Ayyavazhi phenomenology
Encyclopedia
Ayyavazhi phenomenology is the phenomenological variations found in Ayyavazhi
society, worship centers
etc. from their holy text Akilattirattu Ammanai
.
Though the Ayyavazhi
's and its worship centers accept those in Akilam as the guideline to be followed, there is a considerable misunderstandings and inclusions in the socio-religious society of Ayyavazhi. Many practices, rituals and ideas are phenomenologically adapted from the pre-existing traditions which in turn counters the teachings of Akilam.
s and the Nizhal Thangal
s are considered as the primary centers propagating Ayyavazhi teachings, apart from the religious status and relations to each other. Also these centers in common are the grounds where the theoritical ideas of the scriptures being practised, though the Nizhal Thangal
s rather than the Pathis have their own limits. Besides those ritual there is a lot of phenomenological inclusions and exclusions in those centers directly and indirectly.
which is considered to be the head-quarters of Ayyavazhi
seems to the largest phenomenological than any other Pathi
s. Akilam clearly states the variations between Mudisoodum perumal and Vaikundar, advocating Perumal as a normal person, but a scholar and a respected one. On the other hand Vaikundar to be the incarnation of Narayana
(Ekam
) and as the supreme power (God) on the other.
Secondly the second part of Akilam is dedicated to reveal the monotheism
with a mythical storyline. But currently in Swamithope pathi
breaking all those two rules, there are separate Panividais for Paradevathai and Paal Payyan, claiming them as the wife and son of him respectively. Those two claims are based on another claim that Mudisoodum perumal him self is Vaikundar.
In Ambala Pathi there is a separate Panividai for Kali
, a folk deity in the Vadakku Vasal, even though Kali is being kept inactive in Vadavamugam as imprisonment. There is also a claim that Ambala Pathi is the Primary among the Pathis. There is such a claim from Mutta Pathi that it was primary, though the religious importance of Swamithope
from Akilam is greater than any other Pathi
s.
s which were the secondary (to pathi
s) worship centers constructed for the means of worship and for teaching the gospels and philosophy of Vaikundar and Akilattirattu Ammanai
, lost their unique ideology and get reinforced with the folk form of worship which were common throughout the country, mainly because of the lack of knowledge of the Thangal Panividaiyalars in Akilam. Most of them lost their identity as Nizhal Thangal
s and began to be noticed as 'Narayana Swami temples' as in Hindu Vaishnavism
. Many Thangals, mostly in the north eastern parts provide panividais for the Seven-deities, Kali
and other folk
deities, though as secondary, in spite of the fact that Akilam condemns all those separate identities for them apart from Vaikundar. Some Thangals also provide idols for those deities and some others conduct 'Vilakku Poojas' for Vaikundar imitating from Hindu
(Shakthism) temples. Some thangals also claim themselves as 'Pathis' though Akilam clearly points out the difference between Pathi
s and Thangals.
Also Akilam seems to accredit the practise of Shamanism
, by the Panividaiyalars(those who conduct the prayers) in the Padmasana poster and in closed eyes, uttering the fate (those to happen) of the commoners for them by getting divinised by the power of Ayya. But today majority of the Panividaiyalars use to stand and dance as in the tribal system of worship.
and as merely the incarnation
of him. Some others includes him within the Ten Avatars replacing others while some denominations relates him to Kalki and on the other hand him-self as Kalki
. Some of them also rejects the Trinity
conception and use to consider the Narayana
to be the supreme as in Vaishnavism
. Some denominations especially the Ayya Vaikunda Siddhasharama view him as a yogi
on the way of describing Advaita and Moksha
through Akilam, despite Vaikundar's supreme nature throughout Akilam. Overall though all the followers consider Akilam as the supreme holy script, most of them are completely unaware of the unique monotheistic ideology and the monistic philosophy of it except a handful of scholars in Akilam.
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...
society, worship centers
Worship centers of Ayyavazhi
The Pathis and Nizhal Thangals, are centers of worship and religious learning for the followers of Ayyavazhi which are established in different parts of India. They served as centres for propagation of the beliefs and practices of Ayyavazhi. There are more than 8000 worship centers throughout...
etc. from their holy text Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
.
Though 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...
's and its worship centers accept those in Akilam as the guideline to be followed, there is a considerable misunderstandings and inclusions in the socio-religious society of Ayyavazhi. Many practices, rituals and ideas are phenomenologically adapted from the pre-existing traditions which in turn counters the teachings of Akilam.
In Worship centers
The PathiPathi
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 the Nizhal Thangal
Nizhal 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 are considered as the primary centers propagating Ayyavazhi teachings, apart from the religious status and relations to each other. Also these centers in common are the grounds where the theoritical ideas of the scriptures being practised, though the Nizhal Thangal
Nizhal 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 rather than the Pathis have their own limits. Besides those ritual there is a lot of phenomenological inclusions and exclusions in those centers directly and indirectly.
