History of Saiva Religion

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Dear Members,

So far there is nodetailed study of Saivism in Tamilnadu on

Historical lines. Saivism one of the most ancient religions prevalent

in Tamilnadu is not a uniform one. It has got different sub-schools

and sytems and the Tamil Land has enriched with many ideas and

practices.I feel that the entire range of History of Saivism in the

Tamil country can be divided into four broad periods with its own

distinct features:

1 Early tevaram period characterised by supreme and pure devotion

with a minimum of ritual and direct access of the temple to all (?);

(can be termed the bhakti period) 2 The advent of pasupata (including

kalamukha) matha-s and acarya-s patronised by early chola kins like

Parantaka, Rajaraja, etc. (can be termed pasupata lineage period); 3.

sidhhantagama period patronised by later chola-s Kulottenga, Rajaraja

II, etc? proliferation of saivasiddhantacarya-s and spead of agamic

idea-s, matha-s such as Golaki, Amardaka and their branches and

temples adopting agama-based worship (termed siddhanta-agama period);

its propagation(installation) of agama(agama based worship ?)in 16th

century in some of the important temples of TN; 4. the rise of

Meykantar and the composition of texts in Tamil language clearly

influenced by agamic and vedantic [advaita and a little of

visistadvaita] ideas with bhakti predominating over diksa and other

agamic principles/rites (santanacarya period) and their followers

upto the present day.

 

Any Comments ?