Religion in Tamil Nadu

{{Pie chart

|thumb = right

|caption = Religion in Tamil Nadu (2011){{cite report|title=Population by religion community – 2011|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS|publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825155850/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS|archive-date=25 August 2015}}

|label1 = Hinduism

|color1 = Darkorange

|value1 = 87.58

|label2 = Christianity

|color2 = Blue

|value2 = 6.12

|label3 = Islam

|color3 = Green

|value3 = 5.86

|label4 = Jainism

|color4 = Brown

|value4 = 0.12

|label5 = Others/Not stated

|value5 = 0.31

|color5 = gray

}}

{{Table alignment}}

{{Main|Hinduism in Tamil Nadu}}

As per the Sangam literature, the Sangam landscape (300 BCE to 300 CE) was classified into five categories known as thinais, which were associated with a Hindu deity: Murugan in kurinji (hills), Thirumal in mullai (forests), Indiran in marutham (plains), Varunan in the neithal (coasts), and Kotravai in palai (desert).{{cite book|title=Arts and Crafts of Tamil Nadu|first=C.|last=Chandramouli|year=2004|publisher=Directorate of Census Operations|page=74}} Thirumal is indicated as a deity during the Sangam era who was regarded as Paramporul ("the supreme one") and also known as Māyavan, Māmiyon, Netiyōn, and Māl in various Sangam literature.{{cite book|last=Hardy|first=Friedhelm|title=Viraha Bhakti: The Early History of Krsna Devotion|year=2015|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-3816-1|pages=156}}{{cite book|last=Padmaja|first=T.|title=Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: History, Art, and Traditions in Tamilnāḍu|date=2002|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-398-4|pages=27}} While Shiva-worship existed in the Shaivite culture as a part of the Tamil pantheon, Murugan became regarded as the Tamil kadavul ("God of the Tamils").{{cite book|last=Clothey|first=Fred W.|title=The Many Faces of Murukan: The History and Meaning of a South Indian God. With the Poem Prayers to Lord Murukan|year=2019|publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG|isbn=978-3-11-080410-2|pages=34}}{{cite book|last=Mahadevan|first=Iravatham|title=A Note on the Muruku Sign of the Indus Script in light of the Mayiladuthurai Stone Axe Discovery|year=2006|publisher=Harappa|url=http://www.harappa.com/arrow/stone_celt_indus_signs.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904034700/http://www.harappa.com/arrow/stone_celt_indus_signs.html|archive-date=4 September 2006}}{{cite book|title=Essential Hinduism|author=Steven Rosen, Graham M. Schweig|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2006|page=45}} In the 7th century CE, the Pandyas and Pallavas, supporters of Buddhism and Jainism, transitioned to become patrons of Hinduism. This shift occurred with the revival of Saivism and Vaishnavism during the Bhakti movement spearheaded by the Alwars and Nayanmars.{{cite book|last=Sastri|first=K.A. Nilakanta|title=A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar|orig-year=1955|year=2002|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-0-19-560686-7|page=333}} Hinduism developed in the temples and mathas of medieval Tamil Nadu with self-conscious rejection of Jain practices.{{cite book|title=Open boundaries: Jain communities and culture in Indian history|last=Cort|first=John|publisher=State University of New York Press|year=1998|isbn=978-0-7914-9985-6|page=208}}

File:Ayyanar_idols_near_Gobichettipalayam.jpg, guardian folk deity of Tamils]]

In Tamil tradition, Murugan is the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati; Pillayar is regarded as the eldest son and venerated as the Mudanmudar kadavul ("foremost god").{{cite book|title=Tamil Civilization:Quarterly Research Journal of the Tamil University|volume=5|year=1987|publisher=University of Michigan|page=9}} The worship of Amman, also called Mariamman, is thought to have been derived from an ancient mother goddess, and is also very common.{{cite book|title=Ayyanar and Mariamman, Folk Deities in South India|first=Christa|last=Neuenhofer|year=2012|isbn=978-1-457-99010-6|publisher=Blurb, Incorporated}}{{cite web|title=Principles and Practice of Hindu Religion|work=Hindu Heritage Study Program|url=http://www.bnaiyer.com/hinduism/hist-34.html|access-date=5 December 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114082702/http://www.bnaiyer.com/hinduism/hist-34.html|archive-date=14 November 2006|url-status=dead}} In rural areas, local deities, called Aiyyan̲ār (also known as Karuppan, Karrupasami), are worshipped who are thought to protect the villages from harm.{{cite journal|title=Horse Shrines in Tamil India: Reflections on Modernity|first=Mark|last=Jarzombek|journal=Future Anterior|year=2009|url=http://web.mit.edu/mmj4/www/downloads/future_ant4_1.pdf|volume=4|issue=1|pages=18–36|doi=10.1353/fta.0.0031|doi-access=free}}

