Hinduism in South India

South Indian Hindus
States and union territories of South India.
Total population
212,563,640 (2011)
84% of the total population
Regions with significant populations
Tamil Nadu63,188,168
Andhra Pradesh including Telangana74,824,149
Karnataka51,317,472
Kerala18,282,492
Religions
Hinduism
Majority
Minority

Hinduism in South India refers to the Hindu culture of the people of South India. Hinduism in South India is characterized by Dravidian customs and traditions, hence it is also called Dravidian Hinduism. The Dravidians made great contributions to the development of Hinduism.[1] South India was the birthplace of many Hindu saints and reformers. The Brahmins (Hindu priests class) of ancient Dakshinapatha (Tamilakam, Telangana, Karnataka including Maharashtra and Gujarat) were classified as Pancha-Dravida (The Five Dravidians).[2][3] The Hindus in South India are followers of various Hindu branches such as Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, Brahmanism and others. Hinduism was the state religion of most of the South Indian kingdoms. During the Ancient and Middle Ages were built in South India one of the greatest Hindu temples. South Indian kings such as the Cholas spread Hinduism overseas to parts of Southeast Asia.[4] The activities of South India across the Palk Strait led to survival of Hinduism in Sri Lanka[5] among the Sri Lankan Tamils. Some Hindu festivals are celebrated mostly or exclusively in South India and Sri Lanka. In South India are also numerous Hindu pilgrimage site that is visited annually by thousands of devotees.[6]

  1. ^ Elliot 2007i, p. 12.
  2. ^ Narada 1999, p. 8.
  3. ^ Lochtefeld 2001l, p. 203.
  4. ^ Eraly 2008i.
  5. ^ Lecture on Hindu sculpture and architecture of Sri Lanka Sunday Times - 29 September 2010 Archived 12 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Ghazal programme at Tirumala temple". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 30 September 2003. Archived from the original on 3 October 2003.