Hinduism in the Maldives describes the practice of the Hindu religion in the Maldives archipelago. Evidence suggests that Hinduism had a presence in the ancient Maldives. Hinduism may have marginally existed during the Buddhist period of the islands but disappeared sometime later during that same period. Traces of its influences are still found in modern Maldivian culture and art.
Evidence indicates that Hinduism may have had a presence in the ancient Maldives. [1] Archaeological remains survive from the 8th or 9th century CE portraying Hindu deities such as Shiva, Lakshmi and the sage Agastya. [2]
It is not known why the last Buddhist king embraced Islam. The importance of the Arabs as traders in the Indian Ocean by the 12th century may partly explain why this king acted. He adopted the Muslim title and name (in Arabic) of Sultan (discarding the old Divehi title of Maha radun or Ras Kilege) Muhammad al Adil, initiating a series of six Islamic dynasties consisting of 84 sultans and sultanas that lasted until 1932, when the sultanate became elective.
According to Merinid traveller Ibn Batuta, the person responsible for this conversion was Muslim visitor Abu al Barakat from Morocco. However, a Maldivian tradition says that he was a Persian saint from Tabriz called Yusuf Shamsuddin. He is also referred to as Tabrizugefaanu. His venerated tomb stands on the grounds of the Friday Mosque, or Hukuru miski, in Malé. Built in 1656, this is the oldest mosque in the Maldives. [3]
Officially no native Maldivians are Hindus. The state religion is Sunni Islam and conversion is not allowed. Maldivian customs laws prohibit import of any idol for the purpose of worship. [4] [5] Various sources give the number of Hindu adherents in the Maldives as over 1,000 as of 2015. These figures might represent foreign workers and residents.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 29 | — |
| 2010 | 1,097 | +3682.8% |
| 2015 | 1,820 | +65.9% |
| Source: [6] [7] [8] | ||
| Year | Percent | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 0.01% | - |
| 2010 | 0.3% | +0.29% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | +0.1% |
Maldivian folklore contains legends about the sage Vashishta, known locally as Oditan Kalēge, a mighty sorcerer. Oditan Kalēge's wife is the beautiful Dōgi Aihā who possesses a fiery temperament and is as powerful a sorceress as her husband. Her name is derived from the Sanskrit word Yogini . [2]
Among Maldivian folklore in which the spirit and sorcery theme are not essential, the most significant is perhaps "Don Hiyalā and Alifulhu". This story about two good-looking lovers is a much changed, Maldivian version of the Rāmāyana. Despite the apparent dissimilarities, the common sequential structure [9] linking the elements of the Maldivian story with the Indian epic (the heroic married couple, the wicked and powerful king, the kidnapping of the beautiful heroine, etc.) Based on Ramayana it is related to Hinduism and the religious landscape of South Asia in general. This is hardly unexpected, for all South and Southeast Asian countries have local Rāmayāna variations and the Maldives is part of South Asian culture. [2]
Thaana, Tãnaa, Taana or Tāna is the present writing system of the Maldivian language spoken in the Maldives. Thaana has characteristics of both an abugida and a true alphabet, with consonants derived from indigenous and Arabic numerals, and vowels derived from the vowel diacritics of the Arabic abjad. Maldivian orthography in Thaana is largely phonemic.
Huvadhu, Suvadive, Suvaidu or Suvadiva is the atoll with the most islands in the world. The atoll is located in the Indian Ocean. It is south of the Suvadiva Channel in the Republic of Maldives with a total area of 3,152 km2, of which 38.5 km2 is dry land. The atoll contains 255 islands.
The Rannamari was a sea monster from Maldivian folklore that was believed to have raped and murdered thousands of young women. It is said to be taller than palm trees, with a pitch-black colour and arms that reach its toes. According to popular versions of the story, when a Somali merchant called Al-Barbari performed a ritual after convincing the authorities at the time to let him be "abducted" in order to prevent more women from being abducted. He reciting the Quran in the presence of the Rannamaari. With this ritual, the Rannamaari "shrunk" in size and, Al-Barbari trapped it within the confinements of a bottle and threw it in the sea where it still rests to this day.
