- Akilathirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai ( _ta. அகிலத்திரட்டு அம்மானை) ("akilam" (world) + "thirattu" (collection) + "ammanai" (ballad)), also called Thiru Edu (venerable book), is the main
religious book of the SouthernIndia nbelief systemAyyavazhi . The title is often abbreviated to Akilam or Akilathirattu.Akilam including more than 15000 verse, is the largest
Ammanai literature in Tamil [N. Vivekanandan(2003), "Akilathirattu Ammanai Moolamum Uraiyum", Vivekananda Publications, p.12 "(Additional)". ] and one among the largest works in Tamil which are contributed by a single author.History
According to the book, "Akilam",
Hari Gopalan Citar wrote this book on the twenty-seventh day of the Tamil month of Karthikai (November/December) in the year 1841 CE. [ G.Patrick's, Religion and Subaltern Agency, Chapter 5, Page-118 ] The author claims that God woke him up during his sleep and commissioned him to take dictation of what he said. "Akilathirattu" was recorded on palm leaves until 1939, when it was given printed form. [ G.Patrick's, Religion and Subaltern Agency, Chapter 5, Page-119]According to the author, the book is the story of
God coming in this age, the Kali Yukam or Iron Age, to rule the world by transforming it into theDharma Yukam . This story of faith has woven together the historical facts aboutAyya Vaikundar and his activities with reinterpretations of episodes from the HinduPurana s (mythologies) andItihasa s (epics). [ G.Patrick's, Religion and Subaltern Agency, Chapter 5, Page-119 ] It is presented as ifVishnu is narrating the whole story to his consortLakshmi .Though the Citar Hari Gopalan wrote the book Akilam, he claimed that he did not know any thing about the contents of the book. He woke up in the morning as usual and he didn't know what he had written the day before. Another legend says that he began it that night and continued through the following days. Others say that it was written beginning on Friday, 26th
Karthikai (Tamil Calendar ) 1016 M.E, and completed on seventeenth day on the second Sunday ofMargazhi (Tamil Calendar) 1016 M.E.When Ayya Vaikundar passes away, the tied-up palm leaf manuscript, which was until then not opened, was unfolded. It contained the regulations of the Ayyavazhi sect. As per the instructions found there in Akilam, Ayyavazhi was preached by the
Citar s far and wide.Style
"Akilam" is in two parts; the first is an account of the ages preceding that of the present age, the "Kali Yukam", and the second is an account of the activities of Ayya Vaikundar leading up to his attaining
Vaikundam ."Akilathirattu" is written as a poem in the
Tamil language . The narration alternates between two sub-genres called "viruttam" and "natai". Both sub-genres employ many poetic devices likealliteration andhyperbatons . [ G.Patrick's, Religion and Subaltern Agency, Chapter 5, Sub-heading: Akilattirattu, Page-119 ] It contains more than 15000 verse making up seventeen section. In a typicalAmmanai style, Akilam maintains more than one context for its verses throughout the text. While the floating ideas of the lines could be comparitively easily communicated, the underlying theme couldn't be understood unless oneself is understood and well aware about the basics ofHindu pantheon of gods, Hindu scriptures,Dharmic concepts and philosophy etc.Versions
The texts written by
Hari Gopalan Citar is seen damaged and is hard to read the contents. It is still preserved as a relic by his descendents. There are three direct versions which were copied from this first version. They are,*
Panchalagkuricchi Version
*Swamithoppe Version
*Kottangadu Version Of these, the
Panchalankuricchi Version is believed to be written down byHari Gopalan Citar by copying from the main version and the other two versions were copied later. Apart from these theNariyan vilai Version ,Varampetran-pantaram Version ,Saravanantheri Version are the other early palm-leaf versions of Akilam.Other release versions include the
Palaramachandran version , the VTV published twice, the Kalai Ilakkiya-peravai Version and theVivekanandan Version . But of these, TheAyya Vaikundar Thirukkudumbam version is often criticised for the removal and adding of additionalVerse (poetry) s from various versions. It was argued that such additions and removals are made in over 300 pages. Though Thirukkudumbam claim that these additional lines were added from the early palm-leaf versions (Panchalankuricchi Version andKottangadu Version ) which are believed to be missing, toAkilam , this version is not accepted widely.All the release versions except Palaramachandran version schedules the whole contents to seventeen sections as per the
Thiru Eadu-vasippu partition . The Sentrathisai Ventraperumal version which was released in 1965 includes more than 2000 verse which were not found in other versions. ThePalaramachandran version is the widely accepted and the largest circulated version.Contents
The book focuses on the devotion to
Vaikundar , considered to be an aspect of the GodVishnu . It is an excellent poetic narrative inTamil intended to be an excellent compilation of the various aspects ofIndian mythology and beliefs about God.The first 8 chapters of the book narrates the events starting from the creation of the Universe to the time exactly before the incarnation of Vaikundar. The ninth chapter describes in detail the events taking place in the divine plan during the incarnation of Vaikundar. The last 8 chapters focus of the legendary, empirical, historical and mythical aspects pertaining to the life of Vaikundar.
