Hinduism in Myanmar

History

Hinduism, along with Buddhism, arrived in Burma during ancient times. Both names of the country are rooted in Hinduism; Burma is the British colonial officials' phonetic equivalent for the first half of Brahma Desha, the ancient name of the region.^[6] Brahma is part of Hindu trinity, a deity with four heads. The name Myanmar is the regional language^[7] transliteration of Brahma, where b and m are interchangeable.^[6]

Arakan (Rakhine) Yoma is a significant natural mountainous barrier between Burma and India, and the migration of Hinduism and Buddhism into Burma occurred slowly through Manipur and by South Asian seaborne traders. Hinduism greatly influenced the royal court of Burmese kings in pre-colonial times, as seen in the architecture of cities such as Bagan. Likewise, the Burmese language adopted many words from Sanskrit and Pali, many of which relate to religion.^[8]

While ancient and medieval arrival of ideas and culture fusion transformed Burma over time, it is in 19th and 20th century that over a million Hindu workers were brought in by British colonial government to serve in plantations and mines.^[9] The British also felt that surrounding the European residential centre with Indian immigrants provided a buffer and a degree of security from tribal theft and raids. According to 1931 census, 55% of Rangoon's (Yangon) population were Indian migrants, mostly Hindus.^[10]

After independence from Britain, ten years was under the Democratic government led by various leaders and fought for the stronghold of the power. While the country was still suffering from post-war economic downfall and constant attacks from insurgent groups supported by external influences, the power struggle between the two leading parties reached its peak. It resulted in the Prime Minister

The Burmese census data only reports individuals who stated Hinduism. Pew Research estimated a range of 820,000 to 840,000 Hindus in 2010.^[11][12]

Population by State/Region

Population of Hindus by State/Region, according to the 2014 census.^[13]

State/Region	Hindus %
Bago	2%
Mon	1%
Yangon	1%
Kayin	0.6%
Rakhine	0.5%
Kachin State	0.4%
Tanintharyi	0.2%
Mandalay	0.2%
Kayah	0.1%
Magway	0.1%
Sagaing	0.1%
Ayeyarwady Region	0.1%

Ethnicity

Predominantly,

The majority of the

Many Nepali-speaking Burmese Gurkha in Myanmar also practice Hinduism. Burmese Gurkha came along with British Army during colonial period. There are approximately 250 Hindu Temples build by Burmese Gurkha in and across country which of 30 temples are in Mandalay Region of Mogok City alone. Apparent there are three to five temples which are over 100 years old. A small minority of

Ethnic data was last collected in Myanmar for the 1983 Census, and the census department didn't published stats related to ethnicity after that. Back in 1983, there were 428,428 Indians, 42,140 Pakistanis, 567,985 Rohingya and 28,506 Nepalis.^[14] Due to the mutual overlap in religious traditions, it is possible that some of the Hindus among these ethnicities reported as Buddhist during the 1983 Census. This may explain the low number of Hindus reported in 1983 (177,215).

As per the 1983 Census report, among the ethnic Indians 27.10% reported themselves as Buddhist, 33.64% as Hindu, 32.71% as Muslim, 4.44% as Christian and 2.10% as Others. Among the ethnic Burmese, the census reported three thousand Hindus. Out of the 174,401 Hindus reported in 1983, the ethnicity was as follows: Indian - 143,545, Chinese - 43, Mixed race - 4,882, Pakistani - 567, Bangladeshi - 865, Nepalese - 17,410, Other foreigners - 679, Kachin -48, Kayah - 3, Karen - 55, Chin - 155, Burmese - 2,988, Mon - 27, Rakhine - 99, Shan - 69 and other indigenous - 2,966.^[15]

Contemporary status

Aspects of Hinduism continue in Burma today, even in the majority Buddhist culture. For example,

In modern Myanmar, most Hindus are found in the urban centres of Yangon and Mandalay. Ancient Hindu temples are present in other parts of Burma, such as the 11th century Nathlaung Kyaung Temple dedicated to Vishnu in Bagan.

After independence from Britain, Burma Socialist Programme Party under Ne Win adopted xenophobic policies and expelled 300,000 Indian ethnic people (many of whom were Hindus and included Sikhs, Buddhists, and Muslims), along with 100,000 Chinese, from Burma between 1963 and 1967.

On 25 August 2017, the villages in a cluster known as Kha Maung Seik in northern Maungdaw District of Rakhine State in Myanmar were attacked by Rohingya Muslims of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).This was called Kha Maung Seik massacre. Amnesty International said that about 99 Hindus were killed in that day.^[19][20] These Rohingya Hindus identify themselves as Chittagonian due to fear from Anti-Rohingya sentiment formed by Rohingya terrorists.^[21]

Hindu organisations and temples

Myanmar Hindu Central Council and Sanatan Dharma Swayamsevak Sangh are the two largest Hindu organizations in Myanmar.^[22]

All Myanmar Gurkha Hindu Religious Association is another Hindu organisation representing Gurkha Hindus.

• Nathlaung Kyaung Temple
• Shri Kali Temple, Burma
• Sri Varatha Raja Perumal Temple
• Shree Maha Lakshmi Temple
• Sri Kali Amman Temple
• Kartayri Temple
• Sri Radha Mandalayshwar Temple
• Shree Ram Temple
• Sri Ganesh Temple

See also

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Seekins, Donald M (2006). Historical Dictionary of Burma. pp. 216–220.
  ISBN 978-0810854765
  .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hinduism in Myanmar.

• "Hinduism in Myanmar | Religion and Public Life". Harvard Education. Harvard University Press.