Part of the series on Ayyavazhi
Theology Ekam Vethan • Thirumal • Sivan Vaikundar • The Trinity
Scriptures Akilathirattu Ammanai 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 Arul Nool Ukappadippu • Uccippadippu Nadutheervai Ula • Pothippu Saattu Neettolai • Patthiram Panchadevar Urppatthi Sivakanta Athikarappatthiram Thingal patham Kannimar Padal • Kalyana Vazhthu
Holy sites Swamithope pathi • Ambala Pathi Mutta Pathi • Thamaraikulam Pathi Poo Pathi Pathis Vakaippathi • Avatharappathi Primary Thangals Chettikudiyiruppu • Agastheeswaram Paloor • Sundavilai Vadalivilai • Kadambankulam Pambankulam
Related Systems Hinduism Advaita • Smartism Saivism • Vaishnavism
Inter-faith Ayyavazhi and mainstream Hinduism Ayyavazhi in Christian reports
The Portal Portal: Hinduism
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The Ayyavazhi symbolism deals with the symbols which are used in or used to represent Ayyavazhi. Ayyavazhi (aiavəɻɪ( Tamil:அய்யாவழி Ayyavali - "Path of the father") is a dharmic belief system that originated Ayyavazhi theology is the Theology of a South Indian religious faith and officially an offshoot of Hinduism known as Ayyavazhi. Ekam Tamil: ஏகம் - "the supreme oneness" is the term used in Akilattirattu Ammanai, the holy book of Ayyavazhi, to represent The Brahma is the Hindu god ( deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Ayya Vaikundar (அய்யா வைகுண்டர் according to Akilattirattu Ammanai, a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was a Manu (father sovereign According to the Ayyavazhi religion the Ayyavazhi Trinity is the incarnation of God in the current stage of world development ( Kali Yukam) The Akilattirattu Ammanai and Arul Nool are the scriptures of Ayyavazhi. The Akilam one is the first among the seventeen parts of Akilattirattu Ammanai, the religious book of Ayyavazhi. Akilam Two is the second among the seventeen parts of Akilattirattu Ammanai, the scripture of Ayyavazhi. The Akilam three is the third among the seventeen parts of the religious book Akilattirattu Ammanai of Ayyavazhi religion Akilam four is the fourth section of Akilattirattu Ammanai, the primary scripture of Ayyavazhi. Akilam Five is the fifth section of Akilam, which is the primary scripture of Ayyavazhi. Akilam six is the sixth section of Akilam, the primary holy text of Ayyavazhi. The Akilam seven is the seventh sub-section of Akilattirattu Ammanai the Primary scripture of Ayyavazhi. The Akilam eight is one of the sub-sections of Akilattirattu Ammanai, the Primary scripture of Ayyavazhi, a religion of India. The Akilam nine is one of the sub-sections of Akilattirattu Ammanai the Primary scripture of Ayyavazhi. The Akilam ten is one of the sub-sections of Akilattirattu Ammanai the Primary scripture of Ayyavazhi, one of the fastest growing religions of India. The Akilam eleven is one of the sub-sections of Akilattirattu Ammanai the Primary scripture of Ayyavazhi, one of the fastest growing religions of India. The Akilam twelve is one of the sub-sections of Akilattirattu Ammanai the Primary scripture of Ayyavazhi, one of the fastest growing religions of India. The Akilam thirteen is one of the sub-sections of Akilattirattu Ammanai the Primary scripture of Ayyavazhi, one of the fastest growing religions of India The Akilam fourteen is one of the sub-sections of Akilattirattu Ammanai the Primary scripture of Ayyavazhi, one of the fastest growing religions of India The Akilam fifteen is one of the sub-sections of Akilattirattu Ammanai which was the Primary scripture of Ayyavazhi. The Akilam sixteen is one of the sub-sections of Akilattirattu Ammanai the Primary scripture of Ayyavazhi, one of the fastest growing religions of India The Akilam seventeen is one of the sub-sections of Akilattirattu Ammanai the Primary scripture of Ayyavazhi, one of the fastest growing religions of India