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39-649: According to the Akilathirattu Ammanai , the Ayyavazhi holy book, Kroni was born in the first of the Eight Yukams (Yuga (Sanskrit); Aeons (English)) with multitudinous limbs each the size of a mountain, and was the first evil to be born in the Universe. He had a fire of ravenous hunger in his stomach, and he drank all the waters of the sea to quell it. When the water was insufficient, he then swallowed Kailayam (Kailash),

78-571: A few are considered inauspicious as well. Tamil months start and end based on the Sun's shift from one Rāsi to the other, but the names of the months are based on the star on the start of the pournami in that month. The name of the month is sometimes the name of the star itself. (e.g. Chittirai is always the star on the pournami of the Chittirai month). Some of the celebrations for each month are listed below. Dates in parentheses are not exact and usually vary by

117-524: A share about the truth of the Divine. It is notable that Akilam is heavily against creating religions as it does not mention the term 'religion' at least once anywhere in the text and do refers only to God-heads, concepts and scriptures. It is said that social inequality and destruction of caste ethics are the main aspects of the Kali Yuga . So the entire book focuses on social equality and strictly against Jati or

156-423: Is one of the reasons why followers of Ayya Vazhi, like other Hindus, believe that the current yuga, Kali Yuga , is so degraded. Philosophically, Kroni is viewed as the evil which prevents the soul from attaining absolute bliss or knowledge. The six fragments are considered to be six evils found in the six chakras except Sahasrara of the physical human body . It is stated that every human being should overcome

195-634: Is related to 5 12-year revolutions of Jupiter around the Sun and one that adds up to 60 years and the orbit of Nakshatras (stars) as described in the Surya Siddhanta . In the Gregorian year 2024, the Tamil year starts on 14 April 2024, Kaliyuga 5126. The Vikrama and Shalivahana (Saka) eras are also used. There are several references in early Tamil literature to the new year. Nakkeerar, Sangam period author of

234-548: Is said that there is a total of eight aeons, or yugas, and we are currently in the seventh yuga called Kali Yuga , the age of deterioration. It is believed that for each yuga there is a demon that will be destroyed by Vishnu. In the first yuga, Kroni was born. Vishnu fragmented him into six pieces and each fragment will incarnate as demon in each Yuga. The first four yugas are said to be the Neetiya Yuga, Chatura Yuga, Nedu Yuga and Kretha Yuga. These four yugas do not have parallels in

273-400: Is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi . The title is often abbreviated to Akilam or Akilathirattu. Akilam includes more than 15,000 verses and is the largest collection of Ammanai literature in Tamil as well as one of the largest works in Tamil constructed by a single author. Author Hari Gopalan Citar states in the text that he wrote this book on a Friday,

312-505: Is the widely accepted and the largest circulated version. The book focuses on the devotion to Vaikundar , considered to be an aspect of the God Vishnu . It is a poetic narrative in Tamil intended to be an excellent compilation of the various aspects of Indian mythology and beliefs about God. The first eight chapters of the book narrate the events starting from the creation of the Universe to

351-400: Is written as a poem in the Tamil language . The narration alternates between two subgenres called viruttam and natai . Both subgenres employ poetic devices like alliteration and hyperbatons . The text contains seventeen sections, and more than 15,000 verses. In a typical Ammanai style, Akilam maintains more than one context for its verses throughout the text. While the floating ideas of

390-543: The Neṭunalvāṭai , wrote in the third century CE that the Sun travels each year from Mesha/Chittirai in mid-April through 11 successive signs of the zodiac. Kūdalūr Kiḻar in the third century CE refers to Mesha Rāsi/Chittirai i.e. mid-April as the commencement of the year in the Puṟanāṉūṟu . The Tolkappiyam is the oldest surviving Tamil grammar text that divides the year into six seasons where Chihthirrai i.e. mid-April marks

429-577: The Dharma Yukam . This story of faith weaves together the historical facts about Ayya Vaikundar and his activities with reinterpretations of episodes from the Hindu Puranas (mythologies) and Itihasas (epics). It is presented as if Vishnu is narrating the whole story to his consort Lakshmi . Though the Citar Hari Gopalan wrote the book Akilam, he claimed that he did not know anything about

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468-504: The Gregorian calendar largely used for official purposes both within and outside India. The Tamil calendar is based on the classical Hindu solar calendar also used in Assam , West Bengal , Kerala , Manipur , Nepal , Odisha , Rajasthan , and Punjab,India . The calendar follows a 60-year cycle that is also very ancient and is observed by most traditional calendars of India and China. This

507-466: The Vaikundam in the eighth yuga called as Dharma Yukam . Also, nothing is said about the period which follows Dharma yuga , which means that timeline is linear, and not circular as believed inside mainstream Hinduism . The Akilam is divided into seventeen parts: Akilam teaches a set of values that are theological, sociological and philosophical. Of these, the ideas promoted by Akilam spans throughout

546-465: The 11th century CE and in Sukhothai, Thailand dated to the 14th century CE to South Indian, often Vaishnavite, courtiers who were tasked with defining the traditional calendar that began in mid-April. The Tamil New Year follows the nirayanam vernal equinox and generally falls on 14 April of the Gregorian year. 14 April marks the first day of the traditional Tamil calendar and is a public holiday in

