Hinduism in India: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Kannadaguy
Last edited August 14, 2023
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
from Wikipedia
Tag: Replaced
m Removed empty portal template using script
 
(6 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{#InterwikiExtract: {{{1|{{PAGENAME}}}}}
{{Short description|Overview of the presence and role of Hinduism in India}}
|wiki = wikipedia
<!---PLEASE NOTE INDIAN HINDUS ARE ''not'' AN ETHNIC GROUP, INFOBOX USED FOR DEMOGRAPHIC DATA--->
|format = html
 
|intro = true
{{Use dmy dates|date= March 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date= March 2022}}
 
{{Infobox religious group
|population='''966.3 million'''{{increase}}<ref name=bynumbers>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/religious-communities-census-2011-what-the-numbers-say/article7582284.ece|title=India's religions by numbers|newspaper=The Hindu|date=26 August 2015|via=www.thehindu.com|access-date=8 March 2021|archive-date=15 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115030444/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/religious-communities-census-2011-what-the-numbers-say/article7582284.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> [[2011 census of India|(2011)]]<br /> '''79.80%''' of population {{Decrease}}|pop5=64,385,546
|image=File:Akshardham_Temple.jpg|scriptures=[[Bhagavad Gita]], [[Vedas]] and [[List of Hindu texts|others]]|languages='''[[Sanskrit]]''' (sacred)<br />[[Languages of India|Indian languages]] {{small|(according to the region)}}|religions='''[[Hinduism]]''' (majority)<br />Tribal people identified as ''[[Hinduism|Hindus]] (minority)''|pop7=60,657,103|region7=[[Hinduism in Rajasthan|Rajasthan]]|pop6=63,188,168|region6=[[Hinduism in Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu]]|region5=[[Hinduism in West Bengal|West Bengal]]|group=Indian Hindus|pop4=66,007,121|region4=[[Madhya Pradesh]]|pop3=86,078,686|region3=[[Bihar]]|pop2=89,703,056|region2=[[Hinduism in Maharashtra|Maharashtra]]|region1=[[Uttar Pradesh]]|pop1=159,312,654
|flag=[[File:Om symbol.svg|75px|link=Om]]
|image_caption=[[Akshardham (Delhi)|Akshardham temple]] in [[New Delhi]].}}
{{Hinduism in India}}
 
'''[[Hinduism]]''' is the largest [[religion in India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Major Religions In India|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/major-religions-in-modern-india.html|access-date=2021-07-28|website=WorldAtlas|date=20 September 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224003418/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/major-religions-in-modern-india.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Indian Culture – Religion|url=http://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/indian-culture/indian-culture-religion|access-date=2021-07-28|website=Cultural Atlas|language=en|archive-date=19 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719221400/https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/indian-culture/indian-culture-religion|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the [[2011 Census of India]], 966.3 Million people identify as [[Hindu]],<ref name=bynumbers/> representing 79.8% of the [[demographics of India|country's population]]. [[India]] contains 94% of the global Hindu population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=By 2050, India to have world's largest populations of Hindus and Muslims|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/21/by-2050-india-to-have-worlds-largest-populations-of-hindus-and-muslims/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Pew Research Center|language=en-US|archive-date=22 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422192233/https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/21/by-2050-india-to-have-worlds-largest-populations-of-hindus-and-muslims/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Indian subcontinent]] is the birthplace of four of the [[Major religious groups|world's major religions]]: namely [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Jainism]], and [[Sikhism]]—collectively known as [[Indian religions]] that believe [[Moksha]] is the most supreme state of the ''[[Atman (disambiguation)#Religion|Ātman]]'' (soul).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Olivelle |first1=Patrick |title=Moksha {{!}} Indian religion |journal=Encyclopedia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/moksha-Indian-religion |access-date=6 January 2021 |language=en |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101105523/https://www.britannica.com/topic/moksha-Indian-religion |url-status=live }}</ref>  The vast majority of Indian Hindus belong to [[Shaivism|Shaivite]] and [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite]] [[Hindu denominations|denominations]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Hinduism|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990819112057/http://adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Hinduism|url-status=usurped|archive-date=19 August 1999|title=Major Branches of Religions|website=www.adherents.com|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref> India is one of the three countries in the world ([[Hinduism in Nepal|Nepal]] and [[Hinduism in Mauritius|Mauritius]] being the other two) where [[Hinduism]] is the dominant religion.
 
