The religious organization of the Great Andamanese was closely connected with their social life, natural environment and traditional beliefs. The Great Andamanese, indigenous inhabitants of the Andaman Islands, followed a form of animistic religion in which natural forces, spirits, ancestors and supernatural beings were believed to influence human life. Their religious system did not have temples, formal churches or a highly developed priestly hierarchy. Religious beliefs and practices were mainly transmitted orally from one generation to another. The Great Andamanese believed in a supreme supernatural being known as Puluga. Puluga was generally regarded as the creator and controller of the world and was associated with natural phenomena such as thunder, lightning and rain. People believed that Puluga observed human behaviour and could punish those who violated customary rules. Along with Puluga, various supernatural beings and spirits were associated with particular natural forces and places. Biliku, for example, was an important supernatural figure associated with storms and destructive natural forces. Such beliefs reflected the close dependence of the Great Andamanese on the natural environment. The spirits of the dead occupied an