Religion in Kerala

Religion in Kerala (2011)[1]

  Hinduism (54.73%)
  Islam (26.56%)
  Christianity (18.38%)
  Other or none (0.33%)

Religions in Kerala are a mixture of different faiths, most significantly Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. Kerala has a reputation of being, communally, one of the most tolerant states in India. According to 2011 Census of India figures, 54.73% of Kerala's residents are Hindus, 26.56% are Muslims, 18.38% are Christians, and the remaining 0.32% follows other religion or no religion.[2] Various tribal people in Kerala have retained various religious beliefs of their ancestors. Hindus constitute the majority in all districts except Malappuram, where Muslims are a majority.[3]

Hinduism

Vadakkunnathan Temple dedicated to Shiva at Thrissur

Several saints and movements existed. Adi Shankara was a Hindu philosopher who contributed to Hinduism and propagated philosophy of Advaita. He was instrumental in establishing four mathas at Sringeri, Dwarka, Puri and Jyotirmath. Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri was another Brahmin religious figure who composed Narayaniyam, a collection of verses in praise of Krishna.

Various practises of Hinduism are unique to Kerala. Different cults of Shiva and Vishnu are popular in Kerala. Malayali Hindus also worship Bhagavathi as a form of Shakti. Almost every village in Kerala has its own local guardian deity, usually a goddess. Hindus in Kerala also strongly believe in power of snake gods and usually have sacred snake groves known as Sarpa Kavu near to their houses.[4]

Vavu Bali ceremony honoring the deceased in the Malayalam month of Karkadakam

Some of the most notable temples are: Guruvayur Temple, Thrissur Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thirumandham kunnu Temple,Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, Thiruvananthapuram Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, Chottanikkara Temple, Chengannur Mahadeva Temple, Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple, Chettikulangara Devi Temple, Mannarasala Temple, Chakkulathukavu Temple, Thiruvalla Sreevallabha Temple, Kaviyoor Mahadevar Temple, Parumala Panayannarkavu Temple, Sree Poornathrayesa Temple, Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple, and Rajarajeshwara Temple. Temples in Kerala follow elaborate rituals and only priests from the Nambudiri caste can be appointed as priests in major temples. These priests are assisted by a caste known as Ambalavasis.

Malayali Hindus have unique ceremonies such as Chorunu (first feeding of rice to a child) and Vidyāraṃbhaṃ.[5]

Islam

The general consensus among historians is that Islam arrived in Kerala through Arab traders either during the time of Muhammad himself (AD 609 - AD 632) or in the following few decades. Kerala has a very ancient relation with the middle east even during the Pre-Islamic period. Muslim merchants (Malik, son of Dinar) settled in Kerala by the 8th century AD and introduced Islam.

Later the Zamorin of Kozhikode allowed the Arab Muslim traders to settle and form a major community in Kozhikode, from where the religion gradually spread in the following centuries. Significant populations of Muslims live in Calicut, Malapuram districts in the Malabar region. Noted historian A. Sreedhara Menon opines that the policy followed by the Zamorins of encouraging Muslim traders to settle down in his kingdom to flourish maritime trade perhaps accounts for the relatively high proportion of Muslims in Malabar. The Muslims also manned the Zamorin's navy and were so intensely pro-Zamorin that one of them issued an order to bring up one male member in every fishermen family in his kingdom as a Muslim so as to get sufficient numbers in his navy.[6] There is also a significant Muslim population living in the coastal regions of central and southern Kerala.

Cheraman Juma Masjid at Kodungallur

.

Since Islam reached Malabar as early as 7th century it had almost mixed with the culture and traditions of the people of Kerala and Hinduism. So, the Islahi movements of Kerala (a part of the renaissance of the community) after the Malabar Rebellion of 1921, produced a Salafi sect known as Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen from the Sunnis of Kerala. In later years, both these branches split multiple times to produce complicated branches and sects.

Muslims are generally referred to as Mappilas in Kerala. Islam is said to have arrived in 7th century CE in Kerala.They form 26.6% of the population of Kerala.[7] They share a common language (Malayalam) with the rest of the population and have a culture commonly regarded as the Malayalam culture of Kerala with an Arabian blend.[8]

Christianity

Relationship of the Nasrani groups.