==History of Hinduism==
{{main|History of Hinduism}}The [[Vedic period|Vedic culture]] developed in India in {{BCE|1500}} and {{BCE|500}}.<ref>{{cite book |last = N. Siegel |first = Paul |title = The meek and the militant: religion and power across the world |year = 1986 |publisher = Zed Books, 1987 |isbn = 9780862323493}}</ref> After this period, the [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] merged with local traditions and the renouncer traditions, resulting in the emergence of Hinduism,<ref>{{cite book |last = Hoiberg |first = Dale |title = Students' Britannica India |publisher = Popular Prakashan, 2000 |isbn = 9780852297605}}</ref> which has had a profound impact on India's [[History of India|history]], [[Culture of India|culture]] and [[Indian philosophy|philosophy]]. The name ''India'' itself is derived from [[Sanskrit]] ''Sindhu'', the historic local appellation for the Indus River.<ref>"India", ''Oxford English Dictionary'', second edition, 2100a.d. Oxford University Press.</ref> Another popular alternative [[Names for India|name of India]] is ''[[Hindustan|Hindustān]]'', meaning the "land of ''Hindus''".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hindustan|title=Hindustan definition and meaning {{!}} Collins English Dictionary|website=www.collinsdictionary.com|language=en|access-date=13 August 2017|archive-date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106014510/https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hindustan|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
India saw the rule of both Hindu and Muslim rulers from {{circa|{{CE|1200}}}} to {{CE|1750}}.<ref>{{cite book|title=World Religions in America, Fourth Edition|page=189|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=34vGv_HDGG8C&pg=PA189|publisher=Westminster John Knox Press|first=Jacob|last=Neusner|isbn=9781611640472|date=7 October 2009|access-date=11 October 2017|archive-date=24 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824113513/https://books.google.com/books?id=34vGv_HDGG8C&pg=PA189|url-status=live}}</ref> The fall of [[Vijayanagar Empire]] to Muslim sultans had marked the end of Hindu dominance in the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]]. Hinduism once again rose to political prestige, under the [[Maratha Empire]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n5uU2UteUpEC&pg=PA18|title=South Asia: A Short History|page=18|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|first=Hugh|last=Tinker|isbn=9780824812874|year=1966|access-date=11 October 2017|archive-date=24 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824113503/https://books.google.com/books?id=n5uU2UteUpEC&pg=PA18|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=9ukQMwCJsr8C Ganesha on the Dashboard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215204529/https://books.google.com/books?id=9ukQMwCJsr8C |date=15 December 2019 }} p. 176, V. Raghunathan, M. A. Eswaran, Penguin</ref>[[File:1946 Map of British India with areas demanded for separate Pakistan by Muslim League.jpg|thumb|209x209px|The [[Partition of British India]] was based on religion. (as shown in map)|left]]
 
==Partition of India==
{{Main|Partition of India}}
The [[Partition of India|1947 Partition of India]] gave rise to bloody rioting and indiscriminate inter-communal killing of [[Hindus]], [[Muslims]], and [[Sikhs]] across the [[Indian subcontinent]]. As a result, around 7.2 million Hindus and Sikhs moved to [[India]] and 7.5 million Muslims moved to [[Pakistan]] permanently,  leading to demographic change of  both the nations to a certain extent.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Talbot|first1=Ian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=utKmPQAACAAJ|title=The Partition of India|last2=Singh|first2=Gurharpal|date=2009-07-23|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-85661-4|pages=2|language=en|access-date=3 September 2021|archive-date=13 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213073754/https://books.google.com/books?id=utKmPQAACAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
{{Quote|I find no parallel in history for a body of converts and their descendants claiming to be a nation apart from the parent stock.|[[Mahatma Gandhi]], opposing the division of India on the basis of religion in 1944.<ref name="Prasoon2010">{{cite book|author=Prof. Prasoon|title=My Letters.... M.K.Gandhi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-qfEbNpv7ggC&pg=PA120|date=1 January 2010|publisher=Pustak Mahal|isbn=978-81-223-1109-9|pages=120|access-date=28 December 2019|archive-date=6 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206143858/https://books.google.com/books?id=-qfEbNpv7ggC&pg=PA120|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
 
