Ayyavazhi ethics
Encyclopedia
The ethics of Ayyavazhi are found scattered throughout the primary scripture, Akilattirattu Ammanai
. They are also integrated with the meta-narrative mythography. However, regarding ethics, Arul Nool
is considered as an accumulation and prophecy
of the core concepts found in Akilam. In Akilam, the ethical abstracts are pointed out as "told by God" at several places at different situations to lesser god-heads, devas
, saint
s etc. when asked by them.
Arul Nool constitutes the major role in forming the Ayyavazhi ethics. It gives separately the social as well as divine ethics. It was believed that many portions of Arul Nool
are lost.
in the midst of meta narrative events of eight yuga
s. This shows that how the society, its people, the ruling king etc. lived in absolute harmony with nature, placing the power of almighty in all their works deeds and activities, during early ages.
The Akilam points out this as an example, and there by says that how the people should live in the world. The Neethams are split into three. They are,
This Neetham is found in Akilam as saying how the people of early age lived in detail. It was derived from there as an ethical form that is to be followed.
to Vaikundar. Akilam contains three such Vinchais. One immediately after the incarnation of Vaikundar from the sea and other two of them at Muttappathi
after some of the incarnational activities. Though this was found as regulations provided by Narayana
to Vaikundar, many of the acts found there fits also to humans and to be followed by human to improve their moral code.
Also the first Vinchai of Tiruchendur forms the largest ethical accumulation found in Akilam.
the scripture of Ayyavazhi teaches Dharma on two different perspective. One in sociology
as charity and another under spirituality
to attain the stage of Oneness, unified into Vaikundar. The sociological way is asked to be followed by every one to attain the spiritual state of Dharma.
or alms-giving. The principle of Dharma was considered as the mission of "protecting or salvaging the lowly, the oppressed". The disparity among the people is to be reduced and eradicated by this act of charity. A quote in Vinchai
reads, "To uplift the lowly is dharmam". In this way, people were specially exhorted to undertake charity on material goods, and do it without discriminating among the beneficiaries. It is interesting to note that the great Indian saint, Swami Vivekananda applied this principle of Ayyavazhi Dharma concept in practice and this may lead support to some followers of Ayyavazhi who claim that he was influenced by the religion.
Transposed to the spiritual plane, the concept of Dharma is propounded as 'principle of righteousness'. Ayyavazhi asserts that the prime motive of the Avatar
of Vaikundar was to establish Dharma in this world by destroying the evil force of Kaliyan
. The definition of Kali
in Ayyavazhi is focused as the materialized life. So spiritual understanding of Dharma in Ayyavazhi is the life in ultimate harmony with nature or unbounded by space and time. The narration of the concept 'Ekam
' , 'the ultimate oneness' in Akilam right from the beginning points out it clearly. And after ending the Kali Yukam, Dharma Yukam
, the 'world of righteousness', is said to be ruled over by Vaikundar as an ever lasting King. But on the way, it detached the caste identities by stating that it was not suited for the present Kali Yukam. A quote in Akilam reads,
Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
. They are also integrated with the meta-narrative mythography. However, regarding ethics, 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...
is considered as an accumulation and prophecy
Prophecy
Prophecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
of the core concepts found in Akilam. In Akilam, the ethical abstracts are pointed out as "told by God" at several places at different situations to lesser god-heads, devas
Deva (Hinduism)
' is the Sanskrit word for god or deity, its related feminine term is devi. In modern Hinduism, it can be loosely interpreted as any benevolent supernatural beings. The devs in Hinduism, also called Suras, are often juxtaposed to the Asuras, their half brothers. Devs are also the maintainers of...
, saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s etc. when asked by them.
Arul Nool constitutes the major role in forming the Ayyavazhi ethics. It gives separately the social as well as divine ethics. It was believed that many portions of 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...
are lost.
Neetham
Neetham is the primary virtues of Ayyavazhi religion. This is found in Akilattirattu AmmanaiAkilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
in the midst of meta narrative events of eight 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...
s. This shows that how the society, its people, the ruling king etc. lived in absolute harmony with nature, placing the power of almighty in all their works deeds and activities, during early ages.
The Akilam points out this as an example, and there by says that how the people should live in the world. The Neethams are split into three. They are,
- Manu Neetham: How an individual should personify him or herself.
- Raja Neetham: How an individual should be to the society or Nation, and in turn how the Nation should be to a common man.
- Deiva Neetham: How an individual should be before GodGodGod 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....
.
This Neetham is found in Akilam as saying how the people of early age lived in detail. It was derived from there as an ethical form that is to be followed.
Vinchai by God
Vinchai is the rules and regulations provided by NarayanaNarayana
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 Vaikundar. Akilam contains three such Vinchais. One immediately after the incarnation of Vaikundar from the sea and other two of them at 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...
after some of the incarnational activities. Though this was found as regulations provided by 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 Vaikundar, many of the acts found there fits also to humans and to be followed by human to improve their moral code.
Also the first Vinchai of Tiruchendur forms the largest ethical accumulation found in Akilam.
Dharma
The Akilattirattu AmmanaiAkilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
the scripture of Ayyavazhi teaches Dharma on two different perspective. One in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
as charity and another under spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
to attain the stage of Oneness, unified into Vaikundar. The sociological way is asked to be followed by every one to attain the spiritual state of Dharma.
Sociological conception
The sociological definition to Dharma is generated as a concrete activity of charityCharity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
or alms-giving. The principle of Dharma was considered as the mission of "protecting or salvaging the lowly, the oppressed". The disparity among the people is to be reduced and eradicated by this act of charity. A quote in Vinchai
Vinchai to Vaikundar
In the literature of Hinduism, Vinchai are proclamations and instructions to the newly born child Vaikundar, by his father Narayana, also known as Vishnu, one of the three godheads in Akilattirattu Ammanai, the source of Ayyavazhi mythology...
reads, "To uplift the lowly is dharmam". In this way, people were specially exhorted to undertake charity on material goods, and do it without discriminating among the beneficiaries. It is interesting to note that the great Indian saint, Swami Vivekananda applied this principle of Ayyavazhi Dharma concept in practice and this may lead support to some followers of Ayyavazhi who claim that he was influenced by the religion.
Spiritual conception
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
of Vaikundar was to establish Dharma in this world by destroying the evil force of 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...
. The definition 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...
in Ayyavazhi is focused as the materialized life. So spiritual understanding of Dharma in Ayyavazhi is the life in ultimate harmony with nature or unbounded by space and time. The narration of the concept '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 ultimate oneness' in Akilam right from the beginning points out it clearly. And after ending the Kali Yukam, 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....
, the 'world of righteousness', is said to be ruled over by Vaikundar as an ever lasting King. But on the way, it detached the caste identities by stating that it was not suited for the present Kali Yukam. A quote in Akilam reads,
-
-
-
-
- " Cast away the head-shaking devils and the eighteen castes
- in to the sea, mountain and fire."
-
-
-
See also
- Main teachings of Ayya VaikundarMain teachings of Ayya VaikundarThe Ayyavazhi includes a corpus of teachings of its initiator Ayya Vaikundar in theform of instructions and slogans found in the religious book Akilattirattu.- Dharmam :...
- Ayyavazhi theologyAyyavazhi theologyAyyavazhi 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....
- List of Ayyavazhi-related articles
- Akilattirattu AmmanaiAkilattirattu AmmanaiAkilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...