Chorabudi, Protector of Crops

Chorabudi (also spelt Chorabudu) is a benevolent crop-guardian of the Garo Songsarek religion. He watches over the fields and the growing produce, and the Garos present to him the first-fruits of every harvest. He is closely associated with the supreme creator Tatara-Rabuga, being described as his servant and receiving a pig-sacrifice whenever offerings are made to the creator. As a specifically named agricultural protector, distinct from the sun-giver Saljong and the generalised field-spirits, he occupies a well-defined place in the ritual economy of Garo swidden cultivation.

Domains

• protection of crops

Powers

• to protect the crops in the fields

Relations

• subordinate to: Creator GodDescribed as a servant of the supreme creator Tatara-Rabuga, honoured with a pig whenever sacrifice is offered to him.Playfair, Major A. (1909). The Garos. London: David Nutt. (secondary)

Sources

• Chorabudi is a benign Garo deity, the protector of crops and servant of Tatara-Rabuga, to whom the first-fruits of the fields and a pig sacrifice are offered.: Playfair, Major A. (1909). The Garos. London: David Nutt, chapter on Religion. (secondary); Sangma, Milton S. (1981). History and Culture of the Garos. New Delhi: Books Today. (secondary)