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234-619: The Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam ( Tamil : திருவிளையாடல் புராணம் ; transl. Legend of the Sacred Game ) is a collection of sixty-four 7th-century Shaivite devotional epic stories by the sage Paranjothi . They describe the actions of Shiva on earth in a number of disguises to test and help his devotees. There are sixty-four stories in the Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam . It is divided into three cantos, namely Maduraikandam, Koodarkandam and Thirualavaikandam. Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam
468-468: A lexical root to which one or more affixes are attached. Most Tamil affixes are suffixes . Tamil suffixes can be derivational suffixes, which either change the part of speech of the word or its meaning, or inflectional suffixes, which mark categories such as person , number , mood , tense , etc. There is no absolute limit on the length and extent of agglutination , which can lead to long words with many suffixes, which would require several words or
702-480: A , as with other Indic scripts . This inherent vowel is removed by adding a tittle called a puḷḷi , to the consonantal sign. For example, ன is ṉa (with the inherent a ) and ன் is ṉ (without a vowel). Many Indic scripts have a similar sign, generically called virama , but the Tamil script is somewhat different in that it nearly always uses a visible puḷḷi to indicate a 'dead consonant' (a consonant without
936-740: A 2001 survey, there were 1,863 newspapers published in Tamil, of which 353 were dailies. Tamil is the primary language of the majority of the people residing in Tamil Nadu , Puducherry , (in India) and in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka . The language is spoken among small minority groups in other states of India which include Karnataka , Telangana , Andhra Pradesh , Kerala , Maharashtra , Gujarat , Delhi , Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India and in certain regions of Sri Lanka such as Colombo and
1170-476: A Brahmin arrived with his wife from Tiruvatur, left her and sat under a tree, in order to go and fetch water. While he was away, an arrow which had long hung suspended in the tree, in consequence of the latter being shaken by the wind, descended and penetrated the body of the woman, who instantly died. At the same time a hunter came to repose, near at hand, under the shade of another tree. The Brahmin on returning, astonished to find her dead, looked round and discovered
1404-410: A Brahmin). The father ( Tvashtr ) of the deceased asura took revenge by making a yajna, from which Vritra sprang out and was ordered to kill Indra immediately. Indra came face-to-face with the asura, but finding that he could not kill him, hid himself in a lotus flower. He then went to Brahma and enquired why he could not kill the asura, whereby he was told that his weapon was not strong enough to kill
1638-613: A Chola king, who ruled in Kanchi-puri ( Kanchipuram ) and was of the Chamana faith, being resentful and treacherous and envious at the prosperity of the Pandyan kingdom, assembled together eight thousand of the sect of the Chamunals from Anjanam and other lofty mountains; and commanded them to make a sacrifice with a view to effect the destruction of the Pandyan king. Accordingly, they made a sacrifice,
1872-449: A barren fruitful and healed the hump-backed, the deaf, the dumb, the blind and the lame. He turned four metals into gold, made the rich become poor; and made enemies to be friends. He caused the yetti (poisonous shrub) to produce mangoes, and brought a flood in the river Vaigai . He turned fresh water into salt water, and made salt water fresh. He threw a pilgrim's staff into the air, threaded a cotton through it, and then, resting his head on
2106-677: A conditionally sufficient mark or sign. This Vaisheshika theory is adopted in the early Sanskrit medical literature. Like the Upanishads, where linga means "mark, sign, characteristic", the texts of the Nyaya school of Hindu philosophy use linga in the same sense. In the Samkhya sutras , and in Gaudapada 's commentary on Samkhyakarika , the term linga has many contextual meanings such as in verses 1.124.136, 3.9.16 and 5.21.61, as it develops its theory of
2340-408: A covering above the town and beneath Varuna's clouds, prevented any more rain from falling. Varuna, now discerning the intervention of the god, went and bathed in the golden lotus tank, when his inward pain immediately ceased; on which he besought pardon to Shiva for his aforesaid misdemeanours and thanking Him for the removal of his pain, he returned to his abode. From that time forward Madurai acquired
2574-414: A curse. Indra thus lost all his prosperity and the sympathy of his guru. Having no longer his former preceptor, Indra took a three-headed asura (similar to Trisiras ) for his preceptor, but inducing him to make a sacrifice ( yajna ), he learned bitterly that the new guru purposed to destroy the gods and favour his clan. Therefore, Indra killed him whereby he incurred the sin of brahmahatya (crime of killing
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#17328522688292808-411: A dwarf, named Kundotharan, he directed food to be given; saying, that when he should be satisfied, others would follow. He then put within him Vadamugagni (a great fire said to govern the sea). A large pit was dug to receive the various eatables. The dwarf was emaciated with hunger and fasting; and consumed mountains of prepared food so rapidly, that the eye could not follow him. All being gone, he consumed
3042-511: A family of around 26 languages native to the Indian subcontinent . It is also classified as being part of a Tamil language family that, alongside Tamil proper, includes the languages of about 35 ethno-linguistic groups such as the Irula and Yerukula languages (see SIL Ethnologue ). The closest major relative of Tamil is Malayalam ; the two began diverging around the 9th century CE. Although many of
3276-420: A figure of Lakulisha , the ascetic manifestation of Shiva , carved on the front, holding an antelope and axe in his hands. He stands on top of a Apasmara (demon) dwarf , who symbolizes spiritual ignorance, greed, sensual desires or Kama and nonsensical speech on the spiritual path, hence must be subdued in spiritual pursuits. In this earliest representation, the phallic representation illustrates
3510-401: A fortunate conjunction of all the planets. A female dancer in the presence of the god named Punanial, who was devoted to Shiva, and had other distinguished qualifications, was very anxious that an image of the god should be made of gold and thought much how to accomplish this wish. She meditated on Shiva, who before had given an exhaustless purse to the Pandyan. One day Shiva appeared to her under
3744-434: A gift, he jeered the king of demi-gods, as a conquered person offering gifts to the conqueror, and himself offered a gift to Indra; who then besought him to burn himself, in the shape of a cow, in a sacrifice that Indra was performing. He did so, when, according to a former promise of Shiva, different parts of the cow's body became inestimable jewels of different kinds and colours. The properties of these jewels were explained by
3978-480: A good house, (astrological term). On hearing the news, all kings and people came and made congratulations on the event, gave presents to the town, and according to the Vedas, cast the child's nativity (horoscope), giving the child the name of Ukrama-Pandyan, and the child was afterwards instructed in all suitable accomplishments by Vihala-bhagavan (Brihaspati) the preceptor of the gods. When the son came to years of discretion,
4212-418: A great perfume. The god Indra was also desirous of performing homage; but was prevented by the Pandyan's previous service. On returning Indra was met by Varuna; he enquired the reason of his looking sorrowful: and on being informed of the vexatious disappointment, the god of the sea again asked, "Is then this lingam so great a god?" To which question Indra replied, "That as it had removed his former sin, and taken
4446-413: A great sacrifice, out of the fire which an asura, in the form of a striated serpent was sent to devour and destroy the inhabitants of Madurai. On its approach the king besought Shiva, who gave him permission to kill it. As it came to the western gate of the city, the Pandyan dispatched several arrows, which the serpent broke to pieces. However, at length one arrow, shaped in the form of a crescent, penetrated
4680-495: A hunter and advanced with the Vel (a kind of spear) in his hand. He came to Cheran and said, " You are styled commander of a thousand horse, now I am commander of an immense multitude of cavalry. Find me out some equal for combat." On this challenge being given Cheran fled, but Shiva having disappeared, he turned, and losing fear, again advanced on Madurai. The Pandyan in turn became afraid and fled, but as there were numerous tanks filled with
4914-474: A key role in the diagnosis of a sickness, the disease. The author of classical Sanskrit grammar treatise, Panini, states that the verbal root ling which means "paint, variegate", has the sense "that which paints, variegates, characterizes". Panini as well as Patanjali additionally mention lingam with the contextual meaning of the "gender". In the Vaisheshika Sutras , it means "proof or evidence", as
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#17328522688295148-560: A learned man from Karikal, the Soren king, and said, "Our king knows the sixty-four Sastras , but you do not know the Baratha-Sastram (art of dancing)." The Pandyan replied, "Having learned the other sixty-three, I consider it indecorous to learn the last text, seeing that Shiva himself condescended to dance in the silver temple." Disliking the reproach, he set about learning the art. However, he found it difficult to learn it, and one day, went to
5382-506: A linga. Another Indus stamp seal often called the Pashupati seal , states Doniger, has an image with a general resemblance with Shiva and "the Indus people may well have created the symbolism of the divine phallus", but given the available evidence we cannot be certain, nor do we know that it had the same meaning as some currently project them to might have meant. The word lingam is not found in
5616-560: A lingam, is still in worship in the Parashurameshwara temple, Gudimallam , in a hilly forest about 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh . It has been dated to the 3rd-century BCE, or to the 2nd century BCE, and is mostly accepted to be from the 3rd- to 1st-century BCE, though some later dates have been proposed. The stone lingam is clearly a representation of an anatomically accurate phallus , with
5850-465: A male sexual organ. Since the 19th century, states Dasgupta, the popular literature has represented the lingam as the male sex organ. This view contrasts with the traditional abstract values they represent in Shaivism wherein the lingam-yoni connote the masculine and feminine principles in the entirety of creation and all existence. The colonial era Orientalists and Christian missionaries , raised in
6084-484: A milk bath. Priests chant hymns, while the devotees go to the sanctum for a darshana followed by a clockwise circumambulation of the sanctum. On the sanctum walls, typically are reliefs of Dakshinamurti, Brahma and Vishnu. Often, near the sanctum are other shrines, particularly for Shakti (Durga), Ganesha and Murugan (Kartikeya). In the Hindu tradition, special pilgrimage sites include those where natural lingams are found in
6318-504: A mine; and the cleft was closed with his own royal seal. He brought the load of precious metals on elephants to Madurai. And as he there gave largely to the Brahmins, the Shaivas, the temples etc., rain came down as formerly, and the country was again fertile. He flourished forty thousand years of the gods; after which, crowning Vira-Pandyan, and delivering to him the kingdom, Ukrama Pandyan resumed
6552-484: A modern Shivlinga [a tubular stone]." According to Srinivasan, in the Harappan sites , objects that resemble "lingam" have been found. That includes "a seated trident-headed ithyphallic figure", which was found on Indus seals, "has been compared to Shiva as meditating ascetic ", states Srinivasan. According to Encyclopædia Britannica, while Harappan discoveries include "short cylindrical pillars with rounded tops", there
6786-591: A number of apparent Tamil loanwords in Biblical Hebrew dating to before 500 BCE, the oldest attestation of the language. Old Tamil is the period of the Tamil language spanning the 3rd century BCE to the 8th century CE. The earliest records in Old Tamil are short inscriptions from 300 BCE to 700 CE. These inscriptions are written in a variant of the Brahmi script called Tamil-Brahmi . The earliest long text in Old Tamil
