Ayyavazhi religious studies
Encyclopedia
The religious studies of Ayyavazhi
are based primarily on the Ayyavazhi scriptures
. Though there is enough knowledge there for a common worshiper to understand Ayyavazhi theology
, it needs the Hindu
and at some times the scriptures of other religions (including abrahamic) to be referred to undergo a detailed religious study on Akilam. Because Akilam maintains a unique type of relation with the other scriptures.
On one hand it rejects Hindu scriptures by saying that they have lost their divinity by the activities of Kali
, but on the other many of the theological, mythical as well as philosophical terms and concepts from Hindu scriptures are adopted directly and indirectly. However it's unavoidable to refer Hindu scriptures to find more details about the ideology of Akilam.
. Almost all the God-heads either lesser or higher in power found in Akilam with only a least and undetailed introduction on their how and whereabouts. They just plays their part to the long mythical story-line of the Ayyavazhi mythology
. But to understand the core philosophy of that event and the reason behind the involvement of that God-head to that event one should have already known the details about that particular God-head, which was not found in Akilam. Also only there a least possibility to know the relationship between several mythical figures other than the higher God-heads. And for all these details including their story-background, origin etc.
Regarding mythology The Mahabharata
, Ramayana
, Kantha Purana, Vishnu Purana
, etc. all found place with limited details in Akilam. Akilam provides all these collectively with a mutual relation with each other in an over-all story line which makes it unique. But to understand the whole knowledge for example Treta Yuga
, the scripture which includes those events in detail should needed to be referred. Though the event related to the same Tretha Yuga is found in Akilam, it includes only the main events which are directly related to the maintained story-line. Same in the matter of Mahabharata
and kantha Purana. Apart from these many mythical events are found in brief Akilam which is found in detail in Siva purana, Santror purana etc. Overall, all the Pre-kaliyuga events are mentioned briefly in Akilam and more details about them which is essential to undergo a religious study on Akilam may be collected from the Hindu texts.
However Akilam includes more details about the events in Kaliyuga than that of the previous and further more from the incarnation of Vaikundar. But on the other hand, it again needs a good knowledge about the Hindu concepts such as Nirguna
and Saguna Brahman
, rather than mythology
for one who wants to know about the supremacy of Vaikundar.
is not a constant one since it is deals with the whole events right from the creation to the end. It undergoes different theologies from polytheism
to monotheism
and monism
, though monism is the final and overall focus point for the present yuga
. It is viewed closely to the mythical events that takes place at various ages and so it changes often. Monism
in the beginning (creation), polytheism
till the end of Dwapara yuga, then some sort of henotheism
till the advent of Vaikundar; and then on Monism
again. All this changes are closely tied to the appropriate mythical events and so all stories related to these changes should be know in detail to understand the evolution of the philosophy of Akilam through the ages.
Also since from the incarnation
of Vaikundar all previous individual God-heads are surrendered and assembled within Vaikundar, then onwards he is the responsible one for the activities of all god-heads. All the works to be done by them will be performed by Vaikundar. So it's unavoidable to know about the nature, quality and powers of all those God-heads to understand the quality and power extension of Vaikundar. So again the details of those surrendered god-heads to be collected from the Hindu texts. But if Akilam has any different ideas about any particular event or any origin of God-heads, mentioned elaborately in Hindu texts, then it will be found in detail in Akilam. And so for that, Akilam forms the foremost source and need not be referred from previous Hindu texts.
are found in Akilam. Some of them are completely accepted, some are regenerated while some others are rejected by omitting. Most of the Hindu concepts are just found mention in Akilam with merely their name and the rest with their details left to be collected from the Hindu texts. Some of them are regenerated by giving different ideas. It includes the concepts, Yuga
, evil
, Moksha
, Maya
(Kali
) etc. Several other concepts such as Tatvas
, Kosas, Chakras, Karma
, reincarnation
, Sariyai, Kiriyai, Yoga
etc. are accepted.
However, Akilam maintains the rejection of all previous scriptures throughout but knowledge about several basic concepts from them are important to understand Akilam. So generally it was considered that, once a particular event or concept which is needed is not found well-described in Ayyavazhi scriptures
such as Akilattirattu Ammanai or Arul Nool
, (as detail as in Hindu scriptures) and instead simply have quoted it with their names, then that particular conception is accepted as in Hindu scriptures for religious studies. But when the idea of a particular notion of Akilam differs very much from Hindu scriptures, that particular thing is deeply described. However in a particular thing if both Akilam and Hindu scriptures have different ideas, then that of Akilam only is accepted. There is also a view that Akilam is a guideline to follow the Hindu scriptures.
