 Panchavadyam (orchestra of 5 instruments) during a festival | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 18,282,492 (2011) 54.7% of total population  | |
| Religions | |
| Hinduism | |
| Languages | |
| Sacred Sanskrit Others | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Keralite Muslims andKeralite Christians |
Hinduism is the largestreligion in Kerala and Hindu lineages together make up 54.7% of the population of the state according to the2011 census.[1]
Hinduism is the most widely professed faith in Kerala. According to2011 Census of India figures, 54.7% of Kerala's residents are Hindus.[1]Hindus represent the biggest religious group in all districts exceptMalappuram.[2]
The legends regarding the origin of Kerala are Hindu in nature. Kerala produced several saints and movements.
Adi Shankara was a religious philosopher who contributed to Hinduism and propagated the philosophy ofAdvaita. He was instrumental in establishing fourmathas atSringeri,Dwarka,Puri andJyotirmath.Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri was another religious figure who composedNarayaniyam, a collection of verses in praise of the Hindu GodKrishna.
Various practises of Hinduism are unique to Kerala. Worship ofShiva andVishnu is popular in Kerala. LordKrishna is worshipped widely in all parts of Kerala,Guruvayur being one of the most famous temples in the state. Malayali Hindus also worshipBhagavathi as a form ofShakti. Almost every village in Kerala has a Bhagavati Goddess. Hindus in Kerala also strongly believe in power of snake gods and usually have sacred snake groves known asSarpa Kavu near to their houses.
Malayali Hindus have ceremonies such asChorunu (first feeding of rice to a child) andVidyāraṃbhaṃ.
| Districts | Population(2001) | Population(2011) | Hindu Population(2011) | Hindus % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kasargod | 1,203,342 | 1,307,375 | 729,908 | 55.83% |
| Kannur | 2,412,365 | 2,523,003 | 1,509,513 | 59.83% |
| Wayanad | 786,627 | 817,420 | 404,460 | 49.48% |
| Kozhikode | 2,878,498 | 3,086,293 | 1,734,806 | 56.21% |
| Malappuram | 3,629,640 | 4,112,920 | 1,135,166 | 27.60% |
| Palakkad | 2,617,072 | 2,809,934 | 1,875,912 | 66.76% |
| Thrissur | 2,975,440 | 3,121,200 | 1,823,405 | 58.42% |
| Ernakulam | 3,098,378 | 3,282,388 | 1,509,570 | 45.99% |
| Idukki | 1,128,605 | 1,093,156 | 541,845 | 48.86% |
| Kottayam | 1,952,901 | 1,974,551 | 983,524 | 49.81% |
| Alappuzha | 2,105,349 | 2,127,789 | 1,460,515 | 68.64% |
| Pathanamthitta | 1,231,577 | 1,197,412 | 681,687 | 56.93% |
| Kollam | 2,584,118 | 2,635,375 | 1,697,709 | 64.42% |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 3,234,707 | 3,301,427 | 2,209,975 | 66.94% |
| Total | 31,841,374 | 33,406,061 | 18,282,492 | 54.9% |
| Source:[3] | ||||
| Census Year | Hindus | Decadal rate (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 8,978,305 | 68.5% | N/A |
| 1911 | 4,762,393 | 66.8% | -8.77 |
| 1921 | 5,052,039 | 64.9% | -6.08 |
| 1931 | 6,021,982 | 63.4% | -19.20 |
| 1941 | 6,699,600 | 61.8% | -11.25 |
| 1951 | 8,344,351 | 61.6% | -24.55 |
| 1961 | 10,282,568 | 60.9% | -23.23 |
| 1971 | 12,683,277 | 59.4% | -23.35 |
| 1981 | 14,901,347 | 58.2% | -16.70 |
| 1991 | 16,668,587 | 57.3% | -12.62 |
| 2001 | 17,920,105 | 56.3% | -7.51 |
| 2011 | 18,282,492 | 54.9% | -2.02 |
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Some of the most notable temples are:
Adi Shankara, the originator of Advaita Vedanta, was born inKalady and was likely aNambuthiri. ManyHindu saints andswamis from many castes have lived in Kerala.Sree Narayana Guru, Enadinatha, Ilakkulaccanrar, Tiruppana were all outside the Brahminical caste fold;Cheraman Nayanar was a Kothayar; andChattampi Swamikal, Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi andSwami Chinmayananda, theNair caste. TheParayas of Kerala claim descent fromVasishtha.[6] There is a shrine in Kollengode in memory of a lower-caste saint, Paakkanar.[7] The theatrical dance of Rapayan Tullal is narrated by a descendant of Pakkanar.[8] ThePeriya Puranam, possibly written by a Paraya, describes the Parayas.[9]
Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi is popularly regarded as the father of contemporary Hindu renaissance in Kerala for the victorious movements he led for temple rights and the establishment ofHindu Aikya Vedi for integrating people of all castes into one religion. He is reckoned as the greatest karmayogi to upholdSanatana Dharma sinceSwami Vivekananda internationally. Sree Narayana Jayanti (Narayana Guru's birthday) and Sree Narayana Samadhi Day (the occasion of hissamadhi) are public holidays in Kerala.
Mata Amritanandamayi, known among her devotees asAmma, was selected to represent theHindu Dharma in the World Parliament of Religions in September 1991.[10]Bhagawan Nityananda was another important Hindu saint widely recognized.
Several Hindu movements important to thedevelopment of Hinduism took place in Kerala.[11] TheKarppillikkavu Sree Mahadeva Temple, (one of the most ancient in India) dedicated to the KirataAvatar ofLord Shiva still exists in Kerala.
According to Sudha Nambudiri, Thanthra Vidyapeedam, a low profileVedic andtantric pathshala (ritual school) inAluva founded by Kalpuzha Divakaran Namboodiripad and P. Madhavji in 1972 taught students in Kerala's temple shastra, Kerala's form of temple rituals, which followsAdi Shankara traditions in theGurukulam system.[12] Namboodiripad says Vidyapeedam only admits tententh standard passed boys with prior academic knowledge of theSanskrit language, selected on the basis of their individualhoroscopes every year. The seven year curriculum includes theoretical and practical studies in temple rituals based on Tantra Samuchayam, authored by Chennas Narayanan Nampoothiri, theVedas, theSanskrit language,Vaastu Shastra,Jyothisha,Yoga and meditation.[12] When completed, students are awarded a postgraduate level degree known asThanthraratna in Sanskrit byUjjain'sMaharishi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratishthan and promotes students to temple priests or Sanskrit language teachers.[12] Aarsha Vidya Samajam founded by Aacharya Sri K R Manoj Ji at 1999 is an educational institution for preaching of Pancha Kartavyas; five duties: Adhyayana (Study), Anushthana (Practice), Pracharana (Promotion), Adhyapana (Teaching) and Samrakshana (Protection) of Sanathana Dharma. This institution was born with the Anugraha and Ashirwada of great Gurus for achieving the motto of Krinwantho Vishwamaryam; to make the whole world noble, through right education of Sanathana Dharma, which was not merely a divine call, but also a vision of the Aarsha Guru Paramparas, prayer of the Sadhaks, dream of our ancestors, and the birth purpose of our nation itself.
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