7020-650: A number of skeletons were found buried in earthenware urns dating from at least 696 BCE in Adichanallur . Some of these urns contained writing in Tamil Brahmi script, and some contained skeletons of Tamil origin. Between 2017 and 2018, 5,820 artifacts have been found in Keezhadi . These were sent to Beta Analytic in Miami , Florida , for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) dating. One sample containing Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions
7254-512: A number of sound changes, in particular, a tendency to lower high vowels in initial and medial positions, and the disappearance of vowels between plosives and between a plosive and rhotic. Contact with European languages affected written and spoken Tamil. Changes in written Tamil include the use of European-style punctuation and the use of consonant clusters that were not permitted in Middle Tamil. The syntax of written Tamil has also changed, with
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7488-415: A part of the literature corpus regards lingam to be the phallus of Shiva, while another group of texts does not. Sexuality in the former is inherently sacred and spiritual, while the latter emphasizes the ascetic nature of Shiva and renunciation to be spiritual symbolism of lingam . This tension between the pursuit of spirituality through householder lifestyle and the pursuit of renunciate sannyasi lifestyle
7722-577: A present, bid him to bury his wife. The king prayed to Shiva that his doubt might be cleared. At night the god appeared to the king and said, "Go along with the Brahmin to a chetty's house, where there is a wedding and doubt will be explained." The king, in disguise, accompanied the Brahmin to the place indicated, and while in the chetty's house, by Shiva's favour, they overheard the conversation of two of Yama's servants ( Yamadutas ). One said, "Our master has ordered us to kill this bridegroom, for whose death there
7956-412: A search to be made around, where a lingam (the emblem of Shiva ) was found under a lili tree, to which he made puja (worship) to it. The forest's plants had no flowers with which to make garlands; but on search for them Indra saw a tank with lotus flowers of which he made garlands. By the use of its flowers, the tank obtained the name Pottamarai (the golden lotus). Durvasa -rishi was once worshipping
8190-475: A second, I am formless". It is only the outward symbol of formless being, Shiva, who is eternal , ever-pure, immortal essence of this vast universe, who is your innermost Self or Atman , and who is identical with the Supreme Brahman , states Sivananda Saraswati. To some Shaivites the lingam symbolizes the axis of the universe . According to Shaiva Siddhanta , the linga is the ideal substrate in which
8424-490: A sentence in English. To give an example, the word pōkamuṭiyātavarkaḷukkāka (போகமுடியாதவர்களுக்காக) means "for the sake of those who cannot go" and consists of the following morphemes : போக pōka go முடி muṭi accomplish Lingam Saiddhantika Non - Saiddhantika A lingam ( Sanskrit : लिङ्ग IAST : liṅga , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga ,
8658-620: A small number speak the language. In Reunion where the Tamil language was forbidden to be learnt and used in public space by France it is now being relearnt by students and adults. Tamil is also spoken by migrants from Sri Lanka and India in Canada , the United States , the United Arab Emirates , the United Kingdom , South Africa , and Australia . Tamil is the official language of
8892-595: A subject of study in schools in the French overseas department of Réunion . In addition, with the creation in October 2004 of a legal status for classical languages by the Government of India and following a political campaign supported by several Tamil associations, Tamil became the first legally recognised Classical language of India. The recognition was announced by the contemporaneous President of India , Abdul Kalam , who
9126-410: A tank bearing his own name, also received a like gift. The elephant mountain remains to this time, and Narasimma-swami resides there. The Pandyan, praising the hunter god, and receiving from him many gifts returned to Madurai, had a son born to him, named Rajasekara Pandyan. While Vicrama-Pandyan ruled, there was a Brahmin couple named Virupatchi and Subavrithai, who were childless. After they worshipped
9360-491: A thousand years." On this they fell down before him and besought his mercy. He replied, " After a thousand years I will come to Madurai and restore you to proper shape." Accordingly, they suffered the punishment denounced, and after a thousand years past, the god came in the shape of a religious devotee restored the petrifactions to the human form. Shiva then taught them the eight great meditations, or prayers, after which they prospered. A Chera king, who in consequence of clearing
9594-458: A variety of dialects that are all collectively known as Brahmin Tamil . These dialects tend to have softer consonants (with consonant deletion also common). These dialects also tend to have many Sanskrit loanwords. Tamil in Sri Lanka incorporates loan words from Portuguese , Dutch , and English. In addition to its dialects, Tamil exhibits different forms: a classical literary style modelled on
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9828-409: A very large army, with which she went and conquered all the neighbouring kings. She next conquered Indra, and then proceeded to attack Kailasha (the abode of Shiva) in front of which she was met by Narada , (the messenger of the god.) whom she forced to retreat. He left and reported the same to Shiva. The god who arose and went forth. As soon as he appeared, the before mentioned sign occurred, at which
10062-497: A view of Maha-meru, which is the support of the earth, having one thousand and eight peaks, which is also the pillar of the gods, and which besides was once a bow in the hands of Sihva. As it is a sacred land, he halted his retinue at a distance, made by himself a circuit of the mountain, and standing on the South, addressed its king, saying "O Meru! surrounded by all planets, constellations, and demi-gods-O mountain king! attend!" Then, taking
10296-438: A vowel). In other Indic scripts, it is generally preferred to use a ligature or a half form to write a syllable or a cluster containing a dead consonant, although writing it with a visible virama is also possible. The Tamil script does not differentiate voiced and unvoiced plosives . Instead, plosives are articulated with voice depending on their position in a word, in accordance with the rules of Tamil phonology . In addition to
10530-622: Is a Dravidian language natively spoken by the Tamil people of South Asia . It is one of the two longest-surviving classical languages in India , along with Sanskrit , attested since c. 300 BCE. The language belongs to the southern branch of the Dravidian language family and shares close ties with Malayalam and Kannada . Despite external influences, Tamil has retained a sense of linguistic purism, especially in formal and literary contexts. Tamil
10764-580: Is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism . The word lingam is found in the Upanishads and epic literature , where it means a "mark, sign, emblem, characteristic," the "evidence, proof, symptom" of God and God's power. The lingam of the Shaivism tradition is a short cylindrical pillar-like symbol of Shiva, made of stone, metal, gem, wood, clay or precious stones. It
10998-457: Is based on the dialect of Jaffna . After Tamil Brahmi fell out of use, Tamil was written using a script called vaṭṭeḻuttu amongst others such as Grantha and Pallava . The current Tamil script consists of 12 vowels , 18 consonants and one special character, the āytam . The vowels and consonants combine to form 216 compound characters, giving a total of 247 characters (12 + 18 + 1 + (12 × 18)). All consonants have an inherent vowel
11232-401: Is deemed unlikely by Southworth due to the contemporary use of the compound 'centamiḻ', which means refined speech in the earliest literature. The Tamil Lexicon of University of Madras defines the word "Tamil" as "sweetness". S. V. Subramanian suggests the meaning "sweet sound", from tam – "sweet" and il – "sound". Tamil belongs to the southern branch of the Dravidian languages ,
11466-563: Is extensively described in the oldest known grammar book for Tamil, the Tolkāppiyam . Modern Tamil writing is largely based on the 13th-century grammar Naṉṉūl which restated and clarified the rules of the Tolkāppiyam , with some modifications. Traditional Tamil grammar consists of five parts, namely eḻuttu , col , poruḷ , yāppu , aṇi . Of these, the last two are mostly applied in poetry. Tamil words consist of
11700-573: Is found in Sanskrit texts , such as Shvetashvatara Upanishad , Samkhya , Vaisheshika and others texts with the meaning of "evidence" of God and God's existence, or existence of formless Brahman . The original meaning of lingam as "sign" is used in Shvetashvatara Upanishad , which says "Shiva, the Supreme Lord, has no liūga", liuga ( Sanskrit : लिऊग IAST : liūga ) meaning he
11934-501: Is found in Tholkappiyam , which is dated as early as late 2nd century BCE. The Hathigumpha inscription , inscribed around a similar time period (150 BCE), by Kharavela , the Jain king of Kalinga , also refers to a Tamira Samghatta ( Tamil confederacy ) The Samavayanga Sutra dated to the 3rd century BCE contains a reference to a Tamil script named 'Damili'. Southworth suggests that
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#173285226882912168-405: Is generally taken to have been completed by the 8th century, was characterised by a number of phonological and grammatical changes. In phonological terms, the most important shifts were the virtual disappearance of the aytam (ஃ), an old phoneme, the coalescence of the alveolar and dental nasals, and the transformation of the alveolar plosive into a rhotic . In grammar, the most important change
12402-409: Is generally used in formal writing and speech. For instance, it is the language of textbooks, of much of Tamil literature and of public speaking and debate. In recent times, however, koṭuntamiḻ has been making inroads into areas that have traditionally been considered the province of centamiḻ . Most contemporary cinema, theatre and popular entertainment on television and radio, for example,
12636-531: Is historic, reflects the different interpretations of the lingam and what lingam worship means to its devotees. It remains a continuing debate within Hinduism to this day, states Doniger. To one group, it is a part of Shiva's body and symbolically saguna Shiva (he in a physical form with attributes). To the other group, it is an abstract symbol of nirguna Shiva (he in the universal Absolute Reality, formless, without attributes). In Tamil Shaiva tradition, for example,
12870-410: Is in koṭuntamiḻ , and many politicians use it to bring themselves closer to their audience. The increasing use of koṭuntamiḻ in modern times has led to the emergence of unofficial 'standard' spoken dialects. In India, the 'standard' koṭuntamiḻ , rather than on any one dialect, but has been significantly influenced by the dialects of Thanjavur and Madurai . In Sri Lanka, the standard
13104-470: Is inhabited by yalis , lions etc., he arrived at Kumeri , which extends one thousand leagues (of ten miles each); passing by which, and also Barathi, eight times larger still, he arrived at the birthplace of Parvati, (or mountain-born), named Mount Imaut. Next crossing Kimpurada province as also Arri-varadum and the Nisithi mountains, and arriving at Ilavu-vritha country, surrounded by the river Jemba, he obtained
13338-399: Is no apparent instrumental means." The other said, " Tush, don't you know how by the fall of the arrow from the tree we took the life of the Brahmin woman, and carried it to our master. So now, while the marriage procession returns, I will loose the bullocks from their ropes, and then you, seated on the horns finish the business." The king asked the Brahmin what he thought of this, who said, "If
13572-569: Is no evidence that the people of Indus Valley Civilization worshipped these artifacts as lingams. Scholars such as Arthur Llewellyn Basham dispute whether such artifacts discovered at the archaeological sites of Indus Valley sites are yoni. According to the Indologist Asko Parpola , "it is true that Marshall's and Mackay's hypotheses of linga and yoni worship by the Harappans has rested on rather slender grounds, and that for instance,
13806-771: Is not always consistently applied. ISO 15919 is an international standard for the transliteration of Tamil and other Indic scripts into Latin characters. It uses diacritics to map the much larger set of Brahmic consonants and vowels to Latin script , and thus the alphabets of various languages, including English. Apart from the usual numerals, Tamil has numerals for 10, 100 and 1000. Symbols for day, month, year, debit, credit, as above, rupee, and numeral are present as well. Tamil also uses several historical fractional signs. /f/ , /z/ , /ʂ/ and /ɕ/ are only found in loanwords and may be considered marginal phonemes, though they are traditionally not seen as fully phonemic. Tamil has two diphthongs : /aɪ̯/ ஐ and /aʊ̯/ ஔ ,
