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| Kerala Religion |
| Featured Destinations of South India : |
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Kerala is known for its communal harmony and it is achieved by Kerala's interaction with varied cultures and ways of life, both indigenous and foreign. Originally its people followed the Dravidian way of life and religious practice. In due course many indigenous religions and philosophical systems from North India made their appearance on Kerala soil and competed with one another for the loyalties of the people. The story of the synthesis of Dravidian and Aryan cultures and the rise and fall of religions like Jainism and Buddhism in ancient Kerala are of particular interest to those engaged in the study of the story of cultural synthesis. At the same time Kerala's commercial contacts with foreign countries, world religions like Christianity, Judaism and Islam were also introduced and they helped considerably in shaping the composite culture of the land. |
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Hinduism |
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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. |
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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. |
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Even today many temples in Kerala has mother (Baghavathy) and animism (snake worship) has their main deity. |
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Islam |
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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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Christianity |
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The Syrian Christians of Kerala believe that St. Thomas, one of the direct disciples of Christ landed near Muziris in 52 AD and established 7 churches, of which 4 exist even today. |
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There is recorded evidence of a theologian from Alexandria coming to Kerala to preach the gospel in 180 AD and the migration of about 400 people from the Middle East in the 4th century and yet another exodus at the beginning of the 9th century. |
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The Portuguese who arrived in 1498 AD introduced Latin rites. Later, during the British rule, the Church Mission Society of London began its work in the country. |
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Today, there are five distinct branches of Christianity in Kerala, the Roman Catholic Church following either Syrian, Latin or Malayalam liturgies, the Orthodox Syrian Church, the Mar Thomas Syrian Church, the Church Of South India and the Nestorian Church. |
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Jainism |
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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. |
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Judaism |
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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. |
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Inorder to savour the natural beauty of South India, we have designed the following tour packages for the discerning travellers |
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