==Demographics==
{{Table of religions in India}}
===Hindu population by States and Territories===
{{See also|Hindus by district in India}}
[[File:India Hindu district map 2011.png|thumb|Percentage of Hindus in each district. Data derived from 2011 census.]]
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|+ Hindu population by state / UT, according to the 2011 census
|-
!'''Region'''
!'''Hindus'''
!'''Total'''
!'''% Hindus'''
|-
|'''India'''
|'''966,257,353'''
|'''1,210,854,977'''
|'''79.80%'''
|-
|[[Himachal Pradesh]]
|6,532,765
|6,864,602
|95.17%
|-
|[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]]
|322,857
|343,709
|93.93%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Orissa|Odisha]]
|39,300,341
|41,974,218
|93.63%
|-
|[[Chhattisgarh]]
|23,819,789
|25,545,198
|93.25%
|-
|[[Madhya Pradesh]]
|66,007,121
|72,626,809
|90.89%
|-
|[[Daman and Diu]]
|220,150
|243,247
|90.50%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Gujarat|Gujarat]]
|53,533,988
|60,439,692
|88.57%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Rajasthan|Rajasthan]]
|60,657,103
|68,548,437
|88.49%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh]]
|74,824,149
|84,580,777
|88.46%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu]]
|63,188,168
|72,147,030
|87.58%
|-
|[[Haryana]]
|22,171,128
|25,351,462
|87.46%
|-
|[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
|1,089,409
|1,247,953
|87.30%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Karnataka|Karnataka]]
|51,317,472
|61,095,297
|84.00%
|-
|[[Tripura]]
|3,063,903
|3,673,917
|83.40%
|-
|[[Uttarakhand]]
|8,368,636
|10,086,292
|82.97%
|-
|[[Bihar]]
|86,078,686
|104,099,452
|82.69%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Delhi|Delhi]]
|13,712,100
|16,787,941
|81.68%
|-
|[[Chandigarh]]
|852,574
|1,055,450
|80.78%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Maharashtra|Maharashtra]]
|89,703,056
|112,374,333
|79.83%
|-
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
|159,312,654
|199,812,341
|79.73%
|-
|[[Hinduism in West Bengal|West Bengal]]
|64,385,546
|91,276,115
|70.54%
|-
|[[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
|264,296
|380,581
|69.45%
|-
|[[Jharkhand]]
|22,376,051
|32,988,134
|67.83%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Goa|Goa]]
|963,877
|1,458,545
|66.08%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Assam|Assam]]
|19,180,759
|31,205,576
|61.47%
|-
|[[Sikkim]]
|352,662
|610,577
|57.76%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Kerala|Kerala]]
|18,282,492
|33,406,061
|54.73%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Manipur|Manipur]]
|1,181,876
|2,855,794
|41.39%
|-
|[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
|10,678,138
|27,743,338
|38.49%
|-
|[[Arunachal Pradesh]]
|401,876
|1,383,727
|29.04%
|-
|[[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
|3,566,674
|12,541,302
|28.44%
|-
|[[Hinduism in Meghalaya|Meghalaya]]
|342,078
|2,966,889
|11.53%
|-
|[[Nagaland]]
|173,054
|1,978,502
|8.75%
|-
|[[Lakshadweep]]
|1,788
|64,473
|2.77%
|-
|[[Mizoram]]
|30,136
|1,097,206
|2.75%
|}
 
===Hindu majority State/Union Territory in India===
 
List of most Hindu majority states with more than 80% of population of Hindus.<ref  name=population/>
# [[Himachal Pradesh]] – (95.17%)
# [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]] – (93.93%)
# [[Hinduism in Odisha|Orissa]] – (93.63%)
# [[Chhattisgarh]] – (93.25%)
# [[Madhya Pradesh]] – (90.89%)
# [[Daman and Diu]] – (90.50%)
# [[Gujarat]] – (88.57%)
# [[Rajasthan]] – (88.49%)
# [[Andhra Pradesh]] – (88.46%)
# [[Hinduism in Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu]] – (87.58%)
# [[Haryana]] – (87.46%)
# [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] – (87.30%)
# [[Hinduism in Karnataka|Karnataka]] – (84.00%)
# [[Tripura]] – (83.40%)
# [[Uttarakhand]] – (82.97%)
# [[Bihar]] – (82.69%)
# [[Hinduism in Delhi|Delhi]] – (81.68%)
# [[Chandigarh]] – (80.78%)
Apart from this, there are 10 States/Union Territory of Hindu majorities. With [[Hinduism in Maharashtra|Maharashtra]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Hinduism in West Bengal|West Bengal]] having more than 70 percent of population.<ref  name=population/>
{{Historical populations
|title      = Historical Hindu Population
|type        =
|footnote    =
|align      = right
|width      =
|state      =
|shading    =
|pop_name    =
|percentages =  
|source      = [[census of India]]
|1951 | 303,675,084
|1961 | 366,541,417
|1971 | 453,492,481
|1981 | 562,379,847
|1991 | 690,091,965
|2001 | 827,722,142
|2011 | 966,257,353
}}
}}
<div style="text-align: right;"><code>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{{1|{{PAGENAME}}}}} from Wikipedia]</code></div>
 
