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IKS V1

This Book is a part of the series Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) : Volume 1

Read about Indian Knowledge System (IKS) Project

Title of the Monograph: Phoni Monasha Dharma: An Introduction to Phonizim Among the Koch Rajbongshi Community

Volume: 1, Language: English

Kindle:

ASIN: B0HD9GBPLM

Language: ‎ English

Text-to-Speech: ‎ Enabled

ISBN: 978-93-91413-85-9 (Paperback)

ISBN: 978-93-91413-87-3 (Electronic)

Date of publication: 7 August 2026

Location: Global (Multiple countries)

Publisher: The Native Tribe

URL: https://www.thenativetribe.org/book/iks/iks-v1

Author (s):

Ranjit Singha (Ph.D.)

Surjit Singha, Ph.D.

Kindle Edition

Paperback Edition

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preliminaries

Author's Note
Acknowledgements
About the Authors

Chapter 1. Introduction (P 1-6)

What is Phoni Monasha Dharma?
Understanding the Term "Phonizim"
Scope and Purpose of the Book
Methodology
Sources of Information
Limitations of the Study

Chapter 2. The Koch Rajbongshi Community (P 7-13)

Historical Background
Ethnic Identity
Language and Culture
Traditional Social Organization
Religious Diversity

Chapter 3. Origin and Historical Development of Phoni Monasha Dharma (P 14-21)

Historical Background
Oral Traditions
Evolution of Worship
Archaeological and Ethnographic Perspectives
Contemporary Revival of Phonizim

Chapter 4. The Sacred Symbol: Phoni Monasha Gaz (Euphorbia neriifolia) (P 22-30)

Botanical Description
Indigenous Names
Symbolic Meaning
Sacred Status
Comparison with Bathou Worship
Sacred Plants in World Religions

Chapter 5. Theology of Phonizim (P 31-40)

Concept of the Divine
Phoni Monasha
Divine Protection
Nature as Sacred
Humans and the Sacred
Prayer and Worship

Chapter 6. Philosophy of Phonizim (P 41-50)

Purpose of Human Life
Harmony with Nature
Mind (Mon) and Aspiration (Asha)
Balance and Moderation
Human Flourishing

Chapter 7. Cosmology of Phonizim (P 51-59)

Creation
Nature of Reality
Human Beings
Spiritual Realm
Sacred Universe

Chapter 8. Sacred Narratives (P 60-68)

Oral Traditions
Legends of Phoni Monasha
Chand Sadagar, Behula, and Lakhindar
Symbolism
Cultural Memory

Chapter 9. Ritual System (P 69-78)

Household Worship
Annual Festivals
Phoni Monasha Puja
Ritual Objects
Sacred Offerings
Songs, Dance, and Music
Healing Rituals

Chapter 10. Ethics of Phonizim (P 79-89)

Compassion
Non-Injury
Truthfulness
Moderation
One-Pointedness
Respect for Elders
Service to Humanity
Family Values
Community Ethics

Chapter 11. Sacred Ecology (P 90-99)

Ecological Worldview
Sacred Plants
Biodiversity
Conservation
Indigenous Environmental Ethics
Sustainable Living

Chapter 12. Religious Leadership (P 100-109)

Household Worship Leaders
Community Elders
Ritual Specialists
Leadership Through Service
Contemporary Developments

Chapter 13. Community Identity (P 110-119)

Followers of Phonizim
Cultural Identity
Regional Variations
Women and the Transmission of Tradition
Indigenous Heritage
Contemporary Challenges

Chapter 14. Phonizim in Comparative Perspective (P 120-130)

Indigenous Religions
Animism
Nature-Based Spirituality
Bathou Religion
Ancient Iranian Religion (Zoroastrianism)
Other Plant-Centred Religious Traditions

Chapter 15. Contemporary Issues and Future Directions (P 131-141)

Documentation
Preservation
Academic Research
Intangible Cultural Heritage
Legal Recognition
Challenges and Opportunities

Chapter 16. Conclusion (P 142-150)