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...
are based primarily on the Ayyavazhi scriptures
Ayyavazhi scriptures
The Akilattirattu Ammanai and Arul Nool are the scriptures of Ayyavazhi. While Akilathirattu Ammnai is the primary holy text, Arul Nool is considered the secondary regarding the religious importance...
. Though there is enough knowledge there for a common worshiper to understand Ayyavazhi theology
Ayyavazhi theology
Ayyavazhi theology is the theology of a South Indian religious faith and officially a sect of Hinduism known as Ayyavazhi. Several fundamental theological beliefs distinguish the Ayyavazhi tradition from Hinduism....
, it needs the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
and at some times the scriptures of other religions (including abrahamic) to be referred to undergo a detailed religious study on Akilam. Because Akilam maintains a unique type of relation with the other scriptures.
On one hand it rejects Hindu scriptures by saying that they have lost their divinity by the activities 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...
, but on the other many of the theological, mythical as well as philosophical terms and concepts from Hindu scriptures are adopted directly and indirectly. However it's unavoidable to refer Hindu scriptures to find more details about the ideology of Akilam.
Mythology
It was considered that one should have a basic knowledge about the Hindu scriptures and its concepts to get into the philosophical study of AyyavazhiAyyavazhi
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...
. Almost all the God-heads either lesser or higher in power found in Akilam with only a least and undetailed introduction on their how and whereabouts. They just plays their part to the long mythical story-line of the 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...
. But to understand the core philosophy of that event and the reason behind the involvement of that God-head to that event one should have already known the details about that particular God-head, which was not found in Akilam. Also only there a least possibility to know the relationship between several mythical figures other than the higher God-heads. And for all these details including their story-background, origin etc.
Regarding mythology The Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
, Kantha Purana, Vishnu Purana
Vishnu Purana
The Vishnu Purana is a religious Hindu text and one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. It is considered one of the most important Puranas and has been given the name Puranaratna...
, etc. all found place with limited details in Akilam. Akilam provides all these collectively with a mutual relation with each other in an over-all story line which makes it unique. But to understand the whole knowledge for example Treta Yuga
Treta Yuga
Treta Yuga is the second out of four yugas, or ages of mankind, in the religion of Hinduism, and follows the Satya Yuga of perfect morality and precedes the Dvapara Yuga. The most famous events in this yuga were Lord Vishnu's fifth, sixth and seventh incarnations as Vamana, Parashurama and...
, the scripture which includes those events in detail should needed to be referred. Though the event related to the same Tretha Yuga is found in Akilam, it includes only the main events which are directly related to the maintained story-line. Same in the matter of Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
and kantha Purana. Apart from these many mythical events are found in brief Akilam which is found in detail in Siva purana, Santror purana etc. Overall, all the Pre-kaliyuga events are mentioned briefly in Akilam and more details about them which is essential to undergo a religious study on Akilam may be collected from the Hindu texts.
However Akilam includes more details about the events in Kaliyuga than that of the previous and further more from the incarnation of Vaikundar. But on the other hand, it again needs a good knowledge about the Hindu concepts such as Nirguna
Nirguna Brahman
Nirguna Brahman, signifies in Hindu philosophy the Brahman that pervades the Universe, considered without form , as in the Advaita school or else as without material form, as in Dvaita schools of philosophy.-Advaita:According to Adi Shankara, the famous reviver of Advaita...
and Saguna Brahman
Saguna brahman
Saguna Brahman came from the Sanskrit "with qualities" and Brahman "The Absolute".-Advaita:...
, rather than mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
for one who wants to know about the supremacy of Vaikundar.
Theology
The Akilam based theologyAyyavazhi theology
Ayyavazhi theology is the theology of a South Indian religious faith and officially a sect of Hinduism known as Ayyavazhi. Several fundamental theological beliefs distinguish the Ayyavazhi tradition from Hinduism....
is not a constant one since it is deals with the whole events right from the creation to the end. It undergoes different theologies from polytheism
Polytheism
Polytheism is the belief of multiple deities also usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own mythologies and rituals....
to monotheism
Monotheism
Monotheism is the belief in the existence of one and only one god. Monotheism is characteristic of the Baha'i Faith, Christianity, Druzism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Samaritanism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism.While they profess the existence of only one deity, monotheistic religions may still...
and monism
Monism
Monism is any philosophical view which holds that there is unity in a given field of inquiry. Accordingly, some philosophers may hold that the universe is one rather than dualistic or pluralistic...
, though monism is the final and overall focus point for the present yuga
Yuga
Yuga 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...