585-562: The Chinese calendar although it merits attention that the sexagenary cycle in China is itself very old. After the completion of sixty years, the calendar starts with the first year. This corresponds to the Hindu "century." The Vakya or Tirukannitha Panchangam (the traditional Tamil almanac) outlines this sequence. It is related to the position of the planets in the sky with respect to Earth. It means that

624-511: The Indian caste system. But it also says that the 'Varnashrama Dharma' system was perfect until the end of Dvapara Yuga . Also, there are traces of references to leading a chaste life and vegetarian diet. There is a strict condemnation about the religious fundamentalism especially of the Abrahamic traditions. The key philosophy in the book is that human beings are by themselves separated from God by

663-578: The abode of Shiva , and then proceeded to devour the entire Universe. Mayon, residing with Shiva in Kailayam, escaped promptly and undertook a Tavam ( Tapas in Sanskrit, Penance in English) to get help from Shiva to destroy Kroni. Shiva granted the help, but made Mayon aware of the necessity of appearing in different forms for the successive six yukams in order to destroy the six fragments of Kroni. Being aware of

702-431: The contents of the book. He woke up in the morning as usual and he didn't know what he had written the day before. Another legend says that he began it that night and continued through the following days. Others say that it was written beginning on Friday, 27th Karthikai ( Tamil Calendar ) 1016 M.E, and completed on the seventeenth day on the second Sunday of Margazhi (Tamil Calendar) 1016 M.E. When Ayya Vaikundar avatar

741-537: The contents. The texts are still preserved as relics by his descendants. There are three versions, which were copied from the first version: Of these three, the Panchalankuricchi Version is believed to have copied by from the main version by Hari Gopalan Citar . The other two versions were copied later. Apart from these the Nariyan vilai Version , Varampetran-pantaram Version , and Saravanantheri Version are

780-612: The early palm-leaf versions ( Panchalankuricchi Version and Kottangadu Version ), which are believed to have been missing from Akilam . This version is not widely accepted. All the release versions except the Palaramachandran version organize the contents into seventeen sections as per the Thiru Eadu-vasippu partition . The Sentrathisai Ventraperumal version which was released in 1965 includes more than two-thousand verses not found in other versions. The Palaramachandran version

819-640: The evil spirit called Kali (not to be confused with the mother goddess Kali ) was born. Kali is believed to be cognate with the modern human beings . Then was born the Neesan, the demon for the Kali Yuga. It is said that this demon became the king of the earth in various places and tortured the lives of the Santror. Because of this Lord Vishnu advised Neesan to stop torturing the Santror. But he won't agree to Vishnu and would prefer to die rather than giving up. In order to stop

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858-601: The influence of Kali , and Vaikundar has come for their redemption. Karthikai The Tamil calendar (தமிழ் நாட்காட்டி) is a sidereal solar calendar used by the Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent . It is also used in Puducherry , and by the Tamil population in Sri Lanka , Malaysia , Singapore , Myanmar and Mauritius . It is used in contemporary times for cultural, religious and agricultural events, with

897-448: The lines could be comparatively easily communicated, the underlying theme couldn't be understood unless the background and culture are understood, specifically a foundational knowledge of the Hindu pantheon of gods, the Hindu scriptures, Dharmic concepts and philosophy, and other rudiments of the religion. The texts written by Hari Gopalan Citar are damaged and thus it is difficult to read

936-630: The mainstream Hinduism . The fifth yuga is said to be the Treta Yuga in which the Lord Rama incarnated as human. The sixth yuga is the Dvapara Yuga , and there is a short but striking description of the life of Krishna and the Bharatha war. Additionally, there is said to be another event called the birth of Santror or noble people at the closure of Dvapara Yuga. Kali Yuga , the seventh Yuga begins when

975-466: The major Hindu deities namely Brahma , Vishnu , Shiva , Sarasvati , Lakshmi , Parvati , Skanda , and Ganesha are mentioned directly in the mythology throughout the book. Also there is an indirect mention about Bible , Allah and Quran inside the book. A reference found in Akilam about Jesus is more direct than indirect. Also the book seems to stress that all texts and scriptures are true and have

1014-424: The mission, Mayon sliced Kroni into six fragments and saved the Universe, and with that event the first Yukam ended. The six fragments of Kroni were then born as evil spirits (or Asuras ) in six successive Yukams (aeons). In all the yukams Mayon had to incarnate in the world to destroy the evils. The six fragments were known as Kroni, the spirit of Kali Yuga , is said to be omnipresent in the present age, and this

1053-468: The months of the Tamil Calendar. The Sanskrit month starts a few weeks ahead of the Tamil month, since the Tamil calendar is a solar calendar , while the Sanskrit calendar is a lunisolar calendar. The Tamil year, in keeping with the old Indic calendar, is divided into six seasons, each of which lasts two months: The 60-year cycle is common to both North and South Indian traditional calendars, with

