Religion
Bihar finds mention in the Vedas, Puranas, Epics etc and was
the main scene of activities of the Buddha and the 24 Jain Tirthankaras. The
hermitages of ancient monastic orders cluster in the plains and hill sides. The teachings of
Buddha and
Mahavira, deeply engraved in the enduring ruins and relics ring down the corridors
of time. Religion is ever present in the daily life of the people. Besides
prominent ones like Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, other religions like Islam,
Christianity, Sikhism etc are also found here.
Hinduism
Worship of Shakti | Religion
of Mithila | Vedantists | Shaivites
| Vaishnavism
The Hindus are the largest religious community in Bihar.
Hindu piety involves rituals and ceremonies, celebrating festivals, making pilgrimages, building
temples, reading the Ramayana and chanting the Gayatri
Mantra. There are a huge number of temples in Bihar.
The Hinduism of the masses is chiefly characterized by
polytheism which has given rise to many cults such as Shakta, Shaivism,
Vaishnavism etc. Each cult and sect has its own special gods or goddesses, but all
combine to revere other deities of the Hindu pantheon and join in their worship.
The working religion of the peasant's everyday life consists of the propitiation of his
'Ishta Devata' (favourite deity),
ghosts (bhuts)
and spirits (prets), in order that they may not afflict their worshippers or
may grant them material blessings. The primitive propitiation of evil
spirits and god lings and the worship of the Hindu gods go on side by side and
quite often the same men make offerings to both. Besides Brahma, Vishnu,
Shiva
and Durga, one of the most important local deity is the elephant headed god,
Ganesha. Ritualistic greeting of the rising sun and the ceremonial morning and
the evening ablutions are widely observed by all devout Brahmins.
Hindus
believe in karma, image worship, rebirth and fatalism. Worship in the temples is
done by Brahmin priests. He
recites the mantras and makes the offerings for the worshipper. The priests have
a considerable hold over the people especially in the rural areas. Their advice
is sought when a difficulty arises, usually by the women. There are countless
grotesque and degrading superstitions in which so many of the peasants and
labourers still seek priesthood. The priests hope by these means to retain their
hold on masses and even the more educated and liberal minded among them do
little actively to combat such beliefs.
Hinduism in Bihar is a religion of caste rules and usages. Its
sanctions are ultimately social, its laws immemorial group customs and its tribunal the committee of the fraternity, it presents itself to the ordinary man
not as a statement of the eternal principles of morality, but as a formidable
code of etiquette ruling the details of his personal life. He finds himself
greatly concerned that he should not marry a woman not belonging to his caste or
dine with a man not of his own community, he should not help the wrong man or
entertain vague caste prejudices against the right one. Bihar is known for its
factionalism, while others think of themselves as Bengalis or Punjabis, Parsis
or Muslims, in Bihar their compatriots think of themselves only as Bhumihars,
Rajputs, Kayasthas or Maithil Brahmins. Hinduism
offers them the hope of salvation from the hard life they lead.
|
