Religion in ancient Tamil country

The people of the ancient Tamil country of the Sangam age (ca. 200 BCE to 200 CE), practiced three main religions: Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The society displayed tolerance towards all religions, as the monarchs themselves openly encouraged religious discussions and invited teachers of every sect to the public halls to preach their doctrines. [cite book
last = Kanakasabhai
title =
pages = p. 233] They protected the temples and monasteries of all sects and religions, irrespective of whose doctrines they themselves believed in.

Prehistory

During the megalithic period of about 1000 BCE - 400 BCE, people of South India including Tamilakam, shared many beliefs and practices with the megalithic builders elsewhere in the Indian subcontinent and beyond.cite web
url = http://micheldanino.voiceofdharma.com/tamilculture.html
title = Vedic Roots of Early Tamil Culture by Michael Danino
accessdate = 2007-06-08] The famous 3.5 metre-high granite figure excavated at Mottur, in present-day Vellore district, is considered the oldest known anthropomorphic representation of God in stone in the Tamil country. [cite book
last = Narasimhaiah
first = B
title = Neolithic and Megalithic Cultures in Tamil Nadu
pages = p. 203
publisher = Sundeep Prakashan
date = 2004
isbn = 8175740485] Some form of Mother Goddess worship was prevalent in the megalithic period, as suggested by the discovery of a copper image of a Goddess in the urn-burials of Adichanallur and other excavations in Tamil Nadu that have yielded headstones, shaped like the seated Mother. [cite conference
last = Raman
first = K.V
title = Sakti Cult in Tamil Nadu - a Historical Perspective
booktitle = Proceedings of the 9th session of Indian Art History Congress
pages = ch. 19
publisher = Sundeep Prakashan, New Delhi
date = 2002
location = Hyderabad] Megalithic culture attached great importance to the cult of the dead and ancestors. It is also likely that certain gods later absorbed into the Hindu pantheon, such as Aiyanar (or Sastha), Murugan (the later Kartik), Korravai (Durga), Naga deities, etc., were originally tribal gods of this period. ]

Nagas

The Nagas, who conquered the aboriginal tribes such as the "Villavar" and the "Minavar", worshipped the dread goddess Kali and carried out animal sacrifices at her shrines. The image of Kali was decked in a most frightful manner: her matted hair was tied up like a crown on her head with the shining skin of a cobra and the curved tusk of a boar was fastened in her hair to resemble the crescent. A string of tiger's teeth served as a necklace around her shoulders. The striped skin of a tiger was wound around her waist like a garment. She was mounted on a tall stag with branching antlers and held a strong bow bent and ready to shoot. Drums rattled and pipes squeaked in front of her image while fierce Nagas slaughtered buffaloes at her altar. [cite book
last = Kanakasabhai
title =
pages = pp. 227-228]

Hinduism

During the Sangam age, Hinduism, including Vedic Brahminism, had become a popular religion among the people. Siva, Muruga, Krishna, Balarama and Kali were some of the popular deities among the Hindus. The division of the Sangam landscape into five regions, is also apparent in religion - with each region having had its own patron deity. [cite book
last = Subrahmanian
title =
pages = p. 381]

The people of the Kurinji or the mountainous regions worshipped Muruga, the god of war. He was portrayed as having six faces and twelve arms. His shrines were usually on the peaks of high hills or in the midst of dense forests. He carried a lance as his weapon and hence was called "Velan" or lancer. Animal sacrifices were carried out under sheds that were put up for the purpose, with flags hoisted over them that bore the emblem of Muruga, the rooster. Ancient mythology has it that Muruga was the commander-in-chief of the celestial army when it fought the Asuras or the demons. According to the tradition of the "Kuravas", the hill people, Muruga married a maiden of their tribe. s. [cite book
last = Kanakasabhai
title =
pages = p. 230] Other popular deities of this age were Kama the god of love, Surya the sun, Chandra the moon and Yama the god of death. The Brahmins of the Tamil country attached great importance to the performance of Yagas or Vedic sacrifices. Priests, learned in the Vedic rites, performed these sacrifices usually under the patronage of the kings. [cite book
last = Kanakasabhai
title =
pages = p. 231]

