The making of Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta

Journal/Book: Contrib Indian Sociol. 1999; 33: Post Box 4125 M-32 Market, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi 110 048, India. Sage Publications Pvt Ltd. 571-579.

Abstract: From the late 19th century Tamil nationalists as represented by the Self-Respect Movement, promoted Shaiva Siddhanta as the 'original' Tamil religion in an imagined ancient past, where social equality and harmony reigned before Brahmans forced the caste system and other social ills on the Tamils, Claims that Shaiva Siddhanta is specifically Tamil and non-Brahman in origin or essence continue to inform debates concerning Dravidian identity, the rights of Brahman temple priests, and the language of Hindu worship. These arguments have also prompted scholarly inquiry into the history of Tamil Shaivism. Research shows that Shaiva Siddhanta first developed in central India among male Brahman spiritual lineages; a distinct regional variation developed later in the south, with non-Brahman Velala leaders and authoritative writings in Tamil. However; traditional narrartives of the lives of early non-Brahman gurus highlight the difficulty of transferring authority from Brahmans to Velalas, who are classified as Shudras. This inquiry into Shaiva Siddhanta's origins both emphasises a long history of ambivalence and accommodation between two powerful but ritually unequal groups and challenges continuing efforts to remake this tradition in the service of Tamil identity politics.

Note: Article Ishimatsu G, Univ Denver, Dept Religious Studies, 2150 S Race, Denver,CO 80208 USA

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