Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

This is an article comparing the belief

Belief

Belief is the psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true.-Belief, knowledge and epistemology:The terms belief and knowledge are used differently in philosophy....

s, 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...

, theology

Theology

Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...

, rituals etc. of 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...

and Hinduism

Hinduism

Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...

. Though Ayyavazhi exists within Hinduism officially it functions autonomously.

A general view of Ayyavazhi

Ayyavazhi

may seem make it similar to, or serves as an offshoot of, Hinduism

Hinduism

Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...

. But in regards to religious practices, belief, and sociology, Ayyavazhi differs from traditional Hinduism. Though Ayyavazhi followers don't call them as Hindus, as per official accounts Ayyavazhi was still considered within Hinduism.

Hindus view Vedas

Vedas

The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....

, Gita, other texts from the Shastra

Shastra

' is a Sanskrit term used to denote rules in a general sense. The word is generally used as a suffix in the context of technical or specialized knowledge in a defined area of practice; e.g., Bhautika Shastra , Rasayana Shastra , Jeeva Shastra , Vastu Shastra , Shilpa Shastra , Artha Shastra ' is a...

canon, rather than the Akilam. But Ayyavazhi believe they (Hindu scriptures) once exist, but now lost their substances because of the advent of Akilam. Akilam at one point, but feel they were merged by later, and that Kaliyan

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...

bought the Vedas as a Boon and so all the Previous religious books including Agamas

Āgama (Hinduism)

Agama means, in the Hindu context, "a traditional doctrine, or system which commands faith".In Hinduism, the Agamas are a collection of Sanskrit scriptures which are revered and followed by millions of Hindus.-Significance:...

and Puranas

Puranas

The Puranas are a genre of important Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religious texts, notably consisting of narratives of the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology, philosophy, and geography.Puranas...

lost their Substances, and so Akilattirattu Ammanai was the only book of perfection. Also there are several dubious claims that the present day Vedas are not accepted by Ayyavazhi as books of Perfection because there is a quote in Akilam about Venneesan

Venneesan

Venneesan was a mythical figure found in Ayyavazhi mythology. According to Akilattirattu Ammanai, the holy text of Ayyavazhi and source of Ayyavazhi mythology, he was the son of Kalineesan.- Birth and marriage of Venneesan :...

“Avan pilathaal vedamondruntakki” (He created a Veda of his own intention). In sum, all previous religious texts were lost their Substance in the vision of Ayyavazhi at the very moment Kaliyan came to the world.

Though Ayyavazhi has many differences from popular Hinduism, it has many beliefs and practices in common. As Hinduism is really a group of numerous branches, Ayya Vazhi is closest to Smartism

Smartism

Smarta Sampradaya is a liberal or nonsectarian denomination of the Vedic Hindu religion which accept all the major Hindu deities as forms of the one Brahman, in contrast to Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism, the other three major Hindu sects, which revere Vishnu, Shiva, and Shakti,...

and its Advaita beliefs in thought.

Religious Practices

The religious practises of Ayyavazhi largely differ from traditional Hinduism. Akilam says that previous practices were not wrong, but that they were changed because of the abnormal, cruel nature of Kaliyan

Kaliyan

and his boons, which the Universe had experienced before. Akilattirattu Ammanai

Akilattirattu Ammanai

Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...

says that the whole acts and rules of the Universe had changed by the advent of Kaliyan. Thiru Nadana Ula

Thiru Nadana Ula

According to Ayyavazhi mythology the situation of the whole Universe changes as the Kaliyan was born, and Thiru Nadana Ula is the part which was told by Sivan in Akilam eight about the universal changes. It consist of 21 Vennpas....

, a part of Akilam eight

Akilam eight

The Akilam eight is one of the sub-sections of Akilattirattu Ammanai, the Primary scripture of Ayyavazhi, a religion of India.This part contains the worldly birth of Sampooranathevan and Paradevathai. It also contains the event of the body of the Avatar of Vaikundar taken in to the sea,...

discusses this change in detail.

