For Asuras, traditional smelting of iron was primary source of livelihood. The iron smelted by Asuras  carry anti-rust properties. The process involved is safer, cheaper and eco-friendly. Dr Swarnalata Sahoo explains about the life  of Asura people.

Shuita Asur is a septuagenarian. His ripe age is quite discernible on his crumpled face, thin limbs and dry skin with varicose veins. More than his age, age related ailments and thought of death, he rues about what would happen to his family tradition after his demise! The practice of traditional iron smelting in which he and his forefathers exceled. The expertise, the knowledge of producing rust free, high quality iron would be lost as he is not able to pass on his expert knowledge to any eligible next. It is not that hard working, eligible young people are not available around. It is because, this traditional profession which was the hall mark of his tribe, the Asura (Asura), is no longer viable, and fast vanishing from this community’s occupational landscape.

It is said until the 14the century AD, India was the only source of ingots of high quality steel essential for making those famous and lethals Damascus swords. Numerous ancient monuments using rust free iron beams, iron pillars bear testimony to ancient India’s metallurgical excellence. There are mainly four ethnic groups called Asur, Brijias, Agaria and Lohar who, by occupation, had specialists’ know how of traditional iron smelting.

Unlike the very word ‘Asura’ as being projected as the embodiment of evil in contemporary literature, folklores, and associated with all that are negative and anathema to human qualities, Asuras, as a tribe, coexisted with other indigenous tribes such as Daityas, Danavas, Pisachas, Gandharvas, Vanaras, Suparnas, Bhutas, Kimpurushas and Bhutas, to mention a few in this ancient land. Along with many communities originating in Dyus tribes such as Marautas, Rudras, Vasus, Adityas, these indigenous tribes also carried their distinct identity, living style, culture, tradition and expertise. Epic Mahabharata speaks mentions many indigenous tribes spread over the area of this subcontinent that spread from Gandhara in the northwest to present day Cambodia in the south east Asia.

Asura word carries different meanings in Sanskrit The first one is A+S+U+RA. In this composition, ‘A’ denotes the very first syllable of expression of finiteness. It is the well spring of everything that emanated from the Infinite. ‘A’ represents anything at the beginning, the well spring; ‘Sa’ means anything that has a particular form and otherness than the wellspring, having its own individual existence. U means more meaningfulness, more tangibility and more feasibility. And ‘Ra’ is synonymous with movement, motion. Anybody in the world, who utters the syllable ‘Ra’ would see that the tongue touches both the upper palate and the lower palate. It’s a movement, so they called it Agni Bija. So in A-SU-RA, here means anybody or everybody available of the wellspring and self-activated. The second one is ASU+RA When we utter it as ASU-RA, it means anybody who is connected to the wellspring and in activity in accordance or in synergy with it. This means persons having core crystallization, those who understand the principles that govern the mechanism of all creations. Therefore, they are considered divine beings. The third one is A+SURA hen we utter A-SURA, the meaning changes dramatically, almost ironically! This means anybody who is powerful but devoid of the understanding of the wellspring, e xists in this earth tangibly, which means people having demonic attributes. Coreless, eccentric people. They are like a sleek, costly car without having a break. These people don’t carry any discriminating ability, and do not have controlled awareness. The same word when uttered in three different variations in Chhandam (meters) changes its meaning completely.

Asura tribe is native to this subcontinent as they find mention in all ancient literatures like Vedas, Aranyakas, Mahabharat and many puranic texts. In the oldest verses of the Samhita layer of Vedic texts, the Asuras are said to be any spiritual, divine beings including those with good or bad intentions, and constructive or destructive inclinations or nature. The word Asura is mentioned 88 times in the Rig Veda, 71 times in the singular number, 4 times in the dual, 10 times in the plural, and 3 times as the first member of a compound. Asura is used as an adjective meaning "powerful" or "mighty". In the Rig Veda, two generous kings as well as some priests have been described as asuras. In nine hymns, Indra is described as asura. Agni has total of 12 asura descriptions, Varuna has 10, Mitra has 8, and Rudra has 6. Book 1 of the Rig Veda describes Savitr as an asura who is a "kind leader."  Presently, Asura tribe claims their ancestry to ancient Asuras who were said to be associated with the art of metal craft. For Asuras, traditional smelting of iron was primary source of livelihood. The iron smelted by Asuras  carry anti-rust properties. The process involved is safer, cheaper and eco-friendly.

