Ayya Vaikundar
Encyclopedia
Ayya Vaikundar according to Akilattirattu Ammanai
(or Akilam), a scripture of the Ayyavazhi
, was a Manu
(father, sovereign) Avatar
of Narayana
, incarnated as Muthukutty or Mudisoodum Perumal, a Nadar
of Swamithoppe, Tamil Nadu
(c. 1810 — c. 1851).
He is referred to as Sampooranathevan, a deva
(a deity).
The exact date of birth of Mudisoodum Perumal is unknown. It is mostly placed in either 1810 or 1809, while others follow the view of Akilam.
, at Swamithoppe in the Kanyakumari
District(part of Travancore then). They were very poor. They initially named the child Mudisoodum Perumal, meaning "Lord Vishnu
with a crown", but due to objections from those of higher castes, the family changed his name to Muthukutty.
The religious book, Akilam
, tells of a legend of a child who was born dead, and then the soul of the deva
Sampooranathevan
was placed in the body. According to the legend, the parents found the child still for a time immediately after birth, then the child began behave normally. Thereafter, that boy grew up called Muthukutty in human history, and Sampooranathevan in Ayyavazhi mythology
.
Muthukutty, a religious boy, had special interest in the worship of Vishnu
. The holy book Akilam
mentions that he had set a pedestal for Lord Vishnu
in his house and worshipped the deity devoutly. At the age of seventeen, Muthukutty married Thirumalammal from the nearby village of Puviyur
, and started a family with her. However, some believe that they were not married at all, but that, she had come to live with him only to serve him during his public activities. Thirumalammal had been previously married, but left her former husband to marry Muthukutty. According to quotes found in Akilam, they had a male child, who was sired by her first husband. Muthukutty earned his living as a Palmyra palm
climber and as an agricultural laborer.
, during a festival in Thiruchendur
. There, Muthukutty went in to the sea and disappeared. The parents searched for his body for a whole day. According to legends, on the third day, Vishnu
appeared on the sea-shore. On seeing him, Muthukutty's mother mistook him for her son and tried to embrace him. But the god told her that he was no longer her son, but the son of Narayana
. Then he started walking towards Detchanam
. This place became a holy place for the devotees of Ayyavazhi
and they erected a temple there named Avatharappathi
at Thiruchendur. This event is celebrated during the festival of Ayya vaikundar avataram.
(As per Akilathirattu Ammanai) on 20th of the Tamil Month of Masi
, (March 4, 1833 C.E; 3/4/1833) is considered a unique Avatar
by the followers of Ayyavazhi. Akilam
, speaks about it in great detail, as summarized below:
According to Akilam Ayya Vaikundar was not merely a human, not merely Narayana
, and not merely the Ultimate Soul, but on the other hand he was a human and he was the Ultimate Soul and he was Narayana
. He was the one who had the responsibility to destroy the evil of Kali.
There is another view that Vaikundar did not take a human body and showed only a bodily appearance to mankind based upon some quotes in akilam.
), he undertook to perform a penance. The penance consisted of three stages, each spanning two years. There is a tradition that describes his postures during the six-year tavam as follows: during the first two years, he stood inside a pit of six depth, during the next two years, squatted on the ground, and, during last two years, sat on a raised platform. His appearance was squalid, "long and entangled plait of hair" and frayed clothes. He spoke less and subsisted on frugal meals.
speaks of this act of incinerating the evil spirits as an important event in the incarnation of Ayya Vaikundar. It took place when he was performing his great penance, which had been announced by him to be the means of destroying the kalimayai
- the illusory evil force. He, then, gathered the people around, and caused some of them, both male and female, to get possessed of the evil spirits (peyattam). The possessed ones came and danced in front of the crowd as if the evil spirits had come upon them. Vaikundar, then, ordered these evil spirits to make an oath, in front of the people, to surrender their powers and get burned up in flames. When he had finished his orders, those dancing under the duress of possession got exhausted and fell flat on the ground. Thus the evil spirits were incinerated.
"There are no demons, no devils,
No ill effects of magical practices,
No disease, no pain, and no extortion of taxes,
And, therefore, live courageously."
