Books on Saivism

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

Books on Saivism

The twentyeight Saiva Agamas, the hymns (Tevaram and Tiruvasagam) of the Saiva saints form the chief sources of Southern Saivism. The Saiva hymns compiled by Nambi Andar Nambi (A.D. 1000) are collectively called Tirumurai. Tevaram contains the hymns of Sambandhar, Appar and Sundarar. The hymns of Manickavasagar are called Tiruvasagam. The Agamanta called Saiva Siddhanta is the essence of the 28 Sanskrit Agamas. Agamanta is the inner meaning of the Veda. Seklar’s Periyapuranam (llth century) gives a description of the sixtythree Saiva saints. Tiruvasagam is a collection of fiftyone poems of unsurpassed spiritual experiences and grandeur. Dr. G.V. Pope has translated this into English. In the beginning of the 13th century, the great Saiva Siddhanta philosophical movement was inaugurated by Saint Meykandar who is the eminent author of Sivajnana Bodham, the central work of the system. Sivajnana Bodham is regarded as an expansion of twelve verses of the Raurava Agama. This book is the standard exposition of the Saiva Siddhanta views. It contains in a nutshell a systematic expression of the system. It opened the eyes of Tamilians to the supreme excellence of this philosophy. Saint Meykandar taught his philosophy to fortynine disciples, propagated and popularised the system. Arulnandi Sivachariar, the first of the fortynine disciples of Meykandar, is the author of the important work Siva Jnana Siddhiyar. He is also the author of Irupa-Irupathu. In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, there arose fourteen philosophical works, known as standard Saiva Siddhanta Sastras. They are Tiruvundiar, Tirukalitrupadiar, Sivajnana Bodham, Sivajnana Siddhiar, Irupa-Irupathu, Unmai Vilakkam, Sivaprakasam, Tiru Arul Payan, Vina-vemba, Partripatirodai, Kodikkavi, Nenju Vidu Thoothu, Unmai Neri Vilakkam and Sangarpaniraharanam. Sivaprakasam and Tiru Arul Payan are two well-known books written by Umapati Sivachariar (14th century). He is the author of other six Sastras of the group. Tiruvendiar was composed by Saint Uyyavanda-deva-nayanar of Tiruvayalur about the middle of the 12th century. Tirukkadavur Uyyavanda-deva-nayanar was the author of the Tirukalitrupadiar. Unmai Vilakkam is one of the fourteen Sastras written by Manavasagam Kadanthar, another disciple of Meykandar. Tirumandiram is one of the most authoritative works embodying the Saiva doctrine. The author is Tirumula Nayanar. This work is the foundation upon which the later structure of Saiva Siddhanta philosophy was built. The Saiva doctrine of the Sanskrit Agamas are translated in this book. It is a work of three thousand stanzas composed in the course of three thousand years. It deals with the practical and theoretical aspects of the Saiva religion and philosophy. Jnanamritam is the earliest treatise which treats of the Siddhanta concepts in the modern scientific manner. The Saiva Siddhanta rests on the twofold tradition of the Vedas and the Agamas. Nilakantha, who flourished in the 14th century, undertook the systematic reconciliation of the two. He wrote a commentary on the Brahma Sutras. He interpreted it in the light of the Saiva system. Appayya Dikshita’s commentary called Sivarka Mani Dipika is a valuable book. Siva Purana, Linga Purana, Siva Parakrama, Tiruvilayadal Puranam, Periyapuranam treat of the glory of Lord Siva. These books are translated into Tamil. Bhakta Vilasam is a Sanskrit work. It is a minor Purana upon the Skanda Purana. The twentyeight Agamas were written in Sanskrit in the valley of Kashmir. This Agamanta arose in North India long before Jainism came into prominence. It was known there by the name Pratyabhijna Darsanam. Then it spread westwards and southwards. In Western India, it was known by Vita Mahesvara Darsanam, and in South India it was called Suddha Saiva Darsanam. Linga Purana is held in great respect by the Vira Mahesvaras.