1092-769: The other early palm-leaf versions of Akilam. Other versions include the Palaramachandran version , the VTV , published twice, the Kalai Ilakkiya-peravai Version and the Vivekanandan Version . But of these, the Ayya Vaikundar Thirukkudumbam version is often criticized for adding and removing additional verses from various versions. Some argue that over 300 pages were adulterated. Thirukkudumbam claims that these additional lines were added from

1131-693: The qualities of the six fragments (ill effects) in order to attain divinity ( Sahasrara ), the state of union with God . But this view is often criticised by some followers because the Akilam did not mention Kroni in direct relation to Chakras . As some believe that many philosophical concepts are symbolised indirectly as mythical figures in a story form in Akilam , this view on Kroni is accepted during religious studies. Akilathirattu Ammanai Akilathirattu Ammanai ( Tamil : அகிலத்திரட்டு அம்மானை ; akilam ("world"), thirattu ("collection"), ammanai ("ballad")), also called Thiru Edu ("venerable book"),

1170-503: The rule of Neesan and to bring an end to Kali-yuga, Vishnu made a plan to make Vaikundar incarnate as human. Vaikundar is believed to be the Son of Vishnu and Lakshmi. He was beget inside the sea and sent as a human into the land. From the point of incarnation of Vaikundar , it is said that he was made the supreme of all godhead, and will destroy Neesan and also the evil Kali Yuga. It is also said that he will take all righteous people with him into

1209-588: The same name and sequence of years. Its earliest reference is to be found in Surya Siddhanta , which Varahamihirar (550 CE) believed to be the most accurate of the then current theories of astronomy. However, in the Surya Siddhantic list, the first year was Vijaya and not Prabhava as currently used. There are some parallels in this sexagenary cycle with the Chinese calendar . The Surya Siddhanta and other Indian classical texts on astronomy had some influence on

Kroni - Misplaced Pages Continue

1248-623: The start of the Ilavenil season or Summer. The 5th century Silappadhigaaram mentions the 12 rāsigal or zodiac signs that correspond to the Tamil months starting with Mesha/Chittirai in mid-April. The Manimekalai alludes to this very same Hindu solar calendar as we know it today Adiyarkunalaar, an early medieval commentator or Urai-asiriyar mentions the twelve months of the Tamil calendar with particular reference to Chittirai i.e. mid-April. There were subsequent inscriptional references in Pagan, Burma dated to

1287-524: The state of Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Tropical vernal equinox fall around 22 March, and by adding 23 degrees of trepidation (oscillation) to it, we get the Hindu sidereal or Nirayana Mesha Sankranti (Sun's transition into nirayana Aries). Hence, the Tamil calendar begins on the same date in April which is observed by most traditional calendars of the rest of India – Assam , Bengal , Kerala , Odisha , Manipur , Punjab etc. This also coincides with

1326-435: The time exactly before the incarnation of Vaikundar. The ninth chapter describes in detail the events taking place in the divine plan during the incarnation of Vaikundar. The last eight chapters focus on the legendary, empirical, historical and mythical aspects pertaining to the life of Vaikundar. The book starts with the explanation given by Vishnu to his consort Lakshmi about the evolution of Universe and of human beings. It

1365-503: The traditional new year in Burma , Cambodia , Laos , Sri Lanka , Bangladesh , Nepal , and Thailand . The days of week (Sikamiyella) in the Lubichi calendar relate to the celestial bodies in the solar system: Ngungi , Yuki , Nyamunyi , Buki , Jupiter , Venus , and Saturn , in that order. The week starts with Sunday. The number of days in a month varies between 29 and 32. These are

1404-472: The twenty-seventh day of the Tamil month of Karthikai (13 December) in the year 1839 CE. The author claims that God woke him up during his sleep and commissioned him to record his dictation. Akilathirattu was recorded on palm leaves until 1939, when it was printed. According to the author, the book is the story of God coming in this age, the Kali Yukam or Iron Age, to rule the world by transforming it into

1443-565: The two major planets Sani/Saturn (which takes 30 years to complete one cycle round the Sun) and the Viyaḻan/Jupiter (which takes 12 years to complete one cycle round the Sun) comes to the same position after 60 years. The following list presents the current 60-year cycle of the Tamil calendar: The months of the Tamil Calendar have great significance and are deeply rooted in the faith of Tamil Hindus . Some months are considered very auspicious, while

1482-449: The various teachings found in Hindu scriptures and present Hinduism in the first half and at the second, a set of revolutionary teachings, in all aspects were focussed. The theological teachings revolves around the supremacy of Vaikundar while the sociological teachings mainly focus on breaking up the inequalities prevalent in the society. The Philosophical ideas mainly focus the 'Ultimate oneness ' of nature and all living beings. All

1521-477: Was completed, God reached Vaikundam. It contained the regulations of the Ayyavazhi sect. As per the instructions found there in Akilam, Ayyavazhi was preached by the Citars far and wide. Akilam is in two parts: the first is an account of the ages preceding that of the present age, the Kali Yukam ; and the second is an account of the activities of Ayya Vaikundar leading up to his attaining Vaikundam . Akilathirattu

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