The Hindu population has increased more than three times from 303,675,084 in 1951 to 966,257,353 in 2011, but the Hindu percentage share of total population has declined from 84.1% in 1951 to 79.8% in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/09/21/key-findings-about-the-religious-composition-of-india/|title = Key findings about the religious composition of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/census-hindu-share-dips-below-80-muslim-share-grows-but-slower/|title = Census: Hindu share dips below 80%, Muslim share grows but slower|date = 24 January 2015}}</ref> When India achieved independence in 1947, Hindus formed 85% of the total population and pre-Partition British India had 73% of Hindus and 24% of Muslims.
Among the community, it is estimated that  [[Forward caste]]s comprise 26 per cent, [[Other Backward Class]]es comprise 43%, Scheduled Castes ([[Dalit]]s) comprises 22% and Scheduled Tribes ([[Adivasi]]s) comprise 9%.<ref name="Sachar 2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.teindia.nic.in/Files/Reports/CCR/Sachar%20Committee%20Report.pdf|title=Sachar Committee Report (2004–2005)|last=Sachar|first=Rajinder|author-link=Rajinder Sachar|year=2006|publisher=Government of India|access-date=27 September 2008|page=6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402143832/http://www.teindia.nic.in/Files/Reports/CCR/Sachar%20Committee%20Report.pdf|archive-date=2 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
=== Hindu minority State/Union Territory in India ===
Of the 28 states in India, Hindus form majority in 22 states except for [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] ([[Sikh]] majority), [[Meghalaya]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Nagaland]], and [[Mizoram]] ([[Christian]] majority). In [[Manipur]], Hinduism is a plurality religion, where Hinduism is practised by 41.39% and Christianity is followed by 41.29%.<ref  name=population>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|title=C-1 Population By Religious Community|access-date=31 December 2019|publisher=[[Census of India]]|archive-date=13 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913045700/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Out of the eight [[Union territory|Union territories]], Hindus form majority in five.<ref  name=population/><ref>{{cite news |title="Religion Must Be Viewed Pan-India": Top Court On Hindus-As-Minorities Plea |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/religion-must-be-viewed-pan-india-says-supreme-court-dismisses-plea-seeking-minority-benefits-for-hi-2150034 |date=2 August 2017 |newspaper=The Times of India |department=City: Thiruvananthapuram |agency=TNN |access-date=31 December 2019 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217075631/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/religion-must-be-viewed-pan-india-says-supreme-court-dismisses-plea-seeking-minority-benefits-for-hi-2150034 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Hindus are minority in six states and three union territories of India namely—<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-12-18|title=SC quashes plea on minority status for Hindus in 8 states|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sc-quashes-plea-on-minority-status-for-hindus-in-8-states/story-cINqkaa36aKWlzFInHzj9O.html|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=5 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605135809/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sc-quashes-plea-on-minority-status-for-hindus-in-8-states/story-cINqkaa36aKWlzFInHzj9O.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='Minority' plea on Hindus in 9 states|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/minority-plea-on-hindus-in-9-states/cid/1790366|access-date=2021-06-07|website=www.telegraphindia.com|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825184513/https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/minority-plea-on-hindus-in-9-states/cid/1790366|url-status=live}}</ref>
# [[Mizoram]] – (2.75%),
# [[Lakshadweep]] – (2.77%),
# [[Nagaland]] – (8.74%),
# [[Hinduism in Meghalaya|Meghalaya]] – (11.52%),
# [[Ladakh]] – (12.11%),
# [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] – (28.8%),
# [[Arunachal Pradesh]] – (29.04%),
# [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] – (38.49%) and
# [[Hinduism in Manipur|Manipur]] – (41.39%)
Out of the eight states of northeast India, [[Tripura]], [[Sikkim]], and [[Assam]] are Hindu majority while four are Hindu minority, and one as a plurality.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gheewala|first=C. L.|title=Was the Hindu State Pluralistic?|date=1942|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42742673|journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science|volume=3|issue=3|pages=237–248|jstor=42742673|issn=0019-5510|access-date=8 June 2021|archive-date=8 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608033955/https://www.jstor.org/stable/42742673|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
=== States with declining Hindu population in India ===
 