Christianity is said to have arrived in Kerala in the first century CE in AD 52 with Thomas the Apostle and is followed by 18.38% of the population.[9] The works of scholars and Eastern Christian writings say that Thomas the Apostle visited Muziris in Kerala in the first century in 52 AD to proselytize amongst Kerala's Jewish settlements and from this came Thomasine Christianity.[10][11] The 3rd and 4th centuries saw an influx of Jewish Christians from the Middle East.

Knanaya communities arrived during this time.[12] Syriac Christians remained as an independent group, and they got their bishops from Assyrian Church of the East until the advent of Portuguese and British colonialists.

The arrival of Europeans in the 15th century and discontent with Portuguese interference in religious matters fomented schism into Catholic and Orthodox communities. Further schism and rearrangements led to the formation of the other Indian Churches. Latin Rite Christians were those baptised by the Portuguese in the 16th and 19th centuries mainly from the fisher folk. Anglo-Indian Christian communities formed around this time as Europeans and local Malayalis intermarried.

Protestantism arrived a few centuries later with missionary activity during British rule.

Various denominations/churches exist among Christians of Kerala. Around 10% of them are Catholics - Syro Malabar, Latin and Syro - Malankara

St. Mary's Syro Malabar Catholic Basilica - Ernakulam

Syriac Christians in Kerala are also called Nasranis and they are Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church and Marthoma Syrian Church.

Other denominations are: Church of South India, Believers Church, Pentecostal Churches, etc.

Catholic communities are Syro Malabar Church, Latin Catholic and Syro Malankara Church. Orthodox Communities are Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church. All the other churches arre belongs to Protestant community.

Some of the prominent churches are: Manarcad Church, St. Mary's Church, Niranam, St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Parumala, St. George Orthodox Church Puthuppally Pally, St. George's Church, Kadamattom, Marthoman Cathedral, Mulanthuruthy, Chengannur Pazhaya Suriyani Pally, Kozhencherry St. Thomas Marthoma Church, and Nilakkal St. Thomas Ecumenical Church

Judaism

The Paradesi Synagogue in Kochi

Judaism arrived in Kerala with spice traders, possibly as early as the 7th century BC.[13] There is no consensus of opinion on the date of the arrival of the first Jews in India. The tradition of the Cochin Jews maintains that after 72 AD, after the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem, 10,000 Jews migrated to Kerala.[13]

The only verifiable historical evidence about the Kerala Jews goes back only to the Jewish Copper Plate Grant of Bhaskara Ravi Varman in 1000 AD.[14] This document records the royal gift of rights and privileges to the Jewish Chief of Anjuvannam Joseph Rabban. According to some historians, St. Thomas found first converts in Kerala to his new religion amongst many of the Cochin Jews. However these Jews who accepted Christianity retained the Aramaic language once spoken by Jews in Middle East. Their descendants form the core of Syrian Christian community in Kerala. Later in 16th century many Jews from Portugal and Spain settled in Cochin. These Jews were called white Jews as opposed to the native black Jews.

The Portuguese did not look favorably on the Jews. They destroyed the Jewish settlement in Cranganore and sacked the Jewish town in Cochin and partially destroyed the famous Cochin Synagogue in 1661. However, the Dutch were more tolerant and allowed the Jews to pursue their normal life and trade in Cochin. According to the testimony of the Dutch Jew, Mosss Pereya De Paiva, in 1686 there were 10 synagogues and nearly 500 Jewish families in Cochin. Later Britishers too were tolerant. The Jews were protected. After the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, most Jews decided to emigrate to Israel. Most of the emigrants to Israel between 1948 and 1955 were from the community of black Jews and brown Jews; they are known as Cochini in Israel. Since the 1960s, only a few hundred Jews (mostly white Jews) remained in Kerala with only two synagogues open for service: the Pardesi Synagogue in Matancherry built in 1567 and the synagogue in Parur.

