Religion- Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Kirat and Christianity and Religious harmony

Religion in Nepal

In Nepal, religion is connected to certain practices and beliefs. It is the power that serves to bind the mountain kingdom together. As the only Hindu Kingdom where all religions are treated equally, Nepal is highly known around the world. It is now a secular nation. Buddhism is the second most popular religion in Nepal, followed by Islam and Christianity. Hinduism is the main religion practiced in Nepal. Approximately 89.5 percent of Nepalese citizens identified as Hindus in the census of 1991. There were just 5.3 and 2.7 percent, respectively, of Buddhists and Muslims. Christians were among the numerous religions practiced by the populace. As early as Siddhartha Gautama's birth, Buddhism was practiced in Nepal. For the professors of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, Nepal serves as their focal point. The nation created Buddhist Sanskrit literature and is renowned for producing beautiful Buddhist art.

• Hinduism
  • According to legend, Aryans were the first to arrive in prehistoric Nepal. The Vedas, which contain 1,000 religious songs and preserved the beliefs of the Aryans, served as the foundation for the development of Hinduism, a polytheistic religion. The three gods that are specifically mentioned in Hinduism are Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Preserver, and Shiva, the Destroyer. Since Brahma's function in the universe as a whole has been fulfilled, the majority of Hindus rarely worship him at religious rites. All Nepalese Hindus regarded Vishnu and Shiva as being of the utmost importance. All living things believe that Vishnu visited the earth ten times as "avatars" in order to ensure the world's preservation. The majority of people think that he arrived on earth as Prince Ram, just as the god Krishna and Lord Buddha. Shiva, the destroyer, manifests in three different ways: as Nat, a god of artistic ability; as an anthropomorphic; and as a lingam, the most well-known of which is located northwest of Katmandu. The statue of Nandi, the celestial bull that serves as Shiva's chariot, can be found in front of any Shiva temple. In anthropomorphic representations, Shiva is shown with the Prabhati and typically carries a trident and a tiny drum. FearsomeBhairav is another well-known manifestation of Shiva, and this manifestation itself comes in several ways.
• Buddhism in Nepal
  • In Nepal, Buddhism is said to have originated with the birth of Siddhartha Gautama. According to legend, the bodhisattvas and an earlier Buddha also traveled there. Buddha statues are still standing in the modern world. It is difficult to tell the tale of early Buddhism, but we do know that Nepal served as an important hub for the exchange of ideas between Indian and Tibetan Buddhist instructors. The great Madhyamika master Nagarjuna and many other great practitioners lived and accomplished much for Nepal. The whole proof that a powerful lineage of Mahasanghika Bhiksunis lived in the seventh century is revealed or stated in stone inscriptions and colophons. Nepal is known for producing the arts and for being a reservoir of Buddhist Sanskrit literature.
• Kirat Religion
  • The Kirat religion, also known as the Kirati Mundhum, is practiced by Kirat people in Nepal. Kirat, according to Tom Wood Hatch, is a synthesis of animism, ancestor worship, Hinduism, and Buddhism. The Veda of Kirant, which is essential to Kirat Mundhum, is the sacred text and folklore of the Kirat people of Nepal. In the Kirat languages, the term "mundhum" denotes a powerful force. The Mundhum encompass the Kirat culture as well as the South Asian pre-Vedic customs and traditions. The Mundhum contains a variety of ancestor-tribal Kirati customs, habits, rituals, traditions, and myths. The Mundhum aids in highlighting the distinctions between the Kiranti tribe and other Kiranti and non-Kirantis. Thungsap and Peysap are the two components of the mundhum in the Kirant Mundhum Religion. Kirat religion acts as a guide for ritual, culture, and social ideals. Mundhum is the written form of the Kirat language, and there are variations used by the different Kirat tribes to satisfy their individual cultural traditions. In comparison to other tribes and peoples, it situates the social identity and cohesion of the Kirat. Additionally, the Mudhum mentions that it has two classes"the Good Spirit and the Bad Spirit". Since the Kirat people were rationalistic idolaters in the beginning, they did not have temples or images because they believed that the God existed in light and fire rather than that any of these things were necessary. They revered and worshiped the spirits of the sun and fire's inhabitants. Mundhum is the shamanic, rhythmic, and spiritual form of scripture. The Kirat religious teacher or shamanic guru carried out the ceremonies and imparted the knowledge.
• Islam and Christianity
  • Islam and Christianity are also practiced by a minority of Nepalese people in addition to Hinduism, Buddhism, and tantrums. Similar to their counterparts in the West and other nations, Muslims and Christians share many of the same beliefs and practices.

Religious Harmony

Everybody's life is impacted and impacted positively by religion. Religion encourages us to lead morally upright lives and aids in pointing us in the direction of honesty, integrity, and high morals. Many people in Nepal are motivated by their religious beliefs to abstain from bad behavior and uphold moral principles. Many different religions are practiced in Nepal today, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and others. The secret to a peaceful and progressive civilization is religious unity. Because all people are the children of the same God, religious unity is of the utmost importance today. Different religions' holy scriptures contain heavenly knowledge; if we are religiously tolerant, study them, and put their teachings into practice in our daily lives, our world can be a lot better. Our world is varied, with people of various religions living in various countries; one religion may have a great following in some regions while having a lower following in others. Religious concord is crucial for guaranteeing people's safety in today's diverse society.

By understanding and practicing our own religion, respecting those of others, forming close relationships with those of other faiths, refraining from meddling in other people's religious affairs, and enacting laws against those who try to use religion improperly and those who try to sow discord in our society, we can work together to bring about religious harmony in Nepal. The secret to peace and success in Nepal's multireligious and multicultural society is religious harmony. So let's promise to love and respect everyone in Nepal, regardless of their religion, caste, creed, sect, color, ethnicity, language, gender, nationality, or any other difference of other religion. To further the growth of the nation and end any potential prejudice, people must struggle to establish and uphold religious harmony as well as build a peaceful and prosperous Nepal.

References

buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/nepal-txt.htm

Flippo, Edwin B. Personnel Management. London: Oxford Press, 1980.

Gynwal, Ram Prasad. Know Nepal. Kathmandu: Bhundipuran Prakashan, 2012.

Hamilton, Francis B. An Account of the Kingdom of Nepal. New Delhi: Manjushri Publishing House, 1971.

Heywood, Andrew. Politics. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002.

nepal.saarctourism.org/nepal-religion.html