Indian J. Res. Found., (2019) 7, 17-26 ISSN 2454-6577 RESEARCH ARTICLE Spread of various religions in Kanyakumari district areas N. Austin John Manohar, T. S. Sasikala * Department of History, Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Marthandam-630 165, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India Received 04 January 2019; Accepted 14 March 2019 Available online 18 March 2019 Abstract The important religions of this Kanyakumari District are Hinduism, Keywords Christianity and Islam. Majority of people are Hindus. But Christianity claims a fairly high percentage of the population. The third major community Muslims is Muslims. Mosques are erected in convenient places and slowly made many converts to Islam from other religion. Significantly a considerable Hinduism number of Jains are living in the district. Many people from the northern Christianity states came for business to Nagercoil and later they settled there. Temples are the mainstary and back–bone of religion. Kanyakumari District is blessed Buddhism with several reputed legendary, historical, architectural and artistic Jainism importance. The Hindu religion is one of the most popular religions of Kanyakumari District. About 60 percent of the population are Hindus. Most of the temples were dedicated to lord Siva and there is always an image of his consort Parvathi or Durga executed for worship. The Goddess is supposed to rule over the minor divinities worshipped by the lower order of the Hindus. The people of the village are believed that her presence in the village protect people from the epidemics disasters and from the evil influence of devils. The stretches of paddy fields, coconut people worshiped her periodically and special offerings are performed groves, Rubber garden and whenever cholera or small pox breaks out in the village. luxurious forests and the rare earth of the western sea shore and stretched valley mountain of the Western GhatsThe people of Introduction Kanyakumari District belong to Kanniyakumari district is the smallest district in Tamil Nadu. Even though it different religions. As per 2001 is the smallest in terms of area (1672/Sq.Km), the density of population is the census in KanyakumariDistrict, highest 1119/Sq.Km in Tamil Nadu next to Chennai. In literacy it stands Hindus are 859307, Muslims first. By its very location, the District occupies a unique place amongst the 70360, Christians 745406, Sikhs districts of Tamil Nadu. It is the only place in the entire world where one can 31, Buddhists 26, Jains 77, Other witness both the rising and setting of the sun. It has a coastal line of 71.5 kms Religions 113 and Other stretched on the three sides. This small district is famous on its vast green Religions not stated 714. Total population is 1676034. Adhi *Corresponding author Tel. + 91 9445976117 E-mail : [email protected] Kesavaperumal Temple, Thiruvattar, Murugan Temple, Published by GM SOFTWARE Kumarakoil, Magadevar Temple, 18 N. Austin John Manohar, T. S. Sasikala Munchirai, Siva Temple, Tirparappu, Parthasarathi Saivism Temple, Partheevapuram, Bhagavathi Amman Temple, kanyakuumari and Nagaraja Temple, Saivism is one of the most popular religions in parts Nagercoil are historically important. of Kanniyakumari District. That does not mean that the western part has no Saivite temple. Lord Siva is Hinduism worshipped in different appellations such as Mahadevar, Easwarar, and Arthanareeswarar. Siva Hinduism is the world‟s oldest religion, according to temples are important in Kanniyakumari district. many scholars, with roots and customs dating back Some of the important Siva temples that exist in more than 4,000 years. Today, with about 900 million Kanniyakumari district are Pannipakam Temple. followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion Thirparappu Temple, Ponmanai Temple, Suchindram behind Christianity and Islam. Roughly 95 percent of Temple, Siva Temple at Paravaseri, Vadiveeswaram the world‟s Hindus live in India. Because the religion Temple, Thalakady Temple, and Bhoothapandy has no specific founder, it‟s difficult to trace its BhoothaIinger Swamy Temple. origins and history. Hinduism is unique in that it‟s not a single religion but a compilation of many traditions and philosophies. Minor deities Vaishnavism Cultic worship was common among the Nadars. They worshiped many Gods like Putham, Pey, Pisasu etc. Vishnu is worshiped by most of the people in [4] Their Gods are lodged mainly in their own homes Kanniyakumari District. There are plenty of Vishnu [5]. They worshipped female deities too; Bhadrakali Temples in this district. The most important Vishnu was the tutelary deity of the Nadars [6]. They feared Temples are Atikasava Perumal temple at Thiruvattar, that it inflicted epidemics like small-pox and cholera Parthivapuram Temple, Suchindram Temple, [7]. They also worshipped Agni, Madan, Kariamanikapuram Temple, Paraveseri Temple, Thambiran/Manthiramoorthi, Katan, Mamnkali, Krishnan Temple and Thirupathisaram