Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
is the main and largest religion of
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...
. In 2007, the country declared itself a
secular country
A secular state is an idea pertaining to secularity, whereby a state is or purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion. A secular state claims to treat all its citizens equally regardle ...
through
democracy
Democracy (From grc, δημοκρατία, dēmokratía, ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation (" direct democracy"), or to choose g ...
;
still, some special privileges were given to
Indic religions like "The
Constitution of Nepal has established a call for the protection of this age-old religion referring to
Sanatan Dharma throughout the country".
According to the
2011 census, the Hindu population in Nepal is estimated to be around 21,551,492, which accounts for at least 81.34% of the country's population, the highest percentage of Hindus of any country in the world. The national calendar of Nepal,
Vikram Samvat, is a solar
Hindu calendar
The Hindu calendar, Panchanga () or Panjika is one of various lunisolar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes. They adopt ...
essentially the same to that widespread in
North India
North India is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from the Tibetan Plateau and Cen ...
as a religious calendar, and is based on
Hindu units of time. Nepal remained the last Hindu country in the world until 2008, after the abolition of monarchy in the nation.
The geographical distribution of religious groups revealed a preponderance of Hindus, accounting for at least 90% of the population in every region. Among the ethnic groups in Nepal, those most influenced by Hinduism are the
Bahun,
Chhetri,
Madheshi
Madheshi people ( ne, मधेशी) is a term used for several groups of people living in the Terai region of Nepal, literally meaning the people of ''Madhesh''. It has also been used as a political pejorative term by the Pahari people of Nep ...
,
Newari and
Thakuri people.
History
Historians and local traditions say that a
Hindu sage named "Ne" established himself in the
valley of Kathmandu during prehistoric times, and that the word "Nepal" means "the place protected" ("pala" in
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural diffusion ...
) by the sage Ne. He performed religious ceremonies at Teku, the confluence of the
Bagmati and
Bishnumati rivers. According to legends, he selected a pious cowherd to be the first of the many kings of the
Gopala dynasty.
[W.B., P. 34 ''Land of the Gurkhas''] These rulers are said to have ruled Nepal for over 500 years. He selected Bhuktaman to be the first king in the line of the Gopal (''Cowherd'') dynasty.
The Gopala dynasty ruled for 621 years. Yakshya Gupta was the last king of this dynasty.
According to ''
Skanda Purana'', a rishi called "Ne" or "Nemuni" used to live in
the Himalayas. In the ''Pashupati Purana'', he is mentioned as a saint and a protector. He is said to have practiced
penance at the
Bagmati and
Kesavati rivers and to have taught his doctrines there too.
In the mid-18th century,
Prithvi Narayan Shah
Maharajadhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723–1775) ( ne, श्री ५ बडामहाराजाधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह देव) was the last ruler of the Gorkha Kingdom and first monarch of the ...
, a
Gurkha king, set out to put together what would become present-day Nepal. He embarked on his mission by securing the neutrality of the bordering mountain kingdoms. After several bloody battles and sieges, notably the
Battle of Kirtipur, he managed to conquer the Kathmandu Valley in 1769.
Timeline of Hinduism in Nepal
Medieval Era
The Gurkha control reached its height when the North Indian territories of the
Kumaon and
Garhwal Kingdoms in the west to
Sikkim
Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Sil ...
in the east came under Nepalese control. A dispute with
Tibet
Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa people, ...
over the control of mountain passes and inner Tingri valleys of Tibet forced the
Qing Emperor of China to start the
Sino-Nepali War, compelling the Nepali to retreat to their own borders in the north. The rivalry between the Kingdom of Nepal and the
East India Company
The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Sou ...
over the control of states bordering Nepal eventually led to the
Anglo-Nepali War (1815–18116). At first, the British underestimated the Nepali and were soundly defeated until committing more military resources than they had anticipated needing. Thus began the reputation of
Gurkhas as fierce and ruthless soldiers. The war ended in the
Sugauli Treaty, under which Nepal ceded recently captured lands.
