Religion in Chennai

Last updated

Religion in Chennai (2011) [1]

   Hinduism (80.73%)
   Islam (9.45%)
   Christianity (7.72%)
   Jainism (1.11%)
   Buddhism (0.06%)
   Sikhism (0.06%)
  Other religion (0.04%)
  Not religious (0.83%)

Chennai is religiously cosmopolitan, with its denizens following various religions, chief among them being Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism. Chennai, along with Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, and Kolkata, is one of the few Indian cities that are home to a diverse population of ethno-religious communities. [2]

Contents

With the majority of the people in India following Hinduism, Chennai, like other Indian cities, is home to more Hindus than any other religion. Chennai has centres of worship for a multitude of faiths. According to 2001 census, majority of the population are Hindus (81.3 percent), Muslims (9.4 percent), Christians (7.6 percent), Jains (1.1 percent), Sikhs (0.06 percent), and Buddhists (0.04 percent). [3]

Hinduism

Religions and their adherents (in percentage of total population)
CensusHinduMuslimChristianJainBuddhistSikhOthersNot Stated
190180.611.38.00.050.0200.02
191180.211.48.10000.35
192181.210.18.40.20.100
193180.410.88.40.40.0500
194179.912.35.90002.31
195181.69.97.80.40.070.070.09
1961857.56.90.50.020.040.07
197184.18.56.60.70.030.050.01
198184.48.16.40.70.10.040.06
199183.98.76.40.90.020.040.03
200181.39.47.61.10.040.060.23
201180.79.457.71.10.060.060.040.8

Hinduism is the native faith of Chennai. The origin of Hinduism in the city dates back to antiquity. The temple towns of Mylapore, Triplicane, Thiruvottiyur, Saidapet and Thiruvanmiyur, which are now part of Chennai city, had been visited by the Saivite saints called Nayanmars and Vaishnavite saints called Alvars. The saint Vayilar Nayanar was born and brought up in Mylapore. Sambandar gives a physical description of Mylapore in his hymns:

In Mylapore of beautiful groves,
The waves creep up to the shore and then dance on it
As do the fisherfolk who spear the many fish in the waters,
Kapaleeswaram in its plenty celebrates the Thiruvadhirai festival,
Is it done for you to miss this excitement, Poompavai? (English translation)

and Thirumangai Alvar gives description of Thiruvallikeni in his hymns as:

The Vedas , the essence off vedas , which the Saints read
Hail you as Paramatma
The one without start and end and the god of Gods
Highly respected women who cannot be compared in their qualities live here
I saw this Mada-Maa Mayilai Thiruvaallikeni ( English Translation )

The early dubashes or Indian merchants who worked for the British East India Company were devout Hindus. The Chennakesava Perumal Temple, considered to be the chief Hindu temple of Madraspatnam and first to be built since the founding of the city in 1640, was constructed by the dubash Beri Thimappa in 1646. Chennai is also an important centre of the Ramakrishna Order whose oldest institution the Sri Ramakrishna Math was founded in Chennai in May 1897. According to a 1981 estimate, there were about 600 Hindu temples in Chennai, [4] including the Chennakesava Perumal Temple, Chenna Mallesvarar Temple, Kapaleeswarar Temple, Parthasarathy Temple, Vadapalani Andavar Temple, Ashtalakshmi Kovil, Kalikambal Temple and the Thiruvalluvar Temple.

Islam

Thousand Lights mosque on Anna Salai Thousand Lights Mosque (6708375421).jpg
Thousand Lights mosque on Anna Salai

Muslims living in the city have varied cultural and historical origins and are currently the second largest religious community of Chennai, [5] accounting for around 9.4 percent of the population according to the 2001 census. An overwhelming majority of Chennai Muslims belong to the Sunni sect and Shia sect minority does exist. Majority of Muslims of Tamil speaks Dakhini, variant of Urdu. While a small minority speak other languages.

