Tamil : The way of life

We’ve made it Sangam age is considered by the Tamil People as the golden era of Tamil language. The greatness of the Sangam age poetry may be ascribed not so much to its antiquity, but due to the fact that their ancestors were indulging in literary pursuits and logical classification of the habitats and society in a systematic manner with little to draw from precedents domestically or elsewhere.

Tirumular (One of 18 Siddhars )authored the Tirumantiram, which is a well known Tamil text. The Tirumantiram is still chanted in Tamil Nadu. It covers a wide variety of topics and illuminates much of the esoteric mystical insight of this Sampradaya. It illustrates the life style and moral conduct advocated by this tradition. It provides much insight into the mystical meditations and tantras (techniques) valued by the Tamil People. It places great emphasis on repetition of the panchakshara (or five lettered) mantra: Om Namah Shivaya.

Tamil People followed 18 siddhars in the Tamil tradition:

Typically Siddhars were saints, doctors, alchemists and mystics all in one. They wrote their findings in the form of poems in the Tamil language, on palm leaves which are collected and stored in what are known as the "Palm leaf manuscripts". These are still owned by some families in Tamil Nadu and handed down through the generations, as well as being kept in public institutions such as universities in India, Germany, Great Britain and the United States.

There are 18 siddhars in the Tamil tradition. They are:

1. Nandeeswarar (Nandidevar or Nandi (bull))

2. Tirumular

3. Agathiyar

4. Kalangi Nathar

5. Pathanjali

6. Korakkar

7. Pulipaani

8. Konganar

9. Sattamuni

10. Theraiyar

11. Ramadevar

12. Siva vaakiyar

13. Edaikkadar

14. Machamuni

15. KaruvoorarThevar

16. Bogar

17. Pambatti (Pambatti Siddhar)

18. Kuthambai

The four steps of spiritual progress:

The poems have a unique metrical structure, each line consisting of 11 or 12 syllables depending on the initial syllable. Tirumular discusses the four steps of spiritual progress; Charya, Kriya, Yoga and Gnana, the Shaiva Siddhanta concept of Pati, Pasu and Pasa where Pati stands for Lord shiva, Pasu stands for the human kind and Pasa stands for Maya (the desire), sadhana, Vedanta, the Upanishadic Tat tvam asi and other Vedantic concepts, the transcendental reality as emptiness (Sunya) devoid of any attribute and Tantrasastra (Shakti worship), chakras, magic spells and their accessories.

The Tirumantiram describes means of attaining an immortal body (kaya siddhi), advocating a theory of preserving the body so that the soul would continue its existence (Udambai valarthen uyir valarthenae).

Tirumular as a moral philosopher teaches the ethics of non-violence (ahimsa), abstinence from slaughtering, meat and alcohol. He condemns coveting another man's wife. He declares that "love is God", proclaims the unity of mankind and God and stresses the acquisition of knowledge.

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