As of the 21st century, majority of the population of Tamil Nadu are adherents of Hinduism with more than 89% of the population adhering to the same.{{cite report|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm|title=Census 2001 – Statewise population by Religion|publisher=Government of India|access-date=18 July 2010}} As a majority religion, the influence of Hinduism is seen widely in the Tamil culture including literature, music and dance. Most visual arts are religious in some form and usually centers on Hinduism, although the religious element might be a vehicle to represent universal and, occasionally, humanist themes.{{cite book|last=Coomaraswamy|first=A.K.|title=Figures of Speech or Figures of Thought|publisher=World Wisdom Books|isbn=978-1-933-31634-5|year=2007}} Visual art ranges from stone sculptures in temples, to detailed bronze icons and frescoes and murals on temple walls.{{cite web|title=Shilpaic literature of the tamils|first=V.|last=Ganapathi|url=http://www.intamm.com/arts/ancient.htm|publisher=INTAMM|access-date=4 December 2006}} {{cite news|title=The Ajanta of TamilNadu|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051127/spectrum/main3.htm|newspaper=The Tribune|date=27 November 2005|access-date=1 December 2023}}

File:Shiva as the Lord of Dance LACMA edit.jpg bronze statue of Nataraja, god of dance, to whom Bharatanatyam is often dedicated]]

Majority of the available literature from the Sangam period was Hindu and categorized in the tenth century CE into two categories based roughly on chronology as the patiṉeṇmēlkaṇakku ("the eighteen greater text series") comprising Ettuthogai (or Ettuttokai, "Eight Anthologies") and the Pattuppāṭṭu ("Ten Idylls").{{cite book|first=Takanobu|last=Takahashi|title=Tamil Love Poetry and Poetics|year=1995|publisher=BRILL Academic|isbn=90-04-10042-3|pages=1–3}} The Tamil literature that followed in the next 300 years after the Sangam period is generally called the "post-Sangam" literature.{{cite book|first=Kamil|last=Zvelebil|title=Companion Studies to the History of Tamil Literature|year=1992|publisher=BRILL Academic|isbn=90-04-09365-6|pages=12–13}}{{cite book|author=T.V. Mahalingam|title=Proceedings of the Second Annual Conference|year=1981|publisher=South Indian History Congress|pages=28–34}} Tirukkural is a book on ethics, by Thiruvalluvar.{{cite book|first=M. S.|last=Pillai|title=Tamil literature|publisher=Asian Education Service|date=1994|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-8-120-60955-6}} Prominent works include Ramavataram, written in 12th century CE by Kambar and Tiruppugal by Arunagirinathar in 14th century CE.{{cite book|last1=Bergunder|first1=Michael|title=Ritual, Caste, and Religion in Colonial South India|last2=Frese|first2=Heiko|last3=Schröder|first3=Ulrike|date=2011|publisher=Primus Books|isbn=978-9-380-60721-4|page=107}}{{cite book|author=P S Sundaram|title=Kamba Ramayana|date=3 May 2002|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=978-9-351-18100-2|pages=18–}}

