The document discusses the Tamil Bhakti Movement, which originated in Tamil Nadu during the 6th century CE, focusing on the saint-poets known as Nayanmars and Alwars who were devoted to Lord Shiva and Vishnu. It highlights the historical context of religious harmony before the Kalabhra dynasty, which promoted Buddhism and Jainism, leading to conflict with Hindu traditions. The significance of Bhakti literature, written in the Tamil vernacular to engage the common people, is emphasized, along with key texts such as Tevaram and Nalayira Divyaprabandham.

1. Tamil -Pakthi Movement
Dr. S. Sundarabalu
Visiting Professor
ICCR’s Tamil Chair
Institute of Oriental Studies
Dept. of Indology
Jagiellonian University,Krakow- Poland
Sunder_balu@yahoo.co.in

2. • Tamil literature may broadly be classified into:
(i) Sangam Classics
(ii) Bhakthi or Devotional Literature
(iii) Ethics, and
(iv) Modern Literature
2

3. Symbols by the clockwise order:
1. Judaism
2. Christianity
3. Islam
4. Bahá'í
5. Hinduism
6. Taoism
7. Buddhism
8. Sikhism
9. Rodnoveri
10. Celtic paganism (contemporary)
11. Heathenism
12. Semitic paganism (contemporary)
13. Wicca
14. Kemetism
15. Hellenic paganism (contemporary)
16. Roman paganism (contemporary)
List of religions and spiritual traditions

4. Who am i?
• Did you ever asked this question to yourself?
• if no... spend at least 10 minutes to think about it in
pleasant environment... you may get some spark of
thought which asks more questions to you... then
check below..
• if yes you are at right place to logically, scientifically
discuss ,what is soul?, who/what is god?, what he is
doing for us?, how can i believe god ?
• http://www.saivasiddhanta.in/qas.html

5. 1.Vedic
saivism
vaishnavism
2.Buddhism
3.Jainism

6. Development of Shaivism
Unlike Brahmin beliefs in
Hinduism, which permit only
males to participate in the
Upanayana or Deeksha
ceremonies, both Lingayat men
and women participate in
these ceremonies in the
presence of a satguru. This
practice was begun by
Basavanna himself, who
refused to undergo Upanayana,
because it discriminated
against women.

7. • Bhakthi Movement - ORIGIN IN TAMILNADU
• This movement had its origin in the 6thc CE Tamilnadu and
the major participants in this movement a group of saint-
poets, known as the Nayanmars and the Alwars, the former
the devotees of Siva and the latter, the worshippers of
Vishnu.
• Both were popular gods in South as well as in North India,
and became the most powerful deities in Tamilnadu.
Complementing this fact is the widespread movement of two
sects- Vaishnavism and Saivism. Their glory was inhibited for
a long time by the two heretical religions-Buddhism and
Jainism.

8. • In the earlier centuries of TamilNadu, Buddhist
authors and monks enjoyed royal patronage under
the rulers of Kalabhra dynasty. They followed a
religious policy of anti Brahmanism during their
regime. Buddhism and Jainism flourished during
this period.

9. • They were also intolerant towards the Tamil
concepts of literature chiefly the Aham form of
poetry and arts like music and drama and the
religious beliefs of the inhabitants. At last Kalabhras
were defeated by Pandyas, Pallavas, and Chalukyas
of Badami ending three hundred years of religious
persecution.
• There was an atmosphere of religious harmony
before 6th c. C.E. among devotees of Siva, Krishna,
Vishnu and others. The situation begins to change
and it was reflected in the strong touching bhakti
and the expression of a profound hate for Buddhists
and Jains.

10. The Kalabhras dynasty (Tamil: ) ruled over the entire
Ancient Tamil country between the 3rd and the 7th century in an era of
South Indian history called the Kalabhra interregnum. The
Kalabhras, possibly Buddhists, displaced the kingdoms of the early
Cholas, early Pandyas and Chera dynasties by a revolt. The Kalabhras put
an end to the brahmanadeya rights granted to the brahmans in
numerous villages across southern India.

12. • They engaged in public debates with the Buddhist
and Jain monks which included performance of
miracles. Significantly, the saints started travelling
from temple to temple, singing and dancing with
their devotees. And slowly it became a mass
movement and the activities of Alwars and
of Nayanmars is identified as the Bhakti
movement.

13. • BHAKTI LITERATURE
• It was only during the period of the later Cholas it
came to be known as Bhakti movement.

15. • Bhakti literature means poetry caused by or dealing
with a human emotion called Bhakti; it does not
simply designate any eulogy or praise as one.
• These poems were canonized in the later periods
and played an important role in Vaishnavite and
Saivite traditions. Tamil, vernacular language, was
used in the bhakti poems in order to speak to the
lay man instead of Sanskrit. The bhakti literature
produced in Tamilnadu comprises of two important
books-
1. Tevaram,
2. Nalayira DivyaPrabandham,
con..