The Cult of the Vratyas
Summary
The author investigates the cult of the Vratyas, a semi‑nomadic group mentioned in the Atharva‑veda. He argues that the Vratyas were originally non‑Aryan tribes inhabiting eastern India and that they practised a distinct form of religion. Unlike orthodox Aryans, they did not perform the fire sacrifice but followed rites centred on a portable staff and communal songs. The paper notes that the Atharva‑veda portrays them as both dangerous and potent; they were viewed as unclean yet capable of bestowing blessings. The study reconstructs the Vratya rite from ritual texts and later commentaries and describes the procession, the recitation of hymns and the carrying of the staff. It suggests that the cult pre‑dated the arrival of Indo‑Aryans and that many of its features were later incorporated into Srauta rituals. The author also examines references to the Vratyas in Buddhist and Jain texts and argues that the term became synonymous with people living outside caste society. By tracing the evolution of the word ‘Vratya’, the paper shows how an early eastern tribal cult was gradually assimilated and transformed within mainstream Hinduism. The Vratyas thus represent a bridge between pre‑Aryan and Aryan religious practices.
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Conclusion
By tracing the Vratya cult from its non‑Aryan origins to its later incorporation into orthodox rituals, the article reveals the fluid boundaries between tribal and Brahmanical religion. The Vratyas were feared and marginalised, yet their rituals were eventually adopted and reinterpreted. The study underscores the diversity of early Indian religious life and the processes by which heterodox practices were absorbed into the Hindu mainstream.