Fiyoaree or Fiori is one of the inhabited islands of Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives.
Vaadhoo is an inhabited island of Gaafu Dhaalu region in the atoll of Huvadhu, Maldives. It has its own dialect of Maldivian, which is considerably different from northern and Mid-Maldivian speech.
Dhevvadhoo or Devvadū is one of the inhabited islands of the administrative division known as Northern Huvadhu Atoll.
Kondey or Kondē is one of the inhabited islands of Northern Huvadhu Atoll, administrative code Gaafu Alifu.
Dhanbidhoo or Dambidū is one of the inhabited islands of Haddummati Atoll, administrative code Laamu.
Isdhoo or Isdū is one of the inhabited islands of Haddhunmathi Atoll, administrative code Laamu part of Maldives in the Indian Ocean.
Thoddoo is one of the inhabited islands of Alif Alif Atoll in the Republic of Maldives.
The culture of the Maldives is derived from a number of sources, the most important of which is its proximity to the shores of Sri Lanka and South India. The population is mainly Indo-Aryan from the anthropological point of view. Islam is considered the religion of the country and only Muslims can become legal citizens.
Established on the National Day of the Maldives, the first National Museum of the country was opened on 11 November 1952, by the Prime Minister at the time, Mohamed Amin Didi.
Maldivian mythology or Maldivian folklore is the body of myths, tales and anecdotes belonging to the oral tradition of Maldivians. Even though some of the Maldivian myths were already mentioned briefly by British commissioner in Ceylon HCP Bell towards the end of the 19th century, their study and publication were carried out only quite recently by Spanish writer and artist Xavier Romero-Frias, at a time when that ancestral worldview was quickly disappearing.
Islam is the state religion of the Maldives. The 2008 Constitution or "Fehi Qānoon" declares the significance of Islamic law in the country. The constitution requires that citizenship status be based on adherence to the state religion, which legally makes the country's citizens hundred percent Muslim. However residents, tourists and workers in the Maldives are free to be of any religion and practise them in private. However, in 2020, studies found that 0.29% of the population is Christian. During the late 1990s, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs issued warnings, cautioning individuals against listening to radio programs broadcast in the Dhivehi language by the Far East Broadcasting Association, headquartered in the Seychelles. In 1998, 50 Maldivian Christians faced arrest and were detained on the prison island of Dhoonidhoo, while foreign Christians suspected of engaging in missionary activities were expelled from the country.
Buddhism was the predominant religion in the Maldives until at least the 12th century CE. It isn't clear how and when Buddhism was introduced into the islands.
Koimala Siri Mahaabarana Mahaa Radun or Koimala or Koimala Kalo is the last pre-Islamic and the earliest verifiable ruler of the Maldives. He reigned from A.D. 1117 to A.D. 1141.
The Giraavaru people are indigenous people of the Giravaaru islands that is part of Maldives. They are considered to be the earliest island community of the Maldives, predating Buddhism and the arrival of Indo-Aryan speakers in the archipelago. Their ancestors were ancient Tamil people who they referred to as 'Tamila'. Other mainstream Maldivians considered them to be of lower social status. They lived on the island of Giravaaru until 1972, but were later relocated to Male', the nation's capital where they were assimilated in with the local social groups.
Xavier Romero Frías is a Spanish writer and scholar. He lived among the Maldivians over a 13-year period. His present residence is in Bangkok, Thailand.
The representation of the Maldivian language in the Latin script varies from one scheme to another.
Launaea sarmentosa is a perennial herb species in the family Asteraceae. It is native to coastal areas in Africa, Madagascar, the Seychelles, Mauritius, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Southeast Asia. It is naturalized in Western Australia.
