Dinkoist Religion
| Dinkoist Religion | |
|---|---|
| Dinkoist flag The Dinkoist flag | |
| Abbreviation | Dinkoist |
| Orientation | Ahimsa (non-violence) |
| Scripture | Dinkoist Agamas |
| Other name(s) | Jina śāsana or Dinkoist dharma |
Dinkoism (മ: ഡിങ്കോയിസം) (/ˈdɪnkɔɪzəm/), is a social movement that has emerged and evolved on social networks organized by independent social welfare groups in Kerala, India. Although adherents describe Dinkoism as a genuine religion, it is generally seen by the media as a parody religion. This religion celebrates Dinkan as their God in an attempt to promote awareness of the fallacies and practices of traditional religions.[1]
Origins[edit]
History[edit]
Dinkoism was started in 2008 by rationalists in Kerala, India, who were perturbed at the strength of organised religions, which, they felt, had led to rising intolerance and the weakening of rational thought. Dinkoists, as the followers are called, adopted as their deity, a character called Dinkan from a comic series in the children’s magazine Balamangalam.
Superhero God Dinkan[edit]
Dinkoists revere as their God, Dinkan, a mouse who lives in a forest called Pankila. Dinkan got his superhero powers after aliens abducted him and conducted some experiments on him. Dinkan uses his special powers to help those in distress – he comes to the rescue of every creature who calls out his name aloud. Dinkan wears a yellow body suit, a red cape and superhero-style red underwear worn on the outside.
The Holy Book[edit]
The holy book of Dinkoists is Balamangalam, the children’s magazine that carried the comic series Dinkan from 1983 to 2012. The character representing Dinkan was created by writer N Somashekharan and artist Baby, and the series was published by the Kottayam-based Mangalam group of publications.
Convinced by the popularity of Dinkan, the publishers of Mangalam have decided to revive the children’s magazine Balamangalam shortly. In its rebirth, Dinkan will be its main feature.
Besides Balamangalam, Dinkoists have another holy book called the Dinkapuranam. Here, Dinkoists attempt to use science to counter superstitious beliefs and the irrational teachings of other religions.
Dinkoist Quotes[edit]
Philosophy[edit]
The idea behind Dinkoism is to expose the absurdity of most religious beliefs through exaggeration. Dinkoism has all the trappings of the organised religions it parodies – a holy book, devotional songs, priests, faith healers and symbols. It caricatures the vocabulary, rituals and iconography used by established religions. Like most other competing religions, it even has a militant arm called Mooshikasena to counter attacks from other religions.
Dinkoists are especially outspoken against godmen and practices like faith healing, polygamy, child marriage, patriarchy and oppression of women.
Practices[edit]
Dinkoists sarcastically get offended by any reference questioning the divinity of Dinkan or their 'Holy Book' Balamangalam. The backstory and professed ideology of Dinkoism has grown organically over the years. Supposed verses are quoted on the fly with fake passages to a non-existing holy book. Most people found it very attractive since it has nothing to do in day to day life. It is described in its scripture that this faith is strictly restricted to ones home and will be punished after death if brings it into public life out from the home. Like traditional religions Dinkoists also lay claim to various miracles of Dinkan in the form of writings and signs of Dinkan in food items, cow markings, vegetables and clouds.
Rituals[edit]
Miracles[edit]
Dinkoists believe the world was created when Dinkan got bored with eating cassava and laughed out loud. That laugh apparently created time and space, and everything since then.
Ethics[edit]
Convention[edit]
The first major convention on Dinkoism was held in the northern Kerala city of Kozhikode. While the organizers were expecting a moderate croud in the hundreds, they were surprised when thousands of followers turned up, and many had to be turned away since the hall hosting the convention at Manichira Maidan was too small to accommodate everyone.
| # | Resolutions made at the Convention |
|---|---|
| 1 | Demanding minority status for Dinkoism |
| 2 | Demand free or subsidised land to build places of worship |
| 3 | Demand the right to run educational institutions |
| 4 | Register Dinkoism as a religion |
| 5 | Float a political party |
| 6 | Fight for gender justice and the protection of the environment |
| 7 | Organize similar gatherings in other districts |
Prominent Followers[edit]
Joseph (filmmaker) Quote: 1) Dinkoism could offset the rising religious fanaticism and intolerance in the country.
Prashanth Nair (Kozhikode district collector) Quotes: 1) No worldly cause or vice had led to the scale of death and destruction that has been wrought in the name of God over the centuries. 2) Dinkoism is a good way to express the absurdity of blind religious belief. 3) Dinkoism is a religion where you learn to take things lightly and become tolerant to things that you don’t appreciate otherwise. 4) Dinkoists use humour to send the message. Humour is something that everybody appreciates. Therefore, it makes sense to promote this religion.
Around the World[edit]
Dinkoism has followers around the world. In the US, Dinkoists have established a chapter in Chicago. In a mock documentary, Amy Watson, a member of the Chicago chapter, explains what Dinkoism is about and describes it as the most woman-friendly religion in the world. Additionally, there are official Dinkoist chapters established in Germany, Mexico, and the Middle-East.
One follower, Parthasarathy, acquired a special licence plate in the name of Lord Dinkan for his car, paying California motor vehicles department $48. He said he hoped that Lord Dinkan's blessings will make 2016 a very auspicious year that will bring him and his family health, wealth and happiness.
Prayers[edit]
Dinkan does not demand prayers or offerings but his followers have created an array of songs. These are generally seen by the media as parodies of popular devotional melodies.
Festivals[edit]
Symbols[edit]
Rituals[edit]
Pilgrimages[edit]
Community[edit]
Demographics[edit]
Education[edit]
Schools and Branches[edit]
Temples[edit]
Statues and sculptures[edit]
Dinkoist Literature[edit]
Art and Architecture[edit]
In Popular Culture[edit]
(Biju Menon's Song)
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
Citations[edit]
References[edit]
This article "Dinkoist Religion" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- ↑ "The mouse messiah bringing salvation to India's atheists". BBC News. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
