
ideological agenda implied in the term, viz. the detachment of the tribals from Hindu society and
the de-legitimating of Hinduism as India’s native religion. Ramdayal Munda says adivasi are
different from Hindu’s because they follow the Adi-dharma, which is not related with the
Hindu’s. Therefore through this paper an attempt has been made to outline the differences and
similarities between Adivasi and Hinduism on the basis of religious accolade.
Kew words: Adivasi, Hindu, Hinduism, Mahabharat Era, Ramayan Era, Religion