Tevaram

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Tevaram is a body of ancient Saivite religious hymns composed in the 6th-9th centuries by the thousands in the popular Tamil language by Saiva Nayanars. These saints, such as Appar (6-7th century A.D.), Sambanthar (6-7th century A.D.) and Sundarar (9th century A.D.)to spread their faith among common people. The hymns were set to music denoted by Panns and are part of the canon of the Tamil music. They continue to be sung in temples today as part of the worship.^{[1] [2]}

In the Tamil language, Teva means God, so the aram means garland sung in praise of Teva, became known as Tevaram.^[3] The Tevaram hymns give a vivid picture of the state of Saivism in the Tamil country during the seventh and the eighth centuries CE. These hymns are characterised by the genuine devotion to Siva, and a general objection to Vaishnavism and the heterodox sects such as Jainism and Buddhism prevalent at that time.^[4]

During the reign of Rajaraja Chola I in the tenth century, these songs were found abandoned in the Chidambaram temple along with other religious literary works. Nambiyandar Nambi collected what was available and catalogued into 12 volumes (Tirumurai in Tamil). The first seven volumes of this forms the Tevaram.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Glossary. TempleNet. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
2. ^ Abodes of Shive. Indiantemples.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
3. ^ Classical Notes: Musical people. The Hindu. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
4. ^ N.Subramaniam. Social and Cultural History of Tamilnad (to AD 1336). Ennes Publication Udumalpet 642 128. 

[edit] External links

• "Carnatic music". Encyclopædia Britannica (15). (2005). 
• Similar in both spirit and intonation
• Classical Notes: Musical people
• The Authenticity of Sthala Puranas (HinduDharma: Puranas)
• The poetic charm of Tamizh isai
• Tevaram Songs
• Dharmapuram Adhinam's web site giving the transliteration / translation of the 12 Tirumurais
• Digital Tevaram, an Indology CD released by the French Institute of Pondicherry, has the English translation of all Tevarams (1 to 7 Tirumurais)
• