Kerala
houses all major world religions. From early recorded days ,Kerala had been
forthcoming towards newer faiths from alien cultures. According to the 1991
census, 60% of the state population is Hindus. Muslims and Christians constitute
20 % each.
Though all communities are spread across the state Muslims are concentrated
on Malabar region, where as Christians are on Travancore . Both foreign religions
have assimilated a lot from Hinduism. Members of a community actively participate
in a festival of another religious group.
A microscopic community in Kerala is Jewish Diaspora with a population of less
than hundred. They have a 10 centuries-back history to boast.
Hinduism originated from religious practices of the dravidians and Aryan Brahmins.
Vedic scriptures documented circa 1000 BC form the substratum of Hindu faith.
Hinduism has a rich philosophical tradition with vedas forming its ideological
foundation. Upanishads, another sacred scripture, delves into the metaphysical
nature of the universe and soul.
Hinduism believes in rebirths that lead to moksha, the spiritual salvation that
frees human beings from the clutches of the world. Each rebirth helps human
beings move closer to the divinity. Bad actions during our lives result in bad
karma, which ends in a lower reincarnation. If actions are righteous, incarnation
will be on a higher level. Hinduism has tens of thousands of pantheon deities.
Brahmav, the Absolute, is seen as the creator of the universe. The creator has
three incarnations: Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the preserver and Shiva, the
destroyer. Sakthi is represented by goddess power in the forms of Saraswathi,
Lakshmi and Parvathi.
