Hinduism in Nepal

Hinduism is the main and largest religion of Nepal. The Constitution of Nepal has established a call for the protection of this age-old religion throughout the country. In 2007 the country declares itself that it is a secular country, still some special privileges were also given to Hinduism. According to the 2011 census, the Hindu population in Nepal is estimated to be around 22,493,649 including native Kirat Mundhum, Prakriti (nature worshippers) and Bon which have deep roots and strong connection with Sanatan Dharma and all together accounts for at least 85% of country’s population. The national calendar of Nepal, Vikram Samvat, is a solar Hindu calendar essentially the same to that widespread in North India as a religious calendar, and is based on Hindu units of time. Nepal remained the last Hindu country in the world, till 2007 after the abolition of monarchy in the nation.

The geographical distribution of religious groups revealed a preponderance of Hindus, accounting for at least 90 percent of the population in every region. Among the ethnic groups in Nepal, those most influenced by Hinduism are the Bahun, Chhetri, Madheshi, Newari and Thakuri people.

History

Historians and local traditions say that a Hindu sage named “Ne” established himself in the valley of Kathmandu during prehistoric times, and that the word “Nepal” means the place protected (“pala” in Sanskrit) by the sage Ne. He performed religious ceremonies at Teku, the confluence of the Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers. According to legends, he selected a pious cowherd to be the first of the many kings of the Gopala dynasty. These rulers are said to have ruled Nepal for over 500 years. He selected Bhuktaman to be the first king in the line of the Gopal (Cowherd) dynasty. The Gopal dynasty ruled for 621 years. Yakshya Gupta was the last king of this dynasty.

According to Skanda Purana, a rishi called “Ne” or “Nemuni” used to live in Himalaya. In the Pashupati Purana, he is mentioned as a saint and a protector. It is said to have practiced penance at the Bagmati and Kesavati rivers and to have taught his doctrines there too.

In the mid-18th century, Prithvi Narayan Shah, a Gorkha king, set out to put together what would become present-day Nepal. He embarked on his mission by securing the neutrality of the bordering mountain kingdoms. After several bloody battles and sieges, notably the Battle of Kirtipur, he managed to conquer the Kathmandu Valley in 1769.

Timeline of Hinduism in Nepal

Medieval Era

The Gorkha control reached its height when the North Indian territories of the Kumaon and Garhwal Kingdoms in the west to Sikkim in the east came under Nepalese control. A dispute with Tibet over the control of mountain passes and inner Tingri valleys of Tibet forced the Qing Emperor of China to start the Sino-Nepali War compelling the Nepali to retreat to their own borders in the north. The rivalry between the Kingdom of Nepal and the East India Company over the control of states bordering Nepal eventually led to the Anglo-Nepali War (1815–16). At first, the British underestimated the Nepali and were soundly defeated until committing more military resources than they had anticipated needing. Thus began the reputation of Gurkhas as fierce and ruthless soldiers. The war ended in the Sugauli Treaty, under which Nepal ceded recently captured lands.

Factionalism inside the royal family led to a period of instability. In 1846, a plot was discovered revealing that the reigning queen had planned to overthrow Jung Bahadur Kunwar, a fast-rising military leader. This led to the Kot massacre; armed clashes between military personnel and administrators loyal to the queen led to the execution of several hundred princes and chieftains around the country. Bir Narsingh Kunwar emerged victoriously and founded the Rana dynasty, and came to be known as Jung Bahadur Rana. The king was made a titular figure, and the post of Prime Minister was made powerful and hereditary. The Ranas were staunchly pro-British and assisted them during the Indian Rebellion of 1857(and later in both World Wars). In 1860 some parts of the western Terai region were gifted to Nepal by the British as a friendly gesture because of her military help to sustain British control in India during the rebellion (known as Naya Muluk, new country). In 1923, the United Kingdom and Nepal formally signed an agreement of friendship that superseded the Sugauli Treaty of 1816.

The Hindu practice of Sati, in which a widow sacrificed herself in the funeral pyre of her husband, was banned in 1919, and slavery was officially abolished in 1924. Rana rule was marked by tyranny, debauchery, economic exploitation and religious persecution.

