Current Statistics
Hinduism is one of the largest religions in the world and it is the third largest religion in India. According to the 2011 census, 79.8% of the population of India practices Hinduism, the majority being native speakers of Hindi and other Member Indian languages. By 2016, this figure had increased to 81.3%. Though the number has grown, there is still a significant minority of other religious groups such as Muslims, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, Sikhs and Atheists who make up 18.4% of the population of India.
The percentage of Hindus in India has remained fairly steady over the last century, despite on-going uncertainty from communal violence, religious reform creativity and an increase in non-Hindu immigration. Hinduism has influenced many aspects of Indian culture, including the country’s economy, language and architecture, as well as its art and literature.
Major Influencing Factors
Different factors contribute to the persistence of Hinduism, even in the face of other religions. Firstly, a large majority of India’s population is rural, illiterate and without access to modern educational institutions. Urban centers like Bangalore and Mumbai are significantly more cosmopolitan and tend to be less observant of traditional Hindu practices.
Secondly, caste and regional divisions also contribute to the continuity of Hinduism in India. Even though the constitution of India outlaws caste discrimination, attitudes and practices continue in some places. Caste affiliations in rural areas are often central to daily life, with people belonging to one group having limited interaction with another. This has the effect of constraining the spread of other religious practices among Hindu communities.
Expert Perspectives
In recent years, attempts have been made to explain the continued dominance of Hinduism in India. Reza Aslan, a professor of Creative Writing at the University of California and a popular voice among Hindu Nationalists have tried to articulate the reasoning for the continuity of Hinduism. In his work, The Phenomenon of Hinduism, he argues that the success of Hinduism stems from its ability to adapt to diverse destinations. According to Aslan, unlike some religions that insist on a certain degree of uniformity, Hinduism is open to adaptation and change.
Historians have also suggested that the development of Hinduism over the centuries has helped to sustain its popularity. The religion is inherently tolerant and non-sectarian – so much so that most reputable scholars claim its philosophical ideas reached out to influence some of the major religions of the world, including Zen Buddhism and Confucianism.
Political Impact
The Hindu right, a political movement that emphasizes Hindu culture and communalism, has had a significant impact on the rise of Hinduism in India. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which embraces Hindu nationalist policy, is one of the major political parties in India and commands a considerable support base. The Hindu right insists that their platform is to preserve India’s Hindu culture, while other political parties accuse them of promoting xenophobia and communal violence against other religions and practices.
Educational Influence
The Indian educational system places considerable emphasis on the facts of Hinduism, as well as its influence on culture and society. Many school textbooks feature significant portions of Hindu mythology, historical figures and beliefs, which become instilled into the young minds. This reinforces the notion that Hinduism is the dominant religion of India and serves to discourage non-Hindu worship and practice.
Contemporary Challenges
Despite its historical prevalence and the social, cultural and educational influences that sustain it, the practice of Hinduism is encountered with considerable resistance from non-Hindus in India. Secular philosophies which criticize aspects of Hinduism and religion, in general, have found growing appeal among sections of the population, especially the youth. There is even a fear among Hindu traditionalists that Indian society is becoming increasingly individualistic and materialistic and that faith in Hinduism is waning.
Adaptability and Growth
Hinduism has continued to persist year after year despite numerous challenges and transformations. This indicates that Hinduism, as a religion and a way of life, has deep roots which are difficult to tear apart. Hinduism has demonstrated that it is rooted in the philosophical, religious, cultural and literacy aspect of Indian society. Despite fragmentation and competing religious practices, Hinduism has evidenced its adaptability, and as a religion, it is in a position to continue to thrive and evolve.
The Role of Culture and Tradition
The fact that Hinduism has endured for centuries is in large part due to its culture and tradition. The festival, rituals and customs of Hinduism carries on the culture of the entire Indian subcontinent. Many Hindu holidays are observed with veneration and reverence, including Diwali, Holi, Durga Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri and Shivaratri. These festivals, as well as the centuries-long tradition of rituals like sandhyavandana, karva chauth vrat, varmala, aarti and havan, continue to be followed in India, binding people together in a shared culture.
The Popularity of the Vedas and Upanishads
The Vedas and Upanishads are the authoritative texts of Hinduism, venerated by many of its followers throughout the centuries. The Vedas provide the knowledge of the universe while the Upanishads are spiritual musings that offer timeless truths on human existence. Hindus all over India often use these scriptures as guidance, often as part of their daily practices and as a source of reassurance. The popularity of the Vedas and Upanishads, combined with the continued cultural relevance of Hindu customs, contributes to the resilience and continuity of the religion in India.
Changing Values and Beliefs
Though Hinduism is the major religion practised in India, its relevance and appeal have been evolving in recent decades. As people explore new ways of approaching their faith, there has been a gradual drift away from the traditional dogmas of the religion. In its place, a more personal exploration of spirituality is being encouraged, allowing people to craft their own belief systems and apply their own interpretations to the various Hindu scriptures. The rise of diverse streams of Hinduism and the personalization of religion at large is bound to continue as we move towards a more globalized and tolerant world.
