Zindism
| Zindism | |
|---|---|
 A Zindist temple in the classical style in Bhavra, Darya. | |
| Region | Primarily Caxcana and Neria, IDU |
| Origin | 526 CE Gormi, Darya |
| Members | Est. 270,000,000 adherents worldwide |
Zindism is a monotheistic Daryan religion centered on the concept of preserving natural order (zind) through belief in God (Bhevan) and adherence to the teachings of the prophet Shankar Rathod. Key practices of the religion include daily prayer and avoidance of impure foods and practices.
It is the dominant religion of Darya, and communities of adherents exist throughout the former Daryan Empire. Prior to 1969, Zindist clergy (the tepasnanda) was centralized under a Maharish, with his seat in Vidisha. The Maharishate was abolished during the Occupation of Darya, as were all Zindist institutions above the individual temple. There are roughly 270 million Zindists worldwide, making it the world's second-largest religion, behind Christianity.
History[edit | edit source]
Zindism originated with the spiritual teacher Shankar Rathod around 526 CE in the present-day state of Gormi, then the Kaithal kingdom. The religion spread rapidly during Rathod's lifetime, and spread through the Kaithal kingdom's subsequent conquests. From the founding of the Daryan Empire in 1209, Zindism was closely associated with the Daryan state. The power of the Maharishate grew during the 16th century as a series of emperors sought to standardize Zindist practice across the empire and eliminate minority Zindist sects seen as a potential source of subversion. With the emergence of the Daryan empire overseas, colonial authorities sought to promote Zindism overseas; the Daryan diaspora also resulted in Zindism taking root in other nations. The Jena sect of Zindism emerged in 1718 as a reaction to the politicization of the Maharishate, instead preaching an austere lifestyle and refusing to accept the authority of the tepasnada. The Jena sect was often persecuted by Daryan authorities yet remains existent to this day; between 5 and 10% of Zindists adhere to a Jena denomination.
Beliefs and Practices[edit | edit source]
Zindists believe in the all-powerful god Bhevan, creator of the universe whose routine rebirth is associated with the winter solstice and the iconography of the snake devouring its own tail. Bhevan is opposed by the malevolent spirit Vetal who seeks to corrupt humanity and consume their souls after death. Vetal's long period of domination over the universe is believed to have come to an end with the birth of Shankar Rathod, the human incarnation of Bhevan sent to guide human souls away from consumption by Vetal and towards reincarnation.
Achieving salvation and reincarnation after death requires faithful adherence to Zindist belief, including prayer, as well as adherence to purity rituals. Zindism has a caste system which is immutable from birth, with people of higher castes believed to house souls which have successfully reincarnated across numerous generations, while lower castes and non-caste people believed to host newborn souls. Purity rituals ("keeping caste") include avoidance of shellfish and meat from young animals, avoidance of human blood, male circumcision, daily prayer, charitable giving during holidays, and weekly attendance at temple services, typically held on Saturdays. In Zindist belief, children becomae adults during the winter solstice of their 13th year, and the day after the winter solstice is dedicated to celebrations of adulthood.
Zindist temples are constructed in a variety of styles but are generally grand and adorned with religious stonecarvings, although the Jena Zindist sect eschews ornateness. Major religious holidays include the winter solstice, the date of Shankar Rathod's reincarnation, and the celebration of nature and the harvest during the fall equinox. In the pre-modern era, the need to track the dates of equinoxes and solstices led Daryans to become the world's foremost astronomers.
Zindawla[edit | edit source]
Zindist nationalist ideology is known as Zindawla. First originating in the early 20th century through the writings of political philosopher Ram Pradhan Nath, Zindawla beliefs vary widely but uniformly justify caste discrimination, subordination of women, and governance according to orthodox Zindist principles. Zindawla radicals have at times taken up arms motivated by these beliefs, notably in the ongoing Kabo War.