Apart from traditional instruments from the Sangam period, Nadaswaram, a reed instrument that is often accompanied by the thavil, a type of drum instrument are the major musical instruments used in temples and weddings.{{cite book|title=Sound of Indian Music|first=Ganavya|last=Doraisamy|date=5 August 2014|isbn=978-1-3045-0409-8|publisher=Lulu|page=35}} The traditional music of Tamil Nadu is known as Carnatic music, which includes rhythmic and structured music dedicated to Gods.{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/art/Karnatak-music|title=Karnatak music|publisher=Britannica|access-date=1 March 2023}}{{cite book|title=When the Kurinji Blooms|first=Rājam|last=Kiruṣṇan̲|year=2002|page=124|isbn=978-8-125-01619-9|publisher=Orient BlackSwan}}{{cite book|title=The Oxford Handbook of Applied Ethnomusicology|year=2015|isbn=978-0-199-35171-8|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=370|editor1=Jeff Todd Titon|editor2=Svanibor Pettan}} Bharatanatyam is a major genre of Indian classical dance that originated in Tamilakam and is represented to invoke Nataraja, a form of Shiva.{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/art/bharata-natyam|title=Bharata-natyam|encyclopedia=Britannica|access-date=1 December 2023}}{{cite book|last=Banerjee|first=Projesh|title=Indian Ballet Dancing|year=1983|publisher=Abhinav Publications|location=New Jersey|page=43}} There are many folk dance forms that originated and are practiced in the region which are done in veneration to Hindu gods and goddesses such as Kavadiattam,{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Alexandra|title=Divinity and Diversity: A Hindu Revitalization Movement in Malaysia|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|year=2005|isbn=978-8-791-11489-2}}{{cite book|title=Portals: Opening Doorways to Other Realities Through the Senses|first=Lynne|last=Hume|year=2020|isbn=978-1-000-18987-2|publisher=Taylor & Francis}} Mayilattam,{{cite book|last=Madhavan|first=Arya|title=Kudiyattam Theatre and the Actor's Consciousness|year=2010|publisher=Brill|isbn=978-90-420-2799-2|page=113}}{{cite book|last=Knapp|first=Stephen|title=The Heart of Hinduism: The Eastern Path to Freedom, Empowerment, and Illumination|year=2005|publisher=CreateSpace|isbn=978-1-721-03274-7|page=187}} Bhagavatha nadanam, Devarattam, Kai silambattam, Kuravanji and Urumiattam.{{cite book|title=Flipside of Hindu Symbolism:Sociological and Scientific Linkages in Hinduism|first=M.K.V.|last=Narayan|year=2007|page=181|isbn=978-1-596-82117-0|publisher=Fultus Corporation}} Koothu is a form of street theater that consists of a play performance which consists of dance along with music, narration and singing, usually dedicated to goddesses such as Mariamman with stories drawn from Hindu epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata, mythology and folklore.{{cite book|title=Images of the Body in India: South Asian and European Perspectives on Rituals and Performativity|year=2012|isbn=978-1-136-70392-8|publisher=Taylor & Francis|editor1=Axel Michaels|editor2=Christoph Wulf}}{{cite book|title=Masks and Performance with Everyday Materials|first1=Gita|last1=Wolf|first2=V.|last2=Geetha|first3=Anushka|last3=Ravishankar|year=2003|isbn=978-8-186-21147-2|publisher=Tara Publishing|page=36-39}} The dance is accompanied by music played from traditional instruments and a kattiyakaran narrates the story during the performance.{{cite web|title=Koothu: The Expressive Dance-Drama of Tamil Nadu|url=https://secondnature.ws/blogs/masks-in-performing-arts/koothu-and-theyyam-vibrant-traditional-performances-from-india|work=Second Nature|access-date=1 December 2023}}

Pongal is a major and multi-day harvest festival dedicated to the Surya, the Sun God.{{cite book|author1=Denise Cush|author2=Catherine A. Robinson|author3=Michael York|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|year=2008|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-7007-1267-0|pages=610–611}} Puthandu is known as Tamil New Year which marks the first day of year on the Tamil calendar.{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC|year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|page=406}} Other prominent festivals include Karthikai Deepam,{{cite book|last1=Spagnoli|first1=Cathy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6_Aci8KA7JEC&dq=karthigai+deepam+november+december&pg=PA133|title=Jasmine and Coconuts: South Indian Tales|last2=Samanna|first2=Paramasivam|date=1999|publisher=Libraries Unlimited|isbn=978-1-56308-576-5|pages=133|language=en}}{{cite book|last=Gajrani|first=S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zh6z0nuIjAgC&dq=karthigai+deepam&pg=PA207|title=History, Religion and Culture of India|date=2004|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|isbn=978-81-8205-061-7|pages=207|language=en}} Thaipusam,{{cite book|author=Kent, Alexandra|title=Divinity and Diversity: A Hindu Revitalization Movement in Malaysia|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|year=2005|isbn=978-8-7911-1489-2}}{{cite book|title=Portals: Opening Doorways to Other Realities Through the Senses|first=Lynne|last=Hume|year=2020|isbn=978-1-0001-8987-2|publisher=Taylor & Francis}} Aadi Perukku,{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2022/jul/26/an-ode-to-aadi-and-ayyanar-2480584.html|title=An ode to Aadi and Ayyanar|newspaper=Indian Express|date=26 July 2022|access-date=1 December 2023}} and Panguni Uthiram.{{cite book|title=Holiday Symbols & Customs|year=2015|isbn=978-0-780-81365-6|first=James|last=Chambers|publisher=Infobase Publishing}}

