Isn’t it fortunate that the tribal communities of central India probably never read tales from the British Raj of a man-eating tiger snooping at a delicate memsahib from his tent with his slippery satin robes and the blood glistening on the cat’s arched whiskers. The ferocious cat’s amber eyes burn with bloodlust. As William Blake feverishly pondered the Tyger: “What immortal hand or eye dares to frame thy fearful symmetry?

The British Raj wove ingenious tales laced with poetic flourishes and delightful prose to justify the extermination of any creature – whether a cobra or a cheetah – posing a threat to the conquest of India and the exploitation of the proverbial Aladdin’s cave of natural wealth.

But here, to borrow selectively from Kipling, an alternative truth prevails: “Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.” In the forest heartland of India, among the Gonds, Govaris, Baigas and other indigenous communities, the tiger “was and is” duly recognized as a powerful predator. But that’s not all: the stripes “were and are” considered sacred. The tiger was a creature worshiped as the Waghoba deity: the tribes believed that the spirits of their ancestors inhabited the tiger. He was also invoked as a guardian of their crops against the foraging of deer and wild boars – a balancer of herbivore numbers and sent to the aid of the tribes by Mother Nature herself.

India is fortunate that a younger generation of conservationists is venturing into these central regions, where the spirit of the nation truly resides. Ashraf Shaikh of the National Center for Biological Sciences in Bangalore is engaged in research into the folk traditions that anchor Waghoba.

“The cult of the Waghoba embodies a dual relationship with tigers, who are both revered as divine guardians and feared as potential threats. Shrines dedicated to Waghoba often mark the sites of tiger attacks, serving as memorials and symbols of protection. The Govari community’s belief in Waghin, a female counterpart of Waghoba, highlights this connection, with shrines commemorating women lost in tiger attacks. In Waghin shrines, offerings are associated with women like a sari or a mangalsutra. These rituals help communities manage their grief and build resilience,” Shaikh told the author.

In Tapal, prayers to curb tiger attacks are said to have led to the miraculous appearance of a shrine, while in Tadoba, the death of a Gond chief by a tiger is said to have inspired the construction of a memorial shrine. Such narratives highlight the central role of the tiger in the community’s spiritual identity as a deity and reminder of human vulnerability.

“This cultural respect also promotes conservation. For the Gonds and other communities, the tiger is a ‘kuladevta’ (clan deity) and protecting it is considered a moral obligation. Similar traditions are found among tribes like the Baigas in Chhattisgarh and the Nyishis in Arunachal Pradesh, as well as in Southeast Asia, where tiger worship reflects respect for the balance of nature. Shaikh added.

As strong and ingrained as these cultural beliefs useful for the preservation of tigers are, the increasing penetration of tiger homes by humans has led to a strain on traditions. “In areas like Brahmapuri, where nearly 300 people have been attacked by tigers in the past decade, rising conflict is straining the cultural bonds that encourage coexistence. While some question the effectiveness of the rituals, others continue to honor the dead and the tigers through the Waghoba shrines, preserving a link between tradition and resilience,” Shaikh said.

So what is a futuristic vision? “The cult of Waghoba offers valuable lessons in coexistence by channeling fear into structured rituals. When combined with modern conservation strategies, such as awareness of tiger behavior, safety measures, and community-based wildlife conservation planning, these practices can help mitigate conflict and promote tolerance for respect for big cats,” Shaikh said.

By honoring cultural traditions while embracing modern solutions, these communities could chart a path toward a future where both humans and tigers thrive.