Wearing of Thirunamam

The religious mark used by the people of Ayyavazhi is a unique one. The people of Ayyavazhi wear a vertical white mark on the forehead in the shape of a flame, starting from the central point between the eyebrows, and going straight up near the top edge of the forehead. The flame shape represents Aanma Jyothi or Atman

Atman (Hinduism)

Ātman is a Sanskrit word that means 'self'. In Hindu philosophy, especially in the Vedanta school of Hinduism it refers to one's true self beyond identification with phenomena...

. (See:Symbol of Ayyavazhi) Zealous devotees smear it on the exterior of the upper arms and over the chest. This white mark is unlike the one worn by a 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...

of Vaishnavist tradition who wear it on the forehead in the shape of 'U', or of Saivist tradition who wear it horizontally as three parallel lines. The white powder used for this mark was made from coarse white soil, found at lower layer of the earth, while ash is used in Hinduism

Hinduism

Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...

.

At present, those who 'serve' in Pathi

Pathi

Pathi is the name of the primary centres of congregational worship for the South Indian religious system of Ayyavazhi, having a relatively large structure like that of a temple...

s or Nizhal Thangals wear this white mark for the people and give a portion of it to their hands. People carry it home as holy object, and some of them even swallow a little of it believing it to be medicinal.

Wearing of Headgear

One of the significant ritual actions that distinguishes the Ayyavazhi

Ayyavazhi

male worshipper from others is 'wearing headgear' during worship. Ayya Vaikundar

Ayya Vaikundar

Ayya Vaikundar , according to Akilattirattu Ammanai , a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was a Manu Avatar of Narayana, incarnated as Muthukutty or Mudisoodum Perumal, a Nadar of Swamithoppe, Tamil Nadu Ayya Vaikundar , according to Akilattirattu Ammanai (or Akilam), a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was...

seems to have enjoined upon his male followers to tie on headgear when they came to worship God, considering it as a crown. Accordingly, the male followers seem to have tied on headgear during worship. This is to reveal that every people are kings and every one is to rule the Earth. This philosophy is told symbolically by the practice of wearing the headgear since the wearing of headgear is considered a matter of Pride. It was as a counteraction to the practice of tying a cloth around the waist, which symbolizes one’s bondage.

It became a ritual action to be performed before the people entered the Pathi

Pathi

Pathi is the name of the primary centres of congregational worship for the South Indian religious system of Ayyavazhi, having a relatively large structure like that of a temple...

to worship. The male devotees usually removed their upper garment and tied the headgear and entered the Pathi for worship. To this day this practice is followed.

Worship in Front of Mirror

This is yet another unique practice that distinguishes Ayyavazhi from other Hindu religious traditions. The Nizhal Thangals and Pathis have, in their sanctuary, a mirror

Mirror

A mirror is an object that reflects light or sound in a way that preserves much of its original quality prior to its contact with the mirror. Some mirrors also filter out some wavelengths, while preserving other wavelengths in the reflection...

to reflect the images of those who come to worship. People pay obeisance to their God standing in front of this mirror, facing the Elunetru

Elunetru

Elunetru was the term used to denote the object placed in the sanctum sactorium of the worship centres of Ayyavazhi. The elunetru is a compiled structure of flame shaped copper, a saffron cloth and separate garlands made of rudraksha and Flowers...

amidst two oil lamps. Even in the houses of the people of Ayyavazhi, the place earmarked for their daily worship has at least a mirror and a lamp. This placement of mirror symbolize that God is inside oneself and it is of no use to seek God elsewhere. This practice is different from the placement of murti

Murti

In Hinduism, a murti , or murthi, or vigraha or pratima typically refers to an image which expresses a Divine Spirit . Meaning literally "embodiment", a murti is a representation of a divinity, made usually of stone, wood, or metal, which serves as a means through which a divinity may be worshiped...

