[Beerinkol]

Dear G.V.

The contents - of your Thread and your last posting above - further confirms how the Tamil Saivaism and Tamil Language lost it's place in the Tamil Nadu temples. (very useful contribution).

It is very true that the term "Nan Marai'' should be correctly defined in the background of positive historical evidence.

Even today we are aware of the existance of a class known as Saiva Kurukkals in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere, who could have been the decendents of the earlier outsted Tamil Anthanars (to be verified) of Tamil Nadu.

The term Athi-Saivar too should be defined correctly against positive evidence to bring forth more informations on them too. Further a research into the correct interpretation of the term "Paarpanar" in the earlier Tamil Nadu, too will be very useful.

It appears the meaning of many terms used much earlier in Saivite Religion of Tamil Nadu - to indicate various meanings, over a period time thereafter have been given new interpretations with the onslaughts of new religious and cultural waves from the north.

An indepth study on same has to be made, to correctly interpret the "Thamil Saivam (or Saivaism)", of Tamil Nadu.

CLASSIFICATION

Sivan worship is classified as according to the several patterns of worship and the timeline of them.

They were called as ‘Akachamayam’ (inner religions) and ‘Akappurachamayam’(inner-outernal religions).

Kapalikam, Kaalamukam, Pasupatham, Vairavam, Vaamam, Maaviratham –Akappurach chamayam.

Paadaan Vaatha saivam, Petha Vaatha saivam, Vihaara vatha saivam, siva sama Vaatha saivam, Eswara vihara vaatha saivam, Sivaththuva vatha saivam- Akachchamayam.

In the above, ‘Akachchamayam’ classification is latest evolved one (After 1000 ACE).

The six divisions of ‘Akappurachamayam’ is specified by Periya Puranam.

“ARU VAKAI vilankum Saiva
Thalavila Virathan charum” (1)

In this which one is ancient ? we have to find an answer.

We all know Appar (Thirunavukkarasu), & Thiru Knana Sampanthar are important persons in ‘saiva Pakthi Iyakkam’.

“Maabavik Kadayamanar Vaakeesa Thiruvadiyam
Kaabali Adiyavarpal Kadakkalitrai vidukenna” (2)

By this, Researcher Dr. S. Veeramani says Appar belongs to ‘Kabalikam’. Mayilai Kabalisvarar temple was made by these traditions.

In Manimekalai (200 ACE) Kabalikars are identified as “Sudalai Nonbikal(Burial ground stayers)”, Maavirathar as “Viratha yakkayar”(protectors of body), Pasupathars as “Pinaththin Maakkal”(dead bodies stayers). (3)

Out of them “Kabalikam” is eldest one. “Maavirather” almost followed the same principles of Kabalikam. Kalamukam & Pasupatham evolved from Kabalikam.

Dr. Mrs. Vasunthara Fillioza says, “90 % of Karnataka Siva temples belongs to ‘Lakula saivas’ and they were called as ‘Kalamukars & Pasupathars’. They slowly adapted Vedhic Vaduku Poosariyam later during 500 ACE. (4) She also conforms that the Kalamukars got ‘religious supremacy over ancient “Kabalikas” later years.

KABALIKAM

Kablikars were called ‘Theka Vaathikal’ (Human body orientationalists). Hedonism and ‘Oham’ which were part of ‘ulakayitham’. Ulakayitham is based on “Iyenthiram” traditions. Kabalikars followed ‘Ulakayitham’(5)

‘Thirumoolar Thirumanthiram’ also says as,

“Udampaar Azhiyin Uyiral Azhivar
…………………………………….
Udampai Valarththen Uyir Valarthene !

Here, Udampu (body), Azhivu-perish : If body perishes, breath stops – is the meaning.

Dr. Debiprasad further says, “A poetry of Prakasupathi (sanskirt) explained by Mr.Sastri shows that Vedhicism condemned Kabalikars. Vedhics called them as ‘Nasthika’(Here Nasthika does not mean Atheists but opponents of Vedhicism – Nasthika Vedha Ninthika)” (6)

In Third Chankam “Mathuraik Kanchi” (450 BCE), Kabalikars tantric worship is portratyed. Kabalikam also followed ‘Impootha Vadham’ (Iyenthiram traditions).

