Neetham
Encyclopedia
Neetham are the primary virtues to be followed according to the Akilam the holy text of Ayyavazhi
. They are found in Akilam one
, which is the first section of the Akilattirattu Ammanai
, and in the middle of the meta-narrative events of the eight yugas. This shows that the society, its people, and the ruling king once lived in absolute harmony with nature, placing the power of God in all their works, deeds, and activities during early ages.
The Akilam points this out as an example, and describes how the people should live in the world. It also forms a part of Ayyavazhi
ethics. The Neethams are split into three. They are,
character of the people, and their way of life in harmony with nature (particularly women) in the early ages.
Followers believe that all the events and actions that happen in their lives are activated by God
. Therefore, they prefer not to seek any individual supremacy for any of their activities or achievements. All faithful followers believe that everyone is equal, in spite of the presence of different castes.
In addition, they do not find anyone inferior or superior to others with respect to the jobs they do. They neither do any menial jobs nor make others do so. In turn, they live with a mutual understanding of others not unlike the innocence of children.
Thus the people of the society
would live: always striving to be role models for others. This ethical code is considered by followers to have been given by Ayyavazhi
scriptures to mankind.
or nation
, and in turn how the nation should be to a common man
. This was derived from the meta-narrative events, one practiced in the society.
The king ruled the country with great care, by giving more importance to individual needs. He respect each and every individual with equal status. The king consider the comfort of the subjects of the nation as the comfort of himself. In all the 1008 Pathis (The place where God
is) the poojas were conducted rightly and in timely manner. The temples, the watermeans such as pond
s, well
s were supervised and were repaired frequently. Anna Dharmam
, the charity on food is conducted frequently at choultries. The people of the nation always respect religious persons and pilgrims
, and help them by all possible means, and consider that serving them (religious persons) is like serving God.
The king collects one-sixth of the means of people as tax
. If any one says that they will not be able to give one-sixth of their means, the king don't use to compel them. If any one pays tax without any pending for about twelve years the King use to discount their tax for two years. The judgement from the king for the judicial cases of people will be accurate. He gives more importance for his people than for himself.
Once a hunter choose a bird as his target and points his arrow towards it. The bird notes this and flies away and the hunter follows the bird. The bird flew and fell in front of the Chozha king and asked him to rescue from the hunter. Following this the hunter came in front of the king and demanded the bird. He also says, "whole of my today's time is wasted behind this bird. I and my family has to fulfill our hunger by this bird." On the other hand the bird demanded the king to save it from the hunter.
The king feels that both of them are right from their own view point and sensed both the fulfillment of the hunger of hunter and saving the life of the bird is his duty as a king. So taking care the two subjects, the king cut an equal quantity of flesh
to the bird from his limb and gave it to the hunter. So he saved the life of the bird and on the other hand saved the hunter's family from being hungry. As as king, he treated both of his subjects equally and also fulfilled both of their needs.
Note: This story is not fully narrated as above in Akilam and only quoted.
The reign of the king (above in Raja Neetham) was identified as a good rule by the Devas
. Narayana
, Brahma
, Lekhsmi and all devas appreciated this rule. They went to kayilai
to meet Siva
to tell about this.
They met Siva in Kayilai and told that the King chozha is ruling his country genuinely. They also told Siva about the judgement of the king in the matter of the Hunter and the Bird. Also they brought to his attention, other merits of the reign of the king. They also demanded that, since the king is so genuine, talented and accurate in following the principles, he should order the devas to do the duties to his nation correctly. Hearing this Siva ordered the Mayon
to order the devas to do all duties timidly. As per this Mayon ordered,
As per the order of Siva
all activities were done by devas. Also they made all animal
s to live in harmony with each others and with the people. They also made the crops of his nation to give good yield for the people.
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...