, or icon in Hindu Temples, in that this is a non-anthropomorphic form of worship. In different denominations of Hinduism, Saivites venerate the linga and Vaishnavites venerate the saligrama in a non-anthropomorphic method of worship.

A New mode of Worship

The mode of worship of Ayyavazhi presented itself to be something new in that milieu. It distinguished itself from features of worship of the Sanskrit

Sanskrit

Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...

religion and folk religion

Folk religion

Folk religion consists of ethnic or regional religious customs under the umbrella of an organized religion, but outside of official doctrine and practices...

s. Instructions for abandoning temple worship, temple offerings, priestly functions, blood sacrifices, and image worship abound in Akilam. Unlike some practices in Hinduism

Hinduism

Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...

, it says, "Do not institute Temples, Do not offer puja, blood sacrifices, do not kill animals, do not worship images made of Clay" etc. It was a 'new mode of worship' and differentiated itself from the existing traditions of the time.

A Distinct Language

The Tamil language

Tamil language

Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...

is considered sacred, rather than Sanskrit

Sanskrit

, as is holy within mainstream Hinduism. In Akilam there is a quote that Tamil will be the language in 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....

. Also unlike other Hindu scriptures in Tamil, Akilattirattu and 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...

were written using a simple form of language, even extracts from ancient Hindu scriptures are found in it, translated simply, so that common people can understood.

Beliefs

Apart from religious practices, a few beliefs of Ayyavazhi are different from Hinduism.

Vaikunda Avatar

Ayyavazhi believes Vaikundar is the incarnation 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...

in this Kali Yukam, sent to destroy the evils of Kali yuga

Kali Yuga

Kali Yuga is the last of the four stages that the world goes through as part of the cycle of yugas described in the Indian scriptures. The other ages are Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga...

. Hindus accept Kalki

Kalki

In Hinduism, Kalki is the tenth and final Maha Avatar of Vishnu who will come to end the present age of darkness and destruction known as Kali Yuga. The name Kalki is often a metaphor for eternity or time...

rather than Vaikundar as the Incarnation who will be sent to destroy such evil. Also, Hindus believe that the spirit of kali yuga has yet to be destroyed, but Ayyavazhi says that the spirit of Kali Yuga started its decline immediately after the Avatar of Vaikundar arrived. This was due to the torture of a Pantaram (Vaikundar), tortured because he had promised to Thirumal

Thirumal

Perumal also Thirumal is the Hindu deity most popular amongst Tamils of Tamil Nadu state in India and in the Tamil diaspora. Perumal is also another name of Lord Vishnu.-Early mention in Sangam literature:...

that he did not harm any Pantaram.

Eight Yukams

Regarding Yukam

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...

s, Ayyavazhi believes in a system of Eight Yukams while Hinduism suggests a system of four Yukams.

Kroni

Ayyavazhi believes in a primordial manifestation of evil Kroni

Kroni

Kroni 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...

similar to Satan

Satan

Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...

in Abrahamic Religions

Abrahamic religions

Abrahamic religions are the monotheistic faiths emphasizing and tracing their common origin to Abraham or recognizing a spiritual tradition identified with him...

, while Hinduism doesn't have any similar personification of 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,...

Trimurthi

The view on Trimurti (three aspects of Brahman) is similar to Smartism

Smartism

, which like Ayya Vazhi, recognizes that Brahma

Brahma

Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...

, 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....

and Siva

Shiva

Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...

are different aspects of the same God

God

God 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....

. By contrast, for example, in Saivism, Sivan

Sivan

Sivan is the ninth month of the civil year and the third month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a spring month of 30 days...

(the Tamil name for Siva) is considered superior while in Vaishnavism

Vaishnavism

Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....