The poetry starts with the following :

“Im perum Poothankalin Nayakan (7)
Neruppaik Kaiyil Enthia Nediyone- …..

Then it continuously explained the tantric worship of doing “Poosai” with flower ‘lotus’(symbol for Ladies), bell (symbol for men) & kudam / kumpam (symbol of lady’s Womb / Uterus)

The same “Kabalikam tantric worship” is identified by Archeologist Mr. Kudanthai (Kumbakonam) Sethuraman in a Kanchipuram Sivan temple inscriptions.(700 ACE)(8)

The same traditions are identified in Tholkappiam(1250 BCE) as “Kodinilai, Kanthazhi & Valli”

“Kama pakuthi Kadavulum Varayar”(9)

‘Kodinilai’ is part of ‘fertility cult’ of tamils. It contains ‘Manthiram & Enthiram’ (I may write in detail when I write about “Iynthiram” later). In that ‘Females’ were ‘Poosaris’.

One of such ‘Kodinilai Enthiram’ has been found in Sinthu Valley.(10) This worship transformed from tamil land through sinthu valley to Gulf countries and turned as present Islamic ‘Haj’ kaba worship!.

“Kottravai”(Tholkappiam) was war god of tamils. She was also called as “Kadukzhal”(forest head), ulaka annai / Sooli (world mother) & Kumari (ever young lady). Her temples were all in burial ground. Various verses of ‘Puranaanuru’ show this. Manimekalai call this place as ‘Sampapathi’. It was called ‘Chakkaravala kottam / sudu kattu kottam” (11)

The symbols of “Kottravai” later changed into the symbols of Sivan (Seyon). Silapppathikaram Vettuva vari praise “kottravai” as having “Pirai soodal (moon), Nettrikan (third eye), Nakkan (naked), Nanju(poison), Aravai naan (snake), Bending-Merumalai , Yanaithole (Wearing elephant skin).(12)

This conforms that when the tamil society turned from women head (Thai Vazhi) to Men head society the worship also turned that way. Most of the sivan temples in tamil Nadu are near burial grounds also conforms this.

The following verses also conforms this.

“Cheer mannum Thirukadavoor thiru MAYANAM( burial ground)”(13)
“Chira puraththavar ThiruMAYANAMUM paninthu (14)

Sampanthar belongs to ‘Kalamukam’ traditions. ‘Kalamukam’ gradually adapted Vedhic form of worship. Sekkizhar portrayed this as,

“Pooth mae kaninthu Venthan
Punithanai uyarntha Pozhuthu
NEETHIYUM VETHA NEETHI
YEYAKI nikazhntha thenkum”(15)

But, Appar (kabalikar) condemns this as,

“Saththiram Pesum Chazhakkarkaal
Koththiramum Kulamum konden cheveer?

Here, He condemns ‘Sastras & Koththiras”.

At last Vedhic evil design swallowed ‘Kabalikar’ also.

If all Sivaities follow “Kabalika” segment, they would do goodwill to the society.

Tamil Saivam & Vinnavam Bakthi movements at the beginning were against Vedhic, Buddha & Jains and grew with tamil language & spread all over India .

At the sametime we should not forget that “Aachivakam” was root for Buddha & Jains & tamil poosariyam was root for Vedhicism. I may write about them in relevant thread.

References :

1) Periya puranam, Thiru Knana Sampanthar Puranam, 1203
2) Periya Puranam, Thirunavukkarasar Puranam, 50
3) Manimekalai, 6 : 86-91
4) Lakula Saivins and their contributions to Karnataka,Page 260 Dr. Mrs Vasundhara Fillioza.
5),6) Lokayata, Dr. Debiprasad Chattopadyaya, Op.cit.pp 16-18.
7) Mathurai Kanchi 454-459, 460-467
8) Chanka kaala Tamizhar Samayam – Dr. K. Nedunchezhian, Page 113.
9) Tholkappiam – Puraththinai
10) Lakayata, Dr. Debiprasad Chattopadyaya, page 320
11)Tamizhukku Vazhankiya kodai – Part 2 – page 171, Mayilai Seeni. Venkidasamy.
12) Silappathikaram Vettuva vari – 54- 61
13) Thirunavu karasar – poetry 248
14) Thiruknana sampanthar- poetry 535
15) Thiruknana sampanthar poetry 858

f.s.gandhi