Summary of Major Themes
Contribution to Indigenous Religious Studies
Recommendations for Future Research

Appendices

Glossary of Terms (P 151-157)
Recommended Reading (P 158-162)

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

The authors are independent researchers with a deep interest in indigenous religions, cultural heritage, anthropology, and community traditions. This book is the outcome of field observations, community interactions, and academic study undertaken to document and preserve the religious and cultural heritage associated with Phoni Monasha Dharma among the Koch Rajbongshi community. The authors hope that this work will serve as a foundation for future research and promote greater appreciation of indigenous knowledge systems and living cultural traditions.

Ranjit Singha, (Ph.D.)

Ranjit Singha is a Doctoral Research Fellow at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, India, and a distinguished member of the American Psychological Association (APA). His research interests encompass a broad range of interdisciplinary fields, including Mindfulness, Compassion, Addiction Psychology, Women's Empowerment, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Data Science, Cognitive Psychology, Neuropsychology, Behavioural Science, and Public Health.

Mr. Singha has pursued extensive professional education and advanced training from internationally renowned universities and institutions across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and India. His certifications include Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) from Emory University (USA), Mindfulness from the University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre (UK), SEE Learning® (Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning) from Emory University, Mindfulness and Well-being from both the University of British Columbia (Canada) and Rice University (USA), and professional certifications from IBM, Microsoft, Google, Harvard Medical School, Penn Medicine – University of Pennsylvania Health System, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

His specialised training includes Addressing Tobacco Dependence Treatment in the General Population, The Bucket Approach Interventions, Tobacco Use and Dependence: A Review of Treatments, Opioid Use Disorder and Treatment: The Genetics of Addiction, Addiction Care and Treatment, Managing Concurrent Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Youth, Supporting Children and Youth Who Use Substances, Clinical Care for Autistic Adults, Ethics and Regulation of Social and Behavioral Research, Team-Based Care in Healthcare, Decision-Making Capacity Assessment, Dementia Care, Interprofessional Healthcare Competencies, and numerous evidence-based interventions in addiction medicine, behavioural health, and integrated clinical care.

His expertise further extends to Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Clinical and Non-Clinical Settings, Cognitive Analytic Therapy, Suicide Prevention, Preventing Tobacco Use, Facilitating Grief Support Groups, Career Guidance and Counselling, Self-Development and Well-being, and Multimedia Applications in Teaching and Learning, through professional training at NIMHANS, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), and the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD).

Professionally, he is a Certified Microsoft Innovative Educator, Licensed Yoga Professional, Certified Mindfulness Teacher, Certified Mendeley Advisor, Certified Peer Reviewer (Elsevier), Six Sigma Green Belt Certified, and holds certification in the Foundations of Project Management from Google. These multidisciplinary qualifications reflect his commitment to lifelong learning and evidence-based professional practice.

Academically, Mr. Singha holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (General Management), MBA in International Business, M.Sc. in Counselling Psychology, and a Senior Diploma in Tabla (Indian Classical Percussion), demonstrating a unique combination of expertise across psychology, management, education, and the performing arts.

As a researcher and educator, his work primarily focuses on mindfulness- and compassion-based interventions, addiction behaviour, behavioural change mechanisms, mindfulness assessment, professional mindfulness training, mindfulness ethics, cognitive and neuropsychology, addiction psychology, public mental health, and high-risk behavioural interventions. His interdisciplinary research integrates psychological science with public health, education, technology, and sustainable development.

Mr. Singha has established an outstanding scholarly record, having authored 113 Scopus-indexed research publications, along with four authored books and five edited books. His publications have significantly contributed to psychology, behavioural sciences, addiction research, public health, education, and interdisciplinary research, earning recognition within the international academic community.

Beyond research, he possesses extensive teaching experience across diverse academic disciplines, including Forensic Psychology, Positive Psychology, Psychometric Assessment, Counselling Skills, Organisational Planning, Strategic Management, Business Planning, Business Law, Auditing, Disaster Management, and Basic Computer Science. He has successfully supervised and mentored numerous undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations, promoting research excellence and scientific inquiry among students.