File:Aerial view of Sri Rangam temple near Tiruchirapalli 1.jpg, the largest functioning temple in India]]

Dravidian architecture is the distinct style of rock architecture from the state, where the koils considered of porches or Mantapas preceding the door leading to the sanctum, Gate-pyramids or Gopurams in quadrangular enclosures that surround the temple, Pillared halls and a tank called the Kalyani or Pushkarni.{{cite book|last=Fergusson|first=James|title=History of Indian and Eastern Architecture|origyear=1910|edition=3rd|year=1997|publisher=Low Price Publications|location=New Delhi|page=309}}{{cite book|last=Harman|first=William P.|title=The sacred marriage of a Hindu goddess|date=9 October 1992|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|page=6|isbn=978-8-1208-0810-2}} The Gopuram is a monumental tower, usually ornate at the entrance of the temple forms a prominent feature of the Hindu temples of the Dravidian style.{{cite book|first=Francis D.K.|last=Ching|year=2007|title=A Global History of Architecture|publisher=John Wiley and Sons|location=New York|isbn=978-0-4712-6892-5|page=762|display-authors=etal}} There are a number of rock-cut cave-temples established by the ancient Tamil kings and later by Pandyas and Pallavas.{{cite book|title=Cave-temples in the Regions of the Pāṇdya, Muttaraiya, Atiyamān̤ and Āy Dynasties in Tamil Nadu and Kerala|first=D.|last=Dayalan|year=2014|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India}} The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, built by the Pallavas in the 7th and 8th centuries has more than forty rock-cut temples and monoliths including one of the largest open-air rock reliefs in the world.{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3179-8|page=399}}{{cite book|author=National Geographic|title=Sacred Places of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Most Peaceful and Powerful Destinations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jNqDFSxR8-MC&pg=PA154|year=2008|publisher=National Geographic Society|isbn=978-1-4262-0336-7|page=154}}

File:India Meenakshi Temple.jpg at Madurai. The large Gopuram is a hall-mark of Dravidian architecture]]

There are more than 34,000 temples in Tamil Nadu built across various periods some of which are several centuries old.{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-Andhra-Pradesh-build-temple-ties-to-boost-tourism/articleshow/6284409.cms|title=Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh build temple ties to boost tourism|newspaper=The Times of India|date=10 August 2010|access-date=1 December 2023}} Most temples follow the Dravidian architecture, a distinct style of rock architecture.{{cite book|last=Harman|first=William P.|title=The sacred marriage of a Hindu goddess|date=9 October 1992|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|page=6|isbn=978-8-1208-0810-2}} 84 of the 108 Divya Desams, which are Vishnu and Lakshmi temples that is mentioned in the works of the Alvars are located in Tamil Nadu.{{cite journal|title=Sri Divya Desams|publisher=Sarva Sastra Maha Vidyalaya|location=Coimbatore|last=P.M.|first=Neelakrishnan|journal=Ancient Science of Life|pages=193–7|volume=11|issue=3|date=April 1992|pmc=3336602|pmid=22556587}} Paadal Petra Sthalam are 276 Shaivite temples that are revered in the verses of Nayanars in the 6th-9th century CE.{{cite web|url= http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/shivlist.html|title=A comprehensive description of the 276 Shivastalams glorified by the Tevaram hymns|work=Templenet|access-date=11 January 2011}} Pancha Bhuta Sthalam refers to temples dedicated to Shiva, each representing a manifestation of the five prime elements of nature.{{cite book|last=Ramaswamy|first=Vijaya|title=Historical dictionary of the Tamils|year=2007|publisher=Scarecrow Press, INC.|location=United States|isbn=978-0-470-82958-5}} Arupadaiveedu are six temples which are dedicated Murugan.{{cite book|last=Aiyar|first=P.V.Jagadisa|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|year=1982|publisher=Asian Educational Services|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-0-4708-2958-5|pages=191–203}} Madurai also called as "Temple city" consists of many temples including the massive Meenakshi Amman Temple with Kanchipuram, considered as one of the seven great holy cities being another major temple town with many temples dating back to the Pallava period.{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kanchipuram|title=Kanchipuram|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=Britannica}}{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Meenaskshi-Amman-Temple|title=Meenakshi Amman Temple|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=Britannica}} Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple is the largest temple complex in India and the biggest functioning Hindu temple in the world with a {{convert|236|ft|m}} tall Rajagopuram, one of the tallest in the world.{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5894/|title=Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=1 December 2023}}

Ramanathaswamy Temple located at Rameswaram island forms a part of Ram setu and is said to be sanctified by the lord Rama when he crossed the island on his journey to rescue his wife, Sita from the Ravana.{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Rameswaram|title=Rameswaram|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=Britannica}} Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple hosts a {{convert|18|ft|m|abbr=on}} tall Hanuman statue, one of the tallest in India.{{cite web|url=https://namakkal.nic.in/tourist-place/namakkalanjaneyartemple/|title=Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu}} There are a lot of temples devoted to lord Ganesha, major of which are the Uchippillaiyar temple in Tiruchirappalli, Eachanari Vinayagar temple in Coimbatore hosting a {{convert|6.3|ft|abbr=on}} tall idol and Karpaka Vinayakar temple in Pillayarapatti.{{cite web|url=https://www.tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in/destinations/eachanari-vinayagar-temple-coimbatore|title=Eachanari Vinayagar temple|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in/destinations/tiruchirappalli-rockfort-temple|title=Ucchi Pillayar Temple, Rockfort|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu}} There are a number of hill temples dedicated to lord Murugan and Amman temples across the state.{{cite web|url=https://www.tamilnadutourism.com/temples/amman-temples.php|title=Amman temples|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu}} Swami Vivekananda is said to have attained enlightenment on a rock, located off the coast of Kanniyakumari, which houses the Vivekananda Rock Memorial since 1970.{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kanniyakumari|title=Kanniyakumari|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=Britannica}}

{{Main|Christianity in Tamil Nadu}}

File:Vailankanni Church, front view.jpg at Velankanni]]

The Christian apostle, St. Thomas, is believed to have landed in the Malabar Coast in 52 CE and built St. Mary's Church in Thiruvithamcode, Kanyakumari district in 63 AD and preached in the area around present day Chennai till 70 CE.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/the-church-that-st-thomas-built/article4720703.ece|title=The church that St. Thomas built|last=Sathyendran|first=Nita|date=16 May 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=13 November 2019|issn=0971-751X}} The Santhome Church, which was originally built by the Portuguese in 1523, is believed to house the remains of St. Thomas and was rebuilt in 1893 in neo-Gothic style.{{cite web|title=Santhome Cathedral|url=https://www.tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in/destinations/santhome-cathedral-and-basilica|access-date=28 December 2022|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu}} In 1578, the Portuguese published a book in old Tamil script named 'Thambiraan Vanakkam', the first book in any Indian language to be printed and published.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-saw-its-first-book-in-1578/article476102.ece|title=Tamil saw its first book in 1578|first=Karthik|last=Madhavan|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=8 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101181012/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-saw-its-first-book-in-1578/article476102.ece|archive-date=1 January 2016|url-status=live|date=21 June 2010}} The Europeans started to establishing trade centers from the 16th century CE along the eastern coast of the state, and the region was under the rule of British Raj from the 18th century to the mid 20th century.{{cite web|url=https://www.iias.asia/the-newsletter/article/rhythms-portuguese-presence-bay-bengal|title=Rhythms of the Portuguese presence in the Bay of Bengal|publisher=Indian Institute of Asian Studies|access-date=1 December 2023}}{{cite news|title=Danish flavour|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2622/stories/20091106262211800.htm|access-date=5 August 2013|newspaper=Frontline|date=6 November 2009|location=India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060423/http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2622/stories/20091106262211800.htm|archive-date=21 September 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite book|title=A short history of the world|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3QZXvUhGwhAC|publisher=Helicon publishing Ltd.|page=277|year=1997|author=Roberts J. M.|isbn=978-0-1951-1504-8}} This also brought Christian missionaries, who established churches and introduced the religion to various parts of the state.{{cite book|title=Christianity in India: From Beginnings to the Present|last=Frykenberg|first=Robert Eric|date=26 June 2008|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=978-0-1982-6377-7|page=180}}