Factionalism inside the royal family led to a period of instability. In 1846, a plot was discovered revealing that the reigning queen had planned to overthrow
Bir Narsingh Kunwar, a fast-rising military leader. This led to the
Kot massacre; armed clashes between military personnel and administrators loyal to the queen led to the execution of several hundred princes and chieftains around the country. Bir Narsingh Kunwar emerged victorious and founded the
Rana dynasty, and came to be known as
Jung Bahadur Rana. The king was made a titular figure, and the post of Prime Minister was made powerful and hereditary. The Ranas were staunchly pro-British and assisted them during the
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the for ...
(and later in both World Wars). In 1860, some parts of the western Terai region were gifted to Nepal by the British as a friendly gesture because of their military support to sustain British control in India during the rebellion (known as
Naya Muluk
Naya Muluk ( ne, नयाँ मुलुक) is a geographical region of Nepal, which is situated western-south part in Nepal. The Terai land between Kali River to Rapti River called "Naya Muluk" after 1860.
History
After Anglo-Nepalese W ...
or "new country"). In 1923, the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
and Nepal formally signed
an agreement of friendship that superseded the Sugauli Treaty of 1816.
The Hindu practice of
Sati, in which a widow sacrifices herself in the funeral pyre of her husband, was banned in 1919, and
slavery
Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...
was officially abolished in 1924. Rana rule was marked by tyranny,
debauchery, economic exploitation, and religious persecution.
Early-modern Era
In the time of early-modern era in Nepal,
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
was at the peak of its prominence. The
Shah rulers focused on the Hinduization of Nepal; even then there were good relations of
Nepalis Hindus with the
Nepali Muslims and
Buddhists
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
. The Nepal rulers passed laws making
conversion
Conversion or convert may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* "Conversion" (''Doctor Who'' audio), an episode of the audio drama ''Cyberman''
* "Conversion" (''Stargate Atlantis''), an episode of the television series
* "The Conversion" ...
from
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
to
Islam and Christianity
Christianity and Islam are the two largest religions in the world, with 2.8 billion and 1.9 billion adherents, respectively. Both religions are considered as Abrahamic, and are monotheistic, originating in the Middle East.
Christianity deve ...
illegal and enacting them as criminal offenses. These laws were enforced even after the
revolution of 1951, and were reaffirmed in the
legal code
A code of law, also called a law code or legal code, is a systematic collection of statutes. It is a type of legislation that purports to exhaustively cover a complete system of laws or a particular area of law as it existed at the time the cod ...
of 1963, which prohibited the preaching of Christianity or Islam and stipulated three years in jail for those who attempted to convert people, and six years for those who succeeded in converting others. For those who "attempt" to be converted, there was a fine of a hundred rupees, and for those who actually converted (that is, were
baptized
Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost i ...
), there would be imprisonment of one year. The code stated that "when somebody becomes converted, the conversion is nullified, and he remains in the
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
''
dharma
Dharma (; sa, धर्म, dharma, ; pi, dhamma, italic=yes) is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others. Although there is no direct single-word translation for '' ...
''
eligion.
From the early 1960s, the state began to actively prosecute Christians in places where the baptism of
Nepali citizens had occurred; this active governmental persecution continued up to 1990. Following baptisms in
Nepalgunj and
Tansen
Tansen ( – 26 April 1589), also referred to and commonly known as Sangeet Samrat () , was a Hindustani classical musician. Born in a Hindu Gaur Brahmin family, he learnt and perfected his art in the northwest region of modern Madhya Pr ...
between 1958 and 1960,
pastors David Mukhia and Prem Pradhan, along with six baptized believers, were prosecuted by the authorities for
proselytism and
conversion
Conversion or convert may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* "Conversion" (''Doctor Who'' audio), an episode of the audio drama ''Cyberman''
* "Conversion" (''Stargate Atlantis''), an episode of the television series
* "The Conversion" ...
. The pastors were sentenced to six years imprisonment; the male converts were sentenced to one year imprisonment and the female converts to six months. Prosecutions such as this continued for the whole of the
Panchayat
The Panchayat raj is a political system, originating from the Indian subcontinent, found mainly in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. It is the oldest system of local government in the Indian subcontinent, and historical men ...
period: when an
amnesty was proclaimed in 1990, there were 30 individuals in Nepal imprisoned for crimes of proselytism or conversion, and 200 others who were subject to legal action for the same offenses.
