Saturday, April 18, 2015

The religious practices of the Rajasthan Nomads

Do most of you remember the time that you would have had to spend at the library to find the information you would need to give a report? These are the times when I love google! Here's the part of what I didn't share last Saturday during anthropology class presentation since instructor all of a sudden realized the 4 previous groups went over the time allotted and decided to cut us off. Our group rocked it, even had music videos thanks to Ian.



Hin·du·ism  (hĭn′do͞o-ĭz′əm)
n.
A diverse body of religion, philosophy, and cultural practice native to and predominant in India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils.

Hinduism, the religion of most of the population, is generally practiced through the worship of Brahma, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, and other gods and goddesses. Nathdwara is an important religious centre for the Vallabhacharya sect of Krishna followers. There are also followers of the Arya Samaj, a reforming sect of modern Hinduism, as well as other forms of that religion.

Jain·ism  (jī′nĭz′əm)
n.
An ascetic religion of India, founded in the sixth century bc, that teaches the immortality and transmigration of the soul and denies the existence of a supreme being.

Jainism is also important; it has not been the religion of the rulers of Rajasthan but has followers among the trading class and the wealthy section of society. Mahavirji, Ranakpur, Dhulev, and Karera are the chief centres of Jain pilgrimage.

Is·lam  (ĭs-läm′, -lăm′, ĭz-, ĭs′läm′, ĭz′-)
n.
A monotheistic religion characterized by the doctrine of absolute submission to God and by reverence for Muhammad as the chief and last prophet of God.

Islam, the religion of the State's second largest religious community, expanded in Rajasthan with the conquest of Ajmer by Muslim invaders in the late twelfth century. Khwajah Muin-ud-Din Chishti, the Muslim missionary, had his headquarters at Ajmer, and Muslim traders, craftsmen, and soldiers settled there. The Muslims form less than 10% of the population and most of them are Sunnis. There is also a small but affluent community of Shiaite Muslims known as Bhoras in south eastern Rajasthan.



In general some nomadic tribes, Hindu and Jain predominantly.

The Meo and Minas (Minawati) in Alwar, Jaipur, Bharatpur, and Dholpur areas. The Banjara are travelling tradesmen and artisans. The Gadia Lohar is the ironsmith (lohar) who travels in bullock carts (Gadia), who generally make and repair agricultural and household implements. The Bhils are one of the oldest peoples in India, and inhabit the districts of Bhilwara, Chittaurgarh, Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur and Sirohi and are famous for their skill in archery. The Grasia and nomadic Kathodi live in the Mewar region. Sahariyas are found in the Kota district, and the Rabaris of the Marwar region are cattle breeders.

The Oswals hail from Osiyan near Jodhpur, are successful traders and are predominately Jains. While the Mahajan (the trading class) is subdivided into a large number of groups, some of these groups are Jain, while others are Hindu.

In the north and west, the Jat and Gujar are among the largest agricultural communities. The Gujars who are Hindus who dwell in eastern Rajasthan. The nomadic Rabari or Raika are divided in two groups the Marus who breed camels and Chalkias who breed sheep and goats.

The Rajputs, though they represent only a small proportion of the populace, are the most influential section of the people in Rajasthan. They are proud of their martial reputation and of their ancestry

The State's population of Christians and Sikhs is small.

http://www.earth-cultures.com/cultures/people-of-rajasthan-india

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