Religious beliefs in Rajasthan :

Religion in India comprises beliefs and traditions that rank among the worlds most ancient and varied. India is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world; religion plays a central role in the lives of most Indians. Numerous religions practiced by Indians can sometimes bewilder the visitor but a general understanding and tolerance has always existed and accounted for the wonderful cultural unity that has kept the Indian spirit alive.

Every home in Rajasthan has its deities : Those from the Hindu pantheon, folk heroes, mother goddesses, sati matas, even maharajas who ran their kingdoms like exemplary welfare states. Every village has its temples - from the vermilion daubed stones revered under the thickening trunks of ancient trees to carved temples that celebrate the spirit of their faith. Every faith has its gods - whether Hindu, Islamic, or Jain, in the nature of gurus, or as the cosmos itself. And every one of them has a place in Rajasthan, not only tolerant of each other's religions, but also participating in many of the events, or letting faiths intermingle to create a new vocabulary for those who believe in gods, and the power of gods.

The warrior spirit is a result, too, of this faith : It is the creed of the warrior to lay down his life in the protection of his motherland, a belief so strongly instilled that a spouse worships her husband in the image of god when he goes out to the battlefield - this even when, should he be slain, the wife would probably have to join in the jauhar procession, jumping into a fiery pit in a mass ritual of suicide. It was this faith too that led them to live with such zest, colouring their lives as they did their clothes, with the passion they believed the gods invested in their days spent on earth.

The religious kaleidoscope is truly amazing : the chanting of Jain hymns, and their observance of strict austerities is at odds with the Bhil zest for ritual festivities in honour of the gods, or even the Rajput exuberance in their faith, and in the preparations leading up to a religious ceremony, or the Muslim month of mourning and fasting even in the harshest climatic conditions. The Jains do not eat after sundown, the Muslims share their sweet porridge of sewaiyan with others on the occasion of Id, and the Rajputs sacrifice goats before their gods, and serve it as consecrated food. Yet, between them, there has always been a sense of harmony. The Rajput kings not only gave permission to the Muslims and Jain to build their religious shrines, they also, often, gave them the lands on which to do so.

These shrines were often, also profusely carved and sculptured, for the people invested their faith in creating temples and mosques of great and abiding beauty. Such shrines were also meeting points for the people, not only at the time of religious festivities, but even otherwise, and it was therefore usual to have plantations, even orchards, surround them. A well was essential for providing the water required to bathe the sanctum, but also for quenching the thirst of travellers who would seek shelter at temples on their journeys across the desert.

Given the hostile climate and landscape, the people found comfort too in the protection of the trees and their wildlife, investing them with spirits, so that tree felling was not encouraged, and even the peacock, monkey, deer and other animals were sanctified by faith. In the case of the Bishnois, followers of a 15th century saint, Jambhoji, such protection became a credo, and they became staunch conservatioists of their environment.

The Rajputs, their worship is also a form of paying obeisance to their ancestors, for they believe themselves descended from the very gods they pray too, and have the genealogies to prove it. At all important temples and shrines, there are Bhats, keepers of the family records whose duty it is to maintain genealogies, tracing them back not just a few generations . Most people know the clan's history, and are content with their more recent antecedents, but the royal families, and those of aristocratic background, have written records that go back (and in great detail) to over five hundred generations. No wonder their faith, and their awesome ancestry, draw such reverence. Since these histories were sung for patron families by bards, the heroic deeds of their past ancestors were soon transformed into the mythic, deifying earlier generations. No wonder the people of Rajasthan are so affected by their pasts: it often seems more real than even the present they live in.

Main Religions in Rajasthan :

Just like India, Rajasthan comprises of a number of religions. From the predominant Hinduism to the little less present Christianity, Rajasthan is a cultural and religious mixture of sorts. The religion and costumes of the tribes vary. They each have their own religion, costumes and profession. The main religions of Rajasthan, are:

Hinduism : Of all the Rajasthan religions, the predominant one is Hinduism. With its root going beyond 1000 BC, Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world and there is a belief that we all go through a series of reincarnations and our rebirths are determined by our karmas, until we attain moksha. The central figure is the Hindu Trinity of Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. This religion consists in the worship of Brahma, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, and other gods and goddesses. Along with Hinduism, there is also Arya Samaj (a reforming sect of modern Hinduism). Rajasthan also has its share of myths and folklore. Several folk heroes are worshipped and one can see hundreds of simple shrines in every village. Stones are painted and established in tiny temples under trees and near wells. Folk heroes like Pabuji, Gogaji, Baba Ramdeo, Harbhuji and Mehaji are revered. All forms of nature are worshipped and each area has its own local deity.

Some of the famous Hindu religious places in Rajasthan are - Nathdwara, Eklingji Shiva Temple, Birla Mandir (temple), Govind Devji Temple, Brahma Temple and so on.

Islam : The largest minority in India, Muslims are followers of the prophet Mohammad who was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 570 AD. The world's greatest Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti lies in Ajmer. Another pilgrimage centre is the Atarki Dargah, the tomb of Hamiuddin Nagori at Nagaur. The followers of these religions and rulers, over the period, were instrumental in constructing a number of very important temples, mosques, churches which were built in different part of the state. some of the most exquisite carvings on marble, stone and wood were created by the believers and exist to this day as a living proof of the creative genius which continues to fascinate by its sheer brilliance. Other than the structures themselves, the very surroundings of these holy places can give the visitor a sense of peace and calm.

Jainism : Another important and widely followed religion in Rajasthan is Jainism. Founded by Lord Rishabh and reorganised by Lord Mahavir, born in 599 BC, it is one of the oldest living religions of the world. Jains follow the teachings of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara. Mahavir stressed on the practice of non-violence. The main followers of this religion include the trading class and the wealthy section of society.

The famous religious places of Jains in Rajasthan include Ossian Jain Temples, Dilwara Jain Temples, Ranakpur Jain Temple and so on.

Dadupanthi : Another religious sect of Rajasthan includes the Dadupanthis. They are the followers of Dadu, who preached the equality of all men, strict vegetarianism, total abstinence from intoxicating liquor, and lifelong celibacy.

Sikhism : Over time, there has been a considerable increase in the number of followers of Sikh religion. The Sikhs believe in formless God and worship their holy book 'Guru Granth Sahib'.

Christians : The population of Christians in Rajasthan is quite small.

Religion has always played a very important role in the lives of Indian people right from medieval times. Numerous religions practiced by Indians can sometimes bewilder the visitor but a general understanding and tolerance has always existed and accounted for the wonderful cultural unity that has kept the Indian spirit alive. Hinduism is followed by a majority of population, though religions like Islam, Christianity, Sikhism and Jainism find due representation in state.