Modern Era
After the
overthrow of the
Rana regime in 1951,
King Tribhuvan
Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah ( ne, श्री ५ महाराजाधिराज त्रिभुवन वीर विक्रम शाह देव ) (30 June 1906 – 13 March 1955) was King of Nepal from 11 December 1911 until his ...
opened Nepal's borders and appealed to the outside world to assist in Nepal's development. Then, he granted the
freedom of religion to Nepalese, especially to
Nepali Muslims, and the first church was established in
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...
. Though giving release to other religious groups, the society of Nepal followed strict and rigid
Hindu laws for all the citizens, with
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
being the state religion.
Hinduization by rulers
According to various historical sources, even though the presence of ''varna'' and caste had been known as an element in the social structure of the Kathmandu Valley since the
Licchavi period (c., 3rd century CE), the majority of the residents of the Nepal Valley were for the first time codified into a written code only in the 14th century in the ''Nepalarastrasastra'' by the
Maithil–origin king
Jayasthithi Malla
Jayasthitimalla (or Jayasthiti Malla) ( ne, जयस्थिति मल्ल) was a 14th-century king of Nepal belonging to the Malla dynasty. He is known as the best successor of the whole Malla dynasty. He was of Tirhut origins and had ma ...
(1354–1395 A.D.). Jayasthithi Malla, with the aid of five
Kānyakubja and
Maithil Brahmins whom he invited from the Indian plains, divided the population of the valley into four major classes (''varna'')—
Brahmin
Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests ( purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers ( ...
,
Kshatriya
Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (social orders) of Hindu society, associated with warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the co ...
,
Vaishya
Vaishya (Sanskrit: वैश्य, ''vaiśya'') is one of the four varnas of the Hindu social order in India. Vaishyas are classed third in the order of caste hierarchy.
The occupation of Vaishyas consists mainly of agriculture, taking care ...
,
Shudra—derived from the ancient Hindu text
Manusmriti
The ''Manusmṛiti'' ( sa, मनुस्मृति), also known as the ''Mānava-Dharmaśāstra'' or Laws of Manu, is one of the many legal texts and constitution among the many ' of Hinduism. In ancient India, the sages often wrote the ...
and based on individual's occupational roles. The four classes ''varna'' encompassed a total of 64 castes ''jat'' within it, with the Shudras being further divided into 36 sub-castes.
After the Gurkhali conquest of
Kathmandu Valley, King
Prithvi Narayan Shah
Maharajadhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723–1775) ( ne, श्री ५ बडामहाराजाधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह देव) was the last ruler of the Gorkha Kingdom and first monarch of the ...
expelled the Christian Capuchin missionaries from
Patan and revisioned Nepal as ''
Asal Hindustan'' (''Real Land of
Hindus
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
''). The
Tagadharis, thread wearing Hindus of higher categorization, enjoyed the privileged status in the Nepalese capital and more access to the central power after the Gurkhali King Prithvi Narayan's conquest of Kathmandu Valley. Since then Hinduization became the significant policy of the
Kingdom of Nepal.
The Nepali
civil code Muluki Ain was commissioned by
Jung Bahadur Rana after his European tour and enacted in 1854. It was rooted in traditional
Hindu Law and codified social practices for several centuries in Nepal. The law also comprised ''
Prāyaścitta'' (avoidance and removal of sin) and ''
Ācāra'' (the customary law of different castes and communities). It was an attempt to include the entire Hindu as well as non-Hindu population of Nepal of that time into a single hierarchic civic code from the perspective of the
Khas
Khas people (; ne, खस) popularly known as Khas Arya are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to the Himalayan region of South Asia, what is now present-day Nepal, Indian states of Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Sikkim. Historicall ...
rulers.
The Hinduization of
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...
was mainly predominant in
Kathmandu
, pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia
, coordinates =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name =
, subdivision_type1 = Province
, subdivision_name1 = Bagmati Prov ...
and the adjoining regions near the Valley.
Nepali society has been known for its interfaith religious harmony and tolerance, but the Hinduization and
Saffronisation
''Saffronisation'' or ''saffronization'' is the right-wing policy approach that seeks to implement a Hindu nationalist agenda, for example onto school textbooks. Critics have used this political neologism to refer to the policies of Hindu nati ...
of
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...
by the
Shah dynasty, especially by
Prithvi Narayan Shah
Maharajadhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723–1775) ( ne, श्री ५ बडामहाराजाधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह देव) was the last ruler of the Gorkha Kingdom and first monarch of the ...
, were seen as the persecution of other religious communities. After that time, until the 1940s, propagation of any other faith than Hinduism was prohibited. The Hindu community was given special rights and even more rights than the other religious community, though freedom of religion was present in the Kingdom of Nepal.
Then, there was the era of
Rana dynasty, which was composed mainly of
Kshatriya
Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (social orders) of Hindu society, associated with warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the co ...
Hindus. Though in the regime of Rana dynasty, Nepal did not witness much Hinduization, but there were still strict Hindus law. Rana rulers focused on the
saffronisation
''Saffronisation'' or ''saffronization'' is the right-wing policy approach that seeks to implement a Hindu nationalist agenda, for example onto school textbooks. Critics have used this political neologism to refer to the policies of Hindu nati ...
of tribal Hindus in the Kingdom and focused mainly on the warrior class
Gurkhas
The Gurkhas or Gorkhas (), with endonym Gorkhali ), are soldiers native to the Indian Subcontinent, chiefly residing within Nepal and some parts of Northeast India.
The Gurkha units are composed of Nepalis and Indian Gorkhas and are r ...
. There were many temples and shrines built during the Rana dynasty and imposed the
Vedic culture
upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''.
The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute th ...
on the Nepalis.
Hindu symbolism of Nepal
The pennant is an important Hindu flag that flutters atop
Hindu temples.
Popular tradition holds that
Lord Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within t ...
had organized the
Nepali people and given them their flag, with the sun and moon as emblems on it.
In a
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
Purana
Purana (; sa, , '; literally meaning "ancient, old"Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, , page 915) is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly about legends an ...
, it is written that it was Lord Shiva who handed the flag to Lord Vishnu, and then Lord Vishnu to Lord Indra, for the purpose for battling demons.
List of festivals in Nepal
*
Dashain
*
Tihar
*Janai Purnima,
Rakshya Bandhan, Khumbeshwor Mela Patan
*
Shree Krishna Janmastami
*
Maghe Sankranti
*
Shree Panchami
*
Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri (IAST: Mahāśivarātri) is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of the god Shiva. The name also refers to the night when Shiva performs the heavenly dance called Tandava.
In every month of the luni-solar Hindu c ...
*
Fagu Purnima (Holi)
*
Matatirtha Aunsi
Matatirtha Aunsi is a day-long festival in Nepal. This day is celebrated to honor mothers and motherhood. On this day, people offer sweets, clothes, and other gift items to their mothers. According to Hindu tradition, the festival is celebrated o ...
(Nepali equivalent of
Mother's Day)
*
Gokarna Aunsi (Nepali equivalent of
Father's Day)
*
Buddha Jayanti (birthday of the Budhha, but also celebrated by Hindu people as great harmony exists between Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal)
*
Ghanta Karna Chaturdasi
Ghanta Karna (also known as Ghanta Karna Chaturdasi and Gathe Mangal) is a Nepalese Newari festival celebrating the defeat of the mythical demon Ghanta-karna ("bell-ears") or "Gatha-Mungal" in local Newari language. According to the myth, the de ...
*
Gaijatra
*
Teej
*
Indrajatra (in Kathmandu)
*
Chhath
Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival historically native to the Indian subcontinent, more specifically, the Indian states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,West Bengal, Jharkhand, and the Nepalese provinces of Madhesh and Lumbini. Prayers during Chha ...
*
Ghode Jatra
*
Shree Ram Nawami
*
Vivaha Panchami
* Bagh Jatra
* Bhairav Kumari Jatra
* Chaite Dashain
*
Gaura Parva
* Gunla
*
Guru Purnima
Guru Purnima (Poornima) is a tradition dedicated to all the spiritual and academic Gurus, who are evolved or enlightened humans, ready to share their wisdom, based on Karma Yoga. It is celebrated as a festival in India, Nepal and Bhutan by Hi ...
