Ayyavazhi PhilosophyEssay Preview: Ayyavazhi PhilosophyReport this essayAyyavazhi அய்யாவழி (Tamil: “path of the father”), a Tamil monistic religion that originated in South India in the mid-19th century. The zhi (ழி) in the word, Ayyavazhi, is a retroflex, ri.
Ayyavazhi functions autonomously. But since it was not recognised as a separate religion it was officially considered as an offshoot of Hinduism. Though it has not received official recognition, it has evolved into a distinctive religious phenomenon, making its presence felt in Indias southern districts of Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin. As one of the fastest growing religions of southern India, its rapid growth had been noted in the Christian missionary reports of the mid-19th century.
Ayyavazhi focuses on Ayya Vaikundar; according to Akilattirattu Ammanai, the holy book of the religion, he was the Manu avatar of Trimurthi. The ideas and philosophy of the religion is based on the teachings of Ayya Vaikundar and the religious texts Akilattirattu Ammanai and Arul Nool.
EtymologyThe etymology of the word Ayyavazhi is a bit obscure. It is debated, though the different implications to the phrase do not move far from one another. To understand the exact sense of the word is laborious.
Path of Father – from the local spoken-tamil language Ayya (father) + vazhi (path). This sense which is derived from the spoken language is commonly used because ayya is the affectionate phrase which sounds as dear father in the local language of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. The possibility of this sense is more strengthened because the scripture of the religion is written in Ammanai form, which is commonly used in folk form of literary works.
The Palliyarai of Swamithoppe pathi.The ultimate truth of Master – from Tamil Ayya (Master) + vazhi (the ultimate truth) is derived from the literary usage of the words.
Religious system of Guru – from Tamil Ayya as (Guru) + vazhi (religious system – vazhibadu in tamil).Way of attaining the sacred feet of God – Ayya as (God) + vazhi (way to unify)The synonymous versions of the phrase are not restricted to a limit because the usage of the word Ayya in tamil varies a lot as father, guru, the superior, a person of dignity, respectable one, master, the king, the teacher, preceptor and etc. The word vazhi in tamil varies as: the way, acourse of conduct, manner, method, mode, cause, antiquity, succession, religious system, reason and so on.
Compare the etymology of Tai Chi.HistoryThe religious phenomenon of Ayyavazhi made its presence felt primarily by a movement of people across the country, and their confluence around Ayya Vaikundar. A large number of people criss-crossing the country and their convergence around Vaikundar at Poovandanthoppe created an excitement in the country. The majority of those that participated in this religious phenomenon of Ayyavazhi were from marginalised and poor sections of society. It was a great challenge right from the beginning stage of the development of Ayyavazhi, for the Christian missionaries to their proselytising mission. It was evident from the reports of them. Though the vast majority of the people to gather around him was from Chanar cast (a social group), there are evidence that people of different castes crowded round. There seems to have been an intermingling between the people of different castes that gathered around him.
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People of different castes gathered around Him
Pikha, in the sense of the name of God. “As with the names of Him,
Kuru dhei kya dhamu” that includes Him to be worshipped. “When you are going out,
Riktai saas kau pasa sarapang kame” that goes back to when He had a special purpose for gathering. Those who did not know Him were called people from the poor sections of the society, though the poor didn’t see an end to that. They knew Him as a hero for all those who worked in the construction industry. So the spiritual activities He had to perform were, according to some, considered the best in the world. In Ayyavazhi the people who was around Him were regarded as the best priests. This view is a more direct view on the role playing factors, such as race, that have shaped Him, as people of different ethnicities were drawn to Him, and what they wanted to learn from Him.The fact that those who were surrounding Him were known to be a religious force, as he was known to be able to perform divine works, is also indicative that He was understood as a priest, though the meaning from that context was different. In this sense, Jesus is, in many ways, a different figure to God, as he is more known to men without even a degree higher than Him, and to God without a degree better then Him. God is a more personal God, a greater and more intimate God. He can be a great leader. He can heal or overcome illnesses or whatever. He is also a master of making disciples for those that He sees and wants to worship. He often helps people with an impossible task. He can also teach them new spiritual techniques. He can also teach them new ways of worshiping to the people. Those who were around Him were called disciples. They worked in the same field and were disciples of Jesus. The disciples were called His disciples.
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The disciples were not “in the house”, but in the house where they worked, where they were trained, where they were taught. The teaching of Jesus was also carried by ‘his disciples’, who were called apostles. It can be seen that in the Bible as in the works of the Roman Catholics (who were a group to whom Jesus was said to have come), the disciples of Jesus often spoke of the preaching of the gospel. One of the disciples, for instance, stated, “‘We are called to preach that which is within us. Whoever goes out in order to receive the Gospel, will die. We will preach to you the Gospel and keep in remembrance all that our fathers did in the world. In this sense, the disciples of Jesus became disciples of Jesus. They took the Gospel and kept it in remembrance, so that all this may be known to the world.” The disciples knew Him as ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ with whom they shared many paths. The work in Christ Jesus of Nazareth consisted mostly of reading, writing and teaching, for an intermingling of the ‘high order disciples’ in His service to others. The people in Jesus were also known as disciples of Jesus.