Early-modern Era

In the time of early-modern era in Nepal, Hinduism was at the peak of the prominence. The Shah rulers focused on the Hinduization of the Nepal, even then there were good relations of Nepalis Hindus with the Nepali Muslims and Buddhists. The Nepal rulers passed the rules making conversion from Hinduism to Islam and Christianity illegal and enacting them as criminal offences. These laws were in force even after the revolution of 1951, and were reaffirmed in the legal code of 1963, which prohibited the preaching of Christianity or Islam and stipulated three years in jail for those who attempted to convert people, and six years for those who succeeded in converting others. For those who ‘attempt’ to be converted, there was a fine of a hundred rupees, and for those who actually converted (that is, were baptized), there would be imprisonment of one year. The code stated that ‘when somebody becomes converted, the conversion is nullified, and he remains in the Hindu dharma ‘.

From the early 1960s, the state began actively to prosecute Christians where the baptism of Nepali citizens had occurred; this active governmental persecution continued up to 1990. Following baptisms in Nepalgunj and Tansen between 1958 and 1960, pastors David Mukhia and Prem Pradhan, along with six baptised believers, were prosecuted by the authorities for proselytism and conversion. The pastors were sentenced to six years imprisonment; the male converts were sentenced to one year imprisonment and the female converts to six months. Prosecutions such as this continued for the whole of the Panchayat period: when an amnesty was proclaimed in 1990 there were 30 individuals in Nepal imprisoned for crimes of proselytism or conversion, and 200 others who were subject to legal action for the same offences.

Modern Era

After the overthrow of the Rana regime in 1951, King Tribhuvan opened Nepal’s borders and appealed to the outside world to assist in Nepal’s development.

Hinduization by rulers

Newar-Maithil rulers

According to various historical sources, even though the presence of varna and caste had been known as an element in the social structure of the Kathmandu Valley since the Licchavi period (c., 3rd century CE), majority of the residents of the Nepal Valley were for the first time codified into a written code only in the 14th century in the Nepalarastrasastraby the Maithil–origin king Jayasthithi Malla (1354–1395 A.D.). Jayasthithi Malla, with the aid of five Kānyakubja and Maithil Brahmins whom he invited from the Indian plains, divided the population of the valley into each of four major classes (varna)—Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra—derived from the ancient Hindu text Manusmriti and based on individual’s occupational roles. The four classes varna encompassed a total of 64 castes jat within it, with the Shudras being further divided into 36 sub-castes.

Khas rulers

After the Gorkhali conquest of Kathmandu valley, King Prithvi Narayan Shah expelled the Christian Capuchin missionaries from Patan and revisioned Nepal as Asal Hindustan (Real Land of Hindus). The Tagadharis, thread wearing Hindus of higher categorization, enjoyed the privileged status in the Nepalese capital and more access to the central power after the Gorkhali King Prithvi Narayan’s conquest of Kathmandu valley. Since then Hinduization became the significant policy of the Kingdom of Nepal.

The Nepali civil code Muluki Ain was commissioned by Jung Bahadur Rana after his European tour and enacted in 1854. It was rooted in traditional Hindu Law and codified social practices for several centuries in Nepal. The law also comprised Prāyaścitta (avoidance and removal of sin) and Ācāra (the customary law of different castes and communities). It was an attempt to include the entire Hindu as well as the non-Hindu population of Nepal of that time into a single hierarchic civic code from the perspective of the Khas rulers.

The hinduization of Nepal was mainly predominant in the Kathmandu and the adjoining regions near the valley. The Nepali society has been known for the interfaith-religious harmony and tolerance, but the Hinduization and Saffronisation of Nepal by Shah dynasty, especially by Prithvi Narayan Shah was seen as the persecution of other religious communities and was said that after that time, till 1940’s propagation of any other faith than Hinduism was prohibited.

Rana rulers

Though in the regime of Rana dynasty, Kingdom of Nepal didn’t witnessed much hinduization, but in that time too there were strict Hindus law.

Hindu symbolism of Nepal

The pennant is an important Hindu flag that is help atop Hindu temples.