14040-416: Is often represented within a disc-shaped platform, the yoni – its feminine counterpart, consisting of a flat element, horizontal compared to the vertical lingam, and designed to allow liquid offerings to drain away for collection. The lingam is an emblem of generative and destructive power. While rooted in representations of the male sexual organ, the lingam is regarded as the "outward symbol" of
14274-577: Is predominantly spoken in Tamil Nadu , India, and the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka . It has significant speaking populations in Malaysia , Singapore , and among diaspora communities . Tamil has been recognized as a classical language by the Indian government and holds official status in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Singapore. The earliest extant Tamil literary works and their commentaries celebrate
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#173285226882914508-414: Is regarded to be the absolute reality, the timeless, formless, and spaceless. In the representation of Parashakti, Shiva is regarded to be all-pervasive, pure consciousness , the power and primal substance of all that exists. Parashakti is regarded to possess form, unlike Parashiva, which is formless. According to Sivananda Saraswati , the lingam speaks unmistakable language of silence: "I am one without
14742-668: Is shown that the said Skambha is put in place of the eternal Brahman . Just as the Yajna (sacrificial) fire, its smoke, ashes, and flames, the Soma plant, and the ox that used to carry on its back the wood for the Vedic sacrifice gave place to the conceptions of the brightness of Shiva's body, his tawny matted hair, his blue throat, and the riding on the bull of the Shiva, the Yupa-Skambha gave place in time to
14976-579: Is that the Siva Lingam represents the phallus or the virile organ, the emblem of the generative power or principle in nature. This is not only a serious mistake but a grave blunder. In the post-Vedic period, the Linga has become symbolic of the generative power of Lord Siva. Linga is the differentiating mark. It is certainly not the sex mark. The traditional lingam rituals in major Shiva temples includes offerings of flowers, grass, dried rice, fruits, leaves, water and
15210-409: Is the Tolkāppiyam , an early work on Tamil grammar and poetics, whose oldest layers could be as old as the late 2nd century BCE. Many literary works in Old Tamil have also survived. These include a corpus of 2,381 poems collectively known as Sangam literature . These poems are usually dated to between the 1st century BCE and 5th century CE. The evolution of Old Tamil into Middle Tamil , which
15444-471: Is the gross body (sthūla śarīra), or concrete reality as it appears to the sense organs. In between the Ultimate and concrete reality is Prakṛti , also called Pradhana which is the imperceptible substratum of the manifest world or pre-matter. Out of this imperceptible cosmic substance, all things have come out, and to which they will return ultimately. The Gudimallam Lingam , one of the oldest examples of
15678-539: Is the liūga of the thing. The insight of the Shvetashvatara Upanishad conveyed through the word liūga is formulated explicitly in Samkhya and schools of Yoga or ways of looking at things , that is, looking at their appearance and at Ultimate Reality. Liriga here denotes the subtle body , (liṇga śarīra) underlying and ontologically preceding anything perceptible. The perceptible state, in this context,
15912-493: Is transcendental, beyond any characteristic and, specifically, the sign of gender. The term also appears in early Indian texts on logic, where an inference is based on a sign (linga), such as "if there is smoke, there is fire" where the linga is the smoke. It is a religious symbol in Hinduism representing Shiva as the generative power, all of existence, all creativity and fertility at every cosmic level. In early Sanskrit medical texts, linga means "symptom, signs" and plays
16146-439: Is typically the primary murti or devotional image in Hindu temples dedicated to Shiva, also found in smaller shrines, or as self-manifested natural objects. Lingam, states Monier Monier-Williams , appears in the Upanishads and epic literature , where it means a "mark, sign, emblem, characteristic". Other contextual meanings of the term include "evidence, proof, symptom" of God and God's power. The word lingam
16380-772: Is used as one of the languages of education in Malaysia , along with English, Malay and Mandarin. A large community of Pakistani Tamils speakers exists in Karachi , Pakistan , which includes Tamil-speaking Hindus as well as Christians and Muslims – including some Tamil-speaking Muslim refugees from Sri Lanka. There are about 100 Tamil Hindu families in Madrasi Para colony in Karachi. They speak impeccable Tamil along with Urdu, Punjabi and Sindhi. Many in Réunion , Guyana , Fiji , Suriname , and Trinidad and Tobago have Tamil origins, but only
16614-518: Is viewed to be one of the 18 thalapuranas. It is also revered as one of the Mahapuranas ( Periya Puranam – the right eye of Shiva, Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam – the left eye, and Kanda Purana – the third eye). It was authored by Saint Paranjothi , estimated 300 years ago. It narrates the 64 Tiruvilayadals (Lilas in Sanskrit), loosely translated as the "playful miracles of god (Shiva) himself" . It describes
16848-635: The Rigveda , or the other Vedas. However, Rudra (proto-Shiva) is found in the Vedic literature. Worship of the lingam was not a part of the Vedic religion . The worship of the lingam originated from the famous hymn in the Atharva Veda Samhita sung in praise of the Yupa-Stambha , the sacrificial post. In that hymn, a description is found of the beginningless and endless Stambha or Skambha , and it
17082-458: The Pandiyan Kings for the organization of long-termed Tamil Sangams , which researched, developed and made amendments in Tamil language. Even though the name of the language which was developed by these Tamil Sangams is mentioned as Tamil, the period when the name "Tamil" came to be applied to the language is unclear, as is the precise etymology of the name. The earliest attested use of the name
17316-583: The Shiva-Linga . In the text Linga Purana , the same hymn is expanded in the shape of stories, meant to establish the glory of the great Stambha and the superiority of Shiva as Mahadeva. There is a hymn in the Atharvaveda that praises a pillar ( stambha ), and this is one possible origin of linga worship. According to Swami Vivekananda, the Shiva-linga had origins in the idea of Yupa-Stambha or Skambha of
17550-584: The University of Madras , was one of the earliest dictionaries published in Indian languages. A strong strain of linguistic purism emerged in the early 20th century, culminating in the Pure Tamil Movement which called for removal of all Sanskritic elements from Tamil. It received some support from Dravidian parties . This led to the replacement of a significant number of Sanskrit loanwords by Tamil equivalents, though many others remain. According to
17784-568: The Victorian mindset by avoiding the use of words such as penis, vulva, vagina and other direct or indirect sexual terms in the Sanskrit text to discuss sex, sexual relationships and human sexual positions. Burton used the terms lingam and yoni instead throughout the translation. This conscious and incorrect word substitution, states Doniger, thus served as an Orientalist means to "anthropologize sex, distance it, make it safe for English readers by assuring them, or pretending to assure them, that
18018-423: The Victorian mold where sex and sexual imagery were a taboo subject, were shocked by and were hostile to the lingam-yoni iconography and reverence they witnessed. The 19th and early 20th-century colonial and missionary literature described lingam-yoni , and related theology as obscene, corrupt, licentious, hyper-sexualized, puerile, impure, demonic and a culture that had become too feminine and dissolute. To
18252-409: The "formless Reality", the symbolization of merging of the 'primordial matter' ( Prakṛti ) with the 'pure consciousness' ( Purusha ) in transcendental context . The lingam-yoni iconography symbolizes the merging of microcosmos and macrocosmos , the divine eternal process of creation and regeneration, and the union of the feminine and the masculine that recreates all of existence. The lingam
18486-472: The "indicative sign is in a Vedic passage". The term linga also appears in Buddhist and Jaina literature, where it means "sign, evidence" in one context, or "subtle body" with sexual connotations in another. The lingam of the Shaivism tradition is a short cylindrical pillar-like symbol of Shiva, made of stone, metal, gem, wood, clay or precious stones. Various styles of lingam iconography are found on
18720-486: The 11th century, retain many features of the Vaishnava paribasai , a special form of Tamil developed in the 9th and 10th centuries that reflect Vaishnavite religious and spiritual values. Several castes have their own sociolects which most members of that caste traditionally used regardless of where they come from. It is often possible to identify a person's caste by their speech. For example, Tamil Brahmins tend to speak
18954-425: The Brahmin presents, said, "Go, seek another wife, and submit to unavoidable evils." While Kulothunga-Pandyan reigned, there was a Brahmin celebrated for his patience, whose wife was not virtuous, and his son was excessively vicious. The evil thought occurred to him of defiling his father's couch, and his mother, losing all self-restraint, tolerated the atrocity. The Brahmin, conjecturing the state of things, waited in
19188-481: The Brahmins and in supporting the followers of Shiva. The man from time to time put off the king with excuses, falsely pretending to write letters to neighbouring countries for aid. After a month, the king became impatient, and said, "Tomorrow all the troops should be here, how is it that I see none have arrived?" Urged by the necessity of the case, the general went and made known the matter to Shiva, who replied, "I will come tomorrow with plenty of troops." The general told
19422-406: The Chamunals followed. The Pandyan hearing of its approach supplicated Shiva, who said, "Never mind, build me a mandapa (small temple) and I will kill the elephant." Accordingly, a mandapa, having sixteen pillars, was built; and the god came to it in the guise of a hunter. When the elephant approached, he directed against it a rocket, of the kind called Narasimma-astiram, which struck the elephant in
19656-456: The Chera king, who was styled "Commander of a thousand horse," knowing the feebleness of the Pandyan's army, set out on an invasion. The Pandyan was informed of the circumstance and was afterwards promised victory by a celestial voice. The Pandyan set out with his troops, which, though few, by favour of Shiva appeared as though they were a great multitude. The god appeared on a horseback, in the guise of
19890-496: The Earth (a goddess) to supply him. Accordingly, four holes or pits appeared, out of which food spontaneously arose; and the dwarf ate until his body became swollen. He then complained of thirst; and having drawn all the water contained in the wells and tanks, he still complained of thirst. On this the god commanded the goddess Ganga (in his hair) to supply water. She replied. 'You once called me before, and I will come again if you only grant
20124-569: The Hindus, particularly the Shaivites , these icons and ideas were the abstract, a symbol of the entirety of creation and spirituality. The colonial disparagement in part triggered the opposite reaction from Bengali nationalists, who more explicitly valorised the feminine. Swami Vivekananda called for the revival of the Mother Goddess as a feminine force, inviting his countrymen to "proclaim her to all
20358-476: The Indian state of Haryana , purportedly as a rebuff to Punjab , though there was no attested Tamil-speaking population in the state, and was later replaced by Punjabi , in 2010. In Malaysia, 543 primary education government schools are available fully in Tamil as the medium of instruction . The establishment of Tamil-medium schools has been in process in Myanmar to provide education completely in Tamil language by
20592-469: The Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the 22 languages under schedule 8 of the constitution of India . It is one of the official languages of the union territories of Puducherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands . Tamil is also one of the official languages of Singapore . Tamil is one of the official and national languages of Sri Lanka, along with Sinhala . It was once given nominal official status in