Buddhism

Buddhism probably flourished for 200 years (650-850) in Kerala. The Paliyam Copper Plate of the Ay King, Varaguna (885-925 AD)[15] shows that the Buddhists benefited from royal patronage in the 10th century

Jainism

Marwari Jain Temple in Kochi

Jainism arrived in Kerala around the 3rd century BC. The Jain religion was brought to the South in the third century BC by Chandragupta Maurya (321-297 BC) and the Jain saint Bhadrabahu, according to Jain traditions. They came to Sravanabelgola in Mysore. The Jains came to Kerala with the rest of the Chera immigrants starting in the sixth century.

Among the existing original Jain temples in Kerala, the most prominent is called Jainmedu, Vadakkanthara village, about 3 km from Palakkad. This temple was reportedly built by Inchanna Satur. This indicates significant population of Jains lived in Palaghat during the 15th century. Later, various members of Marwari business community built the Jain temple in Kochi.

Some historians claim many Hindu temples might have been once Jain temples. Several places in Wyanad have Jain temples: an indication that North Malabar was once a flourishing center of Jainism. Historians believe that the decline of Jainism started about the eighth century. Jainism seems to have completely disappeared from Kerala by the sixteenth century; the foreign visitors from Europe do not mention the Jains at all.

Present day

At present, Jainism in Kerala has a small following, mainly among descendants from the original immigrating Jains, and the North Indian business community, settled in and around Kochi and Calicut.

Jainism has a significant population in the Wayanad district bordering the Karnataka state. Amongst the existing original Jain temples in Kerala, the most prominent is called Jainmedu, Vadakkanthara village, about 3 km from Palakkad. The remnants of the Jain temple known as Chathurmukha Basti is a popular destination in Manjeshwaram, Kasaragod.[16]

Tribal and other religious faiths

Various groups classified as tribes in Kerala still dominate various remote and hilly areas of Kerala.[17] They have retained various rituals and practices of their ancestors despite influences of mainstream religions.

Demographics

Kerala's Religious Population Source : Census India 2011
ReligionPopulation%Dist. with highest PopulationDist. with lowest Population
Hindus 1,82,82,492 54.73 Thiruvananthapuram Waynad
Muslims 88,73,472 26.56 Malappuram Pathanamthitta
Christians 61,41,269 18.38 Ernakulam Malappuram
Kerala's Religious Population Source : Census India 2001
ReligionPopulation%Population below 6 yrs of age[3]%Dist. with highest PopulationDist. with lowest PopulationPopulation growth since 1991[18]Children born per women (TFR)[19]
Hindus 1,78,83,449 56.2 1,932,504 50.78 Thiruvananthapuram Waynad -1.55% 1.66
Muslims 78,63,342 24.3 1,178,880 30.99 Malappuram Pathanamthitta +1.75% 2.97
Christians 60,57,427 19 677,878 17.82 Ernakulam Malappuram -0.32% 1.78

2011 census details (2001 in brackets)

Districts Population Percent Hindus Percent Muslims Percent Christians
Thiruvananthapuram 3,301,427(3,307,284) 66.94% 13.72% 19.10%
Kollam 2,635,375(2,629,703) 64.42% 19.29% 15.99%
Pathanamthitta 1,197,412(1,195,537) 56.93% 4.59% 38.12%
Alappuzha 2,127,789(2,121,943) 68.64% 10.55% 20.45%
Kottayam 1,974,551(1,979,274) 49.81% 6.41% 43.48%
Idukki 1,108,974(1,107,453) 48.86% 7.41% 43.42%
Ernakulam 3,282,388(3,279,860) 45.99% 15.67% 38.03%
Thrissur 3,121,200(3,110,327) 58.42% 17.07% 24.27%
Palakkad 2,809,934(2,810,892) 66.76% 28.93% 4.07%
Malappuram 4,112,920(4,110,956) 27.60% 70.24% 1.98%
Kozhikode 3,086,293(3,089,543) 56.21% 39.24% 4.26%
Waynad 817,420(816,558) 49.48% 28.65% 21.34%
Kannur 2,523,003(2,525,637) 59.83% 29.43% 10.41%
Kasargod 1,307,375(1,302,600) 55.83% 37.24% 6.68%
Kerala's Percentage Distribution of Live Birth by Religion of the Family[20]
Religion 2015[21] % 2014[22] % 2013[23] % 2012[24] % 2011[25] % 2010[26] % 2009[27] % 2008[28] % 2007[29] %
Hindu 221,220 42.87% 231,031 43.23% 236,420 44.08% 214,591 38.99% 248,610 44.37% 246,297 45.03% 247,707 45.51% 241,305 45.04% 250,094 45.88%
Muslim 213,865 41.45% 218,437 40.87% 214,257 39.96% 175,892 31.96% 214,099 38.21% 209,276 38.26% 204,711 37.61% 194,583 36.32% 183,796 33.71%
Christian 79,565 15.42% 83,616 15.65% 84,660 15.78% 102,546 18.63% 94,664 16.90% 88,936 16.26% 90,451 16.62% 94,175 17.58% 98,220 18.02%
Others 933 0.18% 1,178 0.22% 869 0.16% 57,215 10.39% 2,671 0.48% 651 0.12% 704 0.13% 5,151 0.96% 6,108 1.12%
Not Stated 430 0.08% 196 0.03% 146 0.02% 167 0.03% 224 0.04% 1,806 0.33% 775 0.14% 524 0.10% 6,936 1.27%
Total 516,013 100% 534,458 100% 536,352 100% 550,411 100% 560,268 100% 546,964 100% 544,348 100% 535,738 100% 545,154 100%

54.73% of Kerala's residents are Hindus who contribute 42.87% of the total child births, 26.56% are Muslims who contribute to 41.45% of total child births, 18.38% are Christians who contribute 15.42% of the total child births, and the remaining 0.32% others contribute 0.26% of the total child births. Former Kerala Police chief T. P. Senkumar IAS has said that the rise in child birthrates among Muslims will change the demography of the state. “The Muslim community accounts for 42% of the childbirths in Kerala these days,” he said in the interview.[30]

Tensions

In the 21st century various extreme religious groups have become influential in Kerala.[31][32] In 2008 there was tension in streets of Kerala over introduction of a seventh standard textbook. The controversy was about a chapter in the book Mathamillaatha Jeevan (Jeevan, without religion). Jeevan refused to belong to any religion or caste.[33] Various groups alleged that this book was atheistic anti-religious propaganda by ruling Left Front government.[34][35]

There have been religious conflicts. In the Mappila riots of 1921, Muslim Mappilas forcibly converted many Hindus and killed or drove away all Hindus who would not apostatise, totalling to one lakh (100,000). From the book, The Future Of Indian Politics: A Contribution To The Understanding Of Present-Day Problems. by Besant, Annie Wood, 1847-1933. Published 1922. "They murdered and plundered abundantly, and killed or drove away all Hindus who would not apostatize. Somewhere about a lakh of people were driven from their homes with nothing but the clothes they had on, stripped of everything. [36] The worst since 1980 was the Marad massacre in Kozhikode district in 2003, where eight Hindus were killed by an armed Muslim mob.[37][38] The 1992 Ayodhya-Babri Masjid incident also had repercussions in Kerala.[39] In 1983 there was an incident in Nilackal near Sabarimala[40] over discovery of a Cross. However, during the Nilackal incident, no major violence was reported.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Population by religious community - 2011". 2011 Census of India. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "Population by religious communities – Census of India". Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Increase in Muslim population in the State". The Hindu. Chennai, India. September 23, 2004.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ "Vidyarambham celebrated in Kerala - India News - IBNLive". Ibnlive.in.com. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  6. ↑ Pg 112, A short survey of Kerala History, A. Sreedhara Menon, Vishwanathan Publishers 2006
  7. ↑ Panikkar, K. N., Against Lord and State: Religion and Peasant Uprisings in Malabar 1836–1921
  8. ↑ Pg 461, Roland Miller, The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Vol VI , Brill 1988
  9. ↑ The Jews of India: A Story of Three Communities by Orpa Slapak. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. 2003. p. 27. ISBN 965-278-179-7.
  10. ↑ Medlycott, A E. 1905 "India and the Apostle Thomas"; Gorgias Press LLC; ISBN
  11. ↑ Thomas Puthiakunnel, (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, ed. George Menachery, Vol. II.
  12. ↑ Mundadan AM (1984). Volume I: From the Beginning up to the Sixteenth Century (up to 1542). History of Christianity in India. Church History Association of India. Bangalore: Theological Publications.
  13. 1 2 Katz 2000; Koder 1973; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; David de Beth Hillel, 1832; Lord, James Henry 1977.
  14. ↑ "Sharon delighted with gift from Kochi". The Hindu. Chennai, India. September 11, 2003.
  15. ↑ A social history of India S. N. Sadasivan APH Publishing, 2000
  16. ↑ Chathurmukha Basti, Kasaragod Malayala Manorama: Tuesday, November 29, 2005
  17. ↑ Idukki - People and culture - Tribes
  18. ↑