Evolution and Yugas
The book starts with the explanation given by Vishnu to His consort
Lakshmi about the evolution of Universe and of human beings. It is said that there is a total of 8 aeons or yugas and we are currently in the seventh yuga called asKali Yuga , the age of deterioration. It is believed that for each yuga there is a demon that will be destroyed by Vishnu. In the first yuga, Kroni was born. ThisKroni is cognate with the concept of Satan inAbrahamic religions . Vishnu fragmented him into six pieces and each fragments will incarnate as demon in each Yuga. The first four yugas are said to be theNeetiya Yuga ,Chatura Yuga ,Nedu Yuga andKretha Yuga . These four yugas do not have parallels in the mainstreamHindu mythology .The fifth yuga is said to be the
Treta Yuga in which the LordRama incarnated as human. The sixth yuga is theDvapara Yuga , and there is an short but striking description of the life ofKrishna and the Bharatha war. Additionally there is said to be another event called the birth ofSantror or noble people at the closure of Dvapara Yuga.Kali Yuga
Kali Yuga , the seventh Yuga begins when the evil spirit calledKali (not to be confused with Kaali, the mother goddess) was born. Kali is believed to be cognate with the modernhuman beings . Then was born the Neesan, the demon for the Kali Yuga. It is said that this demon became the king of earth in various places and tortured the lives of the Santror. Because of this Lord Vishnu got angry and advisedNeesan to stop torturing the Santror. But he wont agree to Vishnu and would prefer to die rather than giving up. In order to stop the rule of Neesan and to bring an end to Kali yuga, Vishnu made a plan to make Vaikundar incarnate as human.The Incarnation
Vaikundar is believed to be the Son of Vishnu and Lakshmi. He was beget inside the sea, and sent as human into the land. From the point of incarnation of
Vaikundar , it is said that He was made the supreme of all godhead, and will detroy Neesan and also the evil Kali Yuga. It is also said that he will take all righteous people with him into theVaikundam in the eighth yuga called asDharma Yukam . Also, nothing is said about the period which followsDharma yuga , which means that timeline is linear, and not circular as belived inside mainstreamHinduism .Sections
The "Akilam" is divided into seventeen parts:
*Akilam one
*Akilam two
*Akilam three
*Akilam four
*Akilam five
*Akilam six
*Akilam seven
*Akilam eight
*Akilam nine
*Akilam ten
*Akilam eleven
*Akilam twelve
*Akilam thirteen
*Akilam fourteen
*Akilam fifteen
*Akilam sixteen
*Akilam seventeen Teachings
Akilam teaches a set of values that are theological, sociological and philosophical. Of these the ideas promoted by Akilam spans throughout the various teachings found in
Hindu scriptures and presentHinduism in the first half and at the second, a set of revolutionary teachings, in all aspects were focussed. The theological teachings revolves around the supremacy ofVaikundar while the sociological teachings mainly focus on breaking up the inequalities prevalent in the society. The Philosophical ideas mainly focus the 'Ultimateoneness ' of nature and all living beings.Theosophy
All the major Hindu deities namely
Brahma ,Vishnu ,Shiva ,Sarasvati ,Lakshmi ,Parvati ,Skanda , andGanesha are mentioned direcy in themythology throughout the book. Also there is an indirect mention aboutBible ,Allah andQuran inside the book. A reference found in Akilam aboutJesus is more direct than indirect. Also the book seems to stress that all texts and scriptures are true and have a share about the truth of the Divine. It is notable that Akilam is heavily against creating religions as it not mention the term 'religion' at least once anywhere in the text and do refers only God-heads, concepts and scriptures. The theosophical thoughts found in the book serve as an excellent link between theDharmic andAbrahamic religious concepts. Despite for the termEkam , a supreme state where the difference between the Creator and the creations nullified, the book is strictly theistic and not atheistic.Sociology
It is said that social inequality and destruction of caste ethics are the main aspects of the
Kali Yuga . So the entire book focuses on social equality and strictly against "Jati" or the Indian caste system. But it also says that the 'Varnashrama Dharma' system was perfect till the end ofDvapara Yuga . Also, there are traces of references to leading a chaste life andvegetarian diet. There is a strict condemnation about thereligious fundamentalism especially of the Abrahamic traditions.Philosophy
The key philosophy in the book is that human beings are by themselves separated from God by the influence of
Kali , andVaikundar has come for their redemption.References
ee also
*
Ayya Vaikundar
*Hari Gopalan Citar
*List of Ayyavazhi-related articles
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