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....

is considered superior. In Ayyavazhi all the three were considered equal in all the previous six Yukams. But only in Kali Yukam are all the powers surrendered to Narayana

Narayana

by Sivan

Sivan

Sivan is the ninth month of the civil year and the third month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a spring month of 30 days...

and Nathan because Kaliyan was created by them without discussion with Narayana. Regarding Vaikunda Avatharam, Ayya Vaikundar

Ayya Vaikundar

is superior to the three because the Moolamoorthy or Paramathma

Paramathma

Paramathma is a Kannada romantic-comedy film written, directed and co-produced by Yograj Bhat. It stars Puneet Rajkumar and Deepa Sannidhi in the lead roles and it was released on 6 October, 2011, on the eve of Vijayadashami. Half-way through its production, the film's TV rights was procured for a...

, superior to Trimuthi is that who incarnates as Vaikundar, but in Hinduism it was Vishnu who incarnates. However Vishnu was the first to form in this Universe within the three according to Akilam.

Dharma Yukam

Ayyavazhi believes in a Dharma Yukam

Dharma Yukam

where Vaikundar rules the world with the Santror Makkal. In Hinduism they believe in Satya Yuga

Satya Yuga

The Satya Yuga , also called Sat Yuga, Krta Yuga and Krita Yuga in Hinduism, is the "Yuga of Truth", when mankind is governed by gods, and every manifestation or work is close to the purest ideal and mankind will allow intrinsic goodness to rule supreme...

which does not mention Vaikundar.

Unifying the Deities

In Ayyavazhi, Vaikundar performed symbolic marriages by which he unified all the powers of the universe into himself and so all were seen as one, which is similar to the beliefs of Smartism

Smartism

. But in other branches of Hinduism, they acknowledge different powers as superior and may worship different powers in different forms.

Congregational Worship

Amongst the Ayyavazhi, congregational worship is practiced, while in Hinduism the Priest chants the mantra

Mantra

A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...

s and performs rituals, and the others watch all these things. But in Ayyavazhi the Panivediyalar chants the mantra

Mantra

A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...

s and the others repeat it.

Thottu Namam

In Ayyavazhi Thottu Namam means 'wearing Thirunamam with a personal touch', which means the Panivedaiyalar will bestow the Thirunamam by touching the forehead of the devotees. But in Hinduism the Priests gives the Prachatham by throwing, in the belief that if he happened to touch the worshipers body it would make him ritually unclean. In olden days this was practiced because the Brahmins kept a distance from the other caste

Caste

Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...

s. This 'Thottu Namam' was an intentional counteraction of this ancient Hindu tradition, put forward by Ayyavazhi.

Ayyavazhi Marriage

Unlike the traditional Hindu way of marriage, Ayyavazhi does not have many ritual practices. But it also differs from traditional Hinduism in marriage as a whole. In Ayyavazhi the couple was seated facing the geographic south

South

South is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.South is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the bottom side of a map is south....

witnessing the Thuvaraiyam Pathi

Thuvaraiyam Pathi

Thuvaraiyam Pathi is described in Ayyavazhi mythology. The Akilattirattu Ammanai, the holy text of Ayyavazhi, tells about a sunken land at about 152 miles either south or south-east to Kanyakumari, with 16008 streets....

in the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...

. In addition to the priest, all the people who witness the marriage will chant the mantras, and praise the couple following the priest, while in Hinduism this was done only by the Priest.

Funeral practice

In Ayyavazhi

Ayyavazhi

the body of the dead is buried

Burial

Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...

, unlike in Hinduism

Hinduism

Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...

. Generally, Hinduism mandates cremation

Cremation

Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....

and limits burial to monks, and children under five.