The fame of Vaikundar had begun to spread in the countries of Travancore
and Tirunelveli
, and he had been gradually recognised socially as a religious person with extraordinary powers. In the religious parlance of the time, he was addressed as a Pantaram, a religious person hailing from, and serving the ordinary folk. Akilattirattu addresses him as NarayanaPantaram.
People came to him to listen to his teachings and instructions, to be cured by him of different diseases, to witness, worship and serve a religious person. Vaikundar encouraged the people to come together around a well to take a ritual bath, irrespective of caste differences. He encouraged them to dine together in his presence.
He gave out a number of teachings and instructions, the central point of which was that he had come to abolish Kali Yukam, and to usher in an age of Dharma Yukam
, during the time of which the now-oppressed and suffering people would be liberated and rule the land under his leadership. 'Uplift of the lowly is dharmam’ was a constant refrain in his teachings. People were encouraged to serve as catalysts for the destruction of Kali
by transforming themselves to be 'people of Dharma Yukam' and to acquire a new character. The new character would come upon them, he said, if they learned to live with self-respect, social dignity and fearlessness. Underscoring the importance of self-respect and social dignity, he said, ‘if one lives with dignity and self-respect, the kali would destroy itself’ . He said when people grew out of kalimayai
, Dharma Yukam would unfold itself and in that age, he would rule over the people as Dharma Raja
, the king of Dharma Yukam.
. The king arrested Vaikundar and tortured him.
There is an opinion that Ayya was arrested on 11 November 1839. But the date is not mentioned in Akilam.
. He also practiced several miracles. He married the Saptha Kanniyar as Narayana
r (see:Marriage with the Seven Virgins), the Seven deities in the form of Ekam
(see:Marriage with the Deities), He initiated a lot of festivities around him (see:Festivals and Celebrations)." The deities were made to 'come upon' some of the female devotees who became their human media, and then a marriage ceremony was performed with these human media. There were ceremonial processions held amidst singing, incantations and shouts of joy by the followers. Several rites and rituals were instituted during these occasions.
s. Vaikundar came to recognize five individuals as his closest disciples. Through one of his disciples, Hari Gopalan Citar, he wrote the holy book, called Akilam
.
On 3 June 1851 Vaikundar attained Vaikundam (died. see also:Attaining Vaikundam). However, Samuel Mateer mentions the year as 1848.
But today most of the historians opinins it as it is mentioned in Akilam. As he attained Vaikundam his body was interned in a tomb and, around that, a pati (temple) was raised later on. His devotees continued to visit this site, and performed the rituals as they used to do when Vaikundar was bodily present. His life and works remain the foundation of the Ayyavazhi
. The head temple of the Ayyavazhi
religion is the Swamithoppepathi and is located in the Village of Swamithope
.
the Pandavas of previous Dwapara Yukam
was made to take birth in this Kali Yukam as Citars of Vaikundar. They are:
Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
(or Akilam), a scripture of the Ayyavazhi
Ayyavazhi
Ayyavazhi is a dharmic belief system that originated in South India in the 19th century. It is cited as an independent monistic religion by several newspapers, government reports and academic researchers. In Indian censuses, however, the majority of its followers declare themselves as Hindus...
, was a Manu
Manu (Hinduism)
In various Hindu traditions, Manu is a title accorded to the progenitor of mankind, and also the very first brahman king to rule this earth, who saved mankind from the universal flood. He was absolutely honest which was why he was initially known as "Satyavrata"...
(father, sovereign) Avatar
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
of Narayana
Narayana
Narayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
, incarnated as Muthukutty or Mudisoodum Perumal, a Nadar
Nadar (caste)
Nadar is one of the prominent castes of Tamil Nadu, South India. The term, Nadar, in Tamil literally means one who rules the land. The Nadars are also commonly called as Annachi . Nadars are an entrepreneurial south Indian caste and constitute 12% of Tamil Nadu's population...
of Swamithoppe, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
(c. 1810 — c. 1851).
He is referred to as Sampooranathevan, a deva
Deva (Hinduism)
' is the Sanskrit word for god or deity, its related feminine term is devi. In modern Hinduism, it can be loosely interpreted as any benevolent supernatural beings. The devs in Hinduism, also called Suras, are often juxtaposed to the Asuras, their half brothers. Devs are also the maintainers of...