Christianity

Santhome Basilica in Chennai, built over the site where St. Thomas is believed to be originally interred Santhome Basilica.jpg
Santhome Basilica in Chennai, built over the site where St. Thomas is believed to be originally interred

Christianity was introduced in Chennai by the Christian apostle St. Thomas, who is believed to have preached in the city between the years 52 CE and 70 CE. [6] [7] [8] St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, was martyred in St. Thomas Mount in the southern part of the city and was buried in Mylapore. [9] [10] San Thome Basilica, one of the earliest churches in the city, was built in 1523 by Portuguese explorers, over the supposed tomb of St. Thomas. [11] The city has one of the highest population of Christians among major Indian cities, accounting for 7.6 percent of the city's population. The Roman Catholic Church plays a major role in Chennai's Christian population.

Sikhism

The earliest arrival of Sikhs in the city is not known officially as there are no records. However, the migration is said to have been consistent before, during, and after the partition of India. As of 2012, there were about 300 Sikh families residing in the city, which increased to about 500 odd families by 2019. [12] A gurudwara is located behind the Teynampet Congress Grounds. Sri Guru Nanak Sat Sangh Sabha, established in 1949, is a centre for social, religious and spiritual activities and is a common point for the Sikh families in the city to converge during special occasions and festivals. [13]

Jainism

Jainism was one of the oldest religions of Chennai and, alongside Buddhism, was introduced in the pre-Christian era. There are both North-Indian and Tamil Jains in the city, although the former outnumber the latter. There are about 100 Jain temples in the city built by the North-Indian Jains, whereas there are only 18 Tamil Jain temples catering to roughly 1,500 Tamil Jain families. [14] The Adheeshwar Jain temple in Puzhal, dedicated to Adi Bhagwan, Adeeswar, Adinath, Adi Jain, and Rishabhadev, is believed to be of 1st century BCE. [15] [16] George Town has the greatest share of Jain temples in the city. A North-Indian-styled Jain temple was built at Adhiyappa Naicken Street in 1899. There are two more Jain temples on Mint Street. The Shantinath temple in T. Nagar is a Swetambar Jain temple. Other Jain temples include those in Chintadripet and Vepery.

Buddhism

Statue of the Buddha at the Buddhist temple in Chennai Buddhist temple Chennai Tamil Nadu India.jpg
Statue of the Buddha at the Buddhist temple in Chennai

Buddhism is another ancient religion of Chennai introduced in the pre-Christian era. The city's only Buddhist temple, the Sri Lanka Maha Bodhi Centre, is located at Egmore.

Zoroastrianism

Royapuram fire temple, the only Parsi temple in Chennai PARSI TEMPLE @ FIRE TEMPLE, Dar-e-Meher - panoramio.jpg
Royapuram fire temple, the only Parsi temple in Chennai

Parsis first arrived in the city in 1809 from Coorg when the ruling King's brother sent a deputation to the Governor of Fort St. George to deliver a picture. Hirijibhai Maneckji Kharas was the first Parsi to land in the city, who was accompanied by five other Parsis and two priests who bought land at Royapuram opposite the Catholic Church. By 1900s, the Parsis established themselves well in the city, dealing in cars, cycles, perfumes and dyes. The first Iranis came to Madras around 1900 and soon became known for their Irani cafes and also established or managed theatres. There was no official priest in the community for over 100 years till 1906. There was no place of worship until the Royapuram fire temple was built in 1909. [17] As of 2010, there were about 250 Parsis in Chennai. Many of them live in Royapuram. [18]

Judaism

Paradesi Jews immigrated to the Indian subcontinent during the 15th and 16th centuries following the expulsion of Jews from Spain. [19] These Sephardic (from Spain and Portugal) immigrants fled persecution and death by burning in the wake of the 1492 Alhambra decree expelling all Jews who did not convert to Christianity from Spain, and King Manuel's 1496 decree expelling Jews from Portugal. [20]

