Hinduism in Punjab
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Reverted 1 edit by [[Special:Contributions/59.98.104.94|59.98.104.94]]; Linkspam. using [[WP:TWINKLE|TW]]
{{ethnic group|
|group= Punjabi Hindus
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|langs=[[Punjabi]]
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|related=• other [[Punjabi people]]<br />
|}}
== Vedic Punjab ==
[[Image:Map of Vedic India.png|thumb|right|250px|Map of early Iron Age Vedic India after Witzel (1989). Realms or tribes are labelled black, Foreign tribes mentioned in early Vedic texts purple, Vedic [[shakha]]s in green. Rivers are labelled blue. The [[Thar desert]] is marked orange.]]
{{Totally-disputed-section|date=March 2008}}
The original [[Punjab region]] is now divided into several units: [[West Punjab]] (now in [[Pakistan]]) including the Gandhara and Multan regions, the Indian states of [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]], [[Haryana]] and [[Himachal Pradesh]] and the Indian Union territories of Delhi and [[Chandigarh]]. [[Jammu]], [[Kashmir]] and [[Sindh]] have been historically associated with the Punjab.
The Punjab is the '[[Sapta Sindhu]]' region mentioned in the in the [[Rig Veda]], the seven rivers are:
# [[Saraswati]] (thought to be the present day [[Ghaggar]]),
# Satadru/Shutadri ([[Sutlej]]),
# Vipasa ([[Beas]]),
# Asikani ([[Chenab]]),
# Paroshani ([[Ravi River|Ravi]]),
# Vitasta/Vet ([[Jhelum River|Jhelum]]) and
# Sindhu ([[Indus River|Indus]]).
The modern name of the Vipasa,'Beas' is thought to be a corruption of [[Veda Vyasa]], the author of the [[Mahabharata]].
The region came to be known as ''Punjab'' only in the [[Mughal]] period.It was one of the cradles of [[Indian subcontinent|Indian]] civilization and [[Hinduism]].
Among the classic books that wholly or partly composed in this region are the following.
* [[Rigveda]]
* Grammar of [[Sakatayana]]
* [[Ashtadhyayi]] of [[Panini (grammarian)|Panini]]
* [[Nirukta]] of Yaska
* [[Charaka Samhita]]
* [[Mahabharata]] along with the [[Bhagavad Gita]]
* [[Brihatkatha]] of Gunadya
* The [[Bakhshali Manuscript]]
The world's oldest university [[Takshashila]] flourished here, even before the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]]'s birth.
The descendants of the Rishis, form the [[Brahmins]] of [[Hindu]] society. The Brahmins of this region are called 'Saraswata' after the legendary Saraswati river region, once known for the ashramas of the rishis.
=== Classic Cities of the Punjab Region ===
* [[Peshawar]]([[Peshawar|Purushapur]]) , North West Frontier Province: Capital of [[Kanishka]], the [[Kushan]] ruler and the site of the tallest stupa in Jambudvipa.
* [[Kandahar]], Afghanistan: capital of the ancient kingdom of [[Gandhara]]. In the Mahabharata, its ruler was the evil and scheming [[Sakuni]], brother of [[Gandhari]], wife of [[Dhritarashtra]] and mother of the [[Kaurava]]s.
* [[Pushkalavati]] (Charsadda), North West Frontier Province: Founded by a son of [[Bharata]], brother of [[Sri Rama]], according to the [[Ramayana]]
* [[Takshashila]] (Taxila), Punjab(Pakistan): Also founded by a son of Bharata.
* [[Multan]](Mulasthan),Punjab(Pakistan): Pilgrimage site of the legendary Sun temple.
* [[Rawalpindi]], Punjab(Pakistan): city founded by [[Bappa Rawal]], from the [[Sisodiya]] clan of [[Mewar]] [[Rajputs]] and ancestor of [[Rana Pratap Singh]].
* [[Sialkot]], Punjab(Pakistan): city founded by Sul ([[Shalya]]), emperor of Madradesa and brother of [[Madri]], second wife of emperor [[Pandu]] and mother to [[Nakul]] and [[Sahadeva]]
* [[Kasur]], Punjab(Pakistan): city founded by [[Kusha]], son of Sri Rama according to the [[Bichitra Natak]] written by [[Guru Gobind Singh]].
* [[Lahore]],Punjab(Pakistan): city founded by [[Lava]]([[Loh]]), son of Sri Rama according to the [[Bichitra Natak]].
* [[Amritsar]], Punjab(India): It is believed that the hermitage of Sage [[Valmiki]], author of the [[Ramayana]] was located in the vicinity of the area that forms the modern city of Amritsar today. Valmiki is said to have composed the great epic at this very spot. Also, [[Sita]] gave birth to the twins, Lava and Kusha in this hermitage.
* [[Delhi]], India: founded as [[Indraprastha]] by the [[Pandavas]] to serve as their capital. Part of the ancient Punjab region
* [[Jalandhar]], Punjab(India): A historic city mentioned in the Puranas and the most famous city in punjab.
* [[Kurukshetra]],Haryana: The site of the [[Mahabharata]] war.
* [[Karnal]], Haryana:city founded by [[Karna]].
* [[Rohtak]], Haryana: mentioned in the Mahabharata.