(a deity).
The exact date of birth of Mudisoodum Perumal is unknown. It is mostly placed in either 1810 or 1809, while others follow the view of Akilam.
Birth of body and spirit
In 1809 a child was born to the couple Ponnu Nadar and Veiyelal in south IndiaSouth India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
, at Swamithoppe in the Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District ) is a district of Tamil Nadu state, India and is the southernmost land area of mainland India.The district is the second most urbanised district in Tamilnadu, next only to Chennai and ahead of Coimbatore. It also has the highest literacy and education levels in the...
District(part of Travancore then). They were very poor. They initially named the child Mudisoodum Perumal, meaning "Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
with a crown", but due to objections from those of higher castes, the family changed his name to Muthukutty.
The religious book, Akilam
Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
, tells of a legend of a child who was born dead, and then the soul of the deva
Deva (Hinduism)
' is the Sanskrit word for god or deity, its related feminine term is devi. In modern Hinduism, it can be loosely interpreted as any benevolent supernatural beings. The devs in Hinduism, also called Suras, are often juxtaposed to the Asuras, their half brothers. Devs are also the maintainers of...
Sampooranathevan
Sampooranathevan
Sampooranathevan is a mythical figure found in Ayyavazhi mythology. He was considered a powerful Deva of Deiva Loga.- Love with Para Devathai :...
was placed in the body. According to the legend, the parents found the child still for a time immediately after birth, then the child began behave normally. Thereafter, that boy grew up called Muthukutty in human history, and Sampooranathevan in Ayyavazhi mythology
Ayyavazhi mythology
Ayyavazhi mythology is the mythology of the growing South Indian religious faith and a sect of Hinduism known as Ayyavazhi. The main source of Ayyavazhi mythology is the Ayyavazhi scripture, Akilattirattu Ammanai, and its supplement, Arul Nool. The Akilattirattu Ammanai is a recitation by Mayon to...
.
Muthukutty, a religious boy, had special interest in the worship of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
. The holy book Akilam
Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
mentions that he had set a pedestal for Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
in his house and worshipped the deity devoutly. At the age of seventeen, Muthukutty married Thirumalammal from the nearby village of Puviyur
Puviyur
Pooviyoor is a hamlet near Swamithope in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, India.Pooviyoor alias Pooviyoor is a beautiful village, situated 5 kilometres from Kanniyakumari with 300 Families- Temples :Three Temples...
, and started a family with her. However, some believe that they were not married at all, but that, she had come to live with him only to serve him during his public activities. Thirumalammal had been previously married, but left her former husband to marry Muthukutty. According to quotes found in Akilam, they had a male child, who was sired by her first husband. Muthukutty earned his living as a Palmyra palm
Borassus
Borassus is a genus of six species of fan palms, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and New Guinea. They are tall palms, capable of growing up to 30 m high. The leaves are long, fan-shaped, 2 to 3 m in length...
climber and as an agricultural laborer.
The transformation
In his twenty-fourth year, Muthukutty was struck by a severe illness and suffered for a year. His mother took her sick son to the temple at ThiruchendurThiruchendur
Thiruchendur Murugan Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Muruga and one of the Arupadaiveedu of Lord Muruga. It is located in the small town of Thiruchendur in the district of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India. It is 55 km south-east of Tirunelveli, 40 km from Tuticorin and 75 km...
, during a festival in Thiruchendur
Thiruchendur
Thiruchendur Murugan Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Muruga and one of the Arupadaiveedu of Lord Muruga. It is located in the small town of Thiruchendur in the district of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India. It is 55 km south-east of Tirunelveli, 40 km from Tuticorin and 75 km...
. There, Muthukutty went in to the sea and disappeared. The parents searched for his body for a whole day. According to legends, on the third day, Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
appeared on the sea-shore. On seeing him, Muthukutty's mother mistook him for her son and tried to embrace him. But the god told her that he was no longer her son, but the son of Narayana
Narayana
Narayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
. Then he started walking towards Detchanam
Detchanam
Detchanam literally means south or the land of south. It is also used to represent the Deccan Plateau and south India. In Akilattirattu Ammanai the word Detchanam represents the land of South India with Swamithoppe as its centre, and including a vast area of land, south-east to Kanyakumari....
