On the transformation of Brahminism among the Ahier Chams in Ninh Thuan

Abstract

Brahmanism is a religion on the Cham adopted from India since the foundation of the state, but since the adoption by this ethnic group it had changed greatly. To understand this change, the author makes use of the comparative method between the dogmas of ancient Brahmanism with its concept on the universe, spirit, life, metempsychosis, emancipation expressed through rituals in the life cycle among the Ahier Chams in Ninh Thuan. Out of this comparison, the author comes to the remark that their brahmanism is no longer an original religion but has been “Chamzed” to become a religion of the ethnic group, a religion of locality. The Chams have filtered and rejected what were not adapted to the people’s life and replaced them by local elements. This readaptation has given rise to traditional cultural values of the Chams, which are rich and various and have strongly united brahmanist chams into a strong and solid community. Full text in Vietnamese Religious Studies 2005/3 pp.45-51