. They are found in Akilam one
Akilam one
The Akilam one is the first among the seventeen parts of Akilattirattu Ammanai, the religious book of Ayyavazhi. This section includes the Kappu, the very first part; it tells of the Detchanam, and describes the political and sociological situation in the early world.- The Kappu :The word, Kappu,...
, which is the first section of the Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
, and in the middle of the meta-narrative events of the eight yugas. This shows that the society, its people, and the ruling king once lived in absolute harmony with nature, placing the power of God in all their works, deeds, and activities during early ages.
The Akilam points this out as an example, and describes how the people should live in the world. It also forms a part 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...
ethics. The Neethams are split into three. They are,
- Manu Neetham: How an individual should personify him/herself with good morality.
- 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 God.
Manu Neetham — Justice of Common Man
The Manu Neetham describes how a person should act in society. It also describes the correct moralMoral
A moral is a message conveyed or a lesson to be learned from a story or event. The moral may be left to the hearer, reader or viewer to determine for themselves, or may be explicitly encapsulated in a maxim...
character of the people, and their way of life in harmony with nature (particularly women) in the early ages.
Followers believe that all the events and actions that happen in their lives are activated by 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....
. Therefore, they prefer not to seek any individual supremacy for any of their activities or achievements. All faithful followers believe that everyone is equal, in spite of the presence of different castes.
In addition, they do not find anyone inferior or superior to others with respect to the jobs they do. They neither do any menial jobs nor make others do so. In turn, they live with a mutual understanding of others not unlike the innocence of children.
Morality
- virginityVirginityVirginity refers to the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state, especially in the case of unmarried females, associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth...
is treated with highest respect, especially in women.- This not only means physical virginity, but a kind of mental "virginity" as well.
- This is described as keeping one's mind clear, and not allowing the mind to become "instable" or "impure". In other words, virginity also means preserving moral and virginal thinking.
- Because of this, Women do not speak often.
- This not only means physical virginity, but a kind of mental "virginity" as well.
- Followers are to respect their fatherFatherA father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
and motherMotherA mother, mum, mom, momma, or mama is a woman who has raised a child, given birth to a child, and/or supplied the ovum that grew into a child. Because of the complexity and differences of a mother's social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to specify a universally...
, and keep them at equal status with 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....
.
- Honesty is considered an important virtue.
- Women are taught to respect their husbandHusbandA husband is a male participant in a marriage. The rights and obligations of the husband regarding his spouse and others, and his status in the community and in law, vary between cultures and has varied over time...
s.- Wives sleep only after making their husbands sleep.
- For example, women will wake up and bathe before dawn, prayPrayPray may refer to:* Prayer, an active effort to communicate with a deity or spiritIt may also refer to:-Places:Italy* Pray, Piedmont, a comune in the Province of BiellaUnited States* Pray, Wisconsin, an unincorporated community-People:...
, then clean the house as part of her daily routine.
- For example, women will wake up and bathe before dawn, pray
- Wives sleep only after making their husbands sleep.
Thus the people of the society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
would live: always striving to be role models for others. This ethical code is considered by followers to have been given by 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...
scriptures to mankind.
Raja Neetham — Justice of Governance
This Raja Neetham or Arasa Neetham says, how an individual should be to the societySociety
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
or nation
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
, and in turn how the nation should be to a common man
Man
The term man is used for an adult human male . However, man is sometimes used to refer to humanity as a whole...
. This was derived from the meta-narrative events, one practiced in the society.
The king ruled the country with great care, by giving more importance to individual needs. He respect each and every individual with equal status. The king consider the comfort of the subjects of the nation as the comfort of himself. In all the 1008 Pathis (The place where 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....
is) the poojas were conducted rightly and in timely manner. The temples, the watermeans such as pond
Pond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
s, well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
s were supervised and were repaired frequently. Anna Dharmam
Anna Dharmam
Anna Dharmam is a term used for an Ayyavazhi ritual that involves sharing food without inter-dining. Inter-dining refers to the act of dining within ones own caste, and excluding others. The practice of Anna Dharmam may have emerged in association with inter-dining.-Origin:Inter-dining was an...