. This place became a holy place for the devotees of Ayyavazhi
Ayyavazhi mythology
Ayyavazhi mythology is the mythology of the growing South Indian religious faith and a sect of Hinduism known as Ayyavazhi. The main source of Ayyavazhi mythology is the Ayyavazhi scripture, Akilattirattu Ammanai, and its supplement, Arul Nool. The Akilattirattu Ammanai is a recitation by Mayon to...
and they erected a temple there named Avatharappathi
Avatharappathi
Avathara Pathi is a phrase in Tamil which represents 'The place where God incarnates'. The Avathara Pathi is one among the holy places of the religion of Ayyavazhi, which had been erected in Thiruchendur...
at Thiruchendur. This event is celebrated during the festival of Ayya vaikundar avataram.
The incarnation of Ayya Vaikundar
Ayya Vaikundar, who arose from the sea at ThiruchendurThiruchendur
Thiruchendur Murugan Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Muruga and one of the Arupadaiveedu of Lord Muruga. It is located in the small town of Thiruchendur in the district of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India. It is 55 km south-east of Tirunelveli, 40 km from Tuticorin and 75 km...
(As per Akilathirattu Ammanai) on 20th of the Tamil Month of Masi
Tamil calendar
The Tamil calendar is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Tamil Nadu. It is also used in Pondicherry , and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. It is also used by Telugu speaking people in Tamil Nadu...
, (March 4, 1833 C.E; 3/4/1833) is considered a unique Avatar
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
by the followers of Ayyavazhi. Akilam
Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
, speaks about it in great detail, as summarized below:
In each of the five yugaYugaYuga in Hindu philosophy is the name of an 'epoch' or 'era' within a cycle of four ages. These are the Satya Yuga, the Treta Yuga, the Dvapara Yuga, and finally the Kali Yuga. According to Hindu cosmology, life in the universe is created, destroyed once every 4.1 to 8.2 billion years, which is...
s prior to the transformation of Ayya Vaikundar, as each fragment of KroniKroniKroni is a figure in Ayyavazhi mythology. He is the primordial manifestation of evil, and manifests in various forms of evil, such as Ravana and Duryodhana, in different ages or yugas. In order to counteract and destroy the evil of Kroni's manifestations, Mayon incarnates as Avatars such as Rama...
(evil or Devil) came into physical form, the Lord VishnuVishnuVishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
incarnated as well, destroying them. However, in this the sixth yuga, the evil was called KaliKalineesanKalineesan is someone who was caught by Kalimayai according to Akilattirattu Ammanai, the source of Ayyavazhi mythology. Kaliyan is the sixth fragment of Kroni and Kalineesan. According to Ayyavazhi mythology, the kalimayai captured the King of Travancore and henceforth was called Kalineesan....
, (not the Hindu deity) and having no physical form (see Pre-Incarnational Events for this account) he occupied the mind of people of earth as the Mayai (illusion), causing them to behave discourteously. KaliyanKalineesanKalineesan is someone who was caught by Kalimayai according to Akilattirattu Ammanai, the source of Ayyavazhi mythology. Kaliyan is the sixth fragment of Kroni and Kalineesan. According to Ayyavazhi mythology, the kalimayai captured the King of Travancore and henceforth was called Kalineesan....
claimed, it was impossible to destroy him in this yugaYugaYuga in Hindu philosophy is the name of an 'epoch' or 'era' within a cycle of four ages. These are the Satya Yuga, the Treta Yuga, the Dvapara Yuga, and finally the Kali Yuga. According to Hindu cosmology, life in the universe is created, destroyed once every 4.1 to 8.2 billion years, which is...
as in the previous ones as he held the boon from gods, it was impossible for NarayanNarayanNarayan may refer to:*Narayana, an Indian name, an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu*Narayanan, an Indian name*Narain, an Indian name- People :*Aditya Narayan, Indian television show host*Anand Narayan, Indian television personality...
, or any others, to incarnate in the world to destroy him.
