Additional denominations

See also: Religion

Dharmic[edit]

Hindu [edit]

Hinduism is the term for a wide range of polytheistic Indian traditions with a common pantheon.
One of the oldest religions in the game, Hinduism primarily exists in India and parts of South East Asia, where it has been losing ground to Buddhism and Islam.

All Hindu nations receive:

+1 Tolerance of the True Faith
+1 Tolerance of heathens
+20% Brahmins influence with the Dharma DLC
Possible heresies: Bhaktis

With the Wealth of Nations DLC, Hindu rulers are allowed to pick their deity through the Religion screen. This choice lasts for the life of the ruler or until an event changes it. All Hindu rulers have unique special event paths that allow them to improve the ruler's base Monarch power generation as well as other positive effects.

Each deity also grants two bonuses to the nation:

Deity	Effects	Description
Ganesha	+1 Diplomatic reputation +20% Improve relations	Ganesha is the god of knowledge and beginnings, the Lord of Obstacles.
Ganga	−10% Construction cost −0.25 Interest per annum	Ganga is the goddess of the sacred river, Ganges, who purifies and redeems.
Shakti	+5% Discipline +5% Siege ability	Shakti is the goddess of power and dynamic energy.
Shiva	−10% Core creation cost −5% Aggressive expansion impact	Shiva is the god of transformation through destruction and the Lord of Dance.
Surya	+10% National tax modifier +10% Trade efficiency	Surya is the god of the sun, courage and will.
Vishnu	+2% Missionary strength +20% Fort defense	Vishnu is the all-pervading god who sustains the world.

A Hindu Republic chooses a new deity every time a new leader is elected (4–8 years depending on republic type and choice). Such countries can rapidly change their status to adjust to game circumstances.

Sikh [edit]

Sikhism is the faith founded by Guru Nanak around the turn of the 16th century in the Punjab. A monotheistic religion, Sikhism was born in an area where Islam and Hinduism mixes but is in many ways unlike either.
No province or country starts with Sikh religion in the game but it will likely appear some decades from the start.

Sikhism can appear by event from 1480 in a cluster of up to three provinces each of which either is Hindu and borders a Muslim province, or vice versa. It is more likely to appear in Panjabi-culture provinces and Doaba in particular. After 1515, it can appear from time to time in individual provinces in northern Indian, Tibetan, Mashriq and Arabia regions at different times up to 1550. The event will convert up to 3 provinces and give religious zeal

All Sikh nations receive:

+10% Morale of armies
−10% Military technology cost
Possible heresies: Masandis

All Sikh provinces receive:

−1% Local missionary strength^[1]

Sikh gurus: Main article: Sikh events

Nations following the Sikh faith gain access to events related to the succession of Sikh Gurus. Each event gives a predetermined national modifier and clears the modifier for the previous guru.

Guru (Event)	Year	Effect
Guru Angad	1539	−5% Technology cost
Guru Amar Das	1552	+2% Missionary strength −2 National unrest
Guru Ram Das	1574	−10% Stability cost modifier
Guru Arjan	1581	−5% Diplomatic technology cost
Guru Hargobind	1606	+5% Discipline
Guru Har Rai	1644	+1 Diplomatic Reputation
Guru Har Krishan	1661	+2 Tolerance of the True Faith −1 Diplomatic relations
Guru Tegh Bahadur	1665	+4 Tolerance of heretics
Guru Gobind Singh	1675	+5% Discipline +20% Religious unity
Guru Granth Sahib	1708	-15% State maintenance +1 Missionary Or +50% Army Drill gain modifier -25% Regiment drill loss

Other denominations[edit]

A few additional religions exist at the start date of 1444 that do not fit into any of the other main religious groups. These include Judaism and Zoroastrianism, both of which are confined to a small number of provinces at the start date with no nation having them as their state religion. They can, however, be played through releasing vasals, by going bankrupt while only owning provinces of that religion, or through the use of the custom nation designer. While a few unique decisions and events exist for nations of these religions, they are far less fleshed out than the more major religions in the game, such as the Catholic and Sunni faiths.

Jewish [edit]

The oldest Abrahamic religion in the game, Judaism builds upon the Torah and the traditions and scriptures of the Jewish people going back over 3000 years.
By the start of the game the Jewish faith is a minority faith in most of the world and only exist in the small provinces of Semien and Dembiya in Ethiopia.

All Jewish countries receive:

+2 Tolerance of the true faith
+1 Possible advisors
Possible heresies: Samaritan, Karaite

All Jewish provinces receive:

−2% Local missionary strength^[1]

NB: Semien and Dembiya, owned by Ethiopia in 1444, are the only Jewish provinces at the start of the campaign. The event "Surge of Sephardic Migrants" can generate the religion in the Selanik province. The religion may also appear as a Jewish Tribal Kingdom as part of a scenario in the RNW.

Zoroastrian [edit]

Zoroastrian religion is the traditional faith of the Iranian peoples and the old Persian Empire. Zoroastrians are monotheists and follow the teachings of the prophet of Zoroaster.
By the start of the game Zoroastrianism has been in decline for centuries following the Islamic conquest of Iran and apart from a concentration around the province of Yazd they exist only as minorities in India and Persia not represented in the game.

Modifiers for being Zoroastrian are: