Inclusiveness and exclusivity in Ayyavazhi

Last updated

Inclusiveness and exclusivity in Ayyavazhi is the inclusive and exclusive ideology of Ayyavazhi scriptures over other religions. The formula of inclusivism and exclusivism was applied in the religio-cultural universe of Ayyavazhi is one that is not found anywhere else in the world. Though there are separate verses towards inclusivism and exclusivism as central themes in Akilam, the mixture of both is unique. The inclusivistic theory of accepting the views of different religions for a certain period of time and from then onwards exclusivistically rejecting all of them by narrating that all the previous had lost their substances is a mythical as well as religious break-through.

Contents

View on gods

Ayyavazhi accepts all God heads of several religions such as the concept of Allah and almost all God-heads in Hinduism. The Vaishnavite concept of Maha Vishnu is often referred to in Ayyavazhi scriptures. It also includes the avatars of Narasimha, Rama, Krishna etc. Also, many quotes in Akilam give space for glorifying the activities and discussions of Vishnu. More over Vaikundar is said to be son of Narayana. The Saivite concept of Parasiva, The Trimurthi conception, all found place here. It also says that Siva is the supreme head of all the Deva Sanga. It also includes many events about the Tamil God Muruga. But unlike in Hinduism, Muruga is considered as one among the six primary Avatars of Vishnu. Akilam refer to Vaikundar as Thanumal Vethan, which means Vaikundar himself is Siva Vishnu and Brahma. In midst of the meta-narrative mythography it also refers to Ganapathi, Indra, Varuna, Vayu, etc. It too refers to female god-heads such as Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Parvati, Kali, Saptha Kannis, etc. All the God-heads are treated with similar powers as referred in Hindu scriptures. All this divine powers (god-heads) are viewed as the lesser manifestation of one and supreme power Ekam.

But due to the advent of Kaliyan and because of the cruel nature of his boons, for the first time the supreme God or the 'God beyond Consciousness' (Ekan) incarnates in the world as Vaikundar and so all the God-heads were surrendered to Vaikundar and all the previous scriptures had lost their substances. And so for the Kaliyukam, Vaikundar was said to be the only worshipable God and hence, the theology of Ayyavazhi was channeled towards exclusivism.

Apart from this it also refers to some God-heads from Abrahamic traditions. It says that Narayana, who is one among the three power-head in Ayyavazhi Trinity was the one who incarnates as Christ. Quotes from Akilam and Arul Nool refers to the Islamic conception of 'Allah', also.

By all these, Akilam reveals an inclusive character of God. It don't rejects any religion's views on focussing the God. A quote in Akilam refers Vaikundar as, "You moves around the world in various forms". So, it says that one and the single god is worshipped in different names all over the world.

View on scriptures

The manner in which Akilathirattu Ammanai treats the scriptures of different religions is complicated when compared to its view on God-heads. While it refers to Vedas, Shastras, Agamas and Puranas extensively, it says that this scriptures had lost their substances at two stages. One at the advent of Kaliyan in this world and then during the incarnation of Vaikundar.

During the advent of Kaliyan he bought the powers of various Hindu scriptures including Vedas as boon from Siva, who was the ultimate power and the supreme of Deva Sanga. He also bought the form of Brahmin as boon. He also added several additions to the true scriptures. By this the scriptures and its powers are controlled by Kaliyan. So the divine Knowledge couldn't be achieved through that 'Kali-affected scriptures'. Then during the incarnation of Vaikundar the ruling-power of deva Sanga is shifted from Siva to Vishnu and then Vishnu to Vaikundar, since Vaikundar is the incarnation of the Supreme Ekam. Since for the first time the 'God beyond consciousness' incarnated in the world, the universal power vested with Vaikundar and so the supremacy. So no God to be worshipped other than Vaikundar since then. Also, since all the previous scriptures lost their substances new scriptures which are unaffected to Kali is given by God to the world and that is Akilam. But on the other hand the scriptures other than that of Dharmic conceptions are completely rejected by Akilam, though the god-heads on those scriptures are accepted.

