| One
can find people of different faiths in Andhra Pradesh - Hindus,
Muslims (around Hyderabad and Secunderabad), Buddhists and Christians.
But the principal religious groups are the Hindus, Christians, and
Muslims.
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Hinduism
The Hindus consists of 'Brahmins',
'Kshatriyas', 'Vaishyas' and 'Shudras'. There are
also tribes who cannot be categorised with these but
are nevertheless an integral part of the Hindu Community.
There are also "Virashaivas" who are the
followers of the religious reformers 'Sri Basaveswara'.
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Tribal
Religious Beliefs & Customs
The religion of the hill tribes
is based on superstition and animism, for being forest-dwellers,
living in close association with nature, they are
in need of protection from the elements all the time.
All their deities such as 'Jakara', 'Takaurani', 'Pinerani',
'Baripennu', 'Dharavipennu' etc, bear a close resemblence
to the Andhra 'Gramadevas', and their shrines are
situated in remote places such as isolated trees,
a high hill peak, or an inaccessible pool.
The worship to these deities generally demands sacrifices,
and buffaloes, goats, pigs, and fowls are slaughtered
for the occasion. Witchcraft is also widely believed
in, the witches being credited with powers to transform
themselves into tigers who can plague their victims
by causing their limbs to wither away, or sucking
their blood by means of a string attached to their
persons. |
Islam & Christianity
Even though Christianity does not recognise any caste system,
but still they are found in large number. Most of them are
converted Christians. Muslims are found in almost all the
places in Andhra Pradesh. The important groups among them
are 'Shaik', 'Syed', 'Mughal' and 'Pathan'.
| Buddhism
Buddhism is the fourth largest
religion of the world after Christianity, Islam, and
Hinduism. It is known to have flourished during the
1st century AD in Andhra Pradesh. The Buddhist pilgrims,
Fahiyan and Hieun t`sang have made references to the
Sriparvata hill, which is in the Nagarjunakonda valley
of the same river Krishna. After the decline of Buddhism,
the Hindu religion would appear to have re-established
its authority. |
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