It is believed that Lord Vishnu had organized the Nepali people and given them their flag, with the sun and moon as emblems on it. In a Hindu Purana, it is written that it was Lord Shiva who handed the flag to Lord Vishnu, and then Lord Vishnu to Lord Indra, for the purpose for battling demons.

List of festivals in Nepal

Impact of Hinduism in Modern Nepal

Hindu and Buddhist traditions in Nepal go back more than two millennia. In Lumbini, Buddha was born, and Pashupatinath temple, Kathmandu, is an old and famous Shiva templeof Hindus. Nepal has several other temples and Buddhist monasteries, as well as places of worship of other religious groups. Traditionally, Nepalese philosophical thoughts are ingrained with the Hindu and Buddhist philosophical ethos and traditions, which include elements of Kashmir Shaivism, Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, works of Karmacharyas of Bhaktapur, and tantric traditions. Tantric traditions are deep rooted in Nepal, including the practice of animal sacrifices. Five types of animals, always male, are considered acceptable for sacrifice: water buffalo, goats, sheep, chickens, and ducks. Cows are very sacred animals and are never considered acceptable for sacrifice. Nepal has been the home for many ancient sites of the Hinduism and as the hub for the tourism for many Hindu pilgrimages.

Hindu temples

Before 2007, when Nepal was a Hindu country at that time the Pashupatinath Temple was considered as the “Temple of the Nepal”.Still, the Pashupatinath Temple is considered as the most sacred temple for the Hindus of Nepal.

There are many Hindu temple located in the Nepal. But the notable of them are:

Relations with other communities

Hinduism and Buddhism

There has traditionally been a great deal of intermingling of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. Many people regarded as Hindus in the 1981 census could also in some senses be called Buddhists. Hindus long have worshipped at Buddhist temples and Buddhists at Hindu temples. The reason for this is that both Hinduism and Buddhism have common roots, and over most of their history have not been seen as separate communions, but rather rival tendencies within a shared religious tradition. Because of such dual faith practices (or mutual respect), the differences between Hindus and Buddhists have been very subtle and academic in nature; Hindus and Buddhists have never engaged in any religious conflicts for past millennia. There are many temples where both Hindus and Buddhists can enter and worship.

Hinduism and Islam

Though historically, there have been no major conflict between the Hindus and Muslims in the Nepal, though in the 20th century there have been some controversies between the two communities due to the religious conversions and strict laws against the same. There have been claims of increase in Islamophobia in Nepal by local Hindus and Buddhists as a result of rise in Hindutva in neighbouring nation, India and the pejudice by Muslims for Hindus.

During the protests for Nepal re-declaration as a Hindu state, many Muslims supported the movement for Nepal as a हिंदू राष्ट्र (transl. Hindu nation).

Hinduism and Christianity

In Nepal, the relations between the Hindus and Christians have many often been a subject of controversy. The expansion of Christianity is a controversial subject in Nepal, and Nepali Christians have been subject to sporadic violence and widespread social exclusion by the local Hindus and Muslims. It is frequently claimed in Nepali media and political discourse that missionaries offer the poor material incentives to convert, but research has indicated that most Nepali Christians convert for reasons other than contact with missionaries. There has been number of increase of conflicts between the Hindus and Christians of Nepal, due to the conversion of the poor and uneducated Hindus by the Christian Pastors and Missionaries. There have often been conflicts between the Hindus with Christians in Nepal, among the land and other cultural disputes. The Catholic Church of Nepal is the one of the fastest growing churches in the world, due to which the population and demographics of the Hindus of Nepal is decreasing leading to the serious tensions between the two communities. There have been several incident reporting the conflicts between the two.

