Context (IE): Recently, the TN Governor referred to Ayya Vaikundar as a ‘Sanatan Dharma saviour’, which sparked controversy because Ayyavazhi is distinct from mainstream Hinduism.
AyyaVaikundar was born in 1809 CE in a poor Nadar family in the village of Poovandan Thoppu, near the town of Tamaraikkulam, about five miles from Kanyakumari.
He was thefounder of the Ayyavazhi sect, primarily in southern Tamil Nadu.
While it shares some concepts with Hinduism, it significantly differs in its views on good and evil and dharma.
He was the first person to lead religious and social reform as a people’s movement.
Teachings
His teachings focused on equality, fraternity, and the eradication of caste-based discrimination, challenging the established religious and social hierarchies of the time.
He did not engage in any religious conversion. He spearheaded the reform without distorting the culture and culture of the communities.
He organised Samapanthi-bhojanaor community eateries for people from all backgrounds.
He also encouraged all devotees to wear turbans and dhotis, promoting equality.
He established NizhalThangals as community worship spaces, which did not have any idol or deity, and only Tamil was used for worship.
He pioneered education for the lower castes and opposeddiscriminatory taxes.
He introducedsimplified, inclusive marriage customs without a Brahmin priest or Sanskrit mantras.
Legacy
Ayya Vaikundar’s legacy endures through his followers, known as “Ayyavazhi believers”.
His teachings continue to inspire social reformers, reminding us that true spirituality transcends boundaries and embraces humanity as a whole.