Professionally, Mr. Singha serves as an Ad Hoc Reviewer for the International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning (IJCBPL), a Reviewer and Author for IGI Global, an Editor and Reviewer at TNT Publication, and a Certified Peer Reviewer (Elsevier). These responsibilities reflect his active engagement in scholarly publishing and his dedication to maintaining rigorous academic and ethical standards in research.

Outside academia, Mr. Singha actively provides psychological counselling, mindfulness-based guidance, addiction counselling, and mental health awareness programmes, reflecting his commitment to community service, holistic well-being, and the promotion of evidence-based mental healthcare. His contributions to research, teaching, professional training, mentorship, and community engagement have established him as a respected scholar and practitioner in the fields of psychology, mindfulness, behavioural science, addiction studies, and public health.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1925-6587

Email: ranjitsingharesearch@gmail.com

Website: www.ranjitsingha.com

Scopus ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=58989478000

Dr. Surjit Singha

Associate Professor, Ph.D. Research Guide & Research Faculty
Kristu Jayanti (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, India

Dr. Surjit Singha is an Associate Professor, PhD Research Guide, and Research Faculty at Kristu Jayanti (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, India. With over 16 years of academic, research, and professional experience, he has established himself as a leading scholar in the fields of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), sustainability, entrepreneurship, organizational behaviour, workforce diversity, public policy, business analytics, and interdisciplinary research.

An accomplished researcher, Dr. Singha has published over 160 scholarly works, including 133 Scopus-indexed research papers, book chapters, textbooks, and edited volumes with reputed international publishers. His research integrates rigorous academic inquiry with practical relevance, contributing to policy formulation, sustainable development, business innovation, and societal transformation. His work has been widely recognized for advancing evidence-based knowledge across commerce, management, and the social sciences.

Dr. Singha actively serves the global academic community as an editor, editorial board member, reviewer, and peer reviewer for several prestigious international journals published by Taylor & Francis, Springer Nature, Wiley, MDPI, and IGI Global, among others. He has reviewed more than 170 manuscripts for leading Scopus and Web of Science indexed journals and regularly contributes to improving the quality of international scholarly publications.

He has authored and edited 26+ internationally published books and edited volumes, holds two U.S. copyrights and two patents, and has successfully completed fully funded research projects. As a committed academic mentor, he has guided numerous students, research scholars, and young faculty members in research methodology, academic writing, publication strategies, and interdisciplinary research.

Dr. Singha's academic qualifications include a Ph.D., M.Phil., and MBA (Distinction) from CHRIST (Deemed to be University), M.Com. and BBM from Kristu Jayanti College (Bangalore University), and a Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education (PGDHE) from IGNOU. He has also completed advanced academic certifications from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Pennsylvania, is UGC-NET (Commerce) qualified, and serves as an Examiner for the International Baccalaureate (IB).

Beyond teaching and research, Dr. Singha contributes significantly to academic governance through curriculum development, research advisory committees, editorial leadership, conference organization, faculty development programmes, institutional branding, website and social media management, and research capacity building. His interdisciplinary and collaborative approach has enabled partnerships with scholars and institutions across India and abroad.

Driven by a passion for academic excellence and societal impact, Dr. Singha continues to promote innovative, ethical, and sustainable research that addresses contemporary global challenges. He welcomes international research collaborations, interdisciplinary projects, visiting scholar opportunities, joint publications, and academic mobility initiatives.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5730-8677

Email: surjit.research@gmail.com

Website: www.surjitsingha.com

Scopus ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57219215365

Ranjit Singha (Ph.D.)

Surjit Singha, Ph.D.

To cite this book

Singha, R., & Singha, S. (2026). Phoni Monasha Dharma: An introduction to Phonizim among the Koch Rajbongshi community (Vol. 1). The Native Tribe. https://www.thenativetribe.org/book/iks/iks-v1