Indeginous knowledge ethnomedicine magico religious beliefs and curative practices among savara primitive tribal group of India

The present study makes an attempt to find out the concept of religious beliefs and practices related to health care system purely in the way of indigenous knowledge and primitive ethno medicines of the Savara tribe of Eastern Ghats of India. The study reveals that the Savara Members of the Savara community first approachspecialists or medicinemen they have considerable knowledge about the herbs and its medicinal use. Thevarious types of locally available herbs and leaves of wild plants are used by them as medicine. Yejjodu (male) yejjuralu (kundanboi)is a female and Disarodu are magico-religious healers, available in each village to ascertain the cause of the illness. Tribe believes that certain diseases are caused by malevolent super natural forces and they try to cure them by pleasing the supernatural powers through prayers and sacrifices. They also use various locally available medicinal herbs for treating diseases. Many elderly persons of the village are also aware about the importance and use of such herbal medicines.