The temples of the Sangam age were built out of perishable materials such as plaster, timber and brick, which is why no traces of them are found today. [cite book
last = Subrahmanian
title =
pages = p. 382] The only public structures of any historical importance belonging to this age that have survived to this day are the rock-beds hewn out of natural rock formation, that were made for the ascetics. The Cilapatikaram and the Sangam poems such as Kaliththokai, Mullaippattu and Purananuru mention several kinds of temples such as the "Puranilaikkottam" or the temple at the outskirts of a city, the "Netunilaikkottam" or the tall temple, the "Palkunrakkottam" the temple on top of a hill, the "Ilavantikaippalli" or the temple with a garden and bathing ghat, the "Elunilaimatam" or a seven storeyed temple, the "Katavutkatinakar" or the temple city. [cite book
last = Gopalakrishnan
title =
pages = p. 19]

Some of the popular festivals of this age were Karthigaideepam, Tiruvonam, Kaman vizha and Indira vizha. Karthigaideepam was otherwise known as Peruvizha and was celebrated in the Tamil month of Karthigai every year. Tiruvonam was celebrated in the month of Avani to denote the birth of "Mayon". The Kaaman vizha was held in the spring and during this festival, men and women dressed up well and participated in dancing. Indravizha included the performance of Vedic sacrifices, prayers to various gods, musical recitals and dancing. [cite book
last = Balambal
title =
pages = p. 6]

Buddhism

The Buddhists worshiped the impressions of Buddha’s feet engraved on stone and platforms made of stone that represented his seat. The pious Buddhist walked round them, with his right side towards them and bowed his head as a token of reverence. [cite book
last = Kanakasabhai
title =
pages = p. 232] The Cilapatikaram mentions that the monks worshipped Buddha by praising him as the wise, holy and virtuous teacher who adhered to his vows strictly, as the one who subdued anger and all evil passions and as the refuge of all mankind. In the Buddhist Viharas or monasteries, learned monks preached their sermons, seated in a place which was entirely concealed from the view of the audience. The Buddhists did not observe the distinctions of caste and invited all ranks to assemble on a footing of equality. Self-control, wisdom and charity were among the virtues preached and practiced by the monks, who were numerous in the ancient Tamil country. [cite book
last = Kanakasabhai
title =
pages = p. 233]

Jainism

The Jains (a.k.a Nigranthas [cite book
last = Jackson
title =
pages = p. 389] ) worshipped Argha whom they considered to be the Supreme Intelligence which governs the Universe. His image was that of a naked man, seated or standing under an Ashoka tree, holding up a triple umbrella. The main priniciples that the Jains followed were to not harm any living creature, not speak an untruth and to avoid envy, greed, anger and evil speech. Their community was divided into two sections, the laymen or "sravakas" (literally, hearers) and the religious men. The religious men were further divided into five classes called the "Panchaparameshtin". These were the "Argha" the holy men, the "Siddha" who had supernatural powers, the "Upadhyaya" or the religious teachers, the "Acharaya" or the priests and the "Sadhu" or pious people. Both men and women were allowed to enter the monastery and take vows of celibacy. The monks preached from pulpits that were erected near their temples or in the open squares at the crossing of public roads. They carried an alms bowl, a hoop made of twine to hold the water-pot and a bundle of peacock feathers that they used to gently sweep off insects to avoid hurting them, before sitting or lying down on a place. They repeated a short prayer called the "Panchamantra". [cite book
last = Kanakasabhai
title =
pages = p. 232]

See also

*Ancient Tamil country
*Sangam landscape

Notes

References

* cite book
last = Balambal
first = V
title = Studies in the History of the Sangam Age
date = 1998
publisher = Kalinga Publications, Delhi
* cite book
last = Gopalakrishnan
first = S
title = Early Pandyan Iconometry
date = 2005
publisher = Sharada Publishing house, New Delhi
* cite book
last = Kanakasabhai
first = V
title = The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago
date = 1904
publisher = Asian Educational Services, New Delhi
* cite book
last = Jackson
first = A.V. Williams
title = History of India
date = 1906
publisher = The Grolier Society, London
url = http://books.google.com/books?id=7GELAAAAIAAJ&printsec=toc&dq=ancient+tamil+religion&as_brr=1#PPP17,M1
* cite book
last = Subrahmanian
first = N
title = History of Tamilnad
date = 1972
publisher = Koodal Publishers, Madurai