20826-460: The Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia. The historic lingam iconography has included: A lingam may be made of clay ( mrinmaya ), metal ( lohaja ), precious stone ( ratnaja ), wood ( daruja ), stone ( sailaja , most common), or a disposable material ( kshanika ). The construction method, proportions and design is described in Shaiva Agama texts. The lingam is typically set in
21060-564: The King's death succeeded to the throne. Malayadhvaja-Pandyan although he had many wives, the chief of them being Kanjana-malai, daughter of the Chola king, had no child. In consequence he offered ninety-nine ashvamedha (horse) sacrifices, when Indra, becoming alarmed (since another sacrifice, would entitle the king to the Indra's throne), appeared to him and said, "Why do you give yourself this trouble? Perform
21294-729: The Mackay's hypothesis cannot be ruled out because erotic and sexual scenes such as ithyphallic males, naked females, a human couple having intercourse and trefoil imprints have now been identified at the Harappan sites. The "finely polished circular stand" found by Mackay may be yoni although it was found without the linga. The absence of linga, states Parpola, maybe because it was made from wood which did not survive. Indologist Wendy Doniger rejects Srinivasan's interpretation, and states that this relatively rare artifact can be interpreted in many ways and has unduly been used for wild speculations such as being
21528-414: The Pandyan took his seat on the same level with Indra, and made no request. Indra, displeased with a semblance of favour, put round his neck a very heavy necklace collar, such as five men could not lift, thinking its weight would crush his uncivil guest. However, as the Pandyan wore it without any emotion, Indra was astonished and dismissed him, only saying, "You shall be called the bearer of the necklace." On
21762-431: The Pandyan was overjoyed. He entreated that this changing of the leg might be made publicly to appear to the people, which request the god condescendingly granted. After Rajasekara-Pandyan had given up the kingdom to his son Kulothunga-Pandyan, the latter married many wives, and had a great many children; among the eldest of which children, was Ananta-guna-Pandyan, who was taught all needful accomplishments. About that time,
21996-485: The Pandyan's return, he found that in his country only there was no rain. He in consequence of which he went to Mahameru, and put some of the clouds round its summit in chains, brought them to water his kingdom. Indra incensed at this violation of his proper power, declared war, and took the field at the head of large forces. There was much fighting on both sides, and many were slain, until Ukrama Pandyan with his discus which struck off Indra's crown. Indra, astonished, found he
22230-481: The Pandyan's throne. With this objective, he brought his son-in-law, his own uncle and a large army two yojana (or twenty miles) of Madurai. The Pandyan king, learning the objective of the invasion, went to the temple and said, "This Chera king, your devotee, with whom good faith was plighted, is now coming to dethrone me. What ought I to do?" While he prayed a celestial voice was heard saying, "Go out tomorrow with all your army and I will give you victory." The next morning
22464-465: The Shakti, being ashamed, dropped her weapons, and the minister said, "This has to be your husband." The god told her to return to Madurai, where he dwelt, and on Monday he would come and marry her; desiring all preparations to be made. All was arranged accordingly and the other deities came bringing presents. She was seated beside Shiva on the marriage on a throne, when Vishnu joined their hands, and afterwards
22698-529: The Shiva tradition is "only a symbol of the productive and creative principle of nature as embodied in Shiva", and it has no historical trace in any obscene phallic cult. According to Alex Wayman, various works on Shaivism by some Indian authors, following the Shaiva philosophical texts and spiritual interpretations, "deny that the linga is a phallus." To the Shaivites, a linga is neither a phallus nor do they practice
22932-461: The Siddhar glanced a side look at the elephant, which immediately gave signs of life; took the proffered sugar-cane from the hands of the king and ate it, and not being content with that, took the garland of pearls from the king's neck, and put it into his mouth. While the peons were busy in attempting to scare the elephant, the king fell at the feet of the Siddhar, worshipping him; who then looked again at
23166-585: The Tamil language, Kannada still preserves a lot from its roots. As part of the southern family of Indian languages and situated relatively close to the northern parts of India, Kannada also shares some Sanskrit words, similar to Malayalam. Many of the formerly used words in Tamil have been preserved with little change in Kannada. This shows a relative parallel to Tamil, even as Tamil has undergone some changes in modern ways of speaking. According to Hindu legend, Tamil or in personification form Tamil Thāi (Mother Tamil)
23400-673: The Tamils who settled there 200 years ago. Tamil language is available as a course in some local school boards and major universities in Canada and the month of January has been declared "Tamil Heritage Month" by the Parliament of Canada . Tamil enjoys a special status of protection under Article 6(b), Chapter 1 of the Constitution of South Africa and is taught as a subject in schools in KwaZulu-Natal province. Recently, it has been rolled out as
23634-421: The Vedic rituals, where the term meant the sacrificial post which was then idealized as the eternal Brahman . The Yupa-Skambha gave place in time to the Shiva-Linga , quite possibly with influence from Buddhism's stupa shaped like the top of a stone linga, according to Vivekananda. Shvetashvatara Upanishad states that, of the three significations of Lingam , the primary one is " the imperishable Purusha ",
23868-549: The absolute reality , whereby the linga is "sign", a mark that provides the existence of Brahman , which is itself formless. Furthermore, it mentioned that Shiva is transcendent, beyond any characteristic or liūga , specifically the sign of gender. Linga, "sign", not only signifies the existence of perceptible "things" but also denotes the imperceptible essence of "a thing" or pieces of Brahman called Atma even before that thing has come to exist in any concrete form. The imperceptible essence of "a thing", in its potentiality,
24102-442: The ancient language ( sankattamiḻ ), a modern literary and formal style ( centamiḻ ), and a modern colloquial form ( koṭuntamiḻ ). These styles shade into each other, forming a stylistic continuum. For example, it is possible to write centamiḻ with a vocabulary drawn from caṅkattamiḻ , or to use forms associated with one of the other variants while speaking koṭuntamiḻ . In modern times, centamiḻ
24336-483: The appointed sacrifice for obtaining a child before the temple of the god Shiva, and your wish will be granted." While the king was making the sacrifice, a young girl named Meenakshi of three years, covered with ornaments, was formed from the flame of the sacrificial fire pit. The king took up the child, and gave it into the hands of his wife Kanjana-Malai. On her applying the infant to her breast immediately milk for its nourishment first manifested itself. While bringing up
24570-564: The archaeological sites at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro , part of the Indus Valley civilisation . According to Chakravarti, "some of the stones found in Mohenjodaro are unmistakably phallic stones". These are dated to some time before 2300 BCE. Similarly, states Chakravarti, the Kalibangan site of Harappa has a small terracotta representation that "would undoubtedly be considered the replica of
24804-400: The ball in his hand, he struck the mountain with anger: the mountain reeled; the peaks trembled, and the king of the mountain, with one head and four umbrella-bearing arms, came forth ashamed; confessed a dereliction of attention and of duty for that one day from the service of Shiva, and asked what was his business? The reply was, 'Riches are wanted." All that he desired was given him by opening
25038-476: The banks of the said tank the god made a flower garden, and when there one day, said to his wife, "Why does not your foster-mother bathe?" On this being reported the elder lady enquired of learned men the most meritorious mode of bathing. They replied, "It must be either by taking hold of the hand of a husband, a child or of a cow's tail." On this reply being given she became greatly afflicted, having neither husband, nor child. Her foster-daughter reported this grief to
25272-463: The bust of a male with his left hand holding a vase and the right hand in the abhaya (no-fear) mudra. The pillar itself is, once again, a realistic depiction of phallus but neither symbolizes fertility nor sexuality, but the refined energetic principles of Urdhva Retas during Sannyasa or Asceticism . The Mathura archaeological site has revealed similar lingams, with a standing Shiva in front (2nd century CE) and with one or four faces around
25506-403: The center of a pindika (also called yoni or pithas, symbolizing Shakti). A pindika may be circular, square, octagonal, hexagonal, duodecagonal, sixteen sided, elliptical, triangular or another shape. Some lingams are miniaturized and they are carried on one's person, such as by Lingayats in a necklace. These are called chala-lingams . The Hindu temple design manuals recommend geometric ratios for
25740-587: The centrality of the energetic principle of Urdhva Retas ( Sanskrit : ऊर्ध्वरेतस् IAST : Ūrdhvaretas , lit. "ascent of vital energies or fluid") the upward flow of energy in spiritual pursuits and practice of celibacy ( Brahmacarya ), contrary to fertility or release of vital energies. Lakulisa as an ascetic manifestation of Shiva is seen in later peninsular Indian scriptures whose ithyphallic aspects connotes asceticism and conserved procreative potentialities ( Brahmacarya or celibacy ), rather than mere eroticism . According to Stella Kramrisch,
25974-456: The chetty, who gave them into the hands of the ministers, said, "Thank the god Shiva" and disappeared. They took the jewels, had a crown made, and with it crowned the young king, naming him Abhishekam (anointed). He recovered also the jewels which had been lost; and joyfully reigned over the kingdom. While Abisheka-Pandyan was performing puja, in the Chittra month, the camphor incense employed spread
26208-434: The child it was found that she had three breasts, on which the foster-parents being afflicted, the voice of the god was heard from heaven, bidding them to give the child the same education as for a man, and adding, that when her appointed husband would come, then the third breast would disappear: when she was grown up they had her formally installed on the throne, and then Malayadhvajan died. Having performed, in becoming manner,
26442-516: The common term for lingam is kuRi or "sign, mark" which is asexual. Similarly, in Lingayatism tradition, the lingam is a spiritual symbol and "was never said to have any sexual connotations", according to Doniger. According to Dasgupta, the lingam symbolizes Shiva in Hinduism, and it is also a phallic symbol. Some extant ancient ligams, such as the Gudimallam Lingam , unambiguously depict
26676-449: The cotton thread, performed the attitude of penance (heels upward), while the staff remained in the air. He took clouds into his hands, and well wringing them, appeared to drink the water they contained. He caused things seen in the night (such as the stars) to be seen in the day, and things visible in the day to be seen at night. He taught the Vedas to things which could not understand them. He turned coconut trees into palmyra trees, and then
26910-523: The cow." On which the bullock set out, richly caparisoned. On meeting the asura cow, he assaulted it with his horns, but the cow, becoming bewildered, was changed into a mountain, and Nandi, enlarging its size, also a mountain alongside. But it afterwards, in a slender form, returned to Shiva and was received with applauses, in which Parvati joined. Soon after, Rama came with Sugriva , Hanuman and his forces to these mountains, on his progress towards Lanka. The sage Agastya then came to him and explained to him
27144-416: The crown missing, and considering this to be the stratagem of an enemy, they were embarrassed on how to proceed. The god Sundereshvarar then came as a chetty (or merchant) and offered nine valuable jewels for sale, explaining that they were once the body of an asura named Vala. This giant, by performing penance to Shiva, had acquired power to conquer the inferior deities; and one day Indra offering to give him
27378-620: The culture associated with the Neolithic complexes of South India, but it has also been related to the Harappan civilization . Scholars categorise the attested history of the language into three periods: Old Tamil (300 BCE–700 CE), Middle Tamil (700–1600) and Modern Tamil (1600–present). About of the approximately 100,000 inscriptions found by the Archaeological Survey of India in India are in Tamil Nadu. Of them, most are in Tamil, with only about 5 percent in other languages. In 2004,
