Bongaism

According to some anthropologists,belief in mana  is the beginning of religion.It is a supernatural power and exists as a quality or attribute of objects.Such a religious complex of beliefs has been found among the Indian tribe of Munda,Ho and other cognate tribes of Chota Nagpur.They use the term bonga to designate this power and quality.

Among the Ho the bonga are understood as powers indefinite and impersonal;they do not seem to have any objective appearance or existence.The overall supremacy of the bonga over Munda life shows only the extent of anthropomorphism.The impersonal bonga use the medium of dreams to foretell,day dreams being used for fore warning about bad things.Bonga is manifestation of a vague supernatural power one that is the cause of all energy.

Differences between individuals,differences of power,prestige and so on are regarded to be due to the degree of the bonga power possessed by a person.Anything that is new requires a new adjustment and anything that upsets the personality is a bonga.Tradition and myth may also separate certain things and animals as not parts of the environment to which man adapts himself.These may then become the bonga.