Since GodGodGod is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
could not incarnate directly, He incarnated as Ayya Vaikundar in three stages.
- The first stage of Avatar was the born dead child (birth of the Body).
- Next, immediately the soul of Sampooranathevan was installed into the body, along with the Spirit (not Soul) of Narayana
NarayanaNarayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
kept in Parvatha Ucchi Malai (a mythical mountain believed to be in this region) after the completion of the KrishnaKrishnaKrishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
Avatar. This was the second stage of the Avatar.- Then in the sea (during the 24th year), the soul of Sampooranathevan was granted moksha
MokshaWithin Indian religions, moksha or mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara and the concomitant suffering involved in being subject to the cycle of repeated death and reincarnation or rebirth.-Origins:It is highly probable that the concept of moksha was first developed in...
(liberation from the cycle of death and birth, synonymous with heaven), unified to the Ultimate Soul. Now, the Spirit of NarayanaNarayanaNarayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
along with the Ultimate Soul (Paramatma) incarnated in the body of a human being (Muthukutty). (see:The Incarnation) This is the third stage of Avatar and from then he was called Ayya Vaikundar. Then Ayya Vaikundar was given Vinchai by Narayanar.(see: Vinchai to VaikundarVinchai to VaikundarIn the literature of Hinduism, Vinchai are proclamations and instructions to the newly born child Vaikundar, by his father Narayana, also known as Vishnu, one of the three godheads in Akilattirattu Ammanai, the source of Ayyavazhi mythology...
).
According to Akilam Ayya Vaikundar was not merely a human, not merely Narayana
Narayana
Narayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
, and not merely the Ultimate Soul, but on the other hand he was a human and he was the Ultimate Soul and he was Narayana
Narayana
Narayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
. He was the one who had the responsibility to destroy the evil of Kali.
There is another view that Vaikundar did not take a human body and showed only a bodily appearance to mankind based upon some quotes in akilam.
Tavam
Having reached Poovantanthoppe, (present-day SwamithopeSwamithope
Swamithope is the name of a town that lies southeast of the City of Nagercoil, the capital of the District of Kanyakumari in the State of Tamil Nadu, at the extreme southern tip of India...
), he undertook to perform a penance. The penance consisted of three stages, each spanning two years. There is a tradition that describes his postures during the six-year tavam as follows: during the first two years, he stood inside a pit of six depth, during the next two years, squatted on the ground, and, during last two years, sat on a raised platform. His appearance was squalid, "long and entangled plait of hair" and frayed clothes. He spoke less and subsisted on frugal meals.
Incinerating evil spirits
AkilattirattuAkilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
speaks of this act of incinerating the evil spirits as an important event in the incarnation of Ayya Vaikundar. It took place when he was performing his great penance, which had been announced by him to be the means of destroying the kalimayai
Kalimayai
Kalimayai is the illusion caused by the evil spirit of Kali Yukam, according to Akilattirattu Ammanai the source of Ayyavazhi mythology....
- the illusory evil force. He, then, gathered the people around, and caused some of them, both male and female, to get possessed of the evil spirits (peyattam). The possessed ones came and danced in front of the crowd as if the evil spirits had come upon them. Vaikundar, then, ordered these evil spirits to make an oath, in front of the people, to surrender their powers and get burned up in flames. When he had finished his orders, those dancing under the duress of possession got exhausted and fell flat on the ground. Thus the evil spirits were incinerated.
Seizing the powers of witchcraft, sorcery, and other esoteric magical practices
Similarly, Vaikundar performed another action to 'seize the esoteric evil powers'. Akilam says that, he took away the powers of those who knew to perform witchcraft, sorcery, and other magical rituals. People living in the hills, called as Kanikkarar, were believed to be powerful shamans or witchdoctors, having powers to contain or to provoke the demons. Vaikundar, in a trance, made some of these Kanikkarar to testify in front of the people that they had surrendered their powers. People grew appreciative of Ayya's actions. They began addressing him as Vaikuntacami. This implied an attribution of divinity to Vaikundar. Vaikundar exhorted the people as follows:"There are no demons, no devils,
No ill effects of magical practices,
No disease, no pain, and no extortion of taxes,
And, therefore, live courageously."
