The evolution of Siva Agamams in Tamil Nadu
<p align="justify">(1) The Mahendra Malai in Tamil Nadu a Holy abode of God Siva
In ancient times there had been mountains in Tamil Nadu which were held as holy abodes of God Siva and Goddess Sakthi by the Saivites of Tamil Nadu, as much as Mount Kailash of the Tibetian region, having their own concepts on the importance and significance of these mountains coming forth from the Sages & Seers of Tamil Nadu over a period of time. They were evidently the Mahendra Malai, Pothikai Malai, (Thiru) An-naa Malai, and the Eengoi Malai .
Among them the Mahendra Malai draws our importance, as this mountain is not only held as the holy abode of God Siva and Goddess Sakthi, but also related with the evolution of the original Agamams. Mahendra Malai was also known as the Manthira Maamalai.
The following references confirms the association of God Siva with this mountain.
"Sinththanaikku ariya Sivame pottri
Manthira maamalai meyay pottri"
Thiruvaasakam by Saint Maanikkavaasakar, Pottri Thiruakaval, Line 205
"Thuu vellai neerani emperumaan
sothi Mahenthiranathan vanthu
thevar tholumpatham vaiththa Easan"
Thiruvaasakam by Saint Maanikkavaasakar, Thiruvarththai, Verse 9
"mani neer aruvi Mahenthira mamalai mel uraiyum
kuravaa...Thillai ambalak kooththane"
9th Thirumurai by Saint Thirumaalikaithevar, Pathikam 3, Verse 1
"varuneer aruvi Mahenthirap pon malaiyin
Malaimahalukku arulum kuru nee"
9th Thirumurai by Saint Thirumaalikaithevar, Pathikam 3, Verse 10
(2) The location of Mahendra Malai
The Mahendra mountain range was situated in the extreme south of the present Tamil Nadu, evidently stretching beyond the present Kanya Kumari region, which formed a part of the Pandiya Nadu of that period. However with a great sea erosion taking place many mountains including Pahruli river and the vast tracts of land of the Kumari region belonging to then Pandiyan king submerged in to the sea. In this tragedy the southern most part of the 'Mahendra Mountain range' too sank into the sea, while the northern part of same with a single tall peak known as Mahendra Malai survived.
The survived peak of the Mahendra mountain range could be seen even today, south of Thamiraparani river in the present Kanyakumari district, almost midway between the Thirukkurungudi and Bhutapandi having a height of 1,654 Metres (5,425 Ft), and presently called as the Mahendragiri. (Giri is mountain - in Sanskrit & Malai in Tamil)
The following references confirms the sinking of the southern part of the Mahendra Mountain range, and the present location of the surviving peak.
Among them, the reference from Valmiki Ramayana further indicates that the remaining portion of the Mahendra mountain was lying down south of India beyond the Thamiraparani river in between the then Pandiyan capital and the sea in the days of the Ramayana epic, and even today. The reference is as follows.
"……From there you shall cross over the river Taamraparni……from there that is divine and fully golden and decorated with pearls & gemstones you shall see the Pandiyan kingdom's castle door. From there you reach the ocean and on resolving - the resolve of the purpose. There "with its one end verily penned in by Sage Agastya inside the ocean, the fortunate Mt Mahendra is there", with its marvellous pinnacles and the best among the mountains……."
Valmiki Ramayana – Kiskinda Kanda (English Translation)
"aluntha Mahenthiraththu antharam putkku arasukku arase"
9th Thirumurai by Saint Thirumaalikaithevar, Pathikam 3, Verse 5
The above reference clearly mentions of the portion of the Mahendra Malai which never sunk (aluntha)
"then munai vattil ma Mayenthirame"
Kooththa Nool by Saththanaar – Chapter titled Thari Nool
"Pahtruli aatrudan panmalai aduk kaththu Kumarik Kodum kodung kadal kolla vada thisai Gangaiyum Imayamum kondu then thisai aanda Thennavan vaali"
Silappathikarem – Mathurai Kandam – Kaadu kaan kaathai -
Lines 19-20
The last reference seen above in the Tamil epic poem Silappathikarem states "Praise to the Thennavan (Pandiyan king)who on the fearce sea submerging the riverPahruli with many range of mountains including the Kumari range, conquered the Gangai (river) and Imayam (Himalayan mountain) and ruled from the south".
Among the many range of mountains that submerged possibly was also the southern part of then Mahendra mountain range, as Silappathikarem states it was the territory of the Pandiyan king, which falls in line with what is stated in the Valmiki Ramayana that beyond the Pandiyan kingdom was the Mahendra mountain.
(3) Agamams revealed by God Siva to four Munivars on the Mahendira Malai
The Kooththanool a Sangam period Tamil dance treatise, confirms that the four original Agamams were revealed by God Siva (to the "visualising senses" of) four Munivars (on their intense worship of him) on the Mahendra Mountain. The Agamams were also known as Thanthirams.
"Manthira maamalai Yanthira thavacil vadakku parithi kidakkap poam vali, naalvarkku Thanthira Naan Marai koorum Kooththanum Kooththiyum iyatriya kooththai kandaan Agaththiyan"
Kooththa Nool - by Saaththanaar, Line 8
The Manthira maamalai referred here is the Mahendra Mountain which is further confirmed by the the following references:
"Manthiram enba Mayenthira Vetpe" (Vetpu - Mountain)
Kooththa Nool – Chapter Thari Nool, Line 15
The Tamil Saiva Saint Maanikka-vaasagar of Tamil Nadu too confirms this truth in the Sivapuraanam of his work Thiruvaasakam, by stating that God Siva revealed Agamams on Mahenthira Malai.
The reference is as follows.
"Mannu maamalai Mahenthiram athanil
sonna Akamam thotruviththu aruliyum"
Thiruvaasakam – Section on Sivapuranam, Page 22
"Maa etaakiya Akamam vaankiyum matravai thammai Mahenthiraththu irunthu Uttra iym muhankalaal panintharuliyum"
Thiruvaasakam – Section on Sivapuranam, Page 23
"Thattham samayath thahuthi nillaathaarai aththan Sivan sonna Agama Nool Neri eththandamum seyum ammaiyil…."
Thirumanthiram – verse 247
(4) The original Siva Agamams and it's subsequent growth
Agamas were originally four in number grew later to nine and finally ended up at twenty eight. The following references confirms the above.
"naalvarkku Thanthira Naan Marai koorum Kooththanum
Kooththiyum"
Kooththa Nool - by Saaththanaar, Line 10
"….Munthi uthikkintra muulan madavarai
Thanthiram onpathu saarvu muvayiram
Sunthara Agama sol molinth thane"
Thirumanthiram – verse 101
"Anjana Meni Arivaiyor paahaththan
Anjodu irupaththu muntru ula Agamam
Anjali koopphi arupaththu aruvarum
Anjaa muhaththil arum porul kettathe"
Thirumanthiram – verse 57
(5) Names of the original Agamams
It is not clear which were the first four Agamams revealed by God Siva to (the visualising senses) of the four Munivars on Mahendra Malai. However with the growth of these Agamams to nine, we are made aware of the names of these nine Agamams by the Tamil Saiva Saint Thirumoolar, in his Tamil religious text the Thirumanthiram. In fact he says that his Thirumanthiram is the essence of these nine Agamams. This is confirmed as follows.
"Muulan madavarai Thanthiram onpathu saarvu (mu)vayiram
sundara Agama sol molinthaane"
Thirumanthiram - Sirrappu Payiram, verse 101
The names of these nine Agamams are as follows.
(1) Kaarana Agamam
(2) Kamika Agamam
(3) Veera Agamam
(4) Siththa Agamam
(5) Vaathula Agamam
(6) Viyamala Agamam
(7) Kaaloththira Agamam
(8) Suppira Agamam
(9) Mahuta Agamam
The names of the nine Agamams mentioned above are confirmed by the following verse of the Thirumoolar's Thirumanthiram.
"Pettra nal Agamam – Kaaranam, Kamikam
uttra nal Veeram, uyar Siththam, Vaathulam
matrav Viyamalam ahum Kaaloaththiram
thuttra nat Suppiram sollu Mahutame"
Thirumanthiram – verse 63
Subsequently the Siva Agamams grew into twenty eight, and the additional Agamams which made this number are as follows.
