Kerala-Religion

Kerala holds a fascinating class of people. They all call themselves malayalees. There are different communities caste creed and believes. Unity in diversity is the unique character of Kerala. Many anthropologists believe however that the basic culture of Kerala is Dravidian. Jainism and Buddhism have its roots in Kerala even in the 3rd century B.C but both these faiths merged in to Hinduism. Aryan culture had spread in Kerala by the beginning of the 5th century, and the caste system was interwoven in to the social fabric of Kerala. The Namboodiries, Nairs, Ezhavas and Thiyyas are of the Dravidian Stock. The Namboodiri Brahmins occupied the topmost rung of the caste ladder followed by the warrior class and the Shudras or untouchables. The prime Dravidian group is the Nairs. Most of the Kings of Kerala were of Nair stock and so too were the warriors of the Land. The Nairs could have brought the matrilineal system down with them from the Indus valley or it could have developed as a result of their way of life. In early days neither the Nairs nor the Namboodiries had the social sanction for trade; and Outsiders filled this slot First it was Romans and the Greeks. When those civilizations collapsed; it was the Semitic Jews and Arabs who discovered the cyclic power of the Monsoons to fill the sails of their ships and soon they set up trading stations in Kerala .By the 10th century the Jews came and established themselves well enough to earn official recognition for trade in the form of a charter of Privilege granted by the Chera ruler Bhaskara Ravivarma to Joseph Rabban; the leader of Jew community. With the arrival of the Portuguese the Jews were forced to leave Crangannore for Cochin 1565.Here they built the famous white Jew synagogue in 1567.This synagogue situated in the Jew town Mattancherry; and it is one of the land marks of Cochin even today. The new changes caused by global developments of 20th century had great impact on the Jews of Kerala, and most of them migrated to the newly established state of Israel leaving a few families in the Jew town. Christianity was introduced in the 1st century A.D by St Thomas, the apostle, Who landed at maliyankara, a place adjoining Muzirtis (Kodungalloor) in 52 A.D. He converted many Brahmin families and founded seven churches in kerala. The commercial contracts with Arabia led to the advent of Islam in 643 A.D Malik Ibin Dinar, a disciple of the prophet Mohammad came to Kerala and preached Islam. The first mosque was built around this time. The Arab traders and their local associates became followers of Islam, the religion received the royal patronage in some states of Kerala. In the loang run Islam spread to all parts of the state and today next to Hindus and Christians they are an influential community in Kerala. Pulays, Parayas Ezhavas etc, probably descendents of the aboriginal tribes, were untouchables, and were not permited entry in to the temples or the public roads. They had to keep a distance from the high caste Hindus. The temple entry proclamation of 1936 erased most of the discrimination against the low class communities. The great social reformer Ayyankali belongs to this community. The teachings of the great saint Sree Narayana Guru provided the Ezhavas with the necessary impetus to form The Sree Narayana Dharmaparipalana Yogam in 1903.

Religious Practices

The Hindus worship all the major Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu pantheon as well as several minor deities. Siva, Sastha, Vishnu, Bhagavathi are the major deities. The minor deities include, Parasurama, Brahma, Saraswathi, Mariamman, Madan, Indalayappan, Hanuman etc. Besides the worship of these deities, they also practice Naga Worship, Tree worship, Demon worship etc. The Christian religious life runs in accordance with the church and its laws, the entire Christian community, assembles in their respective parish church and attend prayers on Sundays and other festival days. The Muslims observe the five essentials of Islam, the recital of the shahabat or creed, the five daily prayers, Niskara, observing the Ramsan fast, giving alms to the poor and the pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims attend the mosque for the Juma or Friday prayer.