====West Bengal====
 
Two districts in [[West Bengal]], [[Malda district|Malda]] and [[North Dinajpur]], had a Hindu majority in 2001 census which, by the time of the 2011 census, had become a Hindu minority or plurality.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/india/Bengal-beats-India-in-Muslim-growth-rate/articleshow/48675987.cms|title=Bengal beats India in Muslim growth rate|access-date=16 March 2020|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108011735/https://m.timesofindia.com/india/Bengal-beats-India-in-Muslim-growth-rate/articleshow/48675987.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The percentage of Hindu population in the state has decreased from 78.45% in 1951 to 70.54% in 2011. Another district, Murshidabad, is a Muslim majority district where the Muslim population steadily increased from 55.24% in 1951 to 66.27% in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/report-taking-shape-amid-infiltration-buzz/cid/860630|title=Report taking shape amid infiltration buzz|website=www.telegraphindia.com|access-date=25 July 2020|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725061350/https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/report-taking-shape-amid-infiltration-buzz/cid/860630|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
====Uttar Pradesh====
The proportion of Hindus in the [[Saharanpur district]] was 59.49% in 2001. This had declined to 56.74% by 2011 – a drop of 2.75%. At the same time the Muslim population increased from 39.11% in 2001 to 41.95% in 2011.<ref name="elections">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2017/feb/05/assembly-elections-minorities-on-majority-route-in-uttar-pradesh-1567017.html|title=Assembly elections: Minorities on majority route in Uttar Pradesh|access-date=16 March 2020|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022181521/http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2017/feb/05/assembly-elections-minorities-on-majority-route-in-uttar-pradesh-1567017.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
====Assam====
A study on population composition of [[Assam]] reveals that the Hindu population in Assam has declined from 70.78% in 1951 to 61.47% in 2011. Whereas in 1891, the Muslim population in Assam was only about 5%, by the 2001 census it had risen to above 30% and by 2011 to above 34% of the total Assam population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Citizenship Amendment Act: BJP chasing ghosts in Assam; Census data shows number of Hindu immigrants may have been exaggerated – India News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/citizenship-amendment-bill-bjp-chasing-ghosts-in-assam-as-census-data-shows-number-of-hindu-immigrants-couldve-been-exaggerated-5640511.html|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Firstpost|date=18 December 2019|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725082148/https://www.firstpost.com/india/citizenship-amendment-bill-bjp-chasing-ghosts-in-assam-as-census-data-shows-number-of-hindu-immigrants-couldve-been-exaggerated-5640511.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the 2001 census, there were six Muslim-majority districts in Assam, increasing to nine by the time of the 2011 census.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 August 2015|first=Bharti|last=Jain|title=Muslim majority districts in Assam up {{!}} India News – Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Muslim-majority-districts-in-Assam-up/articleshow/48682463.cms|access-date=2020-11-17|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108092914/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Muslim-majority-districts-in-Assam-up/articleshow/48682463.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>
====Kerala====
The population of [[Hinduism in Kerala|Hindus in Kerala]] has more than doubled from 8,344,351 in 1951 to 18,282,492 in 2011 census, but the share of Hindu population has dropeed from 68.5% in 1901 to 54.7% in 2011.<ref name="Kerala population Demographics" />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="line-height:20px;text-align:center;"
|+Hindu population of Kerala (1901–2011)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Raghunath|first=Arjun|date=2016-03-16|title=Kerala: Muslims will be double the number of Christians by 2051|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/160316/kerala-muslims-will-be-double-the-number-of-christians-by-2051.html|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112001939/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/160316/kerala-muslims-will-be-double-the-number-of-christians-by-2051.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Kerala population Demographics">{{Cite web|title=Kerala population Demographics|url=http://14.139.171.199:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/87/WP468.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|url-status=live|access-date=19 July 2021|website=Bitscan}}</ref>
!Census
Year
| colspan="2" bgcolor="Orange" |[[Hinduism|<span style="color:white;">'''Hindus'''</span>]]
| bgcolor="Orange" |<span style="color:white;">'''''Decadal Growth rate (%)'''''</span>
|-
!1901
|4,378,305
|'''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
|14,801,347
|'''58.2%'''
| +16.70
|-
!1991
|16,668,587
|'''57.3%'''
| +12.62
|-
!2001
|17,920,105
|'''56.3%'''
| +7.51
|-
!2011
|18,282,492
|'''54.7%'''
| +2.02
|}
 
====Manipur====
A decrease in the 1991–2001 period is observed in Manipur, from 57% to 52% population share, where there has been a resurgence of the indigenous [[Sanamahism|Sanamahi]] religion. The Hindu Population share in [[Manipur]] decreased also in 2001–2011 from 52% to 41.4%. The religious conversion of Hindus to Christianity and migration of Christians from [[Nagaland]] are considered as the reason for this decrease in Hindu population.<ref>{{cite news|title=Christian population on the rise in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/christian-population-on-the-rise-in-arunachal-pradesh-manipur/story-8Go2uITu2BLFJ547MPwohM.html|date=9 March 2017|newspaper=Hindustan Times|department=City: New Delhi|agency=TNN|access-date=1 January 2020|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020213511/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/christian-population-on-the-rise-in-arunachal-pradesh-manipur/story-8Go2uITu2BLFJ547MPwohM.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
== Law & politics ==
{{Main|Hindu nationalism|Hindutva}}
 
Some right wing Hindu organisations have demanded that India should be declared a "Hindu state".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-06-17|title=Declare India a 'Hindu Rashtra': Hindu convention resolution|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/declare-india-a-hindu-rashtra-hindu-convention-resolution/story-Nu4lUVWtQZ9ETPQ9BfuYVM.html|access-date=2021-09-02|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501091251/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/declare-india-a-hindu-rashtra-hindu-convention-resolution/story-Nu4lUVWtQZ9ETPQ9BfuYVM.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  As of 28th July 2020, there were pleas going on [[Supreme Court of India]] to remove the words '''[[secular]]''' and '''[[socialist]]''' from the [[Preamble to the Constitution of India]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-29|title=Plea in SC seeks to remove words 'socialist', 'secular' from Constitution's preamble-India News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/plea-in-sc-seeks-to-remove-words-socialist-secular-from-constitutions-preamble-8650391.html|access-date=2021-09-02|website=Firstpost|archive-date=10 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610054646/https://www.firstpost.com/india/plea-in-sc-seeks-to-remove-words-socialist-secular-from-constitutions-preamble-8650391.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==See also==
{{div col|rules=yes}}
* [[Hinduism by country]]
* [[Religion in India]]
* [[Caste system in India]]
* [[Other Backward Class]]
* [[Hindus by district in India]]
* [[Hinduism in South India]]
* [[List of Hindu temples in India]]
* [[Freedom of religion in India]]
* [[Hindu Marriage Act, 1955]]
* [[Hindu Code Bills]]{{div col end}}
== Reference ==
{{Reflist}}
 
