Bon Religion among the Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh: Continuity, Transformation and Syncretism in the Pre-Buddhist Religious Tradition

Yeshi Gyesen

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i05.87790

Bon Religion among the Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh: Continuity, Transformation and Syncretism in the Pre-Buddhist Religious Tradition

Author(s)	Dr. Yeshi Gyesen
Country	India
Abstract	The Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh constitute one of the oldest Buddhist communities inhabiting the eastern Himalayas. While Tibetan Buddhism dominates their present religious life, numerous indigenous beliefs and ritual practices continue to survive beneath the Buddhist framework. These beliefs originate from Bon, the pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet and the trans-Himalayan region, which profoundly influenced the spiritual worldview of the Monpas before the spread of Mahayana Buddhism. Drawing upon extensive fieldwork conducted in Khaso, Lachang, and Phudung villages of West Kameng District, together with secondary historical and anthropological sources, this paper examines the cosmology, ritual system, priesthood, and concept of supernatural beings in the Bon religion. It analyses how Bon continues to shape everyday religious practices despite centuries of Buddhist influence. The study further argues that the Monpas did not abandon their indigenous faith upon the introduction of Buddhism; rather, they incorporated Bon deities, rituals, and cosmological beliefs into Buddhist religious practice, resulting in a distinctive form of religious syncretism. The persistence of Bon traditions demonstrates the resilience of indigenous religious knowledge and reflects the adaptive capacity of tribal societies in preserving cultural identity amidst religious transformation. The paper contributes to the growing scholarship on Himalayan indigenous religions by documenting a rapidly disappearing oral tradition and highlighting its significance for understanding the cultural history of Arunachal Pradesh.
Keywords	Bon Religion, Monpas, Indigenous Religion, Shamanism, Buddhism, Syncretism, Arunachal Pradesh.
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 5, September-October 2026
Published On	2026-09-20
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i05.87790

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Bon Religion among the Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh: Continuity, Transformation and Syncretism in the Pre-Buddhist Religious Tradition

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