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THE PEOPLE
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RELIGION
Hinduism: From the foregoing account about castes as they were when the old Gazetteer was compiled, it is obvious that only Marwadis followed Jainism. The Hindus including Brahmans and who worshipped Brahmanic gods employed Brahmans as priests while some
castes and tribal Hindus chiefly worshipped non-Brahmanic and animistic deities and had belief even in spirits and ghosts. The religion of Brahmans and who followed them is called Hinduism. They are its exponents and priests. Most Brahmans are exclusively devotees of Shiva or Vishnu or their incarnations or both. All of them worship Shakti or Devi, the female principal of energy of Shiva.
The term " animism " is often used to describe the religious beliefs of lower class Hindus and the tribals. The general nature of animism may be described as the belief that everything which has life or motion has also a soul or spirit and all natural phenomena are caused by direct personal agency. This results in the worship of stones, animals, trees, streams, hills and every such object. These have been pointed out while describing the customs and usages of the so-called higher and lower Hindu groups. Islam and Christianity, have already been dealt with as religions while giving their account.
Mohammedanism: However, five standard observances of the Muhammedan religion may be described here; they are: (1) Kalima or creed which consists simply in the sentence, " There is but one God and Muhammad is his Prophet.". This is frequently on the lips of devout Muslims; (2) Sula or the five daily prayers, the five periods for them being (a) morning before sun-rise, (b) mid-day after the Sun has begun to decline, (c) the afternoon about 4 p.m. (d) evening immediately after sun-set, (e) evening after the night has closed in. These prayers are repeated in Arabic and before saying them, the face, hands and feet have to be washed and the teeth also are expected to be cleaned; (3) rosa or the thirty-day fast of Ramzan, the ninth month of the Muslim year. During its continuance no food or water must be taken between sun-rise and sun-set. Also betel-leaf, tobacco and conjugal intercourse must be abjured for the whole period; (4) jakat, the legal alms consisting of money, cattle, grain, fruits and merchandise to be given annually to pilgrims desiring to go to Mecca but have not the means, to poor religious and other beggars, to debtors who have not the means of discharging their debts, to Champions of the cause of God and to proselytise to Islam; (5) the Haj or pilgrimage to Mecca is incumbent on all Muslims, men and women, who have sufficient means to meet the expenses of the journey and to maintain their families at home during their absence. |