27612-418: The curse from his white elephant, it is a great god" Varuna asked, "Can it cure the pain in my bowels?" The other answered "To do that would be an easy thing." Varuna feeling doubtful sent a large accumulation of seas to try the Shiva's power, which greatly alarmed the people of the kingdom. But the god commanded some clouds to descend from his head, which absorbed the seas; and the people now discerning that this
27846-417: The curse of their husbands for a previous fault, in which Shiva was concerned. He at that time collected a large quantity of bracelets from them, which he now came to sell in the streets of Madurai. All the women crowded to get a pair of the arm-rings, which however immediately fell off again as they had done on a former occasion. Hence this traffic was discovered to be a sacred amusement of the god. When Shiva
28080-407: The demon and was directed to a place where an old Brahmin named Tatichi had long been performing penance, and was advised to take his shoulder-bone, which would suffice for the object in view; since it was moulded of a good number of powerful weapons that were entrusted to him. The old Brahmin gladly gave up his life and Indra, taking his shoulder-bone by its aid killed the asura, hereby the brahmahatya
28314-936: The dialect of Madurai , and iṅkaṭe in some northern dialects. Even now, in the Coimbatore area, it is common to hear " akkaṭṭa " meaning "that place". Although Tamil dialects do not differ significantly in their vocabulary, there are a few exceptions. The dialects spoken in Sri Lanka retain many words and grammatical forms that are not in everyday use in India, and use many other words slightly differently. Tamil dialects include Central Tamil dialect , Kongu Tamil , Madras Bashai , Madurai Tamil , Nellai Tamil , Kumari Tamil in India ; Batticaloa Tamil dialect , Jaffna Tamil dialect , Negombo Tamil dialect in Sri Lanka; and Malaysian Tamil in Malaysia. Sankethi dialect in Karnataka has been heavily influenced by Kannada . The dialect of
28548-448: The dictates of your mind." On receiving this oracle, the king gave Cheran the escort of a few troops, and sent him back disgraced to Kanchi. To his own brother, he appropriated some portion of that brothers' former revenues; and afterwards ruled the kingdom, even as a mother governs her family. In a town on the stream of the Vygai called Puvana-nagar, Shiva, named Puvana-naicker, appeared under
28782-399: The differences between Tamil and Malayalam demonstrate a pre-historic divergence of the western dialect, the process of separation into a distinct language, Malayalam, was not completed until sometime in the 13th or 14th century. Additionally Kannada is also relatively close to the Tamil language and shares the format of the formal ancient Tamil language. While there are some variations from
29016-400: The difficulty the god Shiva was pleased to remove by causing Ganga , abiding in the hair on his head to pour forth copious streams on the whole place: and the god was pleased to give it the name of Mathura (or sweetness), and he then disappeared. The king placed guards at the four cardinal points of the city, four of them being devas. Afterwards a son was born to him, named Malayadhvajan, who on
29250-634: The district of Palakkad in Kerala has many Malayalam loanwords, has been influenced by Malayalam's syntax, and has a distinctive Malayalam accent. Similarly, Tamil spoken in Kanyakumari District has more unique words and phonetic style than Tamil spoken at other parts of Tamil Nadu. The words and phonetics are so different that a person from Kanyakumari district is easily identifiable by their spoken Tamil. Hebbar and Mandyam dialects, spoken by groups of Tamil Vaishnavites who migrated to Karnataka in
29484-431: The earth. A council was held with Brihaspati, Agastiyar , and other sages, where they concluded in their meeting that Indra, in order to the removal of his sin, should go down to the earth to visit the sacred places and bathe in the holy rivers. Indra thus followed but found no relief until he came to a certain forest of lili (Kadamba) trees, where he suddenly he found his burden removed. Being surprised at this, he commanded
29718-419: The effect, "that it should become a wild elephant of the woods"; but as the animal implored mercy, the period was limited to a hundred years. In consequence, while the elephant was in the tili forest, it one day poured water over the lingam, which on enquiry, learning the nature of the case, told the elephant to place as Indra-lingam at Airavatham. Having done so, a messenger came to recall it to Indra's abode, and
29952-446: The elephant, which immediately restored the string of pearls to the king. The Pandyan then received many gifts from the Siddhar; and after causing his son, Vicrama-Pandyan, to be crowned, he (Abhisheka-Pandyan) attained the lotus-feet of the god (that is, he died). While Vicrama-Pandyan reigned, he drove away all heterodox sects, confirmed the established religion, built a temple for the Siddhar, and then ruled with justice and virtue. But
30186-419: The esoteric Kaula and Tantra practices, as well as the Shaivism and Shaktism traditions of Hinduism. The lingam and yoni together symbolize the merging of microcosmos and macrocosmos , the divine eternal process of creation and regeneration, and the union of the feminine and the masculine that recreates all of existence. The lingam is regarded as the "outward symbol" of the "formless Reality",
30420-412: The event correspond, I shall then hold the hunter to be innocent." Soon after, as the marriage procession came, the great noise which was made alarmed the bullocks, one of which broke its rope, and running furiously at the bridegroom, gored him, and caused his death. On this development the king and Brahmin returned. The king, setting the hunter at liberty, apologised for punishing him wrongfully, and giving
30654-418: The expectation of a full discovery. The son, knowing such to be the case, cut off his father's head. He then took all the household property and he set off, together with his mother, to settle in another home. While on the way, in a forest, they were attacked by robbers, who took away son's mother and the property, and left him alone in the forest. He became wretched to an extreme degree, both in mind and body, by
30888-453: The father, hearing the fame of his great acquirements and excellent temper, told his ministers it was time to have him installed, or anointed as king, to which counsel they agreed with joy. The father besides gave orders to his ministers to procure his son a suitable wife of equal nobility. Kantimathi, the daughter of a king named Soma-sekaran, of the race of the Sun, who ruled in the town of Manavur,
31122-414: The foot of one of them. He was surprised at the sight of an unusual splendour; and going to look, was favoured by the god with the view, as he had been very virtuous in his former birth. As it was Monday, the gods were performing homage and anointing the image, as though it had been the night of Shiva. The merchant bathed in a tank and worshipped; when the gods had disappeared, he saw the stone image only; and
31356-416: The forest for building the capital of Kanchi ( Kanchipuram ) obtained the name of Kadu-Vettiya-Cheran. He got it as he was a devotee of Shiva, read the accounts of the sacred amusement and other religious books of the Shiva class. The king felt a great desire to see the temple at Madurai, but not knowing how to accomplish this object (from existing hostility), he pondered a long time over it. At length Shiva, in
31590-467: The form of a religious ascetic, appeared to him in a dream, and bid him to visit Madurai without any fear. On awaking, the king was both astonished and rejoiced. In obedience to the injunction, he set out on horseback, unaccompanied, and after passing hills and forests, came to the north bank of the river Vaigai. The river was then very full and impassable. While halting on the Northern bank, the god appeared in
31824-433: The form of a religious ascetic. On making various inquiries he learned what her wishes were as to the image and directed her to bring all the metal vessels which she possessed. On her doing so, he bid her at night to melt them all in the fire, assuring her that gold would come forth. She desired him to attend and direct the process, but he excused himself, saying he was the Siddhar of Madurai. The woman then discovered that this
32058-626: The form of cylindrical rocks or ice or rocky hill. These are called Svayambhuva lingam, and about 70 of these are known on the Indian subcontinent, the most significant being one in Kashi ( Varanasi ) followed by Prayaga, Naimisha and Gaya. The colonial-era archaeologists John Marshall and Ernest Mackay proposed that certain artifacts found at Harappan sites may be evidence of yoni-linga worship in Indus Valley Civilization. Jones and Ryan state that lingam/yoni shapes have been recovered from
32292-485: The forms of the celestials of Kailasa. He then ascended to his own paradise. The son ruled the kingdom, according to the Law of Manu ( Mansusmriti ) afterwards. Ukrama Pandyan made a great sacrifice of ninety-six ashvamedha yajnas (rituals), at which Indra became jealous (since his rule was endangered), went to the king of the sea, Varuna, and asked him to destroy the country. Accordingly, the sea suddenly came with great noise in
32526-445: The funeral rites for her foster parent, and worshipped in the temple, she afterwards ruled the kingdom in a proper manner. When the above woman, Tadatakai (or Invincible) was ruling, her foster-mother represented to her the property of marriage, to which she replied, that she would assemble an army and go to fight with neighbouring kingdoms, in order to discover among them her destined husband. Accordingly, her minister, Sumati, assembled
32760-488: The god appeared and gave instructions, in obedience to which, workmen were employed, having a king's street, Brahmin's street and also choultries, mandapams, tanks and do on. The whole being splendidly finished, with a palace also for the king on the North-East quarter, an embarrassment arose as to how these numerous buildings could all be purified preparatory to residence at once, so as to ensure an entrance on an auspicious day;
32994-405: The god's donation, drew from it large supplies of money without exhausting the contents. With this money he ornamented the temple, gave large presents to the Brahmins and had sacrifices duly performed. After which there was abundance of rain, distress was removed, and public affairs became prosperous. The wives of rishis to the amount of eight thousand, were condemned to be born at Madurai, owing to
33228-403: The god, who, by an act of volition, brought back Malayadhvaja Pandyan from the paradise of Indra, and the shade, on coming, presented his respects to the god. Kanjana-malai hearing the arrival of her former husband, came adorned with jewels, and both bathed in the tank; after which they saw the god, and a heavenly vimana (chariot) appeared in which both husband and wife were together carried above
33462-399: The golden lotus) when one of the rishis said, "Unless we see the god dance we will not eat." The god replied, "How can you expect to see one dance, whose form is that of the seven superior and seven inferior worlds, and whose members are the places most famous for their shrines and temples? But, as this place is chief of all, since you wish it, you shall see me dance." The god thus danced, while
33696-604: The great (in a religious sense) to do with us?" and remained quiet. But still feeling a curiosity to see the Siddhar, the king went, accompanied by his retinue, as though he would visit the temple, and there he met with the performer. In reply to enquiries from the king, the Siddhar said, that he went about as he pleased, though more accustomed to be in Kasi; that he had displayed various feats in Chidambaram and other places, and here (at Madurai) especially. He replied that wanted nothing from
33930-472: The guests present sang praises and songs to him. After the marriage feast was over, the chief of the palace came and said to the goddess, "Out of the vast quantity of food which you have prepared scarcely one part out of a thousand has been consumed: what are we to do with the rest?" The goddess went to enquire her husband, who said, "It is true, that being a queen, you have prepared so much food, but there are several of my retinue as yet unfed." Whereupon calling
34164-482: The guru, Brihaspati, to ask his advice, who directed her to sanction the coming of Nahusha in the palanquin of Indra, according to custom borne by the seen rishis. While Nahusha was thus going, owing to his hurry, he exclaimed to the rishis, "Sarpa sarpa", which means "quickly quickly". The rishis being displeased, put down the palanquin, and pronounced on him a curse "that he should become a serpent" (as " Sarpa" also means snake ) ; in which shape he fell down again back to
