Ayya Vaikundar

Ayya Vaikundar
Ayya Vaikundar
Ukara Pranava, Avatar of Narayana
Other names	Ayya Narayanar, Siva Marugan
Devanagari	अय्या वैकुण्टर
Affiliation	Svayam Bhagavan (Ayyavazhi); Avatar of Vishnu;
Predecessor	Krishna
Abode	Vaikuntha
Mantra	Ayya Siva siva siva siva Arahara Arahara
Battles	Ongoing, Destruction of Kali.
Texts	Akilathirattu Ammanai; Arul Nool;
Gender	Male
Festivals	Ayya Vaikunda Avataram
Genealogy
Born	Tiruchendur, Tamil Nadu, India.
Parents	Vishwa Maha Lakshmi (mother); Vishwa Narayanar (father);

Ayya Vaikundar (Tamil: அய்யா வைகுண்டர்) also known as Siva Narayana or Vaikunda Swami was the founder of the Ayyavazhi faith.^[1] The Ayyavazhis believe him to be the first and foremost Purna avatar of Eka-Paran and the god Vishnu (Narayana).^[2]^[3]^[4] As per Ayyavazhi mythology detailed in their scriptures, Ayya Vaikundar incarnated in 1833, when he rose from the sea of Tiruchendur in the mortal shell of Vaikundar.^[5]

Ayya Vaikundar is a central character in the narratives and teaching of the Ayyavazhi scripture Akilathirattu Ammanai (Akilam).^[6] The Ayyayazhis believe that he will be instrumental in the destruction of Kali and establishment of Dharma Yukam.^[7]^[8]^[9] As per Ayyavazhi scriptures, Ayya Vaikundar is the supreme God in his own right.^[10]

Most of the preachings and activities found in Akilam and other texts about the life of Ayya Vaikundar was documented historically^[11] and detailed in critical contemporary sources externally as well.^[12] Though the prime features of Ayya Vaikundar’s mission is revealed through Akilathirattu, he also teaches orally.^[13] His oral teaching are compiled in the Books of Pathiram, Sivakanta Athikara Pathiram and Thingal Patham.^[14] Though Akilam is directly against creating any form of organised religion or belief,^[15] the teachings of Akilam and especially few books of Arul Nool form the basis of Ayyavazhi belief.^[16] The birth anniversary of Ayya Vaikundar is celebrated as Ayya Vaikunda Avataram on the 20th of Masi^[17] as per the Tamil Calendar (3 or 4 March C.E).

^ Chryssides, George D. (2012). Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 48-49. ISBN 978-0-8108-6194-7.
^ Mani, Ari Sundara (22 March 2002). Akilathirattu Ammanai Parayana Urai (Third ed.). Ambala Pathi: Ayya Vaikundar Narppani Manram. p. 310.
^ Krishna Nathan, T (December 2000). Ayya Vaikundarin Vazhvum Sinthanaiyum (First ed.). Nagercoil: Thinai Veliyeettagam. p. 44.
^ Patrick 2003, p. 210.
^ Krishna Nathan, T (December 2000). Ayya Vaikundarin Vazhvum Sinthanaiyum (First ed.). Nagercoil: Thinai Veliyeettagam. p. 44.
^ Chryssides, George D. (2012). Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 48–9. ISBN 978-0-8108-6194-7.
^ Puthirar, Poojya (4 March 1999). "Vaiyameerezhukkum Makizhvu tharum Vaikunda Jayanthi". Vaikunda Vijayam. 1 (8): 34–36.
^ Bala Sundaram, T (2010). Akilathirattu Urainadai (First ed.). Swamithope: Ayya Vaikundar Veeman Sidar Arakkattalai. p. 125.
^ Anna Selvam, S (June 2015). Akilathirattu Ammanai Mulamum Porulum (First ed.). Madhaganeri: Selva Ganeshan. pp. 1613–1615.
^ Vivekanandan, N (1993). Thiruvasakam Mulamum Uraiyum (Third ed.). Asarippallam: Vivekananda Pathippakam. pp. 30–33.
^ Arunan, Thiru (1999). Two Hundred Years' History of Social Reform in Tamil Land. Madurai: Vahai Publication. p. 28.
^ The London Missionary Society Reports for the Years 1838, 1843 and 1847; Though it is evident that the missionaries in their reports were of negative view on Vaikundar, their attestation regaring the historicity of Vaikundar shall be acknowledged by the reports.
^ Ponnu, R (2000). Sri Vaikunda Swamigal and the Struggle for Social Equality in South India. Madurai: Ram Publishers. p. 47.
^ Mani Bharathi, A (January 1995). "Samithoppu Ayya Narayana Swami - 2". The Dina Thanthi, Kudumba Malar: 5.
^ Vivekanandan, N (2003). Akilathirattu Ammanai Mulamum Uraiyum - Irandam Pakam (First - Revised ed.). Nagercoil: Vivekananda Pathippakam. p. 68.
^ Vivekanandan, N (2017). Arul Nool Mulamum Uraiyum (Second - Revised ed.). Nagercoil: Vivekananda Pathippakam. p. 23.
^ Ponnu, R (2002). Vaikunda Swamigal Ore Avataram (2002 ed.). Madurai: Ram Pathipakam. p. 59.