As per the 2011 census, Christianity is the second largest religion in the state with the total number of Christians numbering 4,418,331, forming 6.12% of the total population of the state. There is a larger proportion of Christians in the southern districts, Kanyakumari (46%), Thoothukudi (16.7%) and Tirunelveli (10.6%).{{cite web|url=http://census2001.tn.nic.in/religion.aspx|title=Archived copy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305140514/http://census2001.tn.nic.in/religion.aspx|archive-date=5 March 2012|access-date=29 June 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/tamil-nadu-with-72-million-people-records-80-literacy/articleshow/20367915.cms?from=mdr|title=Tamil Nadu, with 72 million people, records 80% literacy|date=31 May 2013|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=25 November 2019}} The 16th-century Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health is located at Velankanni, about {{convert|12|km|abbr=on}} south of Nagapattinam on the Eastern coast. The town declared as a holy city by the pope is known as the 'Lourdes of the East'.{{cite web|url=https://www.tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in/destinations/velankanni|title=Velankanni|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu}}

{{Main|Tamil Muslim}}

File:Ervadidargah.jpg, one of the oldest mosques]]

Islam was introduced due to the influence from the Arab region and the majority of the muslims are native Tamils who converted on the influence of Cheraman Perumal.{{cite journal|last=Jean-Baptiste|first=Prashant More|title=The Marakkayar Muslims of Karikal, South India|date=1991|url= |journal=Journal of Islamic Studies|volume=2|pages=25–44|doi=10.1093/jis/2.1.25|pmid=15455059|pmc=355923|series=Oxford Academic Journals}} Unlike from other parts of India, nearly 90% of the muslims in the state speak Tamil rather than Urdu as their mother tongue.{{cite book|last=Jain|first=Dhanesh|contribution=Sociolinguistics of the Indo-Aryan languages|editor1-last=Cardona|editor1-first=George|editor2-last=Jain|editor2-first=Dhanesh|title=The Indo-Aryan Languages|publisher=Routledge|place=London|year=2003|series=Routledge language family series|isbn=0-7007-1130-9|page=57}}{{cite book|last=More|first=J.B.P.|title=Muslim identity, print culture and the Dravidian factor in Tamil Nadu|publisher=Orient Longman|place=Hyderabad|year=2007|isbn=978-81-250-2632-7}} Arabic inscriptions from the ninth century CE at Kayalpatnam, detail about endowments given to the mosques by Pandyas.{{cite news|url=https://muslimmirror.com/eng/muslims-of-tamil-nadu-history-social-structure-and-current-status/|title=Muslims of Tamil Nadu – History, social structure, and current status|date=13 July 2022|access-date=1 December 2023|work=Muslim mirror}} The earliest literary work in the community was the Palsanthmalai from the 13th century with the most popular being the epic Seerapuranam by Umaru Pulavar in the 17th century{{cite book|last=Narayanan|first=Vasudha|title=India's Islamic Traditions, 711-1750|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2003|isbn=0-19-568334-X|editor-last=Eaton|editor-first=Richard M.|location=New Delhi|pages=393–408|chapter=Religious Vocabulary and Regional Identity: A Study of the Tamil Cirappuranam ('Life of the Prophet')}}{{cite web|url=http://www.international.ucla.edu/southasia/article.asp?parentid=27779|title=The Diversity in Indian Islam|publisher=University of California|access-date=1 December 2023}}

{{As of|2011}}, Islam is the third largest religion in the state with 4,229,479 followers, making up 5.86% of the population. The Kilakarai Jumma Masjid, built in the 7th century CE, has prominent Dravidian architectural characteristics and is one of the oldest mosques in India.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/mosques-in-dravidian-islamic-style-about-the-islamic-architecture-in-tamil-nadu/article20696593.ece|title=Mosques in Dravidian-Islamic style: About the Islamic architecture in Tamil Nadu|date=23 November 2017|access-date=1 December 2023|newspaper=The Hindu}} Erwadi houses an 840-year-old mosque and the annual santhanakoodu festival held during the Islamic month of Dhul Qidah attracts people of all faiths from different regions.{{cite web|url=https://utsav.gov.in/view-event/ervadi-santhanakoodu-festival-1|title=Erwadi santhanakoodu festival|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=Government of India}} Nagore Dargah where the urs festival is celebrated every year and attracts pilgrims from both sufi Islam and Hinduism.{{cite book|last1=Landis|first1=Dan|last2=Albert|first2=Rosita D.|title=Handbook of Ethnic Conflict: International Perspectives|page=150|year=2012|publisher=Springer Science+Business Media, LLC|location=London|isbn=978-1-4614-0447-7}}