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Hinduism in India}}
 
* {{Cite web|title=Hinduism – Origins, Facts & Beliefs|url=https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism|website=History topics}}
* {{Cite encyclopedia|title=History of Hinduism in India|encyclopedia=[[Khan Academy]]|url=https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/ancient-medieval/early-indian-empires/a/hinduism-in-indian-culture|date=}}
{{Hinduism in India by region}}{{Asia in topic|Hinduism in}}
{{Religion in India topics}}
 
[[Category:Hinduism in India]]
[[Category:Hinduism by country|India]]
[[Category:Hinduism in South Asia|India]]
[[Category:Religion in India]]
[[Category:History of India]]
[[Category:History of Hinduism]]

Latest revision as of 05:53, 14 August 2023



Indian Hindus
Akshardham temple in New Delhi.
Akshardham temple in New Delhi.
Total population
966.3 millionIncrease[1] (2011)
79.80% of population Decrease
Regions with significant populations
Uttar Pradesh159,312,654
Maharashtra89,703,056
Bihar86,078,686
Madhya Pradesh66,007,121
West Bengal64,385,546
Tamil Nadu63,188,168
Rajasthan60,657,103
Religions
Hinduism (majority)
Tribal people identified as Hindus (minority)
Scriptures
Bhagavad Gita, Vedas and others
Languages
Sanskrit (sacred)
Indian languages (according to the region)

Template:Hinduism in India

Hinduism is the largest religion in India.[2][3] According to the 2011 Census of India, 966.3 Million people identify as Hindu,[1] representing 79.8% of the country's population. India contains 94% of the global Hindu population.[4] The Indian subcontinent is the birthplace of four of the world's major religions: namely Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism—collectively known as Indian religions that believe Moksha is the most supreme state of the Ātman (soul).[5] The vast majority of Indian Hindus belong to Shaivite and Vaishnavite denominations.[6] India is one of the three countries in the world (Nepal and Mauritius being the other two) where Hinduism is the dominant religion.

History of Hinduism[edit | edit source]

Main article: History of Hinduism

The Vedic culture developed in India in 1500 BCE and 500 BCE.[7] After this period, the Vedic religion merged with local traditions and the renouncer traditions, resulting in the emergence of Hinduism,[8] which has had a profound impact on India's history, culture and philosophy. The name India itself is derived from Sanskrit Sindhu, the historic local appellation for the Indus River.[9] Another popular alternative name of India is Hindustān, meaning the "land of Hindus".[10] India saw the rule of both Hindu and Muslim rulers from c. 1200 CE to 1750 CE.[11] The fall of Vijayanagar Empire to Muslim sultans had marked the end of Hindu dominance in the Deccan. Hinduism once again rose to political prestige, under the Maratha Empire.[12][13]

The Partition of British India was based on religion. (as shown in map)

Partition of India[edit | edit source]

Main article: Partition of India

The 1947 Partition of India gave rise to bloody rioting and indiscriminate inter-communal killing of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs across the Indian subcontinent. As a result, around 7.2 million Hindus and Sikhs moved to India and 7.5 million Muslims moved to Pakistan permanently, leading to demographic change of both the nations to a certain extent.[14]

I find no parallel in history for a body of converts and their descendants claiming to be a nation apart from the parent stock.

— Mahatma Gandhi, opposing the division of India on the basis of religion in 1944.[15]

Demographics[edit | edit source]

Template:Table of religions in India

Hindu population by States and Territories[edit | edit source]

See also: Hindus by district in India
Percentage of Hindus in each district. Data derived from 2011 census.
Hindu population by state / UT, according to the 2011 census
Region Hindus Total % Hindus
India 966,257,353 1,210,854,977 79.80%
Himachal Pradesh 6,532,765 6,864,602 95.17%
Dadra and Nagar Haveli 322,857 343,709 93.93%
Odisha 39,300,341 41,974,218 93.63%
Chhattisgarh 23,819,789 25,545,198 93.25%
Madhya Pradesh 66,007,121 72,626,809 90.89%
Daman and Diu 220,150 243,247 90.50%
Gujarat 53,533,988 60,439,692 88.57%
Rajasthan 60,657,103 68,548,437 88.49%
Andhra Pradesh 74,824,149 84,580,777 88.46%
Tamil Nadu 63,188,168 72,147,030 87.58%
Haryana 22,171,128 25,351,462 87.46%
Puducherry 1,089,409 1,247,953 87.30%
Karnataka 51,317,472 61,095,297 84.00%
Tripura 3,063,903 3,673,917 83.40%
Uttarakhand 8,368,636 10,086,292 82.97%
Bihar 86,078,686 104,099,452 82.69%
Delhi 13,712,100 16,787,941 81.68%
Chandigarh 852,574 1,055,450 80.78%
Maharashtra 89,703,056 112,374,333 79.83%
Uttar Pradesh 159,312,654 199,812,341 79.73%
West Bengal 64,385,546 91,276,115 70.54%
Andaman and Nicobar Islands 264,296 380,581 69.45%
Jharkhand 22,376,051 32,988,134 67.83%
Goa 963,877 1,458,545 66.08%
Assam 19,180,759 31,205,576 61.47%
Sikkim 352,662 610,577 57.76%
Kerala 18,282,492 33,406,061 54.73%
Manipur 1,181,876 2,855,794 41.39%
Punjab 10,678,138 27,743,338 38.49%
Arunachal Pradesh 401,876 1,383,727 29.04%
Jammu and Kashmir 3,566,674 12,541,302 28.44%
Meghalaya 342,078 2,966,889 11.53%
Nagaland 173,054 1,978,502 8.75%
Lakshadweep 1,788 64,473 2.77%
Mizoram 30,136 1,097,206 2.75%

