Hinduism in Maharashtra

Hindus form 79.83% of the state's total population as per 2011 census. Hindus form the majority in all the districts of the state.The religion plays an important role in the lives of the Maharashtrian people in their day-to-day life. Vitthoba, along with other incarnations of Vishnu such as Rama and Krishna, Hanuman, Dattatreya, and Shaiva deities such as Shiva, Parvati, and Ganesha, are popular with Hindus of Maharashtra. The Varkari tradition holds a strong grip on the local Hindus of Maharashtra.[1]: 140–170  The public Ganesha festival started by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in the late 19th century is very popular. Marathi Hindus also revere Bhakti saints associated with varkari sects such as Dnyaneshwar, Savata Mali, Tukaram, Namdev, Janabai, and Chokhamela. Many religious figures from 19th and 20th century are revered. They include Swami Samarth, Gajanan Maharaj, Sai baba of Shirdi, Tukdoji Maharaj, Gondavalekar Maharaj, and Gadge Maharaj.

Traditional Gudhi

In every village of Maharashtra, at least one Hindu temple can be found. Maharashtra also has significant Hindu populations with origins in other states and regions of India, which adds to the diversity of temples and traditions in the state. The state has numerous recently built temples by groups such as the Swaminarayan sect, ISKCON, and South Indian communities.

Tradition

Varakari is a major tradition followed by Marathi Hindus. Varakaris are Vaishnav devotees. Vththal is a deity worshipped mostly in Varakari tradition. The main Deity worshipped in Maharashtra is Krishna in the form of Viththal.


Religion in Maharashtra state (2011)[2]

  Hinduism (79.83%)
  Islam (11.54%)
  Buddhism (5.81%)
  Jainism (1.25%)
  Christianity (0.96%)
  Sikhism (0.20%)
  Others (including Jews, Gonds, Parsis) (0.41%)

Deities
A black and white photograph of a stone icon of an arms-akimbo man standing on a brick and wearing a dhoti, angarkha (shirt), uparna (cloth that flows over both his hands), a crown, fish-shaped earrings and long necklaces till his waist.
Vithoba is popular deity in Maharashtra.

Maharashtrian Hindus worship many deities that belong to the traditions of Vaishnavism and Shaivism, most prominently the following:

Demographics

The following data is taken from 2001 Census of India.

Hindus by district in Maharashtra

District

Total Population

Population Under 6 Years

Hindu Population

Hindu Population Under 6 Years

HINDUS %

Hindus Under6 %

Birth Rate ('95 to '01)

H Birth Rate

Nandurbar 1,311,709 230,213 1,198,481 212,040 91.37% 92.11% 29.25 29.49
Dhule 1,707,947 255,231 1,522,895 224,249 89.17% 87.86% 24.91 24.54
Jalgaon 3,682,690 525,668 3,049,368 418,615 82.80% 79.63% 23.79 22.88
Buldana 2,232,480 340,294 1,622,192 235,708 72.66% 69.27% 25.40 24.22
Akola 1,630,239 235,835 1,024,080 137,396 62.82% 58.26% 24.11 22.36
Washim 1,020,216 160,486 746,841 115,450 73.20% 71.94% 26.22 25.76
Amravati 2,607,160 357,834 1,883,148 253,784 72.23% 70.92% 22.88 22.46
Wardha 1,236,736 155,612 1,006,235 127,993 81.36% 82.25% 20.97 21.20
Nagpur 4,067,637 525,850 3,090,588 400,720 75.98% 76.20% 21.55 21.61
Bhandara 1,136,146 154,051 953,507 131,228 83.92% 85.18% 22.60 22.94
Gondiya 1,200,707 171,191 1,041,802 149,839 86.77% 87.53% 23.76 23.97
Gadchiroli 970,294 154,744 818,640 130,989 84.37% 84.65% 26.58 26.67
Chandrapur 2,071,101 279,490 1,680,113 229,457 81.12% 82.10% 22.49 22.76
Yavatmal 2,458,271 369,402 1,999,368 299,748 81.33% 81.14% 25.04 24.99
Nanded 2,876,259 477,303 2,162,185 351,079 75.17% 73.55% 27.66 27.06
Hingoli 987,160 167,098 728,893 120,975 73.84% 72.40% 28.21 27.66
Parbhani 1,527,715 252,435 1,121,246 178,715 73.39% 70.80% 27.54 26.56
Jalna 1,612,980 261,386 1,255,041 197,917 77.81% 75.72% 27.01 26.28
Aurangabad 2,897,013 467,934 2,030,181 315,200 70.08% 67.36% 26.92 25.88
Nashik 4,993,796 789,398 4,306,179 671,368 86.23% 85.05% 26.35 25.98
Thane 8,131,849 1,144,896 6,506,337 915,147 80.01% 79.93% 23.47 23.44
Mumbai (Suburban) 8,640,419 1,024,700 5,953,475 673,128 68.90% 65.69% 19.77 18.84
Mumbai 3,338,031 339,723 2,119,750 202,848 63.50% 59.71% 16.96 15.95
Raigarh 2,207,929 314,767 1,916,707 272,125 86.81% 86.45% 23.76 23.66
Pune 7,232,555 968,851 6,197,349 827,755 85.69% 85.44% 22.33 22.26
Ahmadnagar 4,040,642 589,706 3,664,259 532,286 90.69% 90.26% 24.32 24.21
Bid 2,161,250 335,283 1,827,298 278,027 84.55% 82.92% 25.86 25.36
Latur 2,080,285 326,777 1,700,679 259,782 81.75% 79.50% 26.18 25.46
Osmanabad 1,486,586 223,183 1,297,858 191,666 87.30% 85.88% 25.02 24.61
Solapur 3,849,543 569,609 3,386,955 499,218 87.98% 87.64% 24.66 24.57
Satara 2,808,994 368,531 2,533,359 331,945 90.19% 90.07% 21.87 21.84
Ratnagiri 1,696,777 236,601 1,391,137 194,670 81.99% 82.28% 23.24 23.32
Sindhudurg 868,825 105,518 802,498 96,988 92.37% 91.92% 20.24 20.14
Kolhapur 3,523,162 449,883 3,077,263 393,459 87.34% 87.46% 21.28 21.31
Sangli 2,583,524 341,643 2,243,478 297,962 86.84% 87.21% 22.04 22.14

Hindus are in majority in all districts and subdistricts of Maharashtra. The data taken from 2001 census of India. Almost all districts in Maharashtra are Hindu majority.

Varkari saint Dnyaneshwar's palkhi (palanquin), Dagdusheth Ganpati, Pune, Sai baba of Shirdi, Panduranga Vitthal Pandharpur, Khandoba temple Pune, Trimbakweshwar Jyotirlinga Temple Entrance.

References
  1. Maxine Berntsen, ed. (1988). The Experience of Hinduism: Essays on Religion in Maharashtra. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-88706-662-7.
  2. "C-1 Population By Religious Community - Maharahstra". Census. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
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