34398-413: The head and killed it. The Chamanals were dispersed by the troops of the Pandyan, and such was the haste of the fugitives that their peacock-fans, their sleeping mats and drinking vessels, were broken to pieces. The spot became famous and was named Pracalataren by worshipping the arrow that was left sticking in the elephant mountain, obtained a celestial gift; and one named Romasen by worshipping, and forming
34632-422: The head of his own troops and while going forth they were met by a messenger. He brought news that the king of the hunters, having gone to hunt in the forest, had been slain by a tiger. On this intelligence being received, the king gave orders for the different divisions to retire to different places. This order was rapidly obeyed by the army of Shiva's followers that the king greatly wondered, and discovering that it
34866-474: The highest bliss. The Pandyan hearing of the grace of his deity (Shiva) celebrated his praises; and the tank acquired the title of "Crime removing" to present time. While Kulothunga-Pandyan ruled, there came a learned man to the place, skilled in science. In consequence of his celebrity, a young man sought permission to become his disciple, and being accepted, became equal to his master. The evil thought entered his mind of killing his aged preceptor and carrying off
35100-699: The hill country . Tamil or dialects of it were used widely in the state of Kerala as the major language of administration, literature and common usage until the 12th century CE. Tamil was also used widely in inscriptions found in southern Andhra Pradesh districts of Chittoor and Nellore until the 12th century CE. Tamil was used for inscriptions from the 10th through 14th centuries in southern Karnataka districts such as Kolar , Mysore , Mandya and Bengaluru . There are currently sizeable Tamil-speaking populations descended from colonial-era migrants in Malaysia , Singapore , Philippines , Mauritius , South Africa , Indonesia, Thailand, Burma , and Vietnam . Tamil
35334-429: The house and food being given by the woman, since he was too infirm to feed himself, she assisted him to eat. He suddenly changed to a young man, richly habited; and on surprise being expressed by the Brahmin, as also fear with reference to the return of the husband's parents, the young man suddenly became a child. The parents having returned, and finding her with a young Shaiva child, turned both out of doors; and while she
35568-409: The hunter. The man charged him with the crime of murder, and took him along with him, together with the body of his wife to the presence of the king. The hunter, on investigation, maintained his innocence, but by consent of the kings' ministers was put to severe torture, and all people admitted that his countenance was not that of a murderer. The king ordered him to be put in irons, and giving the Brahmin
35802-551: The husband was a Vaishnava, and approved the marriage. When the Vaishnava Brahmin brought his wife to his parents, they disapproved of him marrying a Shaiva woman. Gauri, seeing nothing but Vaishnavas around her, without any Brahmins wearing ashes and beads , wishing to be with her own community. One day, her in-laws secluded her, and went away to a distant wedding feast without her. At this interval, an aged Shaiva Brahmin made his appearance, asking her for food. Being admitted into
36036-468: The interpretation of the so-called ring-stones as yonis seems untenable". He quotes Dales 1984 paper, which states "with the single exception of the unidentified photography of a realistic phallic object in Marshall's report, there is no archaeological evidence to support claims of special sexually-oriented aspects of Harappan religion". However, adds Parpola, a re-examination at Indus Valley sites suggest that
36270-432: The introduction of new aspectual auxiliaries and more complex sentence structures, and with the emergence of a more rigid word order that resembles the syntactic argument structure of English. In 1578, Portuguese Christian missionaries published a Tamil prayer book in old Tamil script named Thambiran Vanakkam , thus making Tamil the first Indian language to be printed and published. The Tamil Lexicon , published by
36504-444: The judgment from Brahma. One day, when Sundareshvarar and Meenakshi were gone out of the temple, in the guise of hunters, they agreed that the enormity of the crime could only be removed by themselves. As the culprit met them, he was instructed to feed cows with grass and to bathe daily in a certain tank. By following this direction he gradually resumed the appearance and nature of a Brahmin, according to his birth; and finally attained to
36738-500: The king accordingly left the fort, with an army which resembled a continuous river running into the sea. The two armies joined battle, and there was a severe combat under fifteen Indian (or six English) hours. The people of both armies were fainting for thirst, when in the midst of the Pandyan's troops a water-booth became visible, and Shiva within, in the shape of a Brahmin, caused Ganga in his crown of hair to pour forth her streams. The god received it in his hands, and however numerous were
36972-419: The king that aid was at hand, and on the morrow a vast army appeared. The general then said to the king. "Such a division comes from such a country, such a one from another", and so on. The king asked, "Who is that seated on horseback in the midst of all?" The general said, "I do not know." But this was Shiva, mounted on his bullock, it being transformed to the appearance of a horse. The king then placed himself at
37206-473: The king that he himself had admitted the Chera king, and sealed the gate with the bullock-seal. The king made this miracle known everywhere, and after living some time happily, he associated with himself his son, named Rajendra-Pandyan, causing him to be crowned. The retired king then obtained a place of note in the Svarga (heaven), that is, he died. The before-mentioned Chera king was allowed to occasionally to visit
37440-460: The king, for though such men as might perform a few feats would receive offered royal rewards, yet he who could perform all things desired nothing. At this time a villager brought a sugar-cane and the king, expressing doubt, said pointing to a stone elephant sculptured on the tower of the temple, "If you can make that elephant eat this sugar-cane, then I shall admit that you can do all things, and must be our god Sunderesvarer." On this request being made
37674-406: The latter of which is restricted to a few lexical items. Tamil employs agglutinative grammar, where suffixes are used to mark noun class , number , and case , verb tense and other grammatical categories. Tamil's standard metalinguistic terminology and scholarly vocabulary is itself Tamil, as opposed to the Sanskrit that is standard for most Indo-Aryan languages . Much of Tamil grammar
37908-467: The latter's wife. While the preceptor was absent, he made some overtures, but was repulsed by the wife, she being a chaste one. In consequence, he determined on violent proceedings, and Shiva, knowing his evil designs, resolved to punish him. Accordingly, assuming the shape of the aged preceptor, he came and challenged the disciple to a fight. The latter joyfully accepted, as promising an easy conquest and success in his designs. Accordingly, both combatants met
38142-473: The legend of these mountains. Rama then went to Madurai and worshipped Shiva. On his return from the conquest of Ravana , bringing his consort Sita with him, he again passed by the city, and after paying honours to Shiva, went back to Ayodhya. He then returned with his consort to Vaikuntha . Meantime, Anantaguna-Pandyan having, by the favour of Shiva, received a son named Kulopushana-Pandyan. He had his son crowned and died. The general, named Savundra Samuntan,
38376-549: The legends and prevalent in the Pandyan Kingdom in South India and covers a period of more than 500 years during the reign of fifty-two Pandya kings and six other kings. Shiva and his consort Meenakshi gave salvation to the kings and commoners alike in these sixty- four episodes. Many of these events are found in earlier Tamil works like Cilappatikaram , Kalladam, Tevaram , Tiruvasagam and some other Puranic poetry. Some of
38610-422: The limits of which for the attendance of people extended over thirty kadams (thirty miles), and the sacrificial pit itself occupied ten miles. Into this pit they poured margosa oil and gingelly oil, fruits of various kinds, and flesh of animals. From the fire a monstrous black elephant was produced, which the king commanded to go and to destroy Madurai. The elephant accordingly proceeded with great noise and rage, and
38844-442: The linga, the sanctum and the various architectural features of the temple according to certain mathematical rules it considers perfect and sacred. Anthropologist Christopher John Fuller states that although most sculpted images ( murtis ) are anthropomorphic or theriomorphic, the aniconic Shiva Linga is an important exception. The lingam is conceptualized both as an emblem of generative and destructive power, particularly in
39078-502: The lingam icon with the male sexual organ; the 11th-century Kashmir text Narmamala by Kshemendra on satire and fiction writing explains his ideas on parallelism with divine lingam and human lingam in a sexual context. Various Shaiva texts, such as the Skanda Purana in section 1.8 states that all creatures have the signs of Shiva or Shakti through their lingam (male sexual organ) or pindi (female sexual organ). According to Doniger,
39312-417: The lotus flowers concealing the water to the west of the fort, the Pandyan and his troops fell into them. The Cheran and his troops in pursuit also fell into the tanks. From this situation the Pandyan and his people were delivered by the favour of Shiva, and Cheran with his people perished. The Pandyan then taking the spoils of the vanquished' returned to his city in triumph and prospered for a long time. There
39546-514: The marriage ceremony was performed, amidst the praises and adorations of the rishis and others present. The god then had a new stone image made for the pagoda, as he became a king; and afterwards ruled over Madurai by the name of Sundara. After the marriage, the Gods, rishis, and others who were assembled were about to be feasted, preparatory to which they all bathed in the Pottamarai-tank, (the tank of
39780-470: The middle of the night to the gates of Madurai, when the king, Ukrama Pandyan, was awakened by Shiva in the guise of a religious ascetic, informed him of the circumstance and attendant dangers. The king, being astonished and without presence of mind, was urged by the vision to lose no time, but employ the vel, as he had been directed and accordingly went and cast the spear (or javelin) at the sea, which immediately lost its force, and retired, as Varunan recognised
40014-405: The more sensual aspects of their own religious literature". Some contemporary Hindus, states Doniger, in their passion to spiritualize Hinduism and for their Hindutva campaign have sought to sanitize the historic earthly sexual meanings, and insist on the abstract spiritual meaning only. The sexualization is criticized by Stella Kramrisch and Moriz Winternitz who opines that the lingam in
40248-516: The morning, and going to pay his devotions to the god, the king set out with a great retinue; thus leaving his own country and going to salute the Soren king: passing thence by Dundaga nada, the Telinga, Carnataca and Tondaga countries; crossing mountains and rivers; passing Malava, Virada and Motthiya countries; going as far as Casi (Benares); crossing the Ganges and a desert untrodden by human foot-steps, which
40482-423: The name comes from tam-miḻ > tam-iḻ "self-speak", or "our own speech". Kamil Zvelebil suggests an etymology of tam-iḻ , with tam meaning "self" or "one's self", and " -iḻ " having the connotation of "unfolding sound". Alternatively, he suggests a derivation of tamiḻ < tam-iḻ < * tav-iḻ < * tak-iḻ , meaning in origin "the proper process (of speaking)". However, this
40716-518: The nature of Atman (Self) and Sarira (body, prakriti ) and its proposed mechanism of rebirth. In the Purva Mimamsa Sutra and the Vedanta sutra , as well as the commentaries on them, the term linga appears quite often, particularly in the form of "lingadarsanacca" as a form of citing or referencing prior Hindu literature. This phrase connotes "[we have found an] indicative sign", such as
40950-427: The next day went and told the king and told what he had seen. The god also appeared to the king the following night by a vision, in the form of a religious ascetic, and commanded him to build a temple in the aforesaid wilderness. The king finding the vision and the statement of the merchant to accord, went to the place and had the forest cleared. Being uncertain how to build the temple and town, he had another vision which
