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Kerala hailed, as God's own country, by many, deserves
this accolade because of many features geographical and sociological. A long
coastline in the west and mountains on the east forming clear natural
boundaries. Religion has played
a crucial role in Kerala's culture. There are mainly three religions in
Kerala - Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. As far as the religion of Kerala
is concerned, the origins could be traced to Hinduism. Then came in the
Islamic faith and Christianity with its various sects. The other Indian
religions like Buddhism; Jainism had some influence among the Hindus and was
found scattered with their migration to Kerala.
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According to the 1991 census 57.38% of the population of Kerala are Hindus,
23.33 Muslims and 19.32 Christians. The earliest settlers of Kerala were the
Proto-Australoids, the Mediterranean, Dravidians, and the Aryans in 321-297
BC.
Hinduism
HINDUISM, the world's oldest religion dates back to about 5000 BC. The
sacred texts include the Vedas, Epics and Puranas, apart from other
philosophical treatises. Hinduism is a way of life and is based on the
principle of Sanathana Dharma. The Hindus worship the Supreme Being under
three forms, Brahma- the creator, Vishnu- the preservator and Shiva -
destroyer.
Earlier inhabitants (Dravidians) of Kerala followed primitive animism and
spirit worship to propitiate the Gods. With the arrival of Aryans settler
from the north India, the human forms of worship and caste division were
evolved. But history is silent about worship of Goddess (Baghavathy). Only
in Kerala and West Bengal Goddess form the main deity. Mythology doesn't say
much about Baghavathy. For many Keralites, Baghavathy is the family deity.
Most of the festivals in Kerala are in depiction of Baghavathy.
Even today many temples in Kerala has mother (Baghavathy) and animism (snake
worship) has their main deity.
Muslims
Islam is believed entered into India through Kerala. There are historical
records of commercial trading between Kerala and Middle East during 7th
Century AD. The Jews and Arabs of the Pre-Islamic period were among the
pioneers of spice trade with Kerala. The religion of Islam was also by these
traders from Middle East, who later settled in Coastal belt of Kerala. To
this day Muslims are very proficient in trade and commerce. Muslims in
Kerala, as anywhere else in the world, are close-knit unit clear-cut
religious and political agenda. |
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Christians
In the absence of clear historical records, it is believed that Apostle of
Jesus, St. Thomas himself, introduced Christianity in India in the year 52
A.D. The early Christians (St. Thomas Christians) were called Syrian
Christians because they followed the Syriac liturgy, a dialect of Aramaic,
the language of Jesus. With the arrival of Portuguese (1498) and the
establishment of their political influence, the Latin rite emerged as an
important factor and a large community of Latin Christians sprang up and
grew, particularly in the coastal areas. The work of St. Francis Xavier and
the synod of Diamper (1599) played an important part in the Latinisation of
the church. In the beginning of 19th century, when the British spread its
influence in Kerala, the Church Mission Society (CMS) of London actively
associated them in the workings of Syrian Church. After some years of close
co-operation, the missionaries broke their connection with Syrian Bishops
and church. It was on their initiative the Anglican Church came into
existence.
Some priests of the Syrian Church under the influence of missionaries
advocated reforms, including the replacement of Syriac by Malayalam, which
was disfavored by Bishops and Clergy of Syrian Church. Following this the
reformers formed a new church known as Marthoma Syrian church as distinct
from the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
Now there are five different offshoots of Christianity in Kerala. The
Nestorian Church confined mainly to Thrissur and Ernakulam. The Roman
Catholic Church, embracing the whole of Kerala and following three different
languages for their rites (Syriac, Latin and Malayalam). The Jacobite Syrian
Church, also known as Orthodox Syrian Church.
The Anglican Church, part of Church of South India.
Marthoma Syrian Church.
Apart from these, there are several other Christian denominations deriving
inspiration from some foreign Church or other. The contribution of Christian
religion in the field of education and care of the sick is innumerable.
First Malayalam dictionary and grammar by Arnos Pathiri, first printing
press, study and classification of Herbs, Hortus Malabaricus, etc. highlight
the eminent position of Christianity in Kerala. The Universal education
propagated in Kerala along with the churches provided the basic education
for the emancipation of the population from various social and cultural
evils. The school, colleges, hospitals and other numerous socio-cultural
institutions run by the Christians are role models.
Other religion
THE OTHER Indian religions like Buddhism and Jainism had some impact among
the Malayalee Hindus, but with the Aryan migration to the south. There was
dissemination of all these religion.
Jainism
Though there is evidence of practice of Jainism in Kerala before the arrival
of Aryans. History is silent about it. The Famous Jainmedu temple in
Palakkad is the manifestation of Jainism in Kerala. Today few families of
Jain community are found around Palakkad in Kerala.
Judaism
The traders from Middle East bought Judaism into Kerala during 7th Century
AD. Later these traders settled in Kochi. Jew Town in Kochi, is the
testimony of the Judaism in Kerala. Today it is one of few places in World
where Jews are living in peace. There is a Synagogue in Jew Town. Today, Jew
town is one of popular tourist location in Kerala, where one can find many
interesting antiquities of Kerala.
Nowhere in Religion and Spirituality in kerala India, or may be in the
entire world, you can witness such tolerance and co-operation and religious
amity as seen in Kerala. Only in Kerala one can find person's of different
community come together and celebrate each other's festival with pomp. Onam,
the traditional festival of Kerala. Hindus, Christmas and Ramzan - all these
festivals are celebrated by all the community in Kerala.
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