Hinduism in Punjab

All you want to know about Hinduism in Punjab

Punjabi Hindus

Flag of India India
Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Flag of the United States USA
Flag of Canada Canada
Flag of Australia Australia
Flag of New Zealand New Zealand
Flag of Europe EU
Flag of Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN
Middle East
East Africa
Total population
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Punjabi
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
other Punjabi people

Contents

Vedic Punjab

Map of early Iron Age Vedic India after Witzel (1989). Realms or tribes are labelled black, Foreign tribes mentioned in early Vedic texts purple, Vedic shakhas in green. Rivers are labelled blue. The Thar desert is marked orange.
Map of early Iron Age Vedic India after Witzel (1989). Realms or tribes are labelled black, Foreign tribes mentioned in early Vedic texts purple, Vedic shakhas in green. Rivers are labelled blue. The Thar desert is marked orange.
 The neutrality and factual accuracy of this section are disputed.
Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page. (March 2008)

The original Punjab region is now divided into several units: West Punjab (now in Pakistan) including the Gandhara region, the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and the Indian Union territory of Chandigarh. The regions of POK,pakistan occupied kasmir and Jammu have also been historically associated with the Punjab.

The Punjab is the 'Sapta Sindhu' region mentioned in the in the Rig Veda, the seven rivers are:

  1. Saraswati (thought to be the present day Ghaggar),
  2. Satadru/Shutadri (Sutlej),
  3. Vipasa (Beas),
  4. Asikani (Chenab),
  5. Paroshani (Ravi),
  6. Vitasta/Vet (Jhelum) and
  7. Sindhu (Indus).

The modern name of the Vipasa,'Beas' is thought to be a corruption of Veda Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata.

The region came to be known as Punjab only in the Mughal period.It was one of the cradles of Indian civilization and Hinduism.

Among the classic books that wholly or partly composed in this region are the following.

The world's oldest university Takshashila flourished here, even before the Buddha's birth.

The descendants of the Rishis, form the Brahmins of Hindu society. The Brahmins of this region are called 'Saraswata' after the legendary Saraswati river region, once known for the ashramas of the rishis.

Classic Cities of the Punjab Region

Punjabi Hindu Sects

The Sanatan Dharmis

An important group amongst Hindus in the Punjab are the Sanatan Dharmis. For meditation they keep idols of Hindu deities before them. Major deities worshipped include Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Vishnu , Hanuman. One of the major ones is Vaishno Devi of Jammu, (all known commonly as Sheraan-wali('She of the lions') in Punjabi .The worship of Hanuman is usually done on Tuesdays.

Sanatan Dharma Sabha was founded in the Punjab in late 19th century to promote traditional Hinduism. It sent scholars overseas and became a major force in some of the overseas Hindu communities. In January 1933 the session of the All-India Sanatan Dharma Sabha, presided over by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.

The Arya Samajis

An important sect amongst Punjabi Hindus is the Arya Samaj. It was founded by Swami Dayananda (born in the town of Tankara near Morvi(or Morbi) in the Kathiawar region of modern-day Gujarat) in 1875 in Bombay and became popular amongst Hindus in the Punjab and U.P. The first branch of the Arya Samaj was opened in Shantakruj, Mumbai in 1875. Arya Samajists do not believe in idol worship and incarnations of God (Avtarvaad) but believes in the philosophy on re-incarnation and transmigration. They hold the Vedic religion to be the only true religion and as such, regard the Vedas as their only religious books, but also regard Upnishad, Darshan Shastras and some other books written by Rishis (Arsh Granths), on the condition that the text in these should not be contradictory to Vedas. On this basis Arya Samaj rejected some of the Hindu scriptures like Purana etc. and other texts also which, according to Arya Samaj, is against the Vedas. The Arya Samaj also pleads for Shuddhi or the re-conversion into Hinduism of those Hindus who were converted to other religions. The places of worship of the Arya Samajists are different from those of the Sanatan Dharmis. Worship includes performing yajnas, reciting mantras and seeking spiritual solace by listening to religious discourses.

The Radhaswamis

The Radhaswami sect has its headquarters at the town of Beas and is popular amongst Punjabi Hindus. Like the Nirankaris and Namdharis, the Radhaswamis too are a transitional sect between Hinduism and Sikhism.

The Dev Samajis

Dev Samajis, an offshoot of Brahmo Samaj, are rationalists. Their headquarters is at Moga. Their activities are mostly confined to the moral fields. As such Dev Samajists have not attained much popularity. In all other respects the Dev Samajists are not different from the other Hindus.

Punjabi Hindu Castes

The principal castes among Hindus of the Punjab are Aroras, Banias, Bhatias, Brahmins, Dalits, Gujjars, Kalals, Khatris, Rajputs, Sainis, Sansis,Sharma, Soods and Tarkhans.

Trivia

The popular prayer Jai Jagdish Hare was composed in Punjab by Pandit Shardha Ram Phillauri.

References

See also

Further reading

External links

Hinduism in India
v • d • e
States: Andhra Pradesh• Arunachal Pradesh• Assam• Bihar• Chhattisgarh• Goa• Gujarat• Haryana• Himachal Pradesh• Jammu and Kashmir• Jharkhand• Karnataka• Kerala• Madhya Pradesh• Maharashtra• Manipur• Meghalaya• Mizoram• Nagaland• Orissa• Punjab• Rajasthan• Sikkim• Tamil Nadu• Tripura• Uttaranchal• Uttar Pradesh• West Bengal
Union Territories: Andaman and Nicobar Islands • Chandigarh • Dadra and Nagar Haveli • Delhi • Daman and Diu • Lakshadweep • Pondicherry
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_in_Punjab"

No comments have been added.



Your name:

City:

Country:

Your comments:

Security check *
(Please enter the number into adjoining box)

 

  • Ads

           
eXTReMe Tracker