Hindu majority State/Union Territory in India[edit | edit source]

List of most Hindu majority states with more than 80% of population of Hindus.[16]

  1. Himachal Pradesh – (95.17%)
  2. Dadra and Nagar Haveli – (93.93%)
  3. Orissa – (93.63%)
  4. Chhattisgarh – (93.25%)
  5. Madhya Pradesh – (90.89%)
  6. Daman and Diu – (90.50%)
  7. Gujarat – (88.57%)
  8. Rajasthan – (88.49%)
  9. Andhra Pradesh – (88.46%)
  10. Tamil Nadu – (87.58%)
  11. Haryana – (87.46%)
  12. Puducherry – (87.30%)
  13. Karnataka – (84.00%)
  14. Tripura – (83.40%)
  15. Uttarakhand – (82.97%)
  16. Bihar – (82.69%)
  17. Delhi – (81.68%)
  18. Chandigarh – (80.78%)

Apart from this, there are 10 States/Union Territory of Hindu majorities. With Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal having more than 70 percent of population.[16]

Historical Hindu Population
YearPop.±%
1951 303,675,084—    
1961 366,541,417+20.7%
1971 453,492,481+23.7%
1981 562,379,847+24.0%
1991 690,091,965+22.7%
2001 827,722,142+19.9%
2011 966,257,353+16.7%
Source: census of India

The Hindu population has increased more than three times from 303,675,084 in 1951 to 966,257,353 in 2011, but the Hindu percentage share of total population has declined from 84.1% in 1951 to 79.8% in 2011.[17][18] When India achieved independence in 1947, Hindus formed 85% of the total population and pre-Partition British India had 73% of Hindus and 24% of Muslims.

Among the community, it is estimated that Forward castes comprise 26 per cent, Other Backward Classes comprise 43%, Scheduled Castes (Dalits) comprises 22% and Scheduled Tribes (Adivasis) comprise 9%.[19]

Hindu minority State/Union Territory in India[edit | edit source]

Of the 28 states in India, Hindus form majority in 22 states except for Punjab (Sikh majority), Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram (Christian majority). In Manipur, Hinduism is a plurality religion, where Hinduism is practised by 41.39% and Christianity is followed by 41.29%.[16] Out of the eight Union territories, Hindus form majority in five.[16][20]

Hindus are minority in six states and three union territories of India namely—[21][22]

  1. Mizoram – (2.75%),
  2. Lakshadweep – (2.77%),
  3. Nagaland – (8.74%),
  4. Meghalaya – (11.52%),
  5. Ladakh – (12.11%),
  6. Jammu and Kashmir – (28.8%),
  7. Arunachal Pradesh – (29.04%),
  8. Punjab – (38.49%) and
  9. Manipur – (41.39%)

Out of the eight states of northeast India, Tripura, Sikkim, and Assam are Hindu majority while four are Hindu minority, and one as a plurality.[23]

States with declining Hindu population in India[edit | edit source]

West Bengal[edit | edit source]

Two districts in West Bengal, Malda and North Dinajpur, had a Hindu majority in 2001 census which, by the time of the 2011 census, had become a Hindu minority or plurality.[24] The percentage of Hindu population in the state has decreased from 78.45% in 1951 to 70.54% in 2011. Another district, Murshidabad, is a Muslim majority district where the Muslim population steadily increased from 55.24% in 1951 to 66.27% in 2011.[25]

Uttar Pradesh[edit | edit source]

The proportion of Hindus in the Saharanpur district was 59.49% in 2001. This had declined to 56.74% by 2011 – a drop of 2.75%. At the same time the Muslim population increased from 39.11% in 2001 to 41.95% in 2011.[26]

Assam[edit | edit source]

A study on population composition of Assam reveals that the Hindu population in Assam has declined from 70.78% in 1951 to 61.47% in 2011. Whereas in 1891, the Muslim population in Assam was only about 5%, by the 2001 census it had risen to above 30% and by 2011 to above 34% of the total Assam population.[27] According to the 2001 census, there were six Muslim-majority districts in Assam, increasing to nine by the time of the 2011 census.[28]

Kerala[edit | edit source]

The population of Hindus in Kerala has more than doubled from 8,344,351 in 1951 to 18,282,492 in 2011 census, but the share of Hindu population has dropeed from 68.5% in 1901 to 54.7% in 2011.[29]