{{Main|Jainism in Tamil Nadu}}

File:Tirumalai_3329.JPG temple at Tirumalai]]

Tamil Jains existed from the sangam era with inscriptions and drip-ledges from first century BC to sixth century AD and temple monuments likely built by Digambara Jains in the ninth century found in Chitharal and several Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, stone beds and sculptures from more than 2,200 years ago found in Samanar hills.{{cite news|last=Nagarajan|first=Saraswathy|title=On the southern tip of India, a village steeped in the past|newspaper=The Hindu|date=17 November 2011|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/travel/on-the-southern-tip-of-india-a-village-steeped-in-the-past/article2636325.ece|access-date=23 March 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/2200yearold-tamilbrahmi-inscription-found-on-samanamalai/article3220674.ece|title=2,200-year-old Tamil-Brahmi inscription found on Samanamalai|newspaper=The Hindu|date=24 March 2012|access-date=19 January 2014|first=T. S.|last=Subramanian}} They were known as Camaṇar in Tamil and the Sangam literature of Silappatikaram, Nālaṭiyār and Cīvaka Cintāmaṇi were attributed to Jain authors.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.129893|title=Jaina Literature in Tamil|first=M.A.|last=Chakravarti|publisher=Bhartiya Jnanaptha Publication|year=1944}} The early Jains were part of the Digambara sect and use the title Nainar.{{cite book|volume=40|title=People of India:Tamil Nadu|last=Kumar|first=Suresh Singh|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India|year=1997|page=1437}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/jgen/090/02/0191-0202|title=Genetic admixture studies on four in situ evolved, two migrant and twenty-one ethnic populations of Tamil Nadu|first=G.|last=Suhasini|journal=Journal of Genetics|volume=90|year=2011|page=191-202}} The Kalabhra dynasty, who ruled over the ancient Tamil country in the 3rd–7th century CE were patrons of Jainism.{{cite book|last1=Kulke|first1=Hermann|author-link1=Hermann Kulke|last2=Rothermund|first2=Dietmar|author-link2=Dietmar Rothermund|title=A History of India|date=2007|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=978-0-4153-2920-0|page=105|edition=4th|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RoW9GuFJ9GIC|access-date=7 September 2016|language=en}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=te1sqTzTxD8C&pg=PA72|title=The First Spring: The Golden Age of India|isbn=978-0-6700-8478-4|last1=Eraly|first1=Abraham|year=2011| publisher=Penguin Books India}} Some of the early kings of the Cheras, Pandyas and Pallavas patronized Jainism.{{cite book|last=Sastri|first=K.A. Nilakanta|title=A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar|orig-year=1955|year=2002|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-0-19-560686-7|page=333}}{{cite book|last=Pillai|first=P. Govinda|title=The Bhakti Movement: Renaissance or Revivalism?|date=2022-10-04|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-000-78039-0|pages=Thirdly, the movement had blossomed first down south or the Tamil country|language=en|chapter=Chapter 11}}

{{As of|2011}}, Jainism is the fourth largest religion in the state with 89,265 (0.12%) adherents. The northern districts of Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Cuddalore and Villupuram have a significant Jain population.{{cite book|title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume II of VII|first=Edgar|last=Thurston|year=2020|isbn=978-1-465-58237-9|publisher=Library of Alexandria|page=282}} They generally are vegetarians and retain some of the old Jain customs.{{cite report|title=Reading History with the Tamil Jainas, A Study on Identity, Memory and Marginalisation|first=R.|last=Umamaheshwari|publisher=Indian Institute of Advanced Study|page=100}}