41184-433: The next day, fully armed, and a contest began, which lasted for ten days. At length the aged combatant cut out the younger one's tongue, cut out his eyes and his head, and then disappeared. The people cried out, "Where is the aged conqueror?" and ran to his house and were informed by his wife that he had gone to the temple. On finding him there, they asked how he could have passed unseen through their midst. The sage replied, it
41418-401: The night, placed the Shaiva mark on the Chera king's forehead and carried him over the river. He then opened the north gate and showed the king every part of the temple. On returning and dismissing the king, the god placed on the gate a seal, having the impression of the bullock (the vehicle of Shiva), and left all carefully closed. In the morning when the guards came, they were astonished to find
41652-531: The old aspect and time markers. The Nannūl remains the standard normative grammar for modern literary Tamil, which therefore continues to be based on Middle Tamil of the 13th century rather than on Modern Tamil. Colloquial spoken Tamil, in contrast, shows a number of changes. The negative conjugation of verbs, for example, has fallen out of use in Modern Tamil – instead, negation is expressed either morphologically or syntactically. Modern spoken Tamil also shows
41886-401: The people that came for water they were all instantly supplied. Thus the Pandyan's troops were enabled with renewed strength to carry on a vigorous combat, ending in the capture both of the Chera general and of the king's younger brother. Both of these the Pandyan king carried before the god, and presenting them, asked what was to be done? The reply was, "You are just and merciful, do according to
42120-478: The person of Thadatha-kai, and had now himself reigned a long time as Sundareshvarar, considered it was not right to leave the Pandyan race without offspring. And by a simple volition he produced in due time the birth of his son Subramanyan, in the form of a child bearing the resemblance of Shiva, which event occurred on Monday in the Tiruvatirai nakshatra , when the planet Jupiter was in the most fortunate station of
42354-561: The pictorial symbol of the Gudimallam lingam should not be mistaken for fertility or eroticism, due to incomplete or impure understanding of the underlying refined principles. The Bhita linga – now at the Lucknow museum – is also dated to about the 2nd century BCE, and has four directional faces on the pillar and a Brahmi script inscription at the bottom. Above the four faces, the Bhita linga has
42588-461: The privilege that whatsoever bathes in my waters shall be purified from sin:" which being conceded, she brought a most plentiful supply of water in the shape of the river Vaigai and the dwarf took it all very easily. And now, both hunger and thirst being satisfied, he returned to his duty in the retinue of the god. Among the rishis who came to greet the god was Gautama , who went to pay his respects to Kanjana-malai, queen dowager, she asked him which
42822-493: The proposition being declined on the plea of worshipping at this place, another messenger was sent in obedience to which recall, the elephant went and again became the vahana (vehicle) of Indra. In the time of Kulashekhara Pandya, who ruled in Manavur , a merchant named Tanan-shayen, in the course of his journeys on commercial business was benighted in a forest of Kadamba trees; and being unable to proceed further took up his abode at
43056-428: The reverse, changed the species of other trees nd brought celestial things down to earth. While thus occupying the attention of the people, so that they neglected their employments, the Pandyan, hearing of the circumstances sent his ministers to call the performer of these wonders. The gave respects, but the Siddhar said, "What are kings to me?" and refused to go. The king on hearing of his refusal only replied, " What have
43290-429: The rice continued very bountifully to feed the Brahmins, the temple servants, and other needy people, using as much as they required for themselves. They thus lived on earth long and happily; and afterwards joined the pure beings in the world of Shiva. Tamil language Sri Lanka Singapore Malaysia Canada and United States Tamil ( தமிழ் , Tamiḻ , pronounced [t̪amiɻ] )
43524-516: The sage Agastya , residing on the great mountain called Pothiya, who told them of the evil influence of the planets, and advised them to go and worship Sundaresravarar on Monday. Accordingly, the three kings came to Madurai, and performed the prescribed fastings and ceremonies on Monday in the temple, when, by the favour of Shiva, they were carried to Swarga logam (the paradise of Indra). The Sora and Sera kings took their seats at his footstool and asking for rain, were favourably answered and dismissed. But
43758-453: The said image in the Tilivanam, when he took lotus flowers, and after presenting it to the god, carried it with him to Indra's paradise, who was then riding on his white elephant, and going to encounter the giants. He respectfully gave it to Indra, who laid it on the head of the elephant between its tusks but the animal threw it down and trampled it under foot. Durvasa pronounced on it a curse, to
43992-513: The same." On this she announced to her adopted daughter her intention of bathing in the sea, and the daughter, unwilling to part with her foster-mother, told her own husband; who said, "To bathe in one sea is a trifle; I will bring all the seven seas together to one place, and she may bathe there." Accordingly, much to the astonishment of the people, the seven seas (of ghee, honey, milk, &c.) came rushing into one tank, still retaining their respective colours, and appearing distinct and unmingled. On
44226-435: The seal changed during the night. They then went to the other gates and found that the seals which had been applied were not altered. A report was made to the Pandyan king, which made him arrive to examine the circumstance. The Pandyan king with a view to discover how this wonder had been accomplished, gave himself to fasting and prayer, with prostration on the ground in the temple. Shiva appeared to him in vision and explained to
44460-452: The self-existing lingam (or stone image), which was the sum and substance of the Vedas. He then explained the issuing of the twenty-eight books of the Shiva sect, from the centre mouth of Shiva; and the Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas, from the other four mouths. moreover, stating that the sense of the Vedas was difficult to be made out, and of no very great consequence, he told them the real secret
44694-441: The serpent, they were angry and consulting together said, "If we send a cow, they will be afraid to kill that." Wherefore making a sacrifice, an asura in the shape of a cow came forth, and was instructed to destroy Madurai. There upon it proceeded, raising dust in great rage. The Pandyan heard the occurrence and to besought with Shiva, asking on what he should do. The god, addressing Nandi, his the bullock vehicle, said, "Go and conquer
44928-469: The serpent, which vomited a great deal of poison, by the pestilential effects of which many people of the town died. On this evil occurring, the Pandyan besought the god Shiva to sprinkle a few drops of ambrosial water from his hair on the place, which request being granted, the pestilence disappeared, and the king reigned prosperously over his people. When the Chamanals found that Anantaguna-Pandyan had killed
45162-538: The seven apsaras (fabled to be in Svarga , corresponding with the seven sages ), they were blessed with a daughter. At five years old, the child, named Gauri, asked to be taught a prayer for the speedy change of her mortal form. The Brahmin, being surprised at her early good sense, taught her the Parvati mantra. While the father was waiting for a suitable husband, she passed the eighth year of her age without being betrothed, which
45396-429: The silver temple where Shiva was standing on one leg, and requested that the god should change the position of his feet by standing on the other leg. The king added that while he struck his sword into the ground, that if this was not done, he would fall on his sword and kill himself. On this kingly request being made, Shiva placed down the lifted leg and raised the other one, thus changing the leg on which he stood, at which
45630-466: The son of their king. He gladly agreed and after coming to Madurai, the ceremony was performed; the Sora and Sera kings, gods, demi-gods, and innumerable others were in attendance, with all usual accompaniments and great presents, extensive dower, and largesses were bestowed. After the marriage ceremony, the father gave the son a spear, a discus, a ball and said, "Indran, Maha-meru, and the sea, are your foes: with
45864-426: The spear, you shall overcome the sea; with the ball, you shall conquer Maha meru; and with the discus, subdue Indran. He then charged the ministers to take care of his son as the apple of their eyes; and enjoined his son to follow the advice of his ministers, and to break no old custom. He then gave the new married pair his blessings. He, along with Tadathakai entered an aerial car while his attendants became changed into
46098-465: The standard characters, six characters taken from the Grantha script , which was used in the Tamil region to write Sanskrit, are sometimes used to represent sounds not native to Tamil, that is, words adopted from Sanskrit, Prakrit , and other languages. The traditional system prescribed by classical grammars for writing loan-words, which involves respelling them in accordance with Tamil phonology, remains, but
46332-404: The stories in the text are versions of the original legend which may not mention the presents of Shiva: Indra , the king of the devas and Svarga (heaven), was engaged in spending time with apsaras (divine female celestials) in his abode, when his guru (spiritual preceptor) Brihaspati came to see him. Indra did not pay proper attention to the guru, causing Brihaspati to depart in anger with
46566-414: The symbolization of merging of the 'primordial matter' ( Prakṛti ) with the 'pure consciousness' ( Purusha ) in transcendental context . Sivaya Subramuniyaswami elaborates that the lingam signifies three perfections of Shiva . The upper oval part of the lingam represents Parashiva and the lower part of the lingam, called the pitha, represents Parashakti . In the representation of Parashiva, Shiva
46800-494: The temple, where, with affection, they performed the usual ceremonies; and among other things ventured to say, "It is better that we should be released from the burden of this body than remain thus." On which prayer being offered, a celestial voice was heard, saying, " I have placed in your cottage a heap of rice, which you will find to be inexhaustible. Take from it what is necessary to your own support, and give what you please to my servants." They accordingly returned home, and seeing
47034-443: The temple. During the night, Shiva appeared in the form of a religious devotee and said, "You have neglected the Brahmins so that they have ceased to offer sacrifices, which is the cause of the unavailability of rain, but for the future you must take care to honour the Brahmins. If you want money, take this purse from which you may draw as much as you please." The Pandyan, on receiving the gift, placed it on his throne and honouring it as
47268-462: The temple. The king and the Pandyan king in that time made mutual regulations of peace and good faith. The Chera king planned to give his daughter in marriage to the Pandians, which the younger brother of the latter, named Raji-Mamam, understanding, went to Kanchi and surreptitiously by craft effected that marriage for himself. In consequence, the Chera king conceived an idea of installing his son-in-law on
47502-542: The text was not about real sexual organs, their sexual organs, but merely about the appendages of weird, dark people far away." Similar Orientalist literature of the Christian missionaries and the British era, states Doniger, stripped all spiritual meanings and insisted on the Victorian vulgar interpretation only, which had "a negative effect on the self-perception that Hindus had of their own bodies" and they became "ashamed of
47736-404: The title of "The assemblage of the four clouds." It pleased Shiva to come to Madurai in the form of a Siddhar , with all the usual accompaniments of that order. he walked the royal and Brahmin streets, and performed various wonders. He brought distant mountains near and removed near ones far off. He made old females to become young children, and children to become old women. He changed sexes, made
47970-447: The unchangeable form of Shiva. After the destruction of all things by the deluge, when the Vedas were produced by the word of god, the rishis and Brahmins were embarrassed to know their meaning. Hence they applied to Harra-pakthi (worshipper of Shiva), who directed them to go to Madurai and learn from Sundareshvarar. Accordingly, after coming thither and bathing in the golden-lotus tank, they were met by Shiva, who told them that to worship
