Hinduism in Punjab

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Vedic Punjab

The original Punjab region is now divided into several units: West Punjab (now in Pakistan) including the Gandhara region, the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and the Indian Union territory of Chandigarh. The regions of POK,pakistan occupied kasmir and Jammu have also been historically associated with the Punjab.

The Punjab is the 'Sapta Sindhu' region mentioned in the in the Rig Veda, the seven rivers are:

# Saraswati (thought to be the present day Ghaggar),
# Satadru/Shutadri (Sutlej),
# Vipasa (Beas),
# Asikani (Chenab),
# Paroshani (Ravi),
# Vitasta/Vet (Jhelum) and
# Sindhu (Indus).

The modern name of the Vipasa,'Beas' is thought to be a corruption of Veda Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata.

The region came to be known as "Punjab" only in the Mughal period.It was one of the cradles of Indian civilization and Hinduism.

Among the classic books that wholly or partly composed in this region are the following.

* Rigveda
* Grammar of Sakatayana
* Ashtadhyayi of Panini
* Nirukta of Yaska
* Charaka Samhita
* Mahabharata along with the Bhagavad Gita
* Brihatkatha of Gunadya
* The Bakhshali Manuscript

The world's oldest university Takshashila flourished here, even before the Buddha's birth.

The descendants of the Rishis, form the Brahmins of Hindu society. The Brahmins of this region are called 'Saraswata' after the legendary Saraswati river region, once known for the ashramas of the rishis.

Classic Cities of the Punjab Region

* Peshawar(Purushapur) , North West Frontier Province: Capital of Kanishka, the Kushan ruler and the site of the tallest stupa in Jambudvipa.
* Pushkalavati (Charsadda), North West Frontier Province: Founded by a son of Bharata, brother of Sri Rama, according to the Ramayana
* Takshashila (Taxila), Punjab(Pakistan): Also founded by a son of Bharata.
* Multan(Mulasthan),Punjab(Pakistan): Pilgrimage site of the legendary Sun temple.
* Rawalpindi, Punjab(Pakistan): city founded by Bappa Rawal, from the Sisodiya clan of Mewar Rajputs and ancestor of Rana Pratap Singh.
* Sialkot, Punjab(Pakistan): city founded by Sul (Shalya), emperor of Madradesa and brother of Madri, second wife of emperor Pandu and mother to Nakul and Sahadeva
* Kasur, Punjab(Pakistan): city founded by Kusha, son of Sri Rama according to the Bichitra Natak written by Guru Gobind Singh.
* Lahore,Punjab(Pakistan): city founded by Lava(Loh), son of Sri Rama according to the Bichitra Natak.
* Amritsar, Punjab(India): It is believed that the hermitage of Sage Valmiki, author of the Ramayana was located in the vicinity of the area that forms the modern city of Amritsar today. Valmiki is said to have composed the great epic at this very spot. Also, Sita gave birth to the twins, Lava and Kusha in this hermitage.
* Jalandhar, Punjab(India): A historic city mentioned in the Puranas and the most famous city in punjab.
* Kurukshetra,Haryana: The site of the Mahabharata war.
* Karnal, Haryana:city founded by Karna.
* Katasraj temple, Punjab(Pakistan): Classic temple complex in the Chakwal district, site of the 'enchanted pool' episode in the Mahabharata, where Yudhishtira is tested by his father Lord Yama/Dharma.

Punjabi Hindu Sects

The Sanatan Dharmis

An important group amongst Hindus in the Punjab are the Sanatan Dharmis. For meditation they keep idols of Hindu deities before them. Major deities worshipped include Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Vishnu , Hanuman. One of the major ones is Vaishno Devi of Jammu, (all known commonly as "Sheraan-wali"('She of the lions') in Punjabi .The worship of Hanuman is usually done on Tuesdays.

Sanatan Dharma Sabha was founded in the Punjab in late 19th century to promote traditional Hinduism. It sent scholars overseas and became a major force in some of the overseas Hindu communities. In January 1933 the session of the All-India Sanatan Dharma Sabha, presided over by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.

The Arya Samajis

An important sect amongst Punjabi Hindus is the Arya Samaj. It was founded by Swami Dayananda (born in the town of Tankara near Morvi(or Morbi) in the Kathiawar region of modern-day Gujarat) in 1875 in Bombay and became popular amongst Hindus in the Punjab and U.P. The first branch of the Arya Samaj was opened in Shantakruj, Mumbai in 1875. Arya Samajists do not believe in idol worship and incarnations of God (Avtarvaad) but believes in the philosophy on re-incarnation and transmigration. They hold the Vedic religion to be the only true religion and as such, regard the Vedas as their only religious books, but also regard Upnishad, Darshan Shastras and some other books written by Rishis (Arsh Granths), on the condition that the text in these should not be contradictory to Vedas. On this basis Arya Samaj rejected some of the Hindu scriptures like Purana etc. and other texts also which, according to Arya Samaj, is against the Vedas. The Arya Samaj also pleads for Shuddhi or the re-conversion into Hinduism of those Hindus who were converted to other religions. The places of worship of the Arya Samajists are different from those of the Sanatan Dharmis. Worship includes performing yajnas, reciting mantras and seeking spiritual solace by listening to religious discourses.

The Radhaswamis

The Radhaswami sect has its headquarters at the town of Beas and is popular amongst Punjabi Hindus. Like the Nirankaris and Namdharis, the Radhaswamis too are a transitional sect between Hinduism and Sikhism.

The Dev Samajis

Dev Samajis, an offshoot of Brahmo Samaj, are rationalists. Their headquarters is at Moga. Their activities are mostly confined to the moral fields. As such Dev Samajists have not attained much popularity. In all other respects the Dev Samajists are not different from the other Hindus.

Punjabi Hindu Castes

The principal castes among Hindus of the Punjab are Aroras, Banias, Bhatias, Brahmins, Dalits, Gujjars, Kalals, Khatris, Rajputs, Sainis, Sansis,Sharma, Soods and Tarkhans.

Trivia

The popular prayer Jai Jagdish Hare was composed in Punjab by Pandit Shardha Ram Phillauri.

References

* [http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/gaz_ldh8.htm Religion and castes in Punjab]

ee also

*Hinduism and Sikh Panth
*Khawaja Shaikh
*Qanungoh Shaikh
*Punjabi Shaikh
*Muslim League Attack on Sikhs and Hindus in the Punjab 1947
*Places in Pakistan with Hindu and Sikh Populations before 1947
* Jainism in Punjab

Further reading

* [http://www.bharatvani.org/books/mla/ Online 1] [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC03809888&id=9fQLAAAAIAAJ&q=Muslim+League+Attack+on+Sikhs+and+Hindus+in+the+Punjab+1947&dq=Muslim+League+Attack+on+Sikhs+and+Hindus+in+the+Punjab+1947&pgis=1 Online 2] [http://allaboutsikhs.com/books/gst/ Online 3] (A free copy of this book can be read from any 3 of the included "Online Sources" of this free "Online Book")

External links

* [http://jalandhar.co.in/ Very Nice Info About Jalandhar, The Punjab (INDIA)]
* [http://webpunjab.com/culture/main.htm The Punjab--An Overview]
* [http://punjabgovt.nic.in/Culture/Historical.htm Punjab History]
* [http://www.pcschicago.org/Punjab/historical.htm Punjab Historical Background]
* [http://www.durgianatirath.com/ Shri Durgiana Tirath]

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