<P> At the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, there are Brahmin and Badu (tribal) priests . The Badus have the most intimate contact with the deity of the temple, and only they can bathe and adorn it . </P> <P> The Bhils are mentioned in the Mahabharata . The Bhil boy Ekalavya's teacher was Drona, and he had the honour to be invited to Yudhishthira's Rajasuya Yajna at Indraprastha . Indian tribals were also part of royal armies in the Ramayana and in the Arthashastra . </P> <P> Shabari was a Bhil woman who offered Rama and Lakshmana jujubes when they were searching for Sita in the forest . Matanga, a Bhil, became a Brahmana . </P> <P> ed against this custom . </P>

What do you know about livelihood of adivasis in pre colonial period