The body is buried in a position that faces to the geographic north in a position. No boxes such as coffin

Coffin

A coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of dead people – either for burial or cremation.Contemporary North American English makes a distinction between "coffin", which is generally understood to denote a funerary box having six sides in plan view, and "casket", which...

s are used. The body is just placed inside and covered by sand

Sand

Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...

or (sacred soil). This practice is done in belief that the deceased is performing austerity

Austerity

In economics, austerity is a policy of deficit-cutting, lower spending, and a reduction in the amount of benefits and public services provided. Austerity policies are often used by governments to reduce their deficit spending while sometimes coupled with increases in taxes to pay back creditors to...

for the unfolding of Dharma Yukam

Dharma Yukam

. There was also a belief that the body of a person who was free from birth will not decay, and will be preserved as it is. Then as the Dharma Yukam unfolds, Vaikundar will blow a Conch

Conch

A conch is a common name which is applied to a number of different species of medium-sized to large sea snails or their shells, generally those which are large and have a high spire and a siphonal canal....

shell and these people will rise from the grave. This scenario resembles the Last Judgment

Last Judgment

The Last Judgment, Final Judgment, Day of Judgment, Judgment Day, or The Day of the Lord in Christian theology, is the final and eternal judgment by God of every nation. The concept is found in all the Canonical gospels, particularly the Gospel of Matthew. It will purportedly take place after the...

in the Abrahamic religions.

The practice of burial is strikingly similar to funeral practices, in Lingayatism

Lingayatism

Lingayatism, also known as Veerashaivism, is a distinct Shaivite denomination in India. It makes several departures from mainstream Hinduism and propounds monotheism through worship centered on Lord Shiva. It also rejects the authority of the Vedas and the caste system. The adherents of this faith...

, a reform movement in Karnataka

Karnataka

Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...

, like Ayyavazhi, which was critical of the caste system. Unlike Ayyavazhi, Lingyatism focuses on Shiva as the supreme God.

Dress during worship

Like Hinduism the male worshippers of Ayyavazhi do not wear any upper garments during worship. Footwear is prohibited in worship centers. Also in Ayyavazhi, the female worshippers do not go to worship centers during the period of Menses, like other Hindus.

Circumambulation

The practice of circumambulation is quite commonly seen in Ayyavazhi like in Hinduism. In Ayyavazhi the devotees use to take a bath and circumambulate the outer Pathi and then the inner Pathi and then the sanctum sanatorium.

Saffron

Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the saffron crocus. Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Each saffron crocus grows to and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are each the distal end of a carpel...

is considered as sacred in Ayyavazhi as well its father religion, Hinduism. All the Panividaiyalars (those who perform Panividai) in Pathi

Pathi

Pathi is the name of the primary centres of congregational worship for the South Indian religious system of Ayyavazhi, having a relatively large structure like that of a temple...

s and Nizhal Thangals will be dressed in a saffron dothi and saffron headgear which are collectively known as Kavi Vasthiram. This is also the colour of the flag that is to be hoisted in Pathis, as told as Chandiravarnam, and is the colour of the Ayyavazhi flags hoisted over their temples.

Rudraksha

Like Hinduism, and particularly Saivism Ayyavazhi consider Rudraksha

Rudraksha

Rudraksha Rudraksha Rudraksha (also Rudraksh; Sanskrit: ("Rudra's tears") is a large evergreen broad-leaved tree whose seed is traditionally used for prayer beads in Hinduism. The seed is borne by several species of Elaeocarpus, with E. ganitrus being the principal species used in the making of a...

as sacred.

Theertham

Like Hinduism, Ayyavazhi stress Theertham

Theertham

Theertham is a 1987 Malayalam language film. It was directed by Mohan....

. But according to Ayyavazhi, Muttirikkinaru and Muttappathi

Muttappathi

Mutta Pathi , is one of the Pancha pathi, which are the primary centers for worship of the Ayyavazhi. This is the third important pilgrim center of Ayyavazhi...

were considered most sacred.

Ultimate Oneness

Ayyavazhi like the Advaita tradition within Hinduism accepts the Ultimate Oneness, which is akin to the concept of Brahman

Brahman

In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...

. It says that it was from the 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...

the whole universe formed. Thiruvasakam - 2 describes the formation of this present Universe. Like Advaita, it believes that Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva are different aspects of the same God.