Kalugumalai consist of three rock-cut temples{{ndash}}Kalugumalai Jain Beds, Vettuvan Koil and Kalugasalamoorthy Temple, with rock relief sculptures dating back to Pandya period of 8th to 9th century.{{cite book|first= K.V. Soundara|last= Rajan|year= 1998|title= Rock-cut Temple Styles'|publisher=Somaily Publications|location=Mumbai, India|isbn= 81-7039-218-7|page=7}} Major Jain temples include Kanchi Trilokyanatha temple, Chitharal Jain Temple, Mannargudi Mallinatha Swamy Temple, Vijayamangalam Jain temple, Alagramam Jain Temple, Poondi Arugar Temple, Thanjavur Adisvaraswamy Jain Temple and Kumbakonam Chandraprabha Jain Temple.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thread/arts-culture-society/article8179948.ece|title=Looking for Jina Kanchi|newspaper=The Hindu|date=February 2016|last1=Jain|first1=Mahima A.}}{{cite web|title=Chitharal| website=Tamil Nadu Tourism| url=http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/places/citiestowns/Kanniyakumari2.aspx?catid=c1&subcat1id=c1s1&subcat2id=c1s1s7|access-date=23 March 2017}} Tirumalai is an ancient Jain temple complex in the outskirts of Tirvannamalai that houses caves and Jain temples and a {{convert|16|ft|m}} high sculpture of Neminatha dated from the 12th century and the tallest Jain image in Tamil Nadu.{{cite web|url=http://www.jainheritagecentres.com/jainism-in-india/tamil-nadu/tirumalai-arihantagiri/|title=Arihantagiri – Tirumalai|publisher=Jain Heritage centres|access-date=29 December 2022}}

Buddhism was influential in Tamil Nadu before the later middle ages with the early Pandyas and Pallavas patronizing Buddhism.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/Buddhism-in-Tamil-Nadu/article14965365.ece|title=Buddhism in Tamil Nadu|date=29 March 2011|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=25 November 2019|issn=0971-751X}} There is a mention of a Buddhist pilgrimage route from Ceylon to Bodh Gaya via Kaveripattinam in ancient Tamilakam with ruins of a 4th century Buddhist monastery, a Buddha statue and a Buddhapada (footprint of the Buddha) found in the region.{{cite journal|title=Marine archaeological explorations of Tranquebar-Poompuhar region on Tamil Nadu coast|last=Rao|first=S.R.|journal=Journal of Marine Archaeology|volume=2|year=1991|page=6|url=http://drs.nio.org/drs/bitstream/2264/3295/2/Mar_Archaeol_2_5.pdf}}{{cite book|last=Duraiswamy|first=Dayalan|title=Role of Archaeology on Maritime Buddhism|url=https://www.academia.edu/19992743}} Nākappaṭṭinam is found in the Burmese historical text of the 3rd century BCE, mentioning a Vihāra from the period of Ashoka. Various scholarly works in Tamil and Pali, dating back to the 5th-7th century CE have been attributed to Tamil Buddhist scholars, with the most well-known being the epic-poem Manimekalai by Chithalai Chathanar.{{cite book|author1=Rao Bahadur|author2=Krishnaswāmi Aiyangar|title=Maṇimekhalai in its Historical Setting|location=London|year=1928|url=https://archive.org/details/manimekhalaiinit031176mbp}}{{cite book|first=Hisselle|last=Hammaratana|title=Buddhism in South India|publisher=Buddhist Publication Society|location=Kandy|year=1964|url=http://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh124-u.html}} Buddhism saw some revival from the late 9th century CE and the Chudamani Vihara in Nagapattinam was built by the Srivijaya king Maravijayottunggavarman under the patronage of Raja Raja Chola I in early 11th century CE with various Buddha bronze statues dated between 11th and 16th century CE being found in the region.{{cite book|title=Survey of Buddhist temples and monasteries|first=Akhtar|last=Malik|year=2007|isbn=978-8-126-13259-1|publisher=Anmol Publications|page=306}} As per the 2011 census, 11,186 people identified as followers of Buddhism, which was 0.02% of the total population of Tamil Nadu.

{{As of|2011}}, Sikhs numbered 14,601 (0.02%) in the total population of Tamil Nadu. Majority of the Sikhs are people who migrated to Tamil Nadu for agricultural and business purposes.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/little-punjab-in-tamil-nadu-bunch-of-farmers-make-arid-land-cultivable-in-ramanad-333102-2016-08-02|title=Little Punjab in Tamil Nadu: Bunch of farmers make arid land cultivable in Ramanad|first=Akshaya|last=Nath|date=3 August 2016|magazine=India Today|access-date=25 November 2019}} Sikhs have settled in most major cities and have established various Gurudwaras and educational institutions in the state.{{cite book|title=The Sikh Review|volume=60|issue=703-708|year=2012|publisher=Sikh Cultural Centre|page=35-40}}

• Religion in Chennai

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tamil Nadu, Religion in}}

Religion in Tamil Nadu

Category:Religion in India by state or union territory

Category:Tamil history

Category:History of religion in India

Category:Tamils and religion

Category:Ancient Tamil Nadu