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Ayyavazhi (Tamil: அய்யாவழி, Malayalam: അയ്യാവഴി Ayyāvaḻi[1] [əjːaːvəɻi] ⓘ, lit. 'Path of the Master') is a Hindu denomination that originated in South India during the 19th century.[2][3]
Ayyavazhi is centered on the life and preachings of Ayya Vaikundar; its ideas and philosophy are based on the holy texts Akilathirattu Ammanai and Arul Nool. Accordingly, Ayya Vaikundar was the Purna avatar of Narayana.[4] Ayyavazhi shares many ideas with Hinduism in its beliefs and practice, but differs considerably in its concepts of good and evil and dharma.[5] Ayyavazhi is classified as a dharmic belief because of its central focus on dharma.[6]
Ayyavazhi first came to public attention in the 19th century as a Hindu sect.[7] Vaikundar's activities and the growing number of followers caused a reformation and revolution in 19th-century Travancorean[8] and Tamil society,[9] surprising the feudal social system of South India.[10] It also triggered a number of reform movements including those of Narayana Guru[11] and Ramalinga Swamigal.[12]
Though Ayyavazhi followers are spread across India,[13][14] they are primarily present in South India,[15] especially concentrated in Tamil Nadu[16] and Kerala.[17] The number of practitioners is estimated to be between 8,000,000[18] and 10,000,000[19] although the exact number is unknown, since Ayyavazhis are reported as Hindus during censuses.[20][21]
- ^ The 'zhi' (ழி) portion of the word Ayyavazhi is a retroflex, and it is correctly transliterated according to the National Library at Kolkata romanization as Ayyāvaḻi.
- ^ Kumar, B. (2021). Perspectives on Indian Society. K.K. Publications. p. 156. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
Ayyavazhi, prevalent in South India, is officially considered a Hindu sect, and its followers are counted as Hindus in the census.
- ^ Tha. Krishna Nathan, Ayyaa vaikuNdarin vaazvum sinthanaiyum, p. 62: "அவர் (வைகுண்டர்) மாற்றுப் பிறப்பு பெற்ற நாளே அய்யாவழி சமய மரபு தோற்றம் பெற்ற நாள்(கி.பி.1833) எனக் கூறலாம்." (The day at which Vaikundar is given rebirth could be considered as the date of origin of the Ayyavazhi religion.)
- ^ David, A. Maria (2009). Beyond boundaries : Hindu-Christian relationship and basic Christian communities (First ed.). Delhi: Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. p. 32. ISBN 9788184650013.
- ^ G. Patrick, Religion and Subaltern Agency, pp. 111–113,
- ^ G. Patrick, Religion and Subaltern Agency, pp. 160–161.
- ^ R. Ponnu, Sri Vaikunda Swamigal and the Struggle for Social Equality in South India, p. 98.
- ^ R. Ponnu, Sri Vaikunda Swamigal and Struggle for Social Equality in South India, p. 63, "The religious reform of Sri Vaikunda Swamigal left an everlasting influence on South Travancorean society."
- ^ G. Patrick, Religion and Subaltern Agency, pp. 90–91.
- ^ R. Ponnu, Sri Vaikunda Swamigal and Struggle for Social Equality in South India, p. 86.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Selvister:First Reform Movementwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Ponnu:First Reform Movementwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Dina Malar(Leading Tamil News paper), Nagercoil Edition, 4/3/2005 p. 12: "எனேவ இன்று அய்யா வைகுண்டசாமி வழிபாட்டு ஆலயங்கள் இந்தியா முழுவதும் வேராயிரம் பெற்ற விழுதுகளாய் படந்து ஆறாயிரத்துக்கு மேல் தோன்றி வளர்ந்து வருகிறது" Translated to "So today these worship centers of Vaikunda Sami is spread across India and growing with more than 6000 of them"
- ^ C. Paulose, Advaita Philosophy of Brahmasri Chattampi Swamikal, p. 24, "To propagate his teachings and ideas he opened upon seven Pathis and seven Tangs (The Primary Nizhal Thangals) in Travancore, hundreds of small pagodas (Nizhal Thangals) throughout India." Accrediting the Worship centers of Ayyavazhi across India and so the Ayyavazhi followers.
- ^ R. Ponnu, Sri Vaikunda Swamigal and Struggle for Social Equality in South India, p. 100, "At present thousands of Pathis (Nizhal Thangals) are seen throughout South India."
- ^ Dina Thanthi, (Tamil Daily) Nagercoil Edition, 4 March 2007, p. 23: "The Ayyavazhi followers are highly populated in the districts of Chennai, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari."
- ^ Tha. Krishna Nathan, Ayya Vaikundarin Vazhvum Sinthanaiyum, Chapter 4, p. 83: "இதற்கு ஆதாரமாக அய்யா வைகுண்டரைத் தெய்வமாக ஏற்றுக்கொண்ட சுமார் 8000 – க்கும் மேற்பட்ட அய்யாவழிப் பதிகள் தமிழ்நாடு மற்றும் கேரளப்பகுதிகளில் இயங்குவதைக் கூறலாம்." (This citation was included here from Tamil Wikipedia article)
- ^ Dinakaran, Nagercoil edition, p. 15, 25 February 2007.
- ^ 31st Indian Social Science Congress, A note on People's Struggles and Movements for Equitable Society Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Plenary IV: People's Struggles and Movements For Gender/ Racial/ Caste-Discrimination-free Equitable Society, p. 47.
- ^ "Indian Census 2001 – Population by religious communities" (Other Religious Communities). 256, Tamil Nadu. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2008.
- ^ "Religion". Paragraph 6. Archived from the original (Religion in India) on 15 August 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