Oral history  of Asura tirbe points out  Sarguja district in Madhya Pradesh as their original habitat, or at least for the one of the clans under Asuras; presently, this community lives in the Gumla, Lohardaga, Palamu and Latehar districts of Jharkhand, in Alipurduar region of West Bengal, mostly in tea garden area, and sporadically settled in some pockets of Bihar. More than half of the tribe’s population is now settled in several hamlets in the Pat region of the mineral-rich Chhota Nagpur plateau and on the border areas of Maoist-hit Latehar and Gumla districts. Presently, Asura tribe is divided into three sub-tribes, namely Bir (Kol) Asur, Birjia Asur and Agaria Asur. Again, the Birs are known by multiple names such as Solka, Thupu, Kol, Jat etc. The Birjias are recognized as a separate schedule tribe. Asura clans are named after different animals, birds and food grains etc.

Going by the most widely shared tale of their origin, two of these three sub-groups came from ‘outside’ and were adopted and integrated by a third sub-group which had been living in the area from earlier times. The folktale speaks of two children, a girl and a boy, after being lifted up by a cyclone (a mythological person) and got dropped atop a hill. The twins could not be rescued who, subsequently, became spirits to be worshipped.

Primary fuel used by Asuras for iron smelting is charcoal made from Sal wood. Three varieties of iron ore are considered for smelting in Netharhat plateau. One is Magnetite which is called pola, second is Hematite known as bichi, and third one is Hematite from Laterite known as gota.

The Asuras adopt a unique method of smelting by using two distinct types of furnaces in their operation, which differ in their physical forms but are operationally identical. One is a fully subterranean shaft furnace, the other is constructed as a rectangular pit. Both have concave bottoms and are about two and half feet high. Both are built using ordinary clay. Cylindrical furnace shaft rise as chimney. Iron ore and charcoal are fed into the shafts, a clay pipe is placed through a parabolic opening at the bottom of the furnace that acts as a tuyere, a tube through which air is blown into the furnace. Using clay, the hole to which the tube is inserted, is sealed.

The furnace is constructed using clay mixed with straw and has two openings, one at the top and other at the ground or lower level. The top opening is used for allowing charcoal and ores filling while the lower opening meant for attaching the tuyeres, and for extracting the slag and iron. The smelters use a pair of foot bellow for blowing air into the furnace. The foot bellow has three components: A solid wooden bowl; two hollow bamboo as blow pipes; and a leather bellow. One end of the bamboo pipes each connected with the earthen tuyeres while the other one is fitted to the wooden bowl covered with hide. The wooden bowl acts as conduit for passing air from bellow operation. Presently, hand blowers are being used.

They used ores available on the crust of the earth surface not used for smelting by modern steel plants that consider these as low grade and useless for smelting. When smelting, the Asura women sing a song relating the furnace to an expectant mother encouraging the furnace to give a healthy baby, in this case, good quality iron from ore.

However, this age old traditional occupation of Asuras is mostly extinct now. With forest preservation regulations and restrictions, they no longer have access to Sal wood required for making charcoal. Making a living by smelting iron and  making iron products are no longer feasible. Young Asuras have started working in the numerous bauxite mines in the hills of the Pat region. Some have even turned cultivators and agricultural laborers, or shifted to other occupation.Asura belief tradition is a mixture of animism, animatism, naturalism and ancestral worship. They also believe in black magic and witchcraft. Their chief deity is Singbonga. Their divines also are usually the embodiments of nature. Amongst the deities one finds Dharati Mata, Duari, Patdaraha and Turi Husid. They celebrate festivals such as Sarhul, Karma, Dhanbuni, Kadelta, Rajj karma and Dasahara Karam.

The Dasahara Karam is different from how the mainstream Hindus celebrate Dusserha associated with Nava Ratra festival. They observe it as the period of mourning in memory of Mahisasura, who they consider as their ancestor.  They remain indoor and inactive and observe Mahish Asur Dasain, a period of mourning. They never enter any Durga puja pandal. If an Asura enters a puja pandal, it means he or she is violating their tradition. 

According to one Asura tradition in Jharkhand, people put dal in their diyas and light it on Diwali. The next day, they rub the oil that remains in the diya on parts of their body. They pray to Bhainsasur on the second day after Diwali. 

The community also observes Sohrai, a ritual that coincides with Diwali by applying koronj (or Karanja in Hindi) oil on their navel, chest and nose, and eating cucumber. This they do to remember the painful death of Mahisasura who died bleeding from his navel, chest and nose. This ritual is symbolic in which Asuras avenge the death of this ancestor by eating the Kaleja (the lever) of the killer.