The Arul Nool is a supplement to the Akilattirattu Ammanai, and is likewise considered a Holy script of Ayyavazhi, an offshoot sect The Arul Nool is a supplement to the Akilattirattu Ammanai, and is likewise considered a Holy script of Ayyavazhi, an offshoot sect The Arul Nool is a supplement to the Akilattirattu Ammanai, and is likewise considered a Holy script of Ayyavazhi, an offshoot sect The Nadutheervai (judgement + Ula (journey The journey to final judgement is a part of Arul Nool, one among the sources of Ayyavazhi mythology The Pothippu is one of the sub-sections of Arul Nool which was the secondary scripture of Ayyavazhi. The Saattu Neettolai is one of the sub-sections of Arul Nool. The Patthiram is one of the sub-sections of Arul Nool. The author of the content is unknown The Panchadevar Urppatthi is one of the sub-sections of Arul Nool. The Sivakanta Athikarappatthiram is one of the sub-sections of Arul Nool which was the secondary scripture of Ayyavazhi. The Thingal patham is one of the sub-sections of Arul Nool which was the secondary scripture of Ayyavazhi. The Saptha Kannimar Padal is one of the sub-sections of Arul Nool which was the secondary scripture of Ayyavazhi. The Arul Nool is a supplement to the Akilattirattu Ammanai, and is likewise considered a Holy script of Ayyavazhi, an offshoot sect The holy places of Ayyavazhi includes the following Primary Pathis Swamithope pathi Ambala Pathi Mutta Pathi Swamithoppe Pathi ( Tamil:சுவாமிதோப்பு பதி Swamithoppu-pathi, Manavai-pathi, Thamarai-pathi or Thalaimaippathi Ambala Pathi (அம்பல பதி also called as Pallathu pathi or Moolakunda pathi is one of the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi, and the second Mutta Pathi ( Tamil:முட்ட பதி is one of the Pancha pathi, which are the primary centers for worship of the Ayyavazhi. Thamaraikulam Pathi ( Tamil:தாமரைகுளம் பதி is one among the Pancha pathi, the five holy places of Ayyavazhi. Poo Pathi (பூப்பதி is one among the Pancha pathi, which are the primary worship centers and holi places of Ayyavazhi. Pathi ( Tamil:பதி - "The place where God is" is the name asserted to the primary centres of congregational Vakaippathi, one among the Panchappathis is a holy site for the People of Ayyavazhi. Avathara Pathi is a phrase in Tamil which represents 'The place where God incarnates' Nizhal Thangal ( Tamil:நிழல் தாங்கல்; also called Inai Thangals) is a simple temple This Nizhal Thangal is situated 3 km west to Swamithope. There was a zeouse devotee for Vaikundar during his period This Thangal of Agastheeswaram was the second among the Primary Nizhal Thangals This Thangal of Paloor was the third among the Primary Nizhal Thangals This Thangal of Sundavilai was the fourth among the Primary Nizhal Thangals Very little information was know regarding the history of this thangal This Thangal of Vadalivilai was the fifth among the Primary Nizhal Thangals This Thangal of Kadambankulam was the sixth among the Primary Nizhal Thangals This Thangal of Pambankulam was the seventh among the Primary Nizhal Thangals Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Advaita Vedanta ( IAST Advaita Vedānta; Sanskrit अद्वैत वेदान्त əd̪vait̪ə veːd̪ɑːnt̪ə is a sub-school of the Smartism (or Smarta Sampradaya, Smarta Tradition, as termed in Sanskrit) is a denomination of the Hindu Shaivism, also spelled "Saivism" names the oldest of the four sects of Hinduism. Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and This is an article comparing the Beliefs Mythology, Theology, Rituals etc of Ayyavazhi and Hinduism. Ayyavazhi, a belief system originating from South India, is mentioned in a number of reports by Christian missionaries in the 19th century 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. Ayyavazhi (aiavəɻɪ( Tamil:அய்யாவழி Ayyavali - "Path of the father") is a dharmic belief system that originated