Demographics

Historic population

Percentage wise and historic change

Year	Percent	Increase
1952/54	88.87%	–
1961	87.69%	-1.18%
1971	89.39%	+1.70%
1981	89.50%	+0.11%
1991	86.51%	-2.99%
2001	80.62%	-5.89%
2011	85.02%	+4.4%

Growth rate

Historical Growth of the Hindu Population in Nepal

Year	Pop.	±%
1952	7,318,392	—
1961	8,254,403	+12.8%
1971	10,330,009	+25.1%
1981	13,445,787	+30.2%
1991	15,996,653	+19.0%
2001	18,330,121	+14.6%
2011	22,493,649	+22.7%
Source: 1952–2011

In the 1952, the Hindu population of Nepal was 7,318,392 with the percentage of 88.87%.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Hindu population by ethnic group

The figures are based on the 2011 Nepal census. NEG denotes newly listed ethnic group, for which 2001 Nepal census figures are not available.

Caste	Hindu change(2001-2022)	Race	Hindus 2001	Hindus 2011		Hindus 2021
				%	Pop.	%	Pop.
Chhetri/Kshetri	−0.23%	Khas	99.48%	99.25%	4,398,053
Brahmin (Hill)/Bahun	−0.12%	Khas	99.68%	99.56%	3,226,903
Magar	+4.36%	Sino/Tibetan	74.60%	78.96%	1,887,733
Tharu	−3.67%	Adivasi	97.63%	93.96%	1,737,470
Tamang	+1.19%	Sino/Tibetan	7.69%	8.88%	1,539,830
Newar	+3.25%	Sino/Tibetan and Indic Aryan	84.13%	87.38%	1,321,933
Musalman	−2.19%	Muslim	2.19%	0.00%	1,164,255
Kami	−0.34%	Dalit	96.69%	96.35%	1,258,554
Yadav	−0.09%	Terai/Low	99.78%	99.69%	1,054,458
Rai	+2.53%	Sino/Tibetan	25.00%	27.53%	620,004
Gurung	+3.43%	Sino/Tibetan	28.75%	32.18%	522,641
Damai/Dholi	−1.22%	Dalit	97.81%	96.59%	472,862
Limbu	+3.02%	Sino/Tibetan	11.32%	14.34%	387,300
Thakuri	−0.09%	Khas	99.40%	99.31%	425,623
Sarki	−2.44%	Dalit	97.90%	95.46%	374,816
Teli	0.39%	Terai/Low	99.19%	99.58%	369,688
Chamar	0.70%	Dalit	98.85%	99.55%	335,893
Koiri	−0.06%	Terai/Low	99.77%	99.71%	306,393
Kurmi	0.00%	Terai/Low	99.84%	99.84%	231,129
Sanyasi	−0.16%	Khas	99.21%	99.05%	227,822
Dhanuk	−0.15%	Terai/Low	99.75%	99.60%	219,808
Musahar	+0.58%	Dalit	98.52%	99.10%	234,490
Dusadh	+0.20%	Dalit	99.47%	99.67%	208,910
Sherpa	−6.26%	Sino/Tibetan	6.26%	0.00%	112,946
Sonar	+1.29%	Terai/Low	98.20%	99.49%	64,335
Kewat	+0.17%	Terai/Low	99.58%	99.75%	153,772
Brahman(Terai)	−0.05%	Terai High	99.58%	99.53%	134,106
Kathbaniyan	+0.36%	Terai High	99.32%	99.68%	138,637
Gharti/Bhujel	+1.10%	Sino/Tibetan	96.50%	97.60%	118,650
Mallaha	+0.63%	Terai/Low	99.13%	99.76%	173,261
Kalwar	+0.08%	Terai/Low	99.69%	99.77%	128,232
Kumal	−0.17%	Sino/Tibetan	98.42%	98.25%	121,196
Hajam/Thakur	+0.07%	Terai/Low	99.59%	99.66%	117,758
Kanu	−0.16%	Terai/Low	99.89%	99.73%	125,184
Rajbansi	+13.75%	Adivasi	85.15%	98.90%	115,242
Sunuwar	+12.79%	Sino/Tibetan	79.50%	92.29%	55,712
Sudhi	−0.18%	Terai/Low	99.67%	99.49%	93,115
Lohar	−0.24%	Terai/Low	99.78%	99.54%	101,421
Tatma	−0.29%	Dalit	99.79%	99.50%	104,865
Khatwe	+0.15%	Dalit	99.45%	99.60%	100,921
Dhobi	+0.27%	Dalit	99.45%	99.72%	109,079
Majhi	+0.31%	Sino/Tibetan	81.67%	81.98%	83,727
Nuniya	+0.48%	Terai/Low	99.34%	99.82%	70,540
Kumhar	+0.39%	Terai/Low	99.19%	99.58%	62,399
Danuwar	−15.60%	Sino/Tibetan	99.26%	83.66%	84,115
Chepang	−5.73%	Sino/Tibetan	70.23%	64.50%	68,399
Haluwai	+0.25%	Terai/Low	99.38%	99.63%	83,869
Rajput	+0.29%	Terai High	99.32%	99.61%	41,972
Kayastha	+0.74%	Terai High	98.88%	99.62%	44,304
Badhaee	+0.07%	Terai/Low	99.52%	99.59%	28,932
Marwadi	−1.53%	Other	94.88%	93.35%	51,443
Santhal	−6.07%	Adivasi	83.06%	76.99%	51,735
Jhangad	−11.29%	Adivasi	92.79%	81.50%	37,424
Bantar/Sardar	+1.31%	Dalit	97.85%	99.16%	55,104
Baraee	−0.10%	Terai/Low	99.90%	99.80%	80,597
Kahar	−0.39%	Terai/Low	99.88%	99.49%	53,159
Gangai	−11.13%	Adivasi	98.44%	87.31%	36,988
Lodh	−1.39%	Terai/Low	99.82%	98.43%	32,837
Rajbhar	+0.25%	Terai/Low	99.41%	99.66%	9,542