While Kalineesan arrested Vaikundar and proceeded towards Thiruvananthapuram, the situation of Vaikundar was narrated as, "As once on the non-liberative Cross, suffered the beatings of thorns, dead and reanimates for uplifting the poor, for this yuga here, he suffer this for the liberation of the downtrodden." Akilam 13:227-231. By this it means that Vaikundar was the one who incarnates as Jesus and so by this verse Akilam accepts Christ. But it did not recognise The Bible. Thus, a quote in Vinchai about Venneesan reads, "He created a Veda (scripture) of his own intention". Also about Kaliyan it says about Bible that, "There will be a religion of him which tells the world to treat greatly, the Cross." Akilam 10:244 Likewise, Akilam accepts that the term 'Allah' and views it in relation to 'Ekam' (the supreme power). But it rejects the religion of Islam and its ideas. A quote reads, "There will be another which make a call to the world to put upon caps." Akilam 10:243

Ayyavazhi accepts the incarnation of Rama and Krishna but seems that it rejects the Ramayana and the Mahabharata as there is no mention of these. It accepts only the four Vedas as the 'Books of Perfection'. However, this view of the Vedas is not inconsistent with Hinduism's views nor is different. In Hinduism, the Vedas are viewed as Śruti, or primary scripture, while other scriptures such as Ramayana are viewed as Smriti or secondary scripture. But later, Kaliyan had bought the Vedas as boon and so the Vedas had lost their substance by the advent of Kaliyan. It also says that he (Kaliyan) had performed several additions and had hidden several contents of them. And hence God incarnated as Vaikundar. So for the present age, Akilathirattu Ammanai is the only 'Book of Perfection'.

Ultimate exclusivism

According to Akilathirattu, the Vedas are the only religious text to be followed and all others were mere incarnations of God and thus, the religion based ideas based on such beliefs were created by the intention of man but not of God. But since now, the Vedas were destroyed by Kaliyan, for the present age, Akilam, which describes the incarnation of the Supreme God, Ekam is the only 'Book of Perfection'. By this Ayyavazhi rejects all other scriptures and follows only Akilathirattu Ammanai.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism and other religions</span> Relationships between Hinduism and other religions

In the field of comparative religion, many scholars, academics, and religious figures have looked at the relationships between Hinduism and other religions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayya Vaikundar</span> Indian avatar


Ayya Vaikundar also known as Vaikunda Swami is the first and the foremost Purna avatar of Eka-Paran born to Lord Narayana and his consort Goddess Lakshmi at the Sea of Tiruchendur on the 20th of Masi, 1008 K.E. Embodied with the triune God-heads along with all lesser devas, Lord Narayana assumes his ninth incarnation at the sea-shore of Tiruchendur just before the birth of Ayya Vaikundar. It was this Avatar of Lord Narayana whom give birth to Ayya Vaikundar later, and all these events are part of his grand and systematic framework for the destruction of Kali. Earlier, as the time for the destruction of Kali approaches, Goddess Lakshmi, who includes all Devis of the divine cosmos into herself, was sent to Sea of Tiruchendur to grow as a giant golden fish called Makara. It was from her womb the Infant Ayya Vaikundar was born to Lord Narayana and the Vinchai was granted to him immediately after his birth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayyavazhi</span> South Indian dharmic belief system

Ayyavazhi is a henotheistic belief that originated in South India. Though generally regarded as a branch of Hinduism, it is cited as an independent monistic belief by several newspapers, government reports, and academic researchers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akilathirattu Ammanai</span> Ayyavazhi religious text (poem)

Akilathirattu Ammanai, also called Thiru Edu, is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi. The title is often abbreviated to Akilam or Akilathirattu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kroni</span>

Kroni is a figure in Ayyavazhi mythology. He is the primordial manifestation of evil, and manifests in various forms of evil, such as Ravana and Duryodhana, in different ages or yugas. To counteract and destroy the evil of Kroni's manifestations, Mayon incarnates as Avatars such as Rama and Krishna. He seems to be more evil than the demon Kali of the Mahabharata and Kalki Purana sharing similarities with Lucifer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayyavazhi mythology</span> Indian story from Akilathirattu Ammanai,

Ayyavazhi mythology is the mythology of the South Indian Hindu denomination religious faith known as Ayyavazhi, which is officially considered a Hindu sect. The main source of Ayyavazhi mythology is the Ayyavazhi scripture, Akilathirattu Ammanai, and its supplement, Arul Nool. The Akilathirattu Ammanai is a recitation by Mayon to his consort Lakshmi. It is divided into three sections: Early Avatars, incarnational events and post-incarnational events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dharma Yukam</span> Heaven in Ayyavazhi mythology

