Religion in Nepal

Nepal was formerly the world’s only constitutionally declared Hindu state, but following the movement for democracy in early 2006 and the breaking of King Gyanendra's power, the Nepali Parliament amended the constitution to make Nepal a secular state.

According to the 2001 census, 80.6 percent of Nepalese are Hindu, 10.7 percent are Buddhist, 4.2 are Muslim, 3.6 percent are Kirat (an indigenous religion with Hindu influence), 0.5 percent are Christian, and 0.4 percent are classified as other groups. Although the population is mostly Hindu, since the 1971 census Hindus have shown the greatest decline as a proportion of the population, and Buddhists and Kirats have increased the most: in 1971 Hindus were 89.4 percent of the population, Buddhists 7.5 percent, and Kirats statistically 0 percent. However, statistics on religious groups are complicated by the ubiquity of dual faith practices, particularly among Hindus and Buddhists. Moreover, shifts in the population’s religious composition also reflect political changes.

The geographical distribution of religious groups in the early 1990s revealed a preponderance of Hindus, accounting for at least 87 percent of the population in every region. The largest concentrations of Buddhists were found in the eastern hills, the Kathmandu Valley, and the central Tarai; in each area about 10 percent of the people were Buddhist. Buddhism was relatively more common among the Newar and Tibeto-Nepalese groups. Among the Tibeto-Nepalese, those most influenced by Hinduism were the Magar, Sunwar, and Rai peoples. Hindu influence was less prominent among the Gurung, Limbu, Bhote, and Thakali groups, who continued to employ Buddhist monks for their religious ceremonies.

The indigenous religion of Nepāla is [http://texts.00.gs/shamanism_in%20_Himalaya-s.htm| Jhankrī] , having its own [http://texts.00.gs/Jhankri_texts.htm| liturgical texts] .

Hinduism in Nepalese Culture

It is even believed, according to Nepalese mythology that Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva had come to Nepal in the form of deer. [ "History of Nepal: With an Introductory Sketch of the Country and People of Nepal" By Daniel Wright ]

Establishment of Nepal by Ne Muni

He used to perform religious ceremonies at Teku, the confluence of the Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers. [ [http://www.infoclub.com.np/nepal/history/history_ancient.htm The Ancient Period] ] He is said by legend to have 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. [ Balfour, P. 195 "Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia, :" ] He selected Bhuktaman to be the first king in the line of the Gopal ("Cowherd") Dynasty. [ [http://www.infoclub.com.np/nepal/history/history_ancient.htm The Ancient Period] ] The Gopal dynasty ruled for 621 years. Yakshya Gupta was the last king of this dynasty.However,this mythology can be challenged as no such name as Ne exists in Nepali or other sanskrit derived languages.

Flag of Nepal

It is believed that Lord Vishnu had organized the Nepali people and given them this flag, with the sun and moon as emblems on it. [ Gorkhapatra Corporation "The Nepalese Perspective" ]

In a Hindu Purana, 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. [ P. 10 "The Lotus & the Flame: An Account on Nepalese Culture" By Dhooswan Saymi, Dhūsvāṃ Sāyami ]

Gorakhnath and Gurkhas

It is said that Gorakhnath came to Nepal in the reign of the 8th Thakuri King. [ P. 35 "Nepal and the East India Company"by Bhairava Dat Sanwal ]

The Gurkhas if Nepal are the descendants of Gorakhnath of the Nath sect. Gorakhnath was a disciple of Machendranath, a backward-caste saint.

Machendrajatra is a national festival in Nepal to celebrate the birth of the saint. The Gurkha war-cry to this day is "Guru Gorakhnath ki jai". [ P. 98 "A Handbook of the Fighting Races of India" by P. D. Bonarjee ]

According to a Terai myth, when the Pandavas were ascending to heaven, they all fell, but Bhima from the Pandava brothers was rescued by Gorakhnath. [ P. 329 "Encyclopdia of Religion and Ethics" by James Hastings ]

One Nepalese myth says that as Gorakhnath arrived in Nepal, the terrible dought in occurring in the period halted! [ P. 329 "Encyclopdia of Religion and Ethics" by James Hastings ]

Buddha's Lineage from Vedic Sages

Lord Buddha is said to be a descendant of Sage Angirasa in many Buddhist texts. [ "The Life of Buddha as Legend and History", by Edward Joseph Thomas ] Scholars like Dr. Eitel too connect the name to the Rishi Gautama. [ P. 95 "A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms" By James Legge ]

Placenames From Hindu Icons

There are many places in Nepal with names signifying icons in Hindu history.

Janakpur is the name of a city, named after Raja Janaka, the father of Sita. The modern-city is the capital of the Janakpur Zone.

The Mahakali Zone is also the name of a collection of districts, named after Kali Maa. Within this zone, there is also the Mahakali River.

Mahabharata is the name of a town in Nepal, named after the Mahabharata/Kuurukshetra War.

The Kapilvastu District is named after Sage Kapila.

The Vyasa Valley is the name given to the Kalapaani (near the Lipu-Lekh pass at the border between India and Tibet) and Kailash Lake Mansarovar.

ee also

* Buddhism in Nepal
* Hinduism in Nepal
* Islam in Nepal
* History of the Jews in Nepal
* Bahá'í Faith in Nepal

References