* Rato Macchendranath Jatra
* Mani Rimdu
* Mata-yaa
* Neel Barahi Pyakhan
* Rath Yatra
* Tamu Dhee
* Tansen Jatra
* Taya Macha
*
Yomari Punhi
Impact of Hinduism in Modern Nepal
Hindu and Buddhist traditions in Nepal go back more than two
millennia. In
Lumbini, Buddha was born, and
Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu is an old and famous
Shiva temple of Hindus. Nepal has several other temples and Buddhist
monasteries, as well as places of worship for other religious groups. Traditionally, Nepalese
philosophical thoughts are ingrained with the Hindu and Buddhist philosophical ethos and traditions, which include elements of
Kashmir Shaivism, Nyingma School of
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
, works of Karmacharyas of Bhaktapur, and tantric traditions.
Tantric traditions are deep rooted in Nepal, including the practice of animal sacrifices. Five types of animals, always male, are considered acceptable for sacrifice:
water buffalo
The water buffalo (''Bubalus bubalis''), also called the domestic water buffalo or Asian water buffalo, is a large bovid originating in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Today, it is also found in Europe, Australia, North America, So ...
,
goats,
sheep
Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticate ...
,
chickens
The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey and the Ceylon junglefowl that are originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster or cock is a term for an adult m ...
, and
ducks. Cows are very sacred animals and are never considered acceptable for sacrifice. Nepal has been the home of many ancient sites of the Hinduism and is the hub for the tourism for many Hindu pilgrimages.
Hindu temples
Before 2007, when Nepal was a
Hindu country, the Pashupatinath Temple was considered as the "Temple of the Nepal". The Pashupatinath Temple is considered as the most sacred temple for the Hindus of Nepal.
There are many Hindu temple located in Nepal. The notable of them are listed below:
*
Badimalika Temple
Badimalika Temple is a Hindu temple. It is located in Triveni Municipality, Bajura district of Sudurpashchim Province. It is one of the major temples in Nepal. It is dedicated to Bhagwati. Malika Chaturdashi is its major festival. It is served by ...
*
Siddhikali Temple
*
Changu Narayan
*
Suryavinayak Temple
Suryavinayak Temple is a Hindu Temple in Nepal. It is located in Bhaktapur district, Nepal. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Ganesh
Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best ...
*
Doleshwor Mahadeva Temple
*
Maisthan Mandir
Gahawa Mai Mandir, also known as Maisthan Mandir, ( ne, गहवा माई मन्दिर) is an historic temple in Birganj, Parsa District, Nepal.
Built in the 18th century, Gahawa Mai Mandir was established to honor the goddess Mai. ...
*
Padukasthan
*
Chintang Devi temple
*
Janaki Mandir
*
Sankat Mochan Mandir
*
Koteshwor Mahadev
*
Pashupatinath Temple
*
Swayambhunath
*
Ashok Binayak Temple
*
Bhairabsthan Temple
Relations with other communities
Hinduism and Buddhism
There has traditionally been a great deal of intermingling of Hindu and
Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
beliefs. Many people regarded as Hindus in the 1981 census could also in some senses be called Buddhists. Hindus long have worshipped at Buddhist temples and Buddhists at Hindu temples. The reason for this is that both Hinduism and Buddhism have
common roots, and over most of their history have not been seen as separate communions, but rather rival tendencies within a shared religious tradition. Because of such dual faith practices (or mutual respect), the differences between Hindus and Buddhists have been very subtle and academic in nature; Hindus and Buddhists have never engaged in any religious conflicts for past millennia. There are many temples where both
Hindus
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
and
Buddhists
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
can enter and worship.
Hinduism and Islam
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
Though historically, there have been no major conflict between the
Hindus
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
and
Muslims
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
in the Nepal,
though in the 20th century there have been some controversies between the two communities due to the religious conversions and strict laws against the same. There have been claims of increases in
Islamophobia
Islamophobia is the fear of, hatred of, or prejudice against the religion of Islam or Muslims in general, especially when seen as a geopolitical force or a source of terrorism.
The scope and precise definition of the term ''Islamophobia'' ...
in Nepal by local Hindus and Buddhists as a result of the rise of
Hindutva
Hindutva () is the predominant form of Hindu nationalism in India. The term was formulated as a political ideology by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in 1923. It is used by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), the ...
in India and the prejudice against
Muslims
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
by
Hindus
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
. However, this is reported to have had no effect in the community level, reflected by demands of Muslims to convert Nepal into a Hindu State.
This is because they feel their religion is not threatened by the other and that they have shared in a spirit of brotherhood for decades. Both see the Expansion of Christianity as a common problem.