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Paradesi Jews were Sephardi immigrants to the Indian subcontinent from Jewish exodus from Arab and Muslim countries [21] [22] fleeing forcible conversion, persecution and antisemitism. [20] Paradesi Jews of Madras traded in Golconda diamonds, precious stones and corals. They had very good relations with the rulers of Golkonda, because they maintained trade connections to some foreign countries (e.g. Ottoman empire, Europe), and their language skills were useful. Although the Sephardim spoke Ladino (i.e. Judeo-Spanish), in India they learned Tamil and Konkani as well as Judeo-Malayalam from the Cochin Jews, also known as Malabar Jews. [23] [ full citation needed ] After India gained its independence in 1947 and Israel was established as a nation, most of the Paradesi Jews preferred to migrate to Australia and other Commonwealth countries, similar to the choices made by Anglo-Indians. [24] The millennia-long history of Indian Jews was marked by a total absence of antisemitism from the Hindu majority and a visible assimilation in the local languages and cultures. [25] The Paradesi Jews built the Paradesi synagogues and cemeteries in the city.

Other religious organisations

Theosophy

Chennai is the international base of the Theosophical Society, a spiritual organisation dedicated to the study of world religions and inter-faith dialogue. Since 1882, Chennai has been the headquarters of the Theosophical Society. [26]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North-West Frontier Province</span> Former Province of British India (1901–1947) and Pakistan (1947–1955; 1970–2010)

The North-West Frontier Province was a province of British India from 1901 to 1947, of the Dominion of Pakistan from 1947 to 1955, and of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from 1970 to 2010. It was established on 9 November 1901 from the north-western districts of the British Punjab, during the British Raj. Following the referendum in 1947 to join either Pakistan or India, the province voted hugely in favour of joining Pakistan and it acceded accordingly on 14 August 1947. It was dissolved to form a unified province of West Pakistan in 1955 upon promulgation of One Unit Scheme and was reestablished in 1970. It was known by this name until 19 April 2010, when it was dissolved and redesignated as the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, by President Asif Ali Zardari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thiruvalluvar</span> Tamil poet and philosopher

Thiruvalluvar, commonly known as Valluvar, was an Indian poet and philosopher. He is best known as the author of the Tirukkuṟaḷ, a collection of couplets on ethics, political and economic matters, and love. The text is considered an exceptional and widely cherished work of Tamil literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism and other religions</span> Relationships between Hinduism and other religions

In the field of comparative religion, many scholars, academics, and religious figures have looked at the relationships between Hinduism and other religions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mylapore</span> Neighbourhood of Chennai

Mylapore, or Thirumayilai, is a neighbourhood in the central part of the city of Chennai, India. It is one of the oldest residential parts of the city. The locality is claimed to be the birthplace of the celebrated Tamil philosopher Valluvar, and the Hindu saint and philosopher, Peyalvar.

Freedom of religion in India is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 25-28 of the Constitution of India. Modern India came into existence in 1947 and the Indian constitution's preamble was amended in 1976 to state that India is a secular state. Supreme Court of India ruled that India was already a secular state from the time it adopted its constitution, what actually was done through this amendment is to state explicitly what was earlier contained implicitly under article 25 to 28. Every citizen of India has a right to practice and promote their religion peacefully. However, there have been numerous incidents of religious intolerance that resulted in riots and violence, notably, the 1984 Anti-Sikh Massacre in Delhi, 1990 Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir, 1992-93 Bombay Riots in Mumbai, the 2008 Anti-Christian riots in Odisha. Some perpetrators of the 1984 Anti-Sikh Massacre in Delhi have not been brought to justice despite widespread condemnation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanchipuram</span> Municipal Corporation in Tamil Nadu, India

Kanchipuram also known as Kanjeevaram, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Tondaimandalam region, 72 km (45 mi) from Chennai – the capital of Tamil Nadu. Known as the City of Thousand Temples, Kanchipuram is known for its temple architectures, 1000-pillared halls, huge temple towers and silk saris. Kanchipuram serves as one of the most important tourist destinations in India. Kanchipuram has become a centre of attraction for foreign tourists as well. The city covers an area of 36.14 km2 (13.95 sq mi) and an estimated population of more than 300,000 in 2021. It is the administrative headquarters of Kanchipuram District. Kanchipuram is well-connected by road and rail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Pakistan</span> History and development of religion in Pakistan