Incarnation

Just as Mahaprabhu Caitanya was thought of as an incarnation of Vishnu (and more specifically of Krishna) in Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Gaudiya Vaishnavism is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in India in the 16th century. "Gaudiya" refers to the Gauḍa region with Vaishnavism meaning "the worship of Vishnu"...

so too is Ayya Vaikundar thought to be an incarnation of Vishnu. It is believed that God incarnates Himself to educate his children on obtaining a union with Him.

Reincarnation

Ayyavazhi like Hinduism believes in 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...

. It states that all lives are continually reborn until they reach Dharma
Yukam, the state of 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...

Karma

Ayyavazhi disciples too believe in the law of karma and that practing good karma will grant them Moksha. The practice of good karma is what leads one to God.

Moksha

Moksha is the goal of the Ayyavazhi. The Ayyavazhi disciple believes like other Hindus that this too is a union with God in which the soul achieves perfect ("peace") and Swarga ("heaven.")

Ahimsa

Ahimsa is a term meaning to do no harm . The word is derived from the Sanskrit root hims – to strike; himsa is injury or harm, a-himsa is the opposite of this, i.e. non harming or nonviolence. It is an important tenet of the Indian religions...

is Sanskrit

Sanskrit

for "non-violence" and the Ayyavazhi too believe in this principle.

Vegetarianism

The Ayyavazhi too like many Hindus believe in the vegetarian principle, which is an important aspect of Ahimsa. Ayya Vaikundar is considered an incarnation of Vishnu and in Vaishnavism

Vaishnavism

Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....

, meat-eating is forbidden.

Chanting of the Lord's name

This principle is known in Sanskrit as Sankirtana Yajna, it is an essential sacrifice especially for this age. It is believed that chanting the name of the Lord is an auspicious way to worship the Lord.

God is inside everybody

In Hinduism it is believed that within the body, there exists the soul but that the spirit of God is also present within the heart of every human being. The Ayyavazhi too believe that God is present within humans.

Final Judgement

In the Ayyavazhi tradition, it is believed that in the final judgement, the demon will be sentenced to hell while Vaikundar and Santror will rule the world. In Hinduism also it is believed that God Vishnu will incarnate Himself to destroy this age of hypocrisy.

Sanskrit

Although the Ayyvazhi prefer using a local language rather than Sanskrit, devotees name their children in Sanskrit (e.g. Vaikunar, Krishna, Narayan.)

Reference

G. Patrick (2003), Religion and Subaltern Agency, Department of Christian Studies, University of Madras
University of Madras
The University of Madras is a public research university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the three oldest universities in India...

, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...

.
T. Krishnanathan (2000), Ayya Vaikundarin Vazhvum Sinthanaiyum, Madurai Kamaraj University
Madurai Kamaraj University
Madurai Kamaraj University also abbreviated MKU is a public university in India.-Overview:Madurai Kamaraj University, located in Madurai city established in 1966, has 18 schools comprising 72 departments. The Directorate of Distance Education of the University has a student strength of about 1.3...

, Thinai Publications, Nagercoil
Nagercoil
Nagercoil is the 12th largest city in the southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu and a municipality and administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District...

.
R. Shunmugam (2001), Nadar Kulathil Narayanar Avataram, Nadar Kuladeepam Publications, Karankadu.
N. Elango and Vijaya Shanthi Elango (1997), Ayya Vaikuntar – The Light of the World, (Published by the authors).

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Religious Practices

Wearing of Thirunamam

Wearing of Headgear

Worship in Front of Mirror

A New mode of Worship

A Distinct Language

Beliefs

Vaikunda Avatar

Eight Yukams

Kroni

Trimurthi

Dharma Yukam

Unifying the Deities

Congregational Worship

Thottu Namam

Ayyavazhi Marriage

Funeral practice

Dress during worship

Circumambulation

Saffron

Rudraksha

Theertham

Ultimate Oneness

Incarnation

Reincarnation

Karma

Moksha

Ahimsa

Vegetarianism

Chanting of the Lord's name

God is inside everybody

Final Judgement

Sanskrit

See also

Reference