Vaikundar as Pantaram
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
and Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
, and he had been gradually recognised socially as a religious person with extraordinary powers. In the religious parlance of the time, he was addressed as a Pantaram, a religious person hailing from, and serving the ordinary folk. Akilattirattu addresses him as NarayanaPantaram.
People came to him to listen to his teachings and instructions, to be cured by him of different diseases, to witness, worship and serve a religious person. Vaikundar encouraged the people to come together around a well to take a ritual bath, irrespective of caste differences. He encouraged them to dine together in his presence.
He gave out a number of teachings and instructions, the central point of which was that he had come to abolish Kali Yukam, and to usher in an age of Dharma Yukam
Dharma Yukam
Dharma Yukam is the state of absolute bliss as per Ayyavazhi mythology. This Dharma Yukam is stated in the Akilam seventeen in Akilattirattu Ammanai. This on one hand is related to Dharmic moksha and on the other viewed in relation to Abrahamic heaven....
, during the time of which the now-oppressed and suffering people would be liberated and rule the land under his leadership. 'Uplift of the lowly is dharmam’ was a constant refrain in his teachings. People were encouraged to serve as catalysts for the destruction of Kali
Kaliyan
Kali was the sixth fragment of the primordial manifestation of Kroni according to Akilam, the source of Ayyavazhi mythology and the holy book of Ayyavazhi religion. Unlike other previous manifestations, Kali spread in this yugam as maya...
by transforming themselves to be 'people of Dharma Yukam' and to acquire a new character. The new character would come upon them, he said, if they learned to live with self-respect, social dignity and fearlessness. Underscoring the importance of self-respect and social dignity, he said, ‘if one lives with dignity and self-respect, the kali would destroy itself’ . He said when people grew out of kalimayai
Kalimayai
Kalimayai is the illusion caused by the evil spirit of Kali Yukam, according to Akilattirattu Ammanai the source of Ayyavazhi mythology....
, Dharma Yukam would unfold itself and in that age, he would rule over the people as Dharma Raja
Dharma Raja
Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He succeeded his uncle Marthanda Varma, who is credited with the title of "maker of modern Travancore"...
, the king of Dharma Yukam.
Arrest and imprisonment
Against the background of the growing popularity of Vaikundar, and the convergence of people around him in multitudes, a complaint seems to have been lodged against him with the king of TravancoreSwathi Thirunal Rama Varma
Sri Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma was the Maharaja of the state of Travancore , in India. He reigned under the regency of his mother Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi from 1813 till 1815 and henceforth under the regency of his aunt Maharani Gowri Parvati Bayi from 1815 till 1829...
. The king arrested Vaikundar and tortured him.
There is an opinion that Ayya was arrested on 11 November 1839. But the date is not mentioned in Akilam.
Post-imprisonment activities
After he returned from imprisonment, Vaikundar inspired a group of his devotees to undertake a religious exercise called Thuvayal ThavasuThuvayal Thavasu
Thuvayal Thavasu, literally washing penance, was a significant religious event that took place in the 19th century. It was also called as thuvayal panthi....
. He also practiced several miracles. He married the Saptha Kanniyar as Narayana
Narayana
Narayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
r (see:Marriage with the Seven Virgins), the Seven deities in the form of Ekam
Ekam
Ekam Tamil: - "the supreme oneness") is the term used in Akilathirattu Ammanai, the holy book of Ayyavazhi, to represent The Ultimate Oneness. In Thiruvasakam-2 it was stated that it was from this Ekam that all objects, including the separate Godheads, Devas and asuras, of the universe formed...
(see:Marriage with the Deities), He initiated a lot of festivities around him (see:Festivals and Celebrations)." The deities were made to 'come upon' some of the female devotees who became their human media, and then a marriage ceremony was performed with these human media. There were ceremonial processions held amidst singing, incantations and shouts of joy by the followers. Several rites and rituals were instituted during these occasions.