Hindu population of Kerala (1901–2011)[30][29]
Census

Year

Hindus Decadal Growth rate (%)
1901 4,378,305 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 14,801,347 58.2% +16.70
1991 16,668,587 57.3% +12.62
2001 17,920,105 56.3% +7.51
2011 18,282,492 54.7% +2.02

Manipur[edit | edit source]

A decrease in the 1991–2001 period is observed in Manipur, from 57% to 52% population share, where there has been a resurgence of the indigenous Sanamahi religion. The Hindu Population share in Manipur decreased also in 2001–2011 from 52% to 41.4%. The religious conversion of Hindus to Christianity and migration of Christians from Nagaland are considered as the reason for this decrease in Hindu population.[31]

Law & politics[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Hindu nationalism and Hindutva

Some right wing Hindu organisations have demanded that India should be declared a "Hindu state".[32] As of 28th July 2020, there were pleas going on Supreme Court of India to remove the words secular and socialist from the Preamble to the Constitution of India.[33]

See also[edit | edit source]

Reference[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "India's religions by numbers". The Hindu. 26 August 2015. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2021 – via www.thehindu.com.
  2. ↑ "The Major Religions In India". WorldAtlas. 20 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "Indian Culture – Religion". Cultural Atlas. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "By 2050, India to have world's largest populations of Hindus and Muslims". Pew Research Center. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  5. ↑ Olivelle, Patrick. "Moksha | Indian religion". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  6. ↑ "Major Branches of Religions". www.adherents.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 1999. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  7. ↑ N. Siegel, Paul (1986). The meek and the militant: religion and power across the world. Zed Books, 1987. ISBN 9780862323493.
  8. ↑ Hoiberg, Dale. Students' Britannica India. Popular Prakashan, 2000. ISBN 9780852297605.
  9. ↑ "India", Oxford English Dictionary, second edition, 2100a.d. Oxford University Press.
  10. ↑ "Hindustan definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary". www.collinsdictionary.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  11. ↑ Neusner, Jacob (7 October 2009). World Religions in America, Fourth Edition. Westminster John Knox Press. p. 189. ISBN 9781611640472. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  12. ↑ Tinker, Hugh (1966). South Asia: A Short History. University of Hawaii Press. p. 18. ISBN 9780824812874. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  13. ↑ Ganesha on the Dashboard Archived 15 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine p. 176, V. Raghunathan, M. A. Eswaran, Penguin
  14. ↑ Talbot, Ian; Singh, Gurharpal (23 July 2009). The Partition of India. Cambridge University Press. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-521-85661-4. Archived from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  15. ↑ Prof. Prasoon (1 January 2010). My Letters.... M.K.Gandhi. Pustak Mahal. p. 120. ISBN 978-81-223-1109-9. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "C-1 Population By Religious Community". Census of India. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  17. ↑ "Key findings about the religious composition of India".
  18. ↑ "Census: Hindu share dips below 80%, Muslim share grows but slower". 24 January 2015.
  19. ↑ Sachar, Rajinder (2006). "Sachar Committee Report (2004–2005)" (PDF). Government of India. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
  20. ↑ ""Religion Must Be Viewed Pan-India": Top Court On Hindus-As-Minorities Plea". City: Thiruvananthapuram. The Times of India. TNN. 2 August 2017. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  21. ↑ "SC quashes plea on minority status for Hindus in 8 states". Hindustan Times. 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  22. ↑ "'Minority' plea on Hindus in 9 states". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  23. ↑ Gheewala, C. L. (1942). "Was the Hindu State Pluralistic?". The Indian Journal of Political Science. 3 (3): 237–248. ISSN 0019-5510. JSTOR 42742673. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  24. ↑ "Bengal beats India in Muslim growth rate". Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  25. ↑ "Report taking shape amid infiltration buzz". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  26. ↑ "Assembly elections: Minorities on majority route in Uttar Pradesh". Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  27. ↑ "Citizenship Amendment Act: BJP chasing ghosts in Assam; Census data shows number of Hindu immigrants may have been exaggerated – India News , Firstpost". Firstpost. 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  28. ↑ Jain, Bharti (26 August 2015). "Muslim majority districts in Assam up | India News – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Kerala population Demographics" (PDF). Bitscan. Retrieved 19 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ↑ Raghunath, Arjun (16 March 2016). "Kerala: Muslims will be double the number of Christians by 2051". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  31. ↑ "Christian population on the rise in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur". City: New Delhi. Hindustan Times. TNN. 9 March 2017. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  32. ↑ "Declare India a 'Hindu Rashtra': Hindu convention resolution". Hindustan Times. 17 June 2017. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  33. ↑ "Plea in SC seeks to remove words 'socialist', 'secular' from Constitution's preamble-India News , Firstpost". Firstpost. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:Hinduism in India by region

Template:Religion in India topics

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hinduism_in_India&oldid=408543"
Discover more