Temple. Uchinimahali, Parvathi, Neeti, Sudalai Petchi and Suchindram is another Vaishnava Centre, situated on Amman [8]. The devil temple of Elatharamman at the way to Kanniyakumari. Perumal is the deity of this Agasteeswaram is said to have been built in those temple. Every year temple car festival is conducted in days with the aid of demons [9]. grand scale. Kariamanickapuram Alwar temple is another Ezhavas and Nadars worshipped the female deity Vaishnava Centre. The Vaishnavites considered that Bhadrakali and male deities like Sastha, Veerabhadran the deity of this temple is more powerful. Paravaseri etc. [10]. Some of them also worshipped the images temple is situated at a distance of one kilometer from of serpent [11]. They sacrificed animals and birds to Nagercoil. Many inscriptions show that this temple is please their Gods. So that they would not do any harm very famous even during the time of the cholas. to them [12]. They sacrificed animals and toddy were given to their deities [13]. They had many Vishnu is worshipped in this name. The Vishnu superstitious beliefs also. In the case of sickness, the temple at Thiruvithancode was also one of the people first consulted the magician; sometimes the important Vaishnavites Centres. Krishnancoil is a devil dancer foretold the fortunes of the devotees. The suburb ofNagercoil, fame for the Vishnu temples. The people listened to them with reverence. deity of this temple is called Balakrishna and it belongs to 1770 A.D. It is stated that There were many towns of the modern type, Srimoolam Thirunal Maharaja came to this temple commanding the facilities of access and the often for worshipping Lord Krishna [1]. conveniences and comforts of life. Nagercoil, the capital of Kanniyakumari District is a town of rising Thiruppathisaram is another important Vishnu temple importance. It lies at the head of the Aramboly pass place where Vaishnava Nammalvar glorified the Lord about 12 km, on the Trivandrum to Tirunelveli road. of Thiruppathisaram in his verses as ''Vanparisarattu Nagaraja temple is situated in the heart of the iruthaen Thiruvalimarbar [2]. Inscriptions show that Nageroil town. It is surrounded by paddy fields, the temple belongs to 1613 A.D. and 1785 A. D. [3] flower gardens and coconut growers. The garden is Thus Kanniyakumari District is filled with Vishnu famous for its Naga Flower (Couroupita guianensis) a temples and at the same time we cannot deny that symbolic representation of Nagaraja [14]. Saivism temples are non-existent. Spread of various religions in Kanyakumari district areas 19 The outstanding feature of this temple is the sanctum. he had constructed the beautiful fleet of steps down the Sanctum is surrounded by walls of mud and has a simple Somatheertha and gave valuable presents to the roof thatched with coconut leaves and bamboo sticks. The temple. legend says that the king of kalakkad had a dream in th which Maharaja intimated him, not to remove thatched On the 11 day of the month of karkataka in the roof over the sanctum. The artistic gateway of the temple kollam year 639, which corresponded to a Monday, represents the typical Malabar style of architecture [15]. fifth tithi of the first fortnight, the provision made as On Sundays and especially the days of Ayilyaa lot of charity by Dirgha-bhattar, an Arya immigrant from people worship and offer milk to Nagaraja is considered Antarvedi-rajya, for feeding one Brahman daily during very sacred. On Sunday in the month of Avani this temple the midday-service in the temple of Rupanarayana- wears a festive look. On that day people from the vinnagar-Emberuman of vadaseri alias Srimat surrounding villages come here and offer milk, salt and Adityavarma-chaturvedimangalam. A Brahmadeya in pepper and wooden toys to the deity. Even people belong Nanjinadu offered 2 nali of rice, 5 nali of paddy and to other religions submit their offerings to the God. for salt, 1 uri of paddy, in all 5 nali and one uri of paddy for one day, i.e., 1 kollam 2 tuni 5 nali for a The contribution of this temple to a typically cultural month and 12 kottai of paddy for a year inclusive of synthesis is patent by original. The presiding deity Thanu the excess of 6 days. With this, the charity had to be (siva) mal (Vishnu) Ayan (Brahma) is the term, the top, conducted [20]. the middle and the base of which are identified with the Trinity (in the above order) [16]. Once again, there is a The temple is closely connected with the history of the tradition that in this place that the Trimurtis agreed to Chola kings.During the reign of Rajendra Chola, the grant perpetual Darshan to Anusuya when she temple might have been built in the Chola artistic won over them in course of testing her chastity [17]. style. From this temple, we come to know the architect Suchindram is the confluence of Shankar‟s again six cults skills of Chola kings. Kariyamanikapuram is another for here, along with others, tradition presents and work center for Vishnu worship.