In Pathis
Swamithope pathiSwamithope Pathi
Swamithoppe Pathi , Swamithoppu-pathi, Manavai-pathi, Thamarai-pathi or Thalaimaippathi [Thalaimai + pathi] is the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi, the head of all Worship centers of Ayyavazhi, and the place where Ayya Vaikundar is said to have performed the Tavam...
which is considered to be the head-quarters 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...
seems to the largest phenomenological than any other 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. Akilam clearly states the variations between Mudisoodum perumal and Vaikundar, advocating Perumal as a normal person, but a scholar and a respected one. On the other hand Vaikundar to be 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...
(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...
) and as the supreme power (God) on the other.
Secondly the second part of Akilam is dedicated to reveal the 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...
with a mythical storyline. But currently in Swamithope pathi
Swamithope Pathi
Swamithoppe Pathi , Swamithoppu-pathi, Manavai-pathi, Thamarai-pathi or Thalaimaippathi [Thalaimai + pathi] is the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi, the head of all Worship centers of Ayyavazhi, and the place where Ayya Vaikundar is said to have performed the Tavam...
breaking all those two rules, there are separate Panividais for Paradevathai and Paal Payyan, claiming them as the wife and son of him respectively. Those two claims are based on another claim that Mudisoodum perumal him self is Vaikundar.
In Ambala Pathi there is a separate Panividai for Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
, a folk deity in the Vadakku Vasal, even though Kali is being kept inactive in Vadavamugam as imprisonment. There is also a claim that Ambala Pathi is the Primary among the Pathis. There is such a claim from Mutta Pathi that it was primary, though the religious importance 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...
from Akilam is greater than any other 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.
In Nizhal Thangals
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 which were the secondary (to 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) worship centers constructed for the means of worship and for teaching the gospels and philosophy of Vaikundar and Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
, lost their unique ideology and get reinforced with the folk form of worship which were common throughout the country, mainly because of the lack of knowledge of the Thangal Panividaiyalars in Akilam. Most of them lost their identity as Nizhal Thangal
Nizhal 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 and began to be noticed as 'Narayana Swami temples' as in Hindu 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....
. Many Thangals, mostly in the north eastern parts provide panividais for the Seven-deities, Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
and other folk
Folk
The English word Folk is derived from a Germanic noun, *fulka meaning "people" or "army"...
deities, though as secondary, in spite of the fact that Akilam condemns all those separate identities for them apart from Vaikundar. Some Thangals also provide idols for those deities and some others conduct 'Vilakku Poojas' for Vaikundar imitating from 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...
(Shakthism) temples. Some thangals also claim themselves as 'Pathis' though Akilam clearly points out the difference between 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 Thangals.
Also Akilam seems to accredit the practise of Shamanism
Shamanism in Ayyavazhi
Shamanism is in practice in Ayyavazhi right from the period of Vaikundar. At present certain people who are considered to be posed by the divine power use to perform shamanism in many Ayyavazhi worship centers. Though a whole acceptance from the followers in not there for this practise, several...
, by the Panividaiyalars(those who conduct the prayers) in the Padmasana poster and in closed eyes, uttering the fate (those to happen) of the commoners for them by getting divinised by the power of Ayya. But today majority of the Panividaiyalars use to stand and dance as in the tribal system of worship.
Theological
Akilam especially the second part clearly provides rich ideas in quantity and quality about the uniqueness and supremacy of Vaikundar and his power-relation to other lesser gods. But many followers relates Vaikundar to VishnuVishnu
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 as merely 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 him. Some others includes him within the Ten Avatars replacing others while some denominations relates him to Kalki and on the other hand him-self as 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...
. Some of them also rejects the Trinity
Ayyavazhi Trinity
According 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...
conception and use to consider the 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...
to be the supreme as 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....
. Some denominations especially the Ayya Vaikunda Siddhasharama view him as a yogi
Yogi
A Yogi is a practitioner of Yoga. The word is also used to refer to ascetic practitioners of meditation in a number of South Asian Religions including Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.-Etymology:...
on the way of describing Advaita and 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...
through Akilam, despite Vaikundar's supreme nature throughout Akilam. Overall though all the followers consider Akilam as the supreme holy script, most of them are completely unaware of the unique monotheistic ideology and the monistic philosophy of it except a handful of scholars in Akilam.
See also
- List of Ayyavazhi-related articles
- Nizhal Thangals
- Ayyavazhi rituals
- Akilattirattu AmmanaiAkilattirattu AmmanaiAkilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...