The official religion of Pakistan is Islam, as enshrined by Article 2 of the Constitution, and is practised by approximately 96.47% of the country's population. The remaining 3.53% practice Hinduism, Christianity, Ahmadiyya Islam, Sikhism and other religions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jainism in India</span> Indias sixth-largest religion

Jainism is India's sixth-largest religion and is practiced throughout India. Per the 2011 census, there are 4,451,753 Jains in the 1.35 billion population of India, the majority living in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. However, the influence of Jainism has been far greater on the Indian population than these numbers suggest. Jains can be found in every state and union territories, varying from large societies to smaller. The state of Jharkhand, with a population of 16,301 Jains also contains the holy pilgrimage centre of Sammed Shikharji. Jains can be found throughout India and in many other countries throughout the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pey Alvar</span> Sri Vaishnava poet-saint

Pey Alvar is one of the twelve Alvar saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. The verses of Alvars are compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabandham and the 108 temples revered are classified as Divya Desams. Pey Alvar is considered third in the list of the three principal Alvars, with the other two being Poigai Alvar and Bhoothath Alvar, collectively called Mutalamalvargal who are known to be born out of divinity. Pey Alvar composed hundred verses that are classified as Munram Tiruvantati and his composition is set in the antati style in which the ending syllable is the starting one for the next verse.

Jainism is considered to be a legally distinct religion in India. A section of scholars earlier considered it as a Hindu sect or a Buddhist heresy, but it is one of the three ancient Indian religions. On 27 January 2014, the Government of India explicitly awarded the status of a "minority religion" to the Jain community in India, as per Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act (NCM), 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in India</span> Overview of religion in the Republic of India

Religion in India is characterised by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices. Throughout India's history, religion has been an important part of the country's culture and the Indian subcontinent is the birthplace of four of the world's major religions, namely, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, which are collectively known as native Indian religions or Dharmic religions and represent approx. 83% of the total population of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in ancient Tamilakam</span> Religious beliefs in ancient Tamilakam

Hinduism, in particular Vaishnavism and Shaivism, was the predominant religion in ancient Tamilakam. The Sangam period in Tamilakam was characterized by the coexistence of many denominations and religions: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Ajivika and later joined by Buddhism and Jainism alongside the folk religion of the Tamil people. The monarchs of the time practiced religious tolerance and openly encouraged religious discussions and invited teachers of every sect to the public halls to preach their doctrines. Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism were the three major religions that prevailed in the Tamil region predating the Common Era, as early as the Sangam period.

British Indians form the largest ethno-national group in London with a population of around 656,272 or 7.5% of the population. The majority are concentrated in West London, though populations can be found throughout London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Kerala</span> Overview of religion in the Indian state of Kerala

Religion in Kerala is diverse. According to 2011 census of India figures, 54.73% of Kerala's population are Hindus, 26.56% are Muslims, 18.38% are Christians, and the remaining 0.33% follow other religions or have no religion. As of 2020, Hindus, Muslims, Christians and others account for 41.5%, 43.9%, 13.9% and 0.7% of the total child births in the state, respectively.

Chennai, along with Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata, is one of the few Indian cities that are home to a diverse population of ethno-religious communities. According to the 2011 census Chennai then had a total population of 4,681,087 at a density of 26,902 per square kilometre; the sex ratio was 986 and literacy rate was 90.33%. The most widely spoken languages are Tamil and English. Hinduism is followed by a majority of the populace followed by Islam and Christianity. Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism and Zoroastrianism are other religions practiced.

Religion in Maharashtra is characterised by the diversity of religious beliefs and practices.

Religions in Karachi include Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and others. According to a 1998 census of Pakistan, the religious breakdown of the city is as follows: Muslim (96.45%), Christian (2.42%), Hindu (0.86%), Ahmadis (0.17%) and other (0.10%). Other religious groups include Parsis, Sikhs, Baháʼí, Jews and Buddhists. Of the Muslims, approximately 66% are Sunnis and 34% are Shi'ites. The Sunnis follow Hanafi fiqh while Shi'ites are predominantly Ithnā‘Ashariyyah fiqh, with significant minority groups who follow Ismaili Fiqh, which is composed of Nizari, Mustaali, Dawoodi Bohra and Sulaymani fiqhs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madhava Perumal temple, Mylapore</span> Vishnu temple in Chennai

The Madhava Perumal Temple is dedicated to Hindu deity Vishnu, located in Mylapore, Chennai, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Madhava Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Amirtavalli. The temple is believed to be the birthplace of Peyalvar, one of the first three of the twelve Alvar saints of the 6th-9th century CE.