Thami	−11.81%	Sino/Tibetan	55.74%	43.93%	28,671
Dhimal	−1.30%	Adivasi	57.41%	56.11%	26,298
Bhote	−37.90%	Sino/Tibetan	37.90%	0.00%	13,397
Bin	−0.10%	Terai/Low	99.88%	99.78%	75,195
Gaderi	−0.03%	Terai/Low	99.70%	99.67%	26,375
Nurang	−98.54%	Sino/Tibetan	98.54%	0.00%	278
Yakkha	−2.67%	Sino/Tibetan	14.17%	11.50%	24,336
Darai	−2.95%	Sino/Tibetan	97.89%	94.94%	16,789
Tajpuriya	+13.05%	Adivasi	64.15%	77.20%	19,213
Thakali	−3.21%	Sino/Tibetan	33.83%	30.62%	13,215
Chidimar	−0.17%	Adivasi	99.29%	99.12%	1,254
Pahari	+12.28%	Sino/Tibetan	78.90%	91.18%	13,615
Mali	−0.11%	Terai/Low	99.78%	99.67%	14,995
Bangali	+2.05%	Other	97.02%	99.07%	26,582
Chhantyal	+64.25%	Sino/Tibetan	30.78%	95.03%	11,810
Dom	−0.05%	Dalit	99.24%	99.19%	13,268
Kamar	+1.89%	Terai/Low	98.00%	99.89%	1,787
Bote	−10.53%	Sino/Tibetan	98.57%	88.04%	10,397
Brahmu	+7.55%	Sino/Tibetan	72.04%	79.59%	8,140
Gaine	−2.72%	Dalit	97.01%	94.29%	6,791
Jirel	+6.82%	Sino/Tibetan	10.55%	17.37%	5,774
Dura	+80.43%	Sino/Tibetan	18.94%	99.37%	5,394
Badi	−2.88%	Dalit	98.83%	95.95%	38,603
Meche	−4.69%	Adivasi	80.28%	75.59%	4,867
Lepcha	+1.93%	Sino/Tibetan	7.62%	9.55%	3,445
Halkhor	−0.01%	Dalit	99.34%	99.33%	4,003
Punjabi	+10.36%	Other	80.68%	91.04%	7,176
Kisan	−0.85%	Adivasi	95.62%	94.77%	1,739
Raji	+9.69%	Sino/Tibetan	88.33%	98.02%	4,235
Byangsi	−98.05%	Sino/Tibetan	98.05%	0.00%	3,895
Hayu	−22.67%	Sino/Tibetan	70.29%	47.62%	2,925
Koche	−3.14%	Adivasi	97.76%	94.62%	1,635
Dhunia	+6.38%	Terai/Low	93.10%	99.48%	14,846
Walung	−82.40%	Sino/Tibetan	82.40%	0.00%	1,249
Munda	+18.12%	Adivasi	78.94%	97.06%	2,350
Raute	+13.00%	Sino/Tibetan	83.28%	96.28%	618
Yehlmo	−1.55%	Sino/Tibetan	1.55%	0.00%	10,752
Patharkatta	−5.95%	Adivasi	99.82%	93.87%	3,182
Kusunda	−14.78%	Sino/Tibetan	97.56%	82.78%	273
Lhomi	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	0.00%	1,614
Kalar	NEG	Dalit	NEG	99.26%	1,077
Natuwa	NEG	Dalit	NEG	99.74%	3,062
Dhandi	NEG	Dalit	NEG	100.00%	1,982
Dhankar	NEG	Dalit	NEG	99.59%	2,681
Kulung	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	2.27%	28,613
Ghale	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	35.96%	22,881
Khawas	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	87.61%	18,513
Rajdhob	NEG	Terai/Low	NEG	99.78%	13,422
Kori	NEG	Dalit	NEG	99.98%	12,276
Nachhiring	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	3.17%	7,154
Yamphu	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	7.05%	6,933
Chamling	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	28.70%	6,668
Aathpariya	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	5.86%	5,977
Sarbaria	NEG	Dalit	NEG	99.55%	4,906
Bantaba	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	42.66%	4,604
Dolpo	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	0.00%	4,107
Amat	NEG	Terai/Low	NEG	99.11%	3,830
Thulung	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	17.45%	3,535
Mewahang	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	10.23%	3,100
Bahing	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	14.73%	3,096
Lhopa	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	0.27%	2,624
Dev	NEG	Terai/Low	NEG	99.44%	2,147
Samgpang	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	25.34%	1,681
Khaling	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	20.88%	1,571
Topkegola	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	0.00%	1,523
Loharung	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	10.15%	1,153
Dalit Oth	+0.02%	Dalit	97.84%	97.86%	155,354
Janajati Oth	NEG	Sino/Tibetan	NEG	70.36%	1,228
Terai Oth	+8.47%	Terai/Low	90.44%	98.91%	103,811
Undefined	NEG	Other	NEG	70.32%	15,277
Foreigner	NEG	Other	NEG	67.22%	6,651
Total	+0.72%	All	80.62%	81.34%	26,494,504