After the clan, family is the most important aspect in an Asura’s life. They live in mud houses with roofs made of paddy straw and baked, curved mud tiles known as khapras. They build a separate dormitory room for young boys and girls, and make room for domestic animals. They paint their room walls and use wooden things like piri and macha. Their clothing is distinct for men and women. Men wear Dhuti (Lower part), Feta (turban) and Khazim (vest). Women wear Julha (it was worn below the waist), Jhula khazim, is worn on the upper part of the body. They are very fond of music and festivals, and speak Asura language.

Gaurayya Baba, a deity closely associated with the Asura tradition, is highly revered. Just outside the boundary of an Asura village, a place for Baba is set up in the shape of a mound. The mound structure is built of mud, or even by using cement to create something more durable. Gaurayya Baba is considered as the protector saving the village from all sorts of difficulties and calamities. They also create little mounds of cow dung atop harvested crops so that Gaurayya Baba protects their crops.

Asuras consider their ancestors to be divine, worship them on every important occasion. Thus, each home has their own gods. These gods are called Manujdeva or Manushyadeva. They believe that if a male member of the family passes away in his youth, he immediately becomes a Manujdeva. Family members begin worshipping him. All rituals in these homes begin with the worship of Manujdeva. In those rituals, he is served alcohol as an offering.

Asura of Jharkhand have a tradition of digging up some earth before marriages. They dig up earth close to a termite mounds and use it to build a small platform atop which the holy vase is placed at the mandap (alter). Although, monogamy is the norm, many forms of marriage such as Bidhivatvivah (arranged marriage), Dukuvivah (love marriage), Idi mi vivah (live-in relationship) are also practiced. Widow remarriage is allowed. Tribe endogamy is strictly followed. Violators are thrown out of the community. However, they are accepted back after offering feast for seven times to the community members.

Bidhivivah is celebrated over a period of 3 days in which utensils are offered as dowry. In Dukuvivah, if family members of the boy and girl are unwilling, the girl goes to the boy’s house and starts living there, forcing family members from both side to organize a formal marriage ceremony. In another form, loving couple can marry after offering 2 feasts to the community as bribe. Idi mi vivah is a live in arrangement where marriage in not essential. The girl starts living in boy’s house and they can have children. Formal marriage could take place after a time if the boy agrees to such possibility.

The three-day Asura marriage ceremony is a simple affair. On the first day marwa or construction of wedding platform is completed by using 9 branches of Sakhua tree. Bamboo and Kend branches are also allowed for the construction. On the second day, actual marriage rituals takes place. The wedding platform receives a coat of cow-dung mixed with water. Few pots filled with grains with lighted earthen lamps placed atop these pot are kept on the platform. Handful of grain is kept on a leaf. The bride receives an oil massage called telamakho to the traditional singing by bridesmaids. Kashfool leaves are used by the bridesmaids to tie their hair. The bride wears bamboo bangle after receiving the turmeric paste massage. Both the groom and the bride wear white clothes. The groom applies vermilion on the brides scalp with the help of a sal leaf. Families from both side offer food to each other. Then, they pay a visit to a nearby water source to collect water in earthen pitchers and carry these filled pot on their head. Few pitchers are emptied over the bride and the groom while others dance around them carrying pitchers over their head. This is followed by traditional singing and dancing.  Chumaban is performed on the concluding day of the marriage ceremony. The wedding platform is dismantled. Those who are fond of drinking are offered drinks in a ritual sknown as Hariya. Both sides exchange wedding gift after which the marriage ceremony concludes. 

Asura community does not celebrate birth of a child but observes few rituals after the birth. Pregnant women do not eat stale rice and boiled vegetables. Taking milk is allowed.  Chhatiyaari after 6-8 days is observed. Namakaran (naming) ritual takes place 8-10 days after the birth of a child which is done by family elders. Two grains of rice are thrown into a bowl one after another while taking a name. If the later thrown rice grain touches the first one, then the name uttered during the throwing is given to the child. The process is repeated until a name is selected in this manner. Majjuti or the first rice eating ceremony is done within 6-8 months.

Asuras mourn death for a period of 10 days. Dead body wrapped with a white cloth provided by villagers gets burial along with few of the deceased’s belongings. Food is offered to the departed for 10 days at his burial place. On the 10 th day, family members of the deceased tonsure their head and take bath, ending the mouning period. A feast is offered to the villagers on the 12^th day.