Most people have a form of religion or "god" which they chose to follow. Religion is very important to people because it gives them a reason to continue on in life, or to strive to be the best person they can be. In the novel, "Life of Pi," author Yann Martel writes about Pi Patel, and his journey to Canada with his family when he was young. Pi Patel lived in Pondicherry, India, until his family sold the zoo and moved to Canada for a chance at better life. While at sea, the boat his family is on sinks, but Pi manages to board onto a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. He learns through his mishaps and struggles on the lifeboat to coexist with the tiger for the next 227 days. Martel's use of religion throughout the book has been clearly demonstrated through Pi's childhood, his experience on the lifeboat, and after he had been saved.
Religion has always been a major part of Pi's childhood with Hindu being his first religion as he was born into it. "The universe makes sense to me through Hindu eyes" (Martel 60) is showing us that Hindu was his primary religion although he had been exploring three at the time. The next religion Pi comes into contact with is Christianity while visiting in Munnar. During his stay, Pi finds himself coming face-to-face with a Christian church. After talking to the priest for a few days, Pi falls in love with the ideas and decides that he "would like to be a Christian" (72) as well as a Hindu. A year later Pi stumbled upon Islam while exploring his hometown. Mr. Kumar, a Muslim mystic, brought Islam into Pi's life and taught him how to pray in Islam. By now religion has taken over Pi's spiritual side as he clasps on to his three religions: Hindu, Christianity, and Islam.
Long periods of time alone will drive any normal person mad. Religion is one of the things that help keep Pi sane while at sea for 227 days. He had nobody to talk to except Richard Parker but "The presence of God is the finest of rewards" (79) so he knew that with his religions that he would never be alone even while lost at sea.