. It is viewed closely to the mythical events that takes place at various ages and so it changes often. Monism
Monism
Monism is any philosophical view which holds that there is unity in a given field of inquiry. Accordingly, some philosophers may hold that the universe is one rather than dualistic or pluralistic...
in the beginning (creation), polytheism
Polytheism
Polytheism is the belief of multiple deities also usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own mythologies and rituals....
till the end of Dwapara yuga, then some sort of henotheism
Henotheism
Henotheism is the belief and worship of a single god while accepting the existence or possible existence of other deities...
till the advent of Vaikundar; and then on Monism
Monism
Monism is any philosophical view which holds that there is unity in a given field of inquiry. Accordingly, some philosophers may hold that the universe is one rather than dualistic or pluralistic...
again. All this changes are closely tied to the appropriate mythical events and so all stories related to these changes should be know in detail to understand the evolution of the philosophy of Akilam through the ages.
Also since from the incarnation
Incarnation
Incarnation literally means embodied in flesh or taking on flesh. It refers to the conception and birth of a sentient creature who is the material manifestation of an entity, god or force whose original nature is immaterial....
of Vaikundar all previous individual God-heads are surrendered and assembled within Vaikundar, then onwards he is the responsible one for the activities of all god-heads. All the works to be done by them will be performed by Vaikundar. So it's unavoidable to know about the nature, quality and powers of all those God-heads to understand the quality and power extension of Vaikundar. So again the details of those surrendered god-heads to be collected from the Hindu texts. But if Akilam has any different ideas about any particular event or any origin of God-heads, mentioned elaborately in Hindu texts, then it will be found in detail in Akilam. And so for that, Akilam forms the foremost source and need not be referred from previous Hindu texts.
Concepts
Many, almost all philosophical concepts from HinduismHinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
are found in Akilam. Some of them are completely accepted, some are regenerated while some others are rejected by omitting. Most of the Hindu concepts are just found mention in Akilam with merely their name and the rest with their details left to be collected from the Hindu texts. Some of them are regenerated by giving different ideas. It includes the concepts, Yuga
Yuga
Yuga 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...
, evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
, Moksha
Moksha
Within 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...
, Maya
Maya (illusion)
Maya , in Indian religions, has multiple meanings, usually quoted as "illusion", centered on the fact that we do not experience the environment itself but rather a projection of it, created by us. Maya is the principal deity that manifests, perpetuates and governs the illusion and dream of duality...
(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...
) etc. Several other concepts such as Tatvas
Tatvas
Tatvas are the 96 qualities or properties of human body according to Akilattirattu Ammanai, the religious book of Ayyavazhi. They are as follows:-Gnanendriya - 5:The organs of sense#The eye - the organ of sight having visible formes as its object....
, Kosas, Chakras, Karma
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
, reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
, Sariyai, Kiriyai, Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
etc. are accepted.
However, Akilam maintains the rejection of all previous scriptures throughout but knowledge about several basic concepts from them are important to understand Akilam. So generally it was considered that, once a particular event or concept which is needed is not found well-described in Ayyavazhi scriptures
Ayyavazhi scriptures
The Akilattirattu Ammanai and Arul Nool are the scriptures of Ayyavazhi. While Akilathirattu Ammnai is the primary holy text, Arul Nool is considered the secondary regarding the religious importance...
such as Akilattirattu Ammanai or Arul Nool
Arul Nool
The Arul Nool is a supplement to the Akilattirattu Ammanai, and is likewise considered a holy scripture of Ayyavazhi, an offshoot sect of Hinduism. This book contains the collection of messages given by Ayya Vaikundar to his Disciples , whose names are unknown...
, (as detail as in Hindu scriptures) and instead simply have quoted it with their names, then that particular conception is accepted as in Hindu scriptures for religious studies. But when the idea of a particular notion of Akilam differs very much from Hindu scriptures, that particular thing is deeply described. However in a particular thing if both Akilam and Hindu scriptures have different ideas, then that of Akilam only is accepted. There is also a view that Akilam is a guideline to follow the Hindu scriptures.
See also
- Ayyavazhi and HinduismAyyavazhi and HinduismThis is an article comparing the beliefs, mythology, theology, rituals etc. of Ayyavazhi and Hinduism. Though Ayyavazhi exists within Hinduism officially it functions autonomously....
- Akilattirattu AmmanaiAkilattirattu AmmanaiAkilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
- Ayyavazhi beliefsAyyavazhi beliefsAyyavazhi beliefs are those associated with the South Indian religious faith known as Ayyavazhi. Some of the beliefs of Ayyavazhi are shared with that of Hinduism, and others are unique to Ayyavazhi.- Belief in the return of Ayya Vaikundar :...
- 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...