Amongst these, the Lotus with Namam, which is the symbolic summary of Akilam, is the commonly used and most accepted symbol.

Lotus and Namam

The '1008 petal' arrangement used as roof-architecture in a Thangal near Thiruvattar, Tamil Nadu. Nizhal Thangal ( Tamil:நிழல் தாங்கல்; also called Inai Thangals) is a simple temple WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Thiruvattaru is a Panchayat town in Kanniyakumari district in the Indian state Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India.

The symbol of the Ayyavazhi religion is a lotus carrying a flame-shaped white 'Namam'. Nelumbo is a Genus of aquatic plants with large showy Water lily -like flowers commonly known as Lotus or sacred lotus ^[1] The lotus represents the 1,008-petalled Sahasrara (in Tamil, Ladam) and the Namam represents the Aanma Jyothi or atman, sometimes translated as "soul" or "self". Sahasrara (Sanskrit सहस्रार Sahasrāra is the seventh primary Chakra according to Hindu tradition Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. The Ātman ( IAST: Ātman Sanskrit: आत्मन्‍ is a philosophical term used within Hinduism and Vedanta to identify the Soul ^[1] There are references for Thirunamam in both primary and secondary scriptures, Akilattirattu Ammanai^[2] and Arul Nool. Thirunamam Thiru (word representing sacredness + Namam (name --> The Sacred name. The Arul Nool is a supplement to the Akilattirattu Ammanai, and is likewise considered a Holy script of Ayyavazhi, an offshoot sect ^[3] Though the overall consideration of the whole contents of Akilam focuses on the concept derived from the symbol 'Lotus carrying Namam', it seems that there is no direct reference for it in the scriptures. But according to some legends this symbol was in use in Ayyavazhi from the early forties of the twentieth century. ^[4]

Since the Sahasrara is symbolised as Lotus, no stem is drawn while designing art of the symbol. Sahasrara (Sanskrit सहस्रार Sahasrāra is the seventh primary Chakra according to Hindu tradition Seven(up) + seven(down) petals are used commonly. A petal (from Ancient Greek petalon "leaf" "thin plate" regarded as a highly modified leaf is one member or part of the corolla Also a new way of architecture is being developed in constructing Nizhal Thangals in which the inverted Lotus petals (as in sahasrara) are used as a design over the roof. Nizhal Thangal ( Tamil:நிழல் தாங்கல்; also called Inai Thangals) is a simple temple ^[5]

The Sahasrara, symbolised in Ayyavazhi as 'Lotus carrying Namam'

The mythical narration of akilam about the eight yugas is often viewed philosophically as eight chakras. Sahasrara (Sanskrit सहस्रार Sahasrāra is the seventh primary Chakra according to Hindu tradition A Yuga ( Devanāgari: युग in Hindu philosophy is the name of an 'epoch' or 'era' within a cycle of four ages Chakra ( Pali: chakka Tibetan: khorlo Malay: cakera is a Sanskrit term meaning Circle or Wheel ^[6] The first Neetiya Yukam as Bindu and the final state of absolute bliss, Sahasrara is said to be the Dharma Yukam. Ayyavazhi mythology is the mythology of the growing South Indian religious faith and a sect of Hinduism known as Ayyavazhi. Bindu is a Sanskrit term meaning "point" or "dot" Sahasrara (Sanskrit सहस्रार Sahasrāra is the seventh primary Chakra according to Hindu tradition Dharma Yukam (Tamil is the state of absolute bliss as per Ayyavazhi mythology. In this series the energy of consciousness of oneself is to raised from Bindu (Neetiya Yukam) to the final Sahasrara (Dharma Yukam) to experience the absolute 'bliss'. ^[7] The reigning power in the final Dharma Yukam(Sahasrara) is Ekam or the supreme absolute,^[1] and thus the Ayyavazhi's symbol seems to be derived from Akilam. Dharma Yukam (Tamil is the state of absolute bliss as per Ayyavazhi mythology. Ekam Tamil: ஏகம் - "the supreme oneness" is the term used in Akilattirattu Ammanai, the holy book of Ayyavazhi, to represent The And the symbol of Ayyavazhi, 'Lotus with Namam' shows it; Vaikundar is being experienced in Sahasrara. Nelumbo is a Genus of aquatic plants with large showy Water lily -like flowers commonly known as Lotus or sacred lotus Thirunamam Thiru (word representing sacredness + Namam (name --> The Sacred name. Ayya Vaikundar (அய்யா வைகுண்டர் according to Akilattirattu Ammanai, a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was a Manu (father sovereign Sahasrara (Sanskrit सहस्रार Sahasrāra is the seventh primary Chakra according to Hindu tradition

As per Hindu legends this Sahasrara chakra has '1000 petals' . A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Sahasrara (Sanskrit सहस्रार Sahasrāra is the seventh primary Chakra according to Hindu tradition Chakra ( Pali: chakka Tibetan: khorlo Malay: cakera is a Sanskrit term meaning Circle or Wheel ^[8] But in Ayyavazhi symbolism it was considered as 1008. In Akilam or Arul Nool there are no verses to treat this term '1000' but quite commonly the number '1008' is mentioned. The Arul Nool is a supplement to the Akilattirattu Ammanai, and is likewise considered a Holy script of Ayyavazhi, an offshoot sect Also the year of incarnation of Vaikundar is 1008 M. Ayya Vaikundar (அய்யா வைகுண்டர் according to Akilattirattu Ammanai, a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was a Manu (father sovereign E. On backing these scriptural backgrounds, 1008 petal arrangement is followed in Ayyavazhi symbolism. ^[6]