[:0-1] Chryssides, George D. (2012). Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 48-49. ISBN 978-0-8108-6194-7.

[2] Mani, Ari Sundara (22 March 2002). Akilathirattu Ammanai Parayana Urai (Third ed.). Ambala Pathi: Ayya Vaikundar Narppani Manram. p. 310.

[3] Krishna Nathan, T (December 2000). Ayya Vaikundarin Vazhvum Sinthanaiyum (First ed.). Nagercoil: Thinai Veliyeettagam. p. 44.

[FOOTNOTEPatrick2003210-4] Patrick 2003, p. 210.

[5] Krishna Nathan, T (December 2000). Ayya Vaikundarin Vazhvum Sinthanaiyum (First ed.). Nagercoil: Thinai Veliyeettagam. p. 44.

[6] Chryssides, George D. (2012). Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 48–9. ISBN 978-0-8108-6194-7.

[7] Puthirar, Poojya (4 March 1999). "Vaiyameerezhukkum Makizhvu tharum Vaikunda Jayanthi". Vaikunda Vijayam. 1 (8): 34–36.

[8] Bala Sundaram, T (2010). Akilathirattu Urainadai (First ed.). Swamithope: Ayya Vaikundar Veeman Sidar Arakkattalai. p. 125.

[9] Anna Selvam, S (June 2015). Akilathirattu Ammanai Mulamum Porulum (First ed.). Madhaganeri: Selva Ganeshan. pp. 1613–1615.

[10] Vivekanandan, N (1993). Thiruvasakam Mulamum Uraiyum (Third ed.). Asarippallam: Vivekananda Pathippakam. pp. 30–33.

[11] Arunan, Thiru (1999). Two Hundred Years' History of Social Reform in Tamil Land. Madurai: Vahai Publication. p. 28.

[12] The London Missionary Society Reports for the Years 1838, 1843 and 1847; Though it is evident that the missionaries in their reports were of negative view on Vaikundar, their attestation regaring the historicity of Vaikundar shall be acknowledged by the reports.

[13] Ponnu, R (2000). Sri Vaikunda Swamigal and the Struggle for Social Equality in South India. Madurai: Ram Publishers. p. 47.

[14] Mani Bharathi, A (January 1995). "Samithoppu Ayya Narayana Swami - 2". The Dina Thanthi, Kudumba Malar: 5.

[15] Vivekanandan, N (2003). Akilathirattu Ammanai Mulamum Uraiyum - Irandam Pakam (First - Revised ed.). Nagercoil: Vivekananda Pathippakam. p. 68.

[16] Vivekanandan, N (2017). Arul Nool Mulamum Uraiyum (Second - Revised ed.). Nagercoil: Vivekananda Pathippakam. p. 23.

[17] Ponnu, R (2002). Vaikunda Swamigal Ore Avataram (2002 ed.). Madurai: Ram Pathipakam. p. 59.

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