Religion in Tamil Nadu consists of various religions practiced by the populace of the state. Hinduism is the predominant religion in the state with significant Christian and Muslim minorities. As a home to a multitude of religions, the Tamil culture reflects the influence of the same. Various places of worship are spread across the state.

References

  1. ↑ "Population By Religious Community – Tamil Nadu" (XLS). Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "The magic of melting pot called Chennai". The Hindu. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "Area and Population" (PDF). Government of Tamil Nadu. pp. 1–3. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  4. ↑ "Chennai". Britannica. Britannica.com. n.d. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  5. ↑ Ahmed, T. Shafeeque; Yasmeen, B. Nikhath (2020). "A Historical Background of Muslim Communities in Chennai - A Study" (PDF). International Journal of Research in Social Sciences. 10 (1).
  6. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 5 by Erwin Fahlbusch. Wm. B. Eerdmans Pudgfh¡blishing – 2008, Page 285. ISBN   978-0-8028-2417-2.
  7. ↑ A. E. Medlycott, (1905) "India and the Apostle Thomas"; Gorgias Press LLC; ISBN   1-59333-180-0.
  8. ↑ Thomas Puthiakunnel, (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, ed. George Menachery, Vol. II.
  9. ↑ "Saint Thomas (Christian Apostle) -- Encyclopædia Britannica". britannica.com. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  10. ↑ Farmer, David (2011). The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, Fifth Edition Revised. Oxford University Press. p. 418. ISBN   978-0199596607.
  11. ↑ "Basilica of the National Shrine of St.Thomas". SanThomeChurch.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  12. ↑ "How Chennai's Sikh community is celebrating Guru Nanak jayanti". The New Indian Express. Chennai: Express Publications. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  13. ↑ Sampath, Janani (25 March 2013). "We call ourselves Tamilian Punjabis". The New Indian Express. Chennai: Express Publications. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  14. ↑ Jain, Mahima (28 December 2013). "Tamil Jain?". The Hindu. Chennai. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Adeeswar Jain Temple (12723)". Digambar Jain Tirth Kshetra. n.d. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  16. ↑ "This Chennai group explores the hidden, not-so-famous Jain temples of Tamil Nadu". The News Minute. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  17. ↑ "Parsi community celebrates 100 years of fire temple". The Hindu . Chennai. 11 July 2010. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  18. ↑ Mathai, Kamini (12 July 2010). "Parsis go all out to celebrate milestone in Chennai". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  19. ↑ Lobo, Christabel. "India's Jew Town only has a few Jews left, but traditions and landmarks remain". www.timesofisrael.com.
  20. 1 2 Yisra'el, Muzeon (1995). Slapak, Orpa (ed.). The Jews of India: A Story of Three Communities. UPNE. p. 28. ISBN   965-278-179-7 . Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  21. ↑ "VI- November 30: Commemorating the expulsion of Jews from Arab lands" . Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  22. ↑ Hoge, Warren (5 November 2007). "Group seeks justice for 'forgotten' Jews". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  23. ↑ Katz 2000; Koder 1973; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973
  24. ↑ Weil, Shalva. From Cochin to Israel, Jerusalem: Kumu Berina, 1984. (Hebrew)
  25. ↑ Weiss, Gary (August 13, 2007). "India's Jews". Forbes. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  26. ↑ Kirby, W. F. (January 1885). "The Theosophical Society". Time (London) XII (1): 47-55. (London: Swan Sonnenschein). OCLC   228708807. Google Books Search. Retrieved 2011-01-12. Profile by the entomologist and folklorist William Forsell Kirby.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.