As seen from the 2001 and 2011 Census data, the percentage of Hindus has gone up by 0.72%, from 80.62% to 81.34%. However, the overall trend remains largely negative. All the major racial group except the Sino/Tibetans showed a decline in the percentage of Hindus, which was especially sharp among certain Adivasi groups such as Tharu and Dalit groups. Among the Sino/Tibetans, the percentage of Hindus went up by 2.37%, from 49.74% to 52.11%.

Hindu population by district

The figures are based on 2011 Nepal census.

District	showHindus %
	2011	2021

Laws for religious affairs

Currently, Nepal is a secular country, as declared by the Constitution of Nepal 2072 (Part 1, Article 4), where secularism ‘means religious, cultural freedom, along with the protection of religion, culture handed down from time immemorial (सनातन)’. The Nepal remained the last Hindu nation after it was demolished in 2008, and till Nepal has Hindu majority population. It has the highest Hindu population in the world, after India. By percentage, Nepal has the highest Hindu population in the world. Although many government policies throughout history have disregarded or marginalized minority religions, Nepalese societies generally enjoy religious tolerance and harmony among all religions, with only isolated incidents of religiously-motivated violence. Nepal’s constitution does not give anyone the right to convert any person to another religion. Nepal also passed a more stringent anti-conversion law on 2017.

Gallery

• 

  Nepali Hindu marriage at Narayangadh, Chitwan

• 

  Nepali Hindu groom

• 

  Seniors offering Dashain Tika to junior

• 

  Senior offering Dashain Tika to junior

• 

  Nepali Hindu bride and groom