Todas
Topic: Buddhism, Jainism and Heterodox Traditions · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 7 "India's Cultural Roots"
Meaning
The Todas are a small tribe of the Nilgiri hills in Tamil Nadu. They are herders, and their lives centre on buffaloes. Their religion treats the land around them as sacred. They see more than thirty Nilgiri peaks as the homes of gods and goddesses. They are a clear example of the tribal belief that nature itself is divine.
Example
The Nilgiri peaks are so sacred to the Todas that they avoid even pointing at them, since that would be disrespectful to the gods who live there. Their dairies, where buffalo milk is handled with care and ritual, are also treated as sacred places.
Don't confuse with
- Kotas: another small tribe of the Nilgiri hills. The Kotas are mainly craftspeople and musicians, while the Todas are buffalo herders.