* [[Katasraj temple]], Punjab(Pakistan): Classic temple complex in the [[Chakwal]] district, site of the 'enchanted pool' episode in the Mahabharata, where [[Yudhishtira]] is tested by his father Lord [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]]/[[Dharma]].
== Punjabi Hindu Sects ==
=== The Sanatan Dharmis ===
An important group amongst Hindus in the Punjab are the Sanatan Dharmis. For meditation they keep idols of Hindu deities before them. Major deities worshipped include [[Rama]], [[Krishna]], [[Shiva]], [[Vishnu]] , [[Hanuman]]. One of the major ones is Vaishno Devi of Jammu, (all known commonly as ''Sheraan-wali''('She of the lions') in [[Punjabi]] .The worship of Hanuman is usually done on Tuesdays.
Sanatan Dharma Sabha was founded in the Punjab in late 19th century to promote traditional Hinduism. It sent scholars overseas and became a major force in some of the overseas Hindu communities. In January 1933 the session of the All-India Sanatan Dharma Sabha, presided over by Pandit [[Madan Mohan Malaviya]].
=== The Arya Samajis===
An important sect amongst Punjabi Hindus is the [[Arya Samaj]]. It was founded by [[Swami Dayananda]] (born in the town of Tankara near [[Morvi]](or Morbi) in the [[Kathiawar]] region of modern-day [[Gujarat]]) in 1875 in [[Bombay]] and became popular amongst Hindus in the Punjab and U.P. The first branch of the Arya Samaj was opened in [[Shantakruj, Mumbai]] in 1875. Arya Samajists do not believe in idol worship and incarnations of God (Avtarvaad) but believes in the philosophy on re-incarnation and transmigration. They hold the Vedic religion to be the only true religion and as such, regard the Vedas as their only religious books, but also regard Upnishad, Darshan Shastras and some other books written by Rishis to understand the Vedas. The Arya Samaj also pleads for [[Shuddhi]] or the re-conversion into Hinduism of those Hindus who were converted to other religions. The places of worship of the Arya Samajists are different from those of the Sanatan Dharmis. Worship includes performing [[yajna]]s, reciting mantras and seeking spiritual solace by listening to religious discourses.
=== The Radhaswamis===
The Radhaswami sect has its headquarters at the town of [[Beas]] and is popular amongst Punjabi Hindus. Like the [[Nirankari]]s and [[Namdhari]]s, the Radhaswamis too are a transitional sect between [[Hinduism]] and [[Sikhism]].
=== The Dev Samajis ===
Dev Samajis, an offshoot of Brahmo Samaj, are rationalists. Their headquarters is at [[Moga]]. Their activities are mostly confined to the moral fields. As such Dev Samajists have not attained much popularity. In all other respects the Dev Samajists are not different from the other Hindus.
== Punjabi Hindu Castes ==
The principal castes among Hindus of the Punjab are [[Arora]]s, [[Punjabi Bania|Banias]], [[Bhatias]], [[Punjabi Brahmin| Brahmins]], [[Punjabi Dalit|Dalits]], [[Gujjar]]s, [[Kalal]]s, [[Khatri]]s, [[Rajputs]], [[Sainis]], [[Sansis]],[[Sharma]], [[Soods]] and [[Tarkhan (Punjab)|Tarkhans]].
==Trivia==
The popular prayer [[Jai Jagdish Hare]] was composed in Punjab by Pandit [[Shardha Ram Phillauri]].
==References==
* [http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/gaz_ldh8.htm Religion and castes in Punjab]
==See also==
*[[Hinduism and Sikh Panth]]
*[[Khawaja Shaikh]]
*[[Qanungoh Shaikh]]
*[[Punjabi Shaikh]]
*[[Muslim League Attack on Sikhs and Hindus in the Punjab 1947]]
*[[Places in Pakistan with Hindu and Sikh Populations before 1947]]
* [[Bhabra|Jainism in Punjab]]
== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|last=Talib|first=Gurbachan|authorlink=Gurbachan Singh Talib|title= [[Muslim League Attack on Sikhs and Hindus in the Punjab 1947]]|year=1950|publisher=[[Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee]]|location=India}}[http://www.bharatvani.org/books/mla/ Online 1] [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC03809888&id=9fQLAAAAIAAJ&q=Muslim+League+Attack+on+Sikhs+and+Hindus+in+the+Punjab+1947&dq=Muslim+League+Attack+on+Sikhs+and+Hindus+in+the+Punjab+1947&pgis=1 Online 2] [http://allaboutsikhs.com/books/gst/ Online 3] (A free copy of this book can be read from any 3 of the included "Online Sources" of this free "Online Book")
== External links ==
* [http://jalandhar.co.in/ Very Nice Info About Jalandhar, The Punjab (INDIA)]
* [http://webpunjab.com/culture/main.htm The Punjab--An Overview]
* [http://punjabgovt.nic.in/Culture/Historical.htm Punjab History]
* [http://www.pcschicago.org/Punjab/historical.htm Punjab Historical Background]
* [http://www.durgianatirath.com/ Shri Durgiana Tirath]
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[[Category:Punjab]]
[[Category:Hinduism in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Hinduism in India]]