, the charity on food is conducted frequently at choultries. The people of the nation always respect religious persons and pilgrims
Pilgrims
Pilgrims , or Pilgrim Fathers , is a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States...
, and help them by all possible means, and consider that serving them (religious persons) is like serving God.
The king collects one-sixth of the means of people as tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
. If any one says that they will not be able to give one-sixth of their means, the king don't use to compel them. If any one pays tax without any pending for about twelve years the King use to discount their tax for two years. The judgement from the king for the judicial cases of people will be accurate. He gives more importance for his people than for himself.
Right Judgement
This story tells about a king who follows the Raja Neetham rightly and so his accuracy in judgement.Once a hunter choose a bird as his target and points his arrow towards it. The bird notes this and flies away and the hunter follows the bird. The bird flew and fell in front of the Chozha king and asked him to rescue from the hunter. Following this the hunter came in front of the king and demanded the bird. He also says, "whole of my today's time is wasted behind this bird. I and my family has to fulfill our hunger by this bird." On the other hand the bird demanded the king to save it from the hunter.
The king feels that both of them are right from their own view point and sensed both the fulfillment of the hunger of hunter and saving the life of the bird is his duty as a king. So taking care the two subjects, the king cut an equal quantity of flesh
Flesh
In vertebrate animals, flesh is the colloquial for biological tissue which consists of skeletal muscles and fat as opposed to bones, viscera and integuments. Flesh may be used as food, in which case it is called meat....
to the bird from his limb and gave it to the hunter. So he saved the life of the bird and on the other hand saved the hunter's family from being hungry. As as king, he treated both of his subjects equally and also fulfilled both of their needs.
Note: This story is not fully narrated as above in Akilam and only quoted.
Deiva Neetham — Justice of Divinity
This Deiva Neetham tells about the thought of people about the Almighty and about their religious harmony during that (old) age, and tells the way by which one should be get divinized. The most important point is, this part says that when the other two Neethams are correctly followed the Deiva Neetham will be automatically fall in the right path. This concept was reveals from the mythical narration.The reign of the king (above in Raja Neetham) was identified as a good rule by the 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...
. 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...
, 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...
, Lekhsmi and all devas appreciated this rule. They went to kayilai
Mount Kailash
Mount Kailash is a peak in the Gangdisê Mountains, which are part of the Himalayas in Tibet...
to meet 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...
to tell about this.
They met Siva in Kayilai and told that the King chozha is ruling his country genuinely. They also told Siva about the judgement of the king in the matter of the Hunter and the Bird. Also they brought to his attention, other merits of the reign of the king. They also demanded that, since the king is so genuine, talented and accurate in following the principles, he should order the devas to do the duties to his nation correctly. Hearing this Siva ordered the Mayon
Mayon
Mayon may refer to:*Mayon, Cornwall*Mayon Volcano*In Tamil, Mayon is a name for Krishna....
to order the devas to do all duties timidly. As per this Mayon ordered,
- Bhoomaadevi, goddess of earthEarthEarth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
to protect his nation. - VarunaVarunaIn Vedic religion, Varuna is a god of the sky, of water and of the celestial ocean, as well as a god of law and of the underworld...
, the God of Rain to shed rain thrice a month in the country of that king. - The clouds to act as an umbrella and protect his nation.
- VayuVayuVāyu is a primary Hindu deity, the Lord of the winds, the father of Bhima and the spiritual father of Lord Hanuman...
, the God of Wind to fan his nation with gentle breeze. - Sivayus to be alert on the places where the poojas are held in his nation.
- Nithira Devi, the Goddess of sleepiness not to disturb unnecessarily the subjects of his nation.
As per the order of 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...
all activities were done by devas. Also they made all animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
s to live in harmony with each others and with the people. They also made the crops of his nation to give good yield for the people.