Religions in Sri Lanka: Part 2 - Hinduism

The Gallup poll in 2008 found that Sri Lanka was the third most religious country in the world. The report stated that 99% of Sri Lankans said that religion is an important part of their day to day lives. The second part of my four part blog on religions in Sri Lanka is on Hinduism, the second most popular religion in Sri Lanka. Although Hinduism was the main religion in Sri Lanka before Buddhism was introduced to the country in the 3^rd century, only 16.6% of Sri Lankans currently follow Hinduism.

Hindu legend states that Sri Lanka was formed when the God of Wind and Air, Vayu, after being persuaded by Sage Narada, blew strong winds at Mount Meru, the mountain where the Gods lived, and caused the top of the mountain to fall into the sea forming the island of Sri Lanka. This led people to believe that the island’s beauty is because it once was the home of Gods.

The Hindu God Vayu

Sri Lanka also plays a large role in the great Hindu epic Ramayana [Rama’s Journey] which consists of 24,000 verses in seven books that follow the story of Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and his conquest of Sri Lanka to save his wife Sita [the avatar of Goddess Lakshmi], who was abducted by Ravana the demon King of Lanka.  The epic also talks of a bridge made between India and Sri Lanka which was said to have been constructed by Rama and Hanuman. Although Rama’s bridge was thought not to exist, recent satellite imagery by NASA has found this ancient 1,750,000 year old man made bridge. There is also archaeological evidence that proves that Lord Shiva was worshipped in Sri Lanka from prehistoric times, before the arrival of Prince Vijaya.

Rama [right] fighting the Demon King Ravana [left]

Statues of Rama [center], Sita [right], Lakshmana [left] and Hanuman, the monkey God at the Sita Amman Kovil in Nuwara Eliya. The place where ravana kept Sita when she was abducted.

The NASA satellite imagery of Rama's Bridge
connecting India and Sri Lanka

Although there was a decline in Hinduism after the introduction of Buddhism to the country, Hinduism’s survival in Sri Lanka was largely due to invasions by the South Indian and the Oriya rulers that led to the migration of people from the South of India that brought Hindu religious practice and tradition to Sri Lanka. A strand of Hinduism called Shaivism, which focuses on the devotional worship of Lord Shiva is what is dominantly practiced by the Hindus in Sri Lanka. Consequently, most of the Hindu temple architecture and philosophy is influenced by this particular strand of Hinduism.

Even though Hinduism is not the dominant religion in Sri Lanka, it has had a great influence in the country’s history and traditions. Many Buddhist temples also have shrines of Hindu Gods such as Skanda, Vishnu and Ganesha as well as Hindu Deities such as Paththini and Ayyanayake. Most Hindu traditions in Sri Lanka are very similar to those found in South India such as Kavadi Attam [penance dancing] and Tee Midi [Fire walking] which can be seen when visiting Kovils [Hindu Temples] and while watching their processions.

Kavadi Dancers

There are three main Hindu festivals in Sri Lanka each year, Thai Pongal [the harvest festival in January], Maha Shivaratri [festival that gives reverence to Lord Shiva] and Deepavali [the festival of lights that falls in October]. The festival of lights is to signify the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair. On this day, Sri Lankan Hindus take an oil bath in the morning, wear new clothes, exchange gifts, and visit the Hindu Temple. They also light oil lamps to invite the blessings of the Goddess Lakshmi.

Lamps lit for Deepavali

There are many prominent Hindu Temples in Sri Lanka. Many were destroyed during the period when the Portuguese ruled over the country but were rebuilt later on during the British Colonial Rule and after the country gained independence. Some of these are the Naguleswaram Kovil in Keerimalai [North of Jaffna], the Ketheeswaram Kovil in Mannar, the Koneswaram Kovil in Trincomale and the Muneswaram Kovil the Puttlam District. The Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil in Jaffna and the newly built Ponnabalvaneswaram Kovil in Colombo are also important to the Hindus in Sri Lanka. The Kataragama Kovil dedicated to Lord Murukan [or Skanda] is also frequented by most Sri Lankans whether they are Hindus, Buddhists or Christians.

The Naguleswaram Kovil

The Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil in Jaffna

Hinduism and Buddhism are very different religions, but they are also very similar in many ways. Many Buddhists often worship Hindu Gods and deities as well. Although less than a quarter of the country’s population is Hindu, the religion has had a great influence on Sri Lanka’s culture and tradition.