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Along with Christianity and Islam, Hinduism is one of the major religions of Kerala. Hindus in Kerala usually have a lower birth rate and much higher death rate compared to the general population.
See Caste system in Kerala, Demographics of Kerala.
Kerala is home to Hindu saints and swamis of all castes. Vaikunda Swami, who was the first among the saints of Kerala was a Nadar. Narayana Guru, Sant Enadinatha, Sant Ilakkulaccanrar, Sant Tiruppana were all Sudra, Cheraman Nayanar was a Kothayar, Chattampi Swamikal and Swami Chinmayananda were of the Nair caste, and Adi Shankara was a Nambuthiri Brahmin. The Harijan Parayas of Kerala claim to descend from Sant Vasistha. Kollengode has a structure near Thirthala-Koottanad Road, in memory of a Harijan saint, Sant Paakkanar. In the Rapayan Tujjal, the narrator (dancer-reciter) is a Harijan and a descendant of Sant Pakkanar. The Periya Puranam, possibly written by a Paraya, describes the Parayas. Further, the Vishvakarma Purana was written by a sonar (goldsmith).
The official festivals of Sree Narayana Jayanti (Narayana Guru's birthday) and Sree Narayana Samadhi Day (Narayana Gurus passing away) are celebrated by the Keralites in memory of a great Shudra reformer of their society.
The modern Hindu Karma yogi saint Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi) is was from the Arayan caste (fisherman). She was selected to represent Hindu Dharma in the World Parliament of Religions in September 1991. Bhagawan Nityananda is another important Hindu saint reognized worldwide.
Several Hindu movements important to Hindu history took place in Kerala. These were Shankara's Advaita, Vaishnava Alwar, and Shaiva Nayanar.
Kerala has several ancient Hindu temples. In the medieval Alwar Divya Desam text, out of 108 Vaishnava temples all over India adored by the Alwars, eleven of those are in Kerala. The Karppillikkavu Sree Mahadeva Temple, (one of the most ancient in India) dedicated to the Kirata avatar of Lord Shiva still exists in Kerala.
See Also
References
- http://www.springerlink.com/index/H18J4H5W37507H21.pdf
- www.education.kerala.gov.inTowards Modern Kerala, 10th Standard Text Book, Chapter 9, Page 101. See this Pdf
- Dr. C. I. Issac, "The Origin of Syrian Christians of Keralam"
- P. 94-5Tourist Guide to Kerala: The Land of Lavish Lagoons By V. Subburaj, Various
- (Kr̥ṣṇavāriyar, P. 193 A History of Malayalam Metre)