Do Dalits Follow Any Hindu Customs?

Addressing the question directly, most Dalits, particularly those from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST), follow the custom of atheism. However, the assertion that Dalits do not follow Hindu customs needs careful examination, as it may be misleading or based on a particular perspective. To understand this question fully, we should explore the fundamental aspects of Hinduism and its diverse religious practices.

Understanding Hinduism: A Multi-Faceted Religion

The classification of Hinduism into four families of Indian religions provides a nuanced view. Each family has its unique characteristics and is followed by different segments of the Indian society.

Vedic/Astika Religion

The followers of the Vedic/Astika religion believe the Vedas to be the supreme text from which all knowledge is derived. These texts primarily rely on yajna, or fire worship, with major gods including Mitra, Aditya, Varuna, and Agni. This religion has six key schools of thought: Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimāsā, and Vedanta. However, a small minority follows this religion.

Sramana/Nastika Religions

These are the ascetic religions that focused more on renouncing material pleasures and rejecting the rituals of Vedic religion. Key leaders of this tradition were wandering ascetics, and there is no central scripture. Major religions from this family include Buddhism and Jainism. Other now-dead schools were Cārvāka and ājīvika.

Village Religions

This encompassed thousands of village religions, combining nature worship and the veneration of mythological heroes. Animal sacrifice and personal hardships, such as piercing the mouth with sharp objects, are common in these practices. These religions were more prevalent in the south and east of India and accounted for over half of the Indian population until relatively recently.

Puranic Hinduism (the Religion of 6 Gods Shanmata)

The most recent of these four families, Puranic Hinduism, mixes elements from the other three and follows one or more of six key gods: Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Ganesha, Surya, and Karthikeya. Its literature includes the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Unlike other Indian religions, their gods are portrayed as peaceful and happy, and this form of Hinduism also merged the deities of the other religions into its own pantheon.

The Monistic View

Many modern Hindu gurus consider all these four families of religion to be part of the same tradition, allowing for a more inclusive and flexible approach to faith. The urban middle class tends to see Hinduism as Shanmata, while upper castes and lower castes have different views, with lower castes often including village traditions as part of Hinduism.

Dalits and Their Religious Practices

Dalits predominantly follow the 3rd religious group, which includes village religions. If one defines Hinduism to include village traditions, then Dalits do follow Hindu customs. This definition is also how the government counts them for census purposes.

Legal and Cultural Implications

Legally, for purposes such as family law, marriage, inheritance, and other things, Hinduism includes all four of these religious practices. Some Indian nationalists believe all four are part of the same religion, which often frustrates Sramana followers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the assertion that Dalits do not follow any Hindu customs is a reductionist view that largely depends on one's definition of Hinduism. By understanding the diverse religious practices of Vedic, Sramana, village, and Puranic Hinduism, we can see that Dalits do indeed have a relationship with Hindu customs, particularly if village traditions are included. This highlights the complexity and richness of Hinduism as a religion that encompasses a wide spectrum of practices and beliefs.