This dance takes us back to the origins of the ancient Indian adivasi tradition evoking shamanism in a system of beliefs and interaction between man and his tribe and the spirits of nature. Among many hypotheses, in Sanskrit the term ’shramana’ designates a wandering monk in some ascetic traditions of ancient India, including Jainism, Buddhism and the now extinct ajivika religion, dating back to the time of King Ashoka (260 B.C)

That was the time when man identified with animal forces in an original shamanism, taking on the strength of the lord of the jungle, mimicking and identifying with him. The dance highly exuberant is aping the movements of the majestic tigers. Their bodies are painted by the painstaking efforts of local artists in vibrant yellow and black to resemble an exact replica of a tiger. The paintings include the ferocious looking fangs and convincing headgear replete with ears, paws with claws, and a long tail that conjures an accurate picture of the savage graceful movements. The thunderous roars of drums beating wildly along with several local instruments reproduce the snarls of the regal predators and complete the picture. Apart from the tiger, the dancers are often adorned in the beautiful spots of a leopard or the eerie dark shades of a black panther. This art nowadays is rarely performed but still alive in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh or Karnataka.