Attaining Vaikundam
Later Vaikundar was invited by his devotees to their homes and treated in a grand manner. By way of soliciting his blessings, his devotees carried him to different places. During these occasions, he laid foundations in various places for small shrine-like centres, called as Nizhal ThangalNizhal Thangal
Nizhal Thangal are secondary worship places of the Ayyavazhi, often smaller in size compared to Pathis, built per the instructions of Akilattirattu Ammanai...
s. Vaikundar came to recognize five individuals as his closest disciples. Through one of his disciples, Hari Gopalan Citar, he wrote the holy book, called Akilam
Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
.
On 3 June 1851 Vaikundar attained Vaikundam (died. see also:Attaining Vaikundam). However, Samuel Mateer mentions the year as 1848.
But today most of the historians opinins it as it is mentioned in Akilam. As he attained Vaikundam his body was interned in a tomb and, around that, a pati (temple) was raised later on. His devotees continued to visit this site, and performed the rituals as they used to do when Vaikundar was bodily present. His life and works remain the foundation of the Ayyavazhi
Ayyavazhi
Ayyavazhi is a dharmic belief system that originated in South India in the 19th century. It is cited as an independent monistic religion by several newspapers, government reports and academic researchers. In Indian censuses, however, the majority of its followers declare themselves as Hindus...
. The head temple of the Ayyavazhi
Ayyavazhi
Ayyavazhi is a dharmic belief system that originated in South India in the 19th century. It is cited as an independent monistic religion by several newspapers, government reports and academic researchers. In Indian censuses, however, the majority of its followers declare themselves as Hindus...
religion is the Swamithoppepathi and is located in the Village of Swamithope
Swamithope
Swamithope is the name of a town that lies southeast of the City of Nagercoil, the capital of the District of Kanyakumari in the State of Tamil Nadu, at the extreme southern tip of India...
.
Five Citars
Ayya Vaikundar has five disciples (citars). According to Akilattirattu AmmanaiAkilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
the Pandavas of previous Dwapara Yukam
Dwapara Yukam
According to Akilattirattu Ammanai the holy text of Ayyavazhi the present universe has eight aeons and we are in the seventh aeon, Kali Yukam.In the sixth aeon called Dwapara Yukam, the fifth fragment of Kroni, the primordial personification of evil, was apportioned into hundred pieces, and made...
was made to take birth in this Kali Yukam as Citars of Vaikundar. They are:
- Dharma Citar
- Bhima CitarBhima CitarIn Ayyavazhi mythology, Bhima Citar was one of the five disciples of Ayya Vaikundar. His native place is Karumbattoor, a small village in the district of Kanyakumari. He was Bhima, the most courageous among the Pandavas in the previous Dwapara Yukam, and was transmigrated and given birth in this...
- Arjunan Citar
- Nakulan Citar
- Sakatevan Citar
See also
- VishnuVishnuVishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
- HinduismHinduismHinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
- Hindu reform movementsHindu reform movementsSeveral contemporary groups, collectively termed Hindu reform movements, strive to introduce regeneration and reform to Hinduism. Although these movements are very individual in their exact philosophies they generally stress the spiritual, secular and logical and scientific aspects of the Vedic...
- Hindu Renaissance
- Boons Offered to KaliyanBoons offered to KaliyanKaliyan was the sixth fragment of Kroni, the primordial Manifestation of Evil according to Akilattirattu Ammanai the Holy book of Ayyavazhi. Since Kaliyan as illusion spread into the minds of the Human Beings of the World, the boons claimed by him came into the world through the activities of human...
- Ayyavazhi mythologyAyyavazhi mythologyAyyavazhi mythology is the mythology of the growing South Indian religious faith and a sect of Hinduism known as Ayyavazhi. The main source of Ayyavazhi mythology is the Ayyavazhi scripture, Akilattirattu Ammanai, and its supplement, Arul Nool. The Akilattirattu Ammanai is a recitation by Mayon to...
- Ayyavazhi TrinityAyyavazhi TrinityAccording to the Ayyavazhi religion the Ayyavazhi Trinity is the incarnation of God in the current stage of world development . Ayya Vaikundar, the Incarnation, is the combination of the Ultimate God, Narayana and Human Being. In Akilam immediately after the Incarnation of Vaikundar, he was viewed...
- List of Ayyavazhi-related articles