  19. ↑ "Population Research and Policy Review, Volume 22, Numbers 5-6" (PDF). SpringerLink. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  20. ↑ "Vital Statistics Reports,". Government of Kerala, Vital Statistics Division Department of Economics & Statistics Thiruvananthapuram. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  21. ↑ "Annual Vital Statistics Report – 2015, Page Number 21" (PDF). Government of Kerala, Vital Statistics Division Department of Economics & Statistics Thiruvananthapuram. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  22. ↑ "Annual Vital Statistics Report – 2014, Page Number 22" (PDF). Government of Kerala, Vital Statistics Division Department of Economics & Statistics Thiruvananthapuram. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  23. ↑ "Annual Vital Statistics Report – 2013, Page Number 22" (PDF). Government of Kerala, Vital Statistics Division Department of Economics & Statistics Thiruvananthapuram. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  24. ↑ "Annual Vital Statistics Report – 2012, Table – 2.7 (a), Page Number 23" (PDF). Government of Kerala, Vital Statistics Division Department of Economics & Statistics Thiruvananthapuram. Retrieved 2014-11-01.
  25. ↑ "Annual Vital Statistics Report – 2011, Table – 2.7 (a), Page Number 23" (PDF). Government of Kerala, Vital Statistics Division Department of Economics & Statistics Thiruvananthapuram. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  26. ↑ "Annual Vital Statistics Report – 2010, Table – 2.7 (a), Page Number 23-24" (PDF). Government of Kerala, Vital Statistics Division Department of Economics & Statistics Thiruvananthapuram. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  27. ↑ "Annual Vital Statistics Report – 2009, Table – 2.7 (a), Page Number 19-20" (PDF). Government of Kerala, Vital Statistics Division Department of Economics & Statistics Thiruvananthapuram. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  28. ↑ "Annual Vital Statistics Report – 2008, Table – 1.7 (a), Page Number 19-20" (PDF). Government of Kerala, Vital Statistics Division Department of Economics & Statistics Thiruvananthapuram. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
  29. ↑ "Annual Vital Statistics Report – 2007, Table – 1.7 (a), Page Number 16" (PDF). Government of Kerala, Vital Statistics Division Department of Economics & Statistics Thiruvananthapuram. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  30. ↑ "A rise in birthrate among Muslims will change Kerala’s demography, says former state police chief". scroll.in. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
  31. ↑ "The Hindu : Ravi defends Antony from VS tirade". Hinduonnet.com. 2002-02-04. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  32. ↑ "Welcome to Frontline : Vol. 28 :: No. 18". Hinduonnet.com. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  33. ↑ "Losing their religion, in Kerala - How the World Works". Salon.com. 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  34. ↑ "Opposition demands withdrawal of textbook in Kerala - Chennaionline News". News.chennaionline.com. 2008-07-16. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  35. ↑ "Welcome to Frontline : Vol. 28 :: No. 18". Hinduonnet.com. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  36. ↑ Besant, Annie. The Future Of Indian Politics: A Contribution To The Understanding Of Present-Day Problems P252. Kessinger Publishing, LLC. ISBN 1-4286-2605-0. They murdered and plundered abundantly, and killed or drove away all Hindus who would not apostatize. Somewhere about a lakh of people were driven from their homes with nothing but the clothes they had on, stripped of everything. Malabar has taught us what Islamic rule still means, and we do not want to see another specimen of the Khilafat Raj in India.
  37. ↑ "Welcome to Frontline : Vol. 28 :: No. 18". Hinduonnet.com. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  38. ↑ M.G. Radhakrishnan (October 16, 2006). "Not So Godly". INDIA TODAY. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  39. ↑ "Communal tension high in Kerala". BBC News. December 10, 2001. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  40. ↑
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