As a result, during the protests for Nepal re-declaration as a Hindu state, many Muslims supported the movement for
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...
as a हिंदू राष्ट्र ().
Hinduism and Christianity
In Nepal, the relations between the
Hindus
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
and
Christians
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ� ...
have many often been a subject of controversy. The expansion of Christianity is a controversial subject in
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...
, and Nepali Christians have been subject to sporadic violence and widespread social exclusion by the local Hindus and Muslims. It is frequently claimed in Nepali media and political discourse that missionaries offer the poor material incentives to convert with necessary proof but these proofs are often left with no attention.
There has been number of increase of conflicts between the
Hindus
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
and
Christians
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ� ...
of Nepal, due to the conversion of the poor and uneducated Hindus by the
Christian Pastors and
Missionaries.
There have often been conflicts between the Hindus with Christians in Nepal, among the land and other cultural disputes. The
Catholic Church of Nepal is the one of the fastest growing churches in the world, due to which the population and demographics of the
Hindus
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
of
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...
is decreasing leading to the serious tensions between the two communities. There have been several incident reporting the conflicts between the two communities. The rise of
Hindu nationalism in
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...
is seen as a threat on non-
Sanatani religions in Nepal. The only saying of people here is if western country can protect Christianity, Nepalese are also free to protect
Sanatani religions. The persecution mainly occurs as attacks on tribal people who
converted to Christianity by other tribal people, destruction of churches and a ban on
proselytization. Specially, the conversion flourishes after an earthquake, flood and landslides when people are strivening. Pastures and missionories are often seen to take profit in these condition.
Nepalese Hindu can certainly not accept missonories taking profit of onces economic condition and caste to change Religion. A bill passed in 2017 on the same.
Demographics
Historic population
Percentage wise and historic change
Growth rate
In 1952, the
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
population of Nepal was 7,318,392 with the percentage of 88.87%.
In recent years, the percentage of
Hindus
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
has decreased by nearly 7% from 88.87% in 1952 to 81.34%, as per
2011 census of Nepal.
The
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
population has experienced continuous decline in the population, which is mainly due to the low-fertility rate among the Nepali Hindus, which is also accompanied by
diaspora of Nepalese to
the United Kingdom,
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a List of cities in China, city and Special administrative regions of China, special ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
and
Oman
Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of ...
.
Hindu population by ethnic group
The figures are based on the
2011 Nepal census.
NEG denotes newly listed ethnic group, for which
2001 Nepal census figures are not available.
As seen from the
2001 and
2011 Census data, the percentage of Hindus has gone up by 0.72%, from 80.62% to 81.34%. However, the overall trend remains largely negative. All the major racial group except the Sino/Tibetans showed a decline in the percentage of Hindus, which was especially sharp among certain Adivasi groups such as
Tharu. Among the Sino/Tibetans, the percentage of Hindus went up by 2.37%, from 49.74% to 52.11%.
Hindu population by regions
The figures are based on
2011 Nepal census.
Province wise population
District wise population
Laws for religious affairs
File:Narayangarh-52.JPG, Nepali Hindu marriage at Narayangadh, Chitwan
File:Nepali Hindu groom.jpg, Nepali Hindu groom
File:Dashain Tika 02.JPG, Seniors offering ''Dashain Tika'' to junior
File:Dashai.jpg, Senior offering ''Dashain Tika'' to junior
File:Nepali bride and bridegroom.jpg, Nepali Hindu bride and groom
Currently, Nepal is a secular country, as declared by the Constitution of Nepal 2072 (Part 1, Article 4), where secularism 'means religious, cultural freedom, along with the protection of religion, culture handed down from time immemorial (सनातन)'. Nepal remained the last
Hindu nation until 2008, and still Nepal has a Hindu majority population. It has the highest Hindu population in the world, after
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
. By percentage,
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...
has the highest Hindu population in the world.
Although many government policies throughout history have disregarded or marginalized minority religions,
Nepalese societies generally enjoy religious tolerance and harmony among all religions, with only isolated incidents of religiously motivated violence.
Nepal's constitution does not give anyone the right to convert any person to another religion. Nepal also passed a more stringent anti-conversion law on 2017.
References
Citations
Sources
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External links
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{{Asia in topic, Hinduism in
Religion in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...