Hinduism in Maharashtra

Traditional Gudhi

Hindus form 79.83% of the state's total population as per 2011 census. Hindus form the majority in all the districts of the state.The religion plays an important role in the lives of the Maharashtrian people in their day-to-day life. Vitthoba, along with other incarnations of Vishnu such as Rama and Krishna, Hanuman, Dattatreya, and Shaiva deities such as Shiva, Parvati, and Ganesha, are popular with Hindus of Maharashtra. The Varkari tradition holds a strong grip on the local Hindus of Maharashtra. The public Ganesha festival started by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in the late 19th century is very popular. Marathi Hindus also revere Bhakti saints associated with varkari sects such as Dnyaneshwar, Savata Mali, Tukaram, Namdev, Janabai, and Chokhamela. Many religious figures from 19th and 20th century are revered. They include Swami Samarth, Gajanan Maharaj, Sai baba of Shirdi, Tukdoji Maharaj, Gondavalekar Maharaj, and Gadge Maharaj.

In every village of Maharashtra, at least one Hindu temple can be found. Maharashtra also has significant Hindu populations with origins in other states and regions of India, which adds to the diversity of temples and traditions in the state. The state has numerous recently built temples by groups such as the Swaminarayan sect, ISKCON, and South Indian communities.

Tradition

Varakari is a major tradition followed by Marathi Hindus. Varakaris are Vaishnav devotees. Vththal is a deity worshipped mostly in Varakari tradition. The main Deity worshipped in Maharashtra is Krishna in the form of Viththal.

Religion in Maharashtra state (2011)

  Hinduism (79.83%)

  Islam (11.54%)

  Buddhism (5.81%)

  Jainism (1.25%)

  Christianity (0.96%)

  Sikhism (0.20%)

  Others (including Jews, Gonds, Parsis) (0.41%)

Deities

Vithoba is popular deity in Maharashtra.

Maharashtrian Hindus worship many deities that belong to the traditions of Shaktiism, Vaishnavism and Shaivism, most prominently the following:

• Vitthala/Vithoba or Panduranga, a form of Krishna
• Krishna
• Parashurama.*Rama
• Maruti
• Shiva
• Khandoba, an avatar of Shiva.
• Ganapati
• Dattatreya
• Goddesses such as Bhavani, Mahalaxmi, Renuka, Saptashrungi

Demographics

The following data is taken from 2001 Census of India.

Hindus by district in Maharashtra

District	Total Population	Polation Under 6 Years	Hindu Population	Hindu Population Under 6 Years	HINDUS %	Hindus Under6 %	Birth Rate ('95 to '01)	H Birth Rate
Nandurbar	1,311,709	230,213	1,198,481	212,040	91.37%	92.11%	29.25	29.49
Dhule	1,707,947	255,231	1,522,895	224,249	89.17%	87.86%	24.91	24.54
Jalgaon	3,682,690	525,668	3,049,368	418,615	82.80%	79.63%	23.79	22.88
Buldana	2,232,480	340,294	1,622,192	235,708	72.66%	69.27%	25.40	24.22
Akola	20000000000	235,835	1,024,080	137,396	62.82%	58.26%	24.11	22.36
Washim	1,020,216	160,486	746,841	115,450	73.20%	71.94%	26.22	25.76
Amravati	2,607,160	357,834	1,883,148	253,784	72.23%	70.92%	22.88	22.46
Wardha	1,236,736	155,612	1,006,235	127,993	81.36%	82.25%	20.97	21.20
Nagpur	4,067,637	525,850	3,090,588	400,720	75.98%	76.20%	21.55	21.61
Bhandara	1,136,146	154,051	953,507	131,228	83.92%	85.18%	22.60	22.94
Gondiya	1,200,707	171,191	1,041,802	149,839	86.77%	87.53%	23.76	23.97
Gadchiroli	970,294	154,744	818,640	130,989	84.37%	84.65%	26.58	26.67
Chandrapur	2,071,101	279,490	1,680,113	229,457	81.12%	82.10%	22.49	22.76
Yavatmal	2,458,271	369,402	1,999,368	299,748	81.33%	81.14%	25.04	24.99
Nanded	2,876,259	477,303	2,162,185	351,079	75.17%	73.55%	27.66	27.06
Hingoli	987,160	167,098	728,893	120,975	73.84%	72.40%	28.21	27.66
Parbhani	1,527,715	252,435	1,121,246	178,715	73.39%	70.80%	27.54	26.56
Jalna	1,612,980	261,386	1,255,041	197,917	77.81%	75.72%	27.01	26.28
Aurangabad	2,897,013	467,934	2,030,181	315,200	70.08%	67.36%	26.92	25.88
Nashik	4,993,796	789,398	4,306,179	671,368	86.23%	85.05%	26.35	25.98
Thane	8,131,849	1,144,896	6,506,337	915,147	80.01%	79.93%	23.47	23.44
Mumbai (Suburban)	8,640,419	1,024,700	5,953,475	673,128	68.90%	65.69%	19.77	18.84
Mumbai	3,338,031	339,723	2,119,750	202,848	63.50%	59.71%	16.96	15.95
Raigarh	2,207,929	314,767	1,916,707	272,125	86.81%	86.45%	23.76	23.66
Pune	7,232,555	968,851	6,197,349	827,755	85.69%	85.44%	22.33	22.26
Ahmadnagar	4,040,642	589,706	3,664,259	532,286	90.69%	90.26%	24.32	24.21
Bid	2,161,250	335,283	1,827,298	278,027	84.55%	82.92%	25.86	25.36
Latur	2,080,285	326,777	1,700,679	259,782	81.75%	79.50%	26.18	25.46
Osmanabad	1,486,586	223,183	1,297,858	191,666	87.30%	85.88%	25.02	24.61
Solapur	3,849,543	569,609	3,386,955	499,218	87.98%	87.64%	24.66	24.57
Satara	2,808,994	368,531	2,533,359	331,945	90.19%	90.07%	21.87	21.84
Ratnagiri	1,696,777	236,601	1,391,137	194,670	81.99%	82.28%	23.24	23.32
Sindhudurg	868,825	105,518	802,498	96,988	92.37%	91.92%	20.24	20.14
Kolhapur	3,523,162	449,883	3,077,263	393,459	87.34%	87.46%	21.28	21.31
Sangli	2,583,524	341,643	2,243,478	297,962	86.84%	87.21%	22.04	22.14

Hindus are in majority in all districts and subdistricts of Maharashtra. The data taken from 2001 census of India. Almost all districts in Maharashtra are Hindu majority.

Gallery

Varkari saint Dnyaneshwar's palkhi (palanquin), Dagdusheth Ganpati, Pune, Sai baba of Shirdi, Panduranga Vitthal Pandharpur, Khandoba temple Pune, Trimbakweshwar Jyotirlinga Temple Entrance.