(1) Yosaka Agamam
(2) Sinthiya Agamam
(3) Asitha Agamam
(4) Theeptha Agamam
(5) Suukuma Agamam
(6) Anjuman Agamam
(7) Visaya Agamam
(8) Nisuvaasa Agaam
(9) Suwaayambuva Agamam
(10) Aakineya Agamam
(11) Rouvara Agamam
(12) Chandragnana Agamam
(13) Mukavimba Agamam
(14) Prokeetha Agamam
(15) Lalitha Agamam
(16) Santhana Agamam
(17) Sarvoththa Agamam
(18) Paaramesuvara
(19) Kirana Agamam
(6) Original Agamams were in Tamil in addition to it being in Sanskrit
These original four Agamams were in Tamil in additon to them being in Sanskrit which is gleaned from the references in the verses in Saint Thirumoolar's Thirumanthiram which are as follows:
"Ariyamum Munth Thamilum udane solli
kaarikaiyarkku karunai seithaane"
Thirumamthiram - Verse 65
"Thamil sol Vada sol enum ivvirandum
unarththum avanai unaralumame"
Thirumanthiram - Verse 66
"Thangi mihamai vaiththaan Thamil Saththiram"
Thirumanthiram - Verse 87
(7) Agamams the source of early Saivite philosophy of Tamil Nadu
From all available evidences it could be proved beyond doubt that Siva Agamas in Tamil were the original holy texts of Saivaism of Tamil Nadu, long before the Vedic religion from north India having Vedas in Sanskrit as its principal holy texts, gradually took a place of pride along with Saivaism in Tamil Nadu in the subsequent periods.The God Siva's forms such as Sivalingam, Siva with Gangai and crest moon in his knots of hair with snake around his neck and a blue kandam on his throat, and the trident in one hand, the Nadarajar, Lingothbavar, Somaskandar, Thedchana-murthi, Arthanadiswarar etc etc are only known to us from Agamams.
Only the Siva Agamams mention about Pancha Bootha Thalams, Virratta Thalams etc, etc. Hence we could very correctly say that the Agamas were the philosophy of the Saivite religion of South India specifically of Tamil Nadu.
(8) Saivaism and Vedic Religion
The Siva Agamas were also known as Thanthiram and Saiva Nool, while the Vedas were also known as Manthiram, Aranam and as Veda Nool. The religious scriptures - namely the Agamas & Vedas - of the two religions the Saivaism & Vedism, were practised side by side in Saivite Temples in the pre-medieval, medieval, and post-medieval Tamil Nadu. This is confirmed by the following references.
"VedaNool, Saiva Nool, entru irande nookal,
veru uraikkum nool ivatrin virintha nookal
aathi Nool anaathi amalan tharum nool irandum
Arana Nool, Pothu Saivam arun sirappu noolaam."
Meikanda Nool
"Aravu oli Agamangal, Arivar ari Thoththirangal,
viraviya Veda oli, vinnellaam vanthe ethirnthu issaippa"
7th Thirumurai - pathikam 100, verse - 8
"Vethamodu Saivaneri vilanga vantha kavuniyanaar"
Periyapuranam 453
"Saivam muthal vaitheekamum thalaiththonga"
Periyapuranam 302
(9) A temple rituals are conducted as per Siva Agamams
From the early days through the medieval period upto today we are aware from many sources that all Hindu Temple rituals and modes of worship - were and are conducted as per codes stipulated in the Agamams, even though only the Yagams, Omams & Velvis are done in accordance with the Vedas with Sanskrit Vedic Mantras chanted.
(10) All Agamams as it exists today should be translated in to Tamil and English from Sanskrit or Granthaha
Among the twenty eight Agamas whatever is available today in Sanskrit, Grantha or in Tamil from the Saivite Temples in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere must be procured, and where required translated into Tamil & English by a team of Scholars, printed and published and made freely available to every one, for those who are interested in doing an indepth research study on them.
The Saiva Temple Priests too should co-operate with Scholars by providing copies of these Agamams which are either in "Ola Leaf Manuscript form" or already in the "Printed form" and are now rare to find - for the future posterity of the Saivites throught the World.
It will be most welcome if the Temple Priests themselves could come forward to put them into print and publish them, to the easy access of all Scholars and others who will be interested in same.
It is only then everyone will come to know of the valuable contents of the Agamas as it exists today, and appreciate and benefit from them - as religious texts.
The Saivite Religious Dignitaries too should endevour to do intensive study of the Agamas and bring forth and preach the salient features of the "Agamic religious philosopy which is the "Saiva Siththantham", to all Saivites.
This will also help us to define the Saivaism religion correctly, and make it useful to the Hindu community throughout the world, especially to the Saivites.
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