Dharma Yukam is the state of absolute bliss as per Ayyavazhi mythology. Dharma Yukam is described in the Akilam seventeen in Akilathirattu Ammanai. It is related to Dharmic moksha and to Abrahamic heaven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Ayyavazhi</span> Overview of and topical guide to Ayyavazhi

The following outline is provided as an overview and topic guide to Ayyavazhi:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ekam</span>

Ekam is the Sanskrit for "one, single, solitary", as a noun meaning "unity". ⠀⠀Ayyavazhi⠀⠀ and ⠀⠀Hinduism⠀⠀refers to a monism conceptAyyavazhi and Hinduism, it refers to a concept of monism akin to that of Brahman in Advaita philosophy and Smarta theology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayyavazhi theology</span> Theology of the Ayyavazhi religion (often classified a sect of Hinduism)

Ayyavazhi 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayyavazhi Trinity</span>

According to the Ayyavazhi religion sect of Hinduism, the Ayyavazhi Trinity is the incarnation of God in the current stage of world development. Lord Vaikundar, the Incarnation, is the combination of the Ultimate God, Trimurti and Narayana. In Akilam immediately after the Incarnation of Vaikundar, he was viewed simultaneously as the Ultimate God, Narayana, and as son of Narayana. As per the earlier deed Narayana had to destroy Kaliyan, but due to the boons that kaliyan claimed Narayana has destroy him in form of Pantaram. And as per the promise made by Kaliyan, he would only be destroyed, if he give torture to any Pantaram. To overcome all these, such a unique way of Incarnation was planned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akilam one</span>

The Akilam one is the first among the seventeen parts of Akilathirattu 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akilam four</span>

Akilam four is the fourth section of Akilathirattu Ammanai, the primary scripture of Ayyavazhi. This section narrates the prosperous life of Santror after their marriage with the daughters of King Nirupathi. It also describes the birth of Kaliyan, his cruel activities and its impact in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayyavazhi symbolism</span>

The Ayyavazhi symbolism deals with the symbols which are used in or used to represent Ayyavazhi. Though Akilam the scripture of Ayyavazhi does not point out any symbol directly, there are a few symbols which are used for representing Ayyavazhi which came into practice gradually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akilam six</span>

Akilam six is the sixth section of Akilam, the primary holy scripture of Ayyavazhi. This section describes the transformation of the ruling authority of the universe from Sivan to Thirumal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of Ayyavazhi history</span>

The purpose of this chronology is to give a detailed account of Ayyavazhi from the beginning of the incarnational events of Vaikundar to the present time. Question marks on dates indicate approximate dates. A star (*) indicates the mentioning of that particular date in Akilam or Arul Nool. All dates but a few are found in the Tamil calendar and so doesn't coincide exactly with the months of the Gregorian calendar. The dates may span over any halves of the two consecutive months (Gregorian).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayyavazhi Dharma</span>

The Akilathirattu Ammanai the scripture of Ayyavazhi teaches Dharma on two different perspectives. One in sociology as charity and truth and another under spirituality to attain the stage of Oneness, unified into Lord Vaikundar. This state of ultimate oneness is called as Dharma Yukam or Dharma Pathi. Akilam also says that, Dharma is the only living wheel. The sociological way is asked to be followed by every one to attain the spiritual state of Dharma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayyavazhi ethics</span>

The ethics of Ayyavazhi are found scattered throughout the primary scripture, Akilathirattu 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 Akilathirattu. In Akilathirattu, the ethical abstracts are pointed out as "told by God" at several places at different situations to lesser god-heads, devas, saints etc. when asked by them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayyavazhi phenomenology</span>

Ayyavazhi phenomenology is the phenomenological variations found in Ayyavazhi society, worship centers etc. from their holy text Akilattirattu Ammanai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayyavazhi religious studies</span>

The religious studies of Ayyavazhi are based primarily on the Ayyavazhi scriptures. Though there is enough knowledge there for a common worshiper to understand Ayyavazhi theology, it needs the Hindu and at some times the scriptures of other religions to be referred to undergo a detailed religious study on Akilam. Because Akilam maintains a unique type of relation with the other scriptures.

References