| ID | 135726 |
| Title Proper | Saivism in Tamilnadu |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Nagaswamy, Ramchandra |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Siva, the lord the south
There is a popular prayer in Tamilnadu saying “Hail ye Siva the lord of Southern Country, the god who pervades all the Countries – “Ten Nadudaya Sivane Porri, Ennattavarkum iraiva porri.” South India is the land of Shiva not in any sectarian sense of the word, but as “the most auspicious of all.” Shiva also stands for “auspicious” from the time of the Vedas and is an all inclusive faith. It is also for the reason that the Lord seated beneath the banyan tree (ala-vrksha) is the Universal teacher as Dakshinâmurthi is the most favoured form in TN, which represents the “God of the south” or the south facing god. One of the ancient legend mentioned in a two thousand years of Tamil poetry mentions that the sage Agastya came to the south at the command of lord Siva and brought with him 18 families of Royal chiefs, settled them in Tamil Nadu, taught the Pandya king of Madurai Tamil and Sanskrit, and also
music and dance. Ever since, he is identified as an incarnation of lord Shiva. That led to the translation of the Mahabharata into Tamil and the Shaivism found in the Mahabharata is the one that is found established in Tamil land. |
| `In' analytical Note | Dialogue Vol.16, No.2; Oct-Dec.2014: p.165-180 |
| Journal Source | Dialogue 2014-12 16, 2 |
| Standard Number | History – India |