Other phenomenological symbols

Akilam clearly points to the 'Flame shaped' single white Namam and its ideology clearly focuses on the importance of the '1008 petaled' Lotus. But there are traces that the Vaishnavite triple Namam is being used though rarely in Ayyavazhi. Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and The northern entrance of the Swamithope pathi carries such a form of Namam with the Holy Conch and the Chakra(of Vishnu) on its two sides. Swamithoppe Pathi ( Tamil:சுவாமிதோப்பு பதி Swamithoppu-pathi, Manavai-pathi, Thamarai-pathi or Thalaimaippathi A conch (pronounced in the USA as "konk" or "konch" ˈkɒŋk or /ˈkɒntʃ/ is one of a number of different Species Chakra ( Pali: chakka Tibetan: khorlo Malay: cakera is a Sanskrit term meaning Circle or Wheel Secondly, the Pala Ramachandran Version of Akilathirattu also carries similar Namam until the ninth impression, while it has been replaced by the Single white Namam from the tenth impression onwards. This is one of the phenomenological variations that is seen in the late 19th and the early 20th century Ayyavazhi. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Ayyavazhi (aiavəɻɪ( Tamil:அய்யாவழி Ayyavali - "Path of the father") is a dharmic belief system that originated This may be because Ayyavazhi has not been properly understood among the common mass and so the people only considered Vaikundar as the incarnation of Vishnu and used the Vaishnavite symbol to represent Ayyavazhi. Ayya Vaikundar (அய்யா வைகுண்டர் according to Akilattirattu Ammanai, a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was a Manu (father sovereign For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and But still on the other hand the single white Thirunamam is used as ritual practice among the worshippers. Thirunamam Thiru (word representing sacredness + Namam (name --> The Sacred name. It is evident that this symbol, ' Lotus and Namam ' has been used in Ayyavazhi from the mid-twentieth century.

There is also a practice of using 'Garuda' as the symbol of Ayyavazhi. GARUDA is India's Grid Computing initiative connecting 17 cities across the country Ayyavazhi (aiavəɻɪ( Tamil:அய்யாவழி Ayyavali - "Path of the father") is a dharmic belief system that originated The previous flag mast of Swamithope pathi which was replaced by the new one in the 1980s, mounts a brass image (idol) of Garuda at the top. Swamithoppe Pathi ( Tamil:சுவாமிதோப்பு பதி Swamithoppu-pathi, Manavai-pathi, Thamarai-pathi or Thalaimaippathi In Ambala Pathi still the flag mast carries an idol of Garuda. Ambala Pathi (அம்பல பதி also called as Pallathu pathi or Moolakunda pathi is one of the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi, and the second The practice of using Conch and Chakra (of Vishnu) also seems to be current. A conch (pronounced in the USA as "konk" or "konch" ˈkɒŋk or /ˈkɒntʃ/ is one of a number of different Species Chakra ( Pali: chakka Tibetan: khorlo Malay: cakera is a Sanskrit term meaning Circle or Wheel For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific As per Akilam the Chakra of Vishnu is bought as boon by Kaliyan and now it is with him. Kaliyan was the sixth fragment of the primordial manifestation of Kroni (evil according to Akilam, the source of Ayyavazhi mythology and the holy book So the basic logic of Akilam is against these practices.

Again, using idols and personifications is heavily countered by Akilam, but is still in practice among a minority section of the followers. Also there is a practice of using only the 'Thirunamam' without the 1008 Petaled Lotus. Thirunamam Thiru (word representing sacredness + Namam (name --> The Sacred name. Sahasrara (Sanskrit सहस्रार Sahasrāra is the seventh primary Chakra according to Hindu tradition This too is occasionally in practice.

Citations

References

• Akilattirattu Ammanai, (1989) published by T. Palaramachandran Nadar, 9th impression.
• Tha. Krishnanathan, (2000), Ayya Vaikundarin vazvum Sinthanaiyum, Thinai Publications.
• Pulavar. R. Shanmugam, (2000), Nadar Kulathil Narayanar Avatharam, Nadar Kulatheebam Publications.
• A. Ari Sundara Mani,(2002), Akilathirattu Ammanai Parayana Urai, Vaikundar Thirukkudumbam Publications.

See also

• Thirunamam
• List of Ayyavazhi-related articles
• Dharma Yukam