48204-414: The unprepared materials for food, and still complained of hunger. On this the goddess enquired of her husband what was to be done, saying. '"It is thus that you fulfil your character of the final destroyer of all things." At this the god smiled with complacency, only complaining that so many of his hungry followers were still left without food. As the hunger of the dwarf was yet unappeased, the god commanded
48438-414: The weapon of his superior. The king then went to the temple, adoring Shiva, promised that as far as the sea had come, so much land would be given to the temple. While Ukrama Pandyan reigned, it happened, by the evil influence of the nine planets, that there was no rain, and consequent by a great drought occurred in the Pandyan, Sora and Sera kingdoms. On which deficiency, these three kings went and consulted
48672-517: The word for "here"— iṅku in Centamil (the classic variety)—has evolved into iṅkū in the Kongu dialect of Coimbatore , inga in the dialects of Thanjavur and Palakkad , and iṅkai in some dialects of Sri Lanka . Old Tamil's iṅkaṇ (where kaṇ means place) is the source of iṅkane in the dialect of Tirunelveli , Old Tamil iṅkiṭṭu is the source of iṅkuṭṭu in
48906-487: The world with the voice of peace and benediction". According to Doniger, the terms lingam and yoni became explicitly associated with human sexual organs in the western imagination after the widely popular first Kamasutra translation by Sir Richard Burton in 1883. In his translation, even though the original Sanskrit text does not use the words lingam or yoni for sexual organs, and almost always uses other terms, Burton adroitly avoided being viewed as obscene to
49140-501: The worlds and the paradise of Indra, safe into the heaven of Shiva. One day the aforesaid Tadatha-kai came to her husband, and said, "You have assembled the seven seas, and have procured the beatification of my reputed parents. But now it occurs to me that it is not worthy after your reign that the Pandyan race should become extinct through want of issue." Shiva, whose height and depth Brahma and Vishnu could not discover, reflected that he had caused his wife (Parvati) to become incarnated in
49374-438: The worship of erotic penis-vulva, rather the linga-yoni is a symbol of cosmic mysteries, the creative powers and the metaphor for the spiritual truths of their faith. According to Swami Sivananda , the correlation of the linga and phallus is wrong; the lingam is only the external symbol of Shiva's formless being. He further states that it is the light or power of consciousness, manifesting from Sadashiva . The popular belief
49608-404: The worshipper should install and worship the five-faced and ten-armed Sadāśiva, the form of Shiva who is the focal divinity of that school of Shaivism. Scholars, such as Wendy Doniger and Rohit Dasgupta , view linga as extrapolations of what was originally a phallic symbol. According to Doniger, there is persuasive evidence in later Sanskrit literature that the early Indians associated
49842-412: Was Raja-kembira Pandyan; his son was Pandyan vamasadeva Pandyan; his son was Purantara sitten; and his son was Pandya vamasapathagen; concerning whom none were in particular were recorded. The son of the latter was Suntaresvara-Patha Sekara Pandyan, who while reigning manifested great regard for the Shaivas, established an army, built pagoda-towers with choultries and collected jewels for Shiva. At this time
50076-526: Was a Tamilian himself, in a joint sitting of both houses of the Indian Parliament on 6 June 2004. The socio-linguistic situation of Tamil is characterised by diglossia : there are two separate registers varying by socioeconomic status , a high register and a low one. Tamil dialects are primarily differentiated from each other by the fact that they have undergone different phonological changes and sound shifts in evolving from Old Tamil. For example,
50310-454: Was a Vellalan, named Nallan, whose wife was very devout, and often insisted much on the property and reasonableness of feeding the followers of Shiva. But the couple were in considerable straits and difficulties even for their own support. After suffering hunger for some days, the man said, “We shall never have sufficient for our own livelihood and preservation, unless we feed the servants of the god.” At his suggestion both himself and wife went to
50544-420: Was a great devotee of Shiva, and while carefully conducting the affairs of the kingdom, the king of a tribe of hunters, named Sethurayen, threatened the kingdom with an invasion. On which occurrence the Pandyan said to his general, “Take money from the treasury, and raise some more troops." He did so but instead of raising troops presented all the money to Shiva. The general expended it in temple ornaments, feasting
50778-494: Was a sacred amusement of the god, he rendered homage to his general, and lived without anxiety. While the Brahmins were away in other provinces, there was a deficiency of sacrifices, and by consequence no rain. However, the king distributed money liberally among the poor who were sufferers, until there was at length no more money. On which deficiency occurring, the king went and applied to Shiva, but receiving no answer, he became troubled and remained fasting and prostrate all night in
51012-456: Was a sacred amusement of the god, rendered him praises. Varuna being disappointed and angry, ordered seven clouds to go and pour down their contents for the destruction of Madurai. Accordingly, these clouds came, with threatening gloom, lightnings, and thunders, produced a deluge by sending rain with drops as large as pumpkins. The god seeing these things, ordered the before-mentioned clouds to interpose; which they accordingly did, and by spreading
51246-407: Was an amusement of Sundareshvarar. Following his instructions, gold came forth from the melting pots, with which an image was made, that was afterwards consecrated by the Brahmins, and thereby made the residence of the god. The woman lived long, and at last attained superior happiness in another world. After Raja-purantara-Pandyan had obtained beatification, his son was named Rajesa Pandyan, whose son
51480-422: Was attentive to the instructions of Agastya in the religious observance of Monday; and by that means his wife, Kantimathi, brought him a son, whom he named Vira Pandyan. At this time the country was distressed by drought, and Shiva, on being besought appeared in a dream, said, "Go to Mahameru and strike it with the ball. There are riches inside, which can be used as charitable donations, and rain will come." Rising in
51714-586: Was claimed to be dated to around 580 BCE. John Guy states that Tamil was the lingua franca for early maritime traders from India. Tamil language inscriptions written in Brahmi script have been discovered in Sri Lanka and on trade goods in Thailand and Egypt. In November 2007, an excavation at Quseir-al-Qadim revealed Egyptian pottery dating back to first century BCE with ancient Tamil Brahmi inscriptions. There are
51948-528: Was created by Lord Shiva . Murugan , revered as the Tamil God, along with sage Agastya , brought it to the people. Tamil, like other Dravidian languages, ultimately descends from the Proto-Dravidian language , which was most likely spoken around the third millennium BCE, possibly in the region around the lower Godavari river basin. The material evidence suggests that the speakers of Proto-Dravidian were of
52182-477: Was doubled; and in consequence of its burden, Indra again concealed himself in a lotus flower. The devas were thus left without a king, and Nahusha , an earthly monarch, who in order to arrive at the dignity had performed a hundred yajnas, became entitled to take the place of Indra. Accordingly, he sent word to Indrani , the consort of the Indra, that he was coming, directing her to prepare to receive him. On this message being communicated, she went in consternation to
52416-455: Was in the street, sorrowing deeply for her misfortunes, she meditated the Parvati mantra, on which the child instantly disappeared, and Shiva himself approached her, seated on his bullock cart. He took her up with him, while the clouds rained flowers. The cart then carried them through the sky of Madurai, which astonished the people of the city. After Vicrama-Pandyan had crowned his son, Rajasekara-Pandyan, and had given him his kingdom, there came
52650-456: Was not combating with a mere mortal, and sent ambassadors, promising to bestow rain. Ukrama did not believe him; in consequence Indra sent a man of the Vellala caste to become security for rain, (hence called காரைக்காத்தவெள்ளாளர், waiters for rain). The king then released the clouds from confinement. Afterwards, by Indra's command, there was abundance of rain with consequent fertility. Ukrama Pandyan
52884-426: Was not he who had fought, but Sundareshvarar. The king hearing of these circumstances gave valuable presents to the man and his wife. After crowning his son Anantaguna-Pandyan, he went to the presence of Shiva (that is, he died). While Anantaguna-Pandyan was reigning, the beads, ashes, and other tokens of the Shaiva religion, were everywhere visible, by reason of his patronage. The Chamanals, being moved with envy, made
53118-410: Was regarded to be unseemly. One day, a Vaishnava (follower of Vishnu) Brahmin came to beg alms. Gauri's father, perceiving him to be learned in the Vedas, bestowed the daughter on him in marriage, with the usual ceremony of gift, and without saying anything on the subject to any one. The neighbours, on learning the circumstances, first blamed him, but on further examination found no other fault than that
53352-558: Was seated under the shade of a banyan tree, in Kailasa, instructed the rishis about the greatness of the six-headed son of Shiva (Kartikeya) called and implored to be taught the eight forms of prayer. Shiva told them to reverence Parvati, and then they would learn the prayers well. But while he was teaching them they did no pay proper attention, in consequence of which the god, becoming angry, denounced "That they should turned into large stones under banyan trees ( ficus religiosa ) near Mandura, for
53586-462: Was selected. In the same night, Shiva appeared in vision to Soma-sekaran, and commanded him to give his daughter in marriage to the son of the king ruling in Madurai. Soma sekaran the next day, astonished and delighted, set out for Madurai with his daughter and a great retinue; and was met on the road by the ministers of Sundaresvarar that were going towards Manavur, who demanded his daughter in marriage for
53820-504: Was the lingua franca for early maritime traders, with inscriptions found in places like Sri Lanka , Thailand , and Egypt . The language has a well-documented history with literary works like Sangam literature , consisting of over 2,000 poems. Tamil script evolved from Tamil Brahmi, and later, the vatteluttu script was used until the current script was standardized. The language has a distinct grammatical structure, with agglutinative morphology that allows for complex word formations. Tamil
54054-468: Was the duty of worshipping the lingam, a secret unknown to Brahma or Vishnu and charging on them due performance of his instructions, he gave them his blessing. The Rishis and Brahmis then sung praises to the god for condescending, by so brief a process, to instruct them in the true sense of the Vedas While Vira-Pandyan ruled, he had many inferior wives who had children, but the legitimate queen
54288-451: Was the emergence of the present tense. The present tense evolved out of the verb kil ( கில் ), meaning "to be possible" or "to befall". In Old Tamil, this verb was used as an aspect marker to indicate that an action was micro-durative, non-sustained or non-lasting, usually in combination with a time marker such as ṉ ( ன் ). In Middle Tamil, this usage evolved into a present tense marker – kiṉṟa ( கின்ற ) – which combined
54522-412: Was the most excellent penance. He replied, "there are three: one consisting in silently contemplating the deity, one in repeating prayers, and one in going about and bathing in all the sacred rivers; of which three, the last was the most excellent: but that since it was attended with much trouble to visit all the rivers, and since all the rivers run into the sea, if she bathed in the sea, the effect would be
54756-432: Was without offspring; until, by performing penance to the god, the queen was delivered of a son, concerning whom all the customary astrological ceremonies were performed. Afterwards the king, while hunting, was slain by a tiger; when the eldest of the concubines, thinking this to be the favourable time, stole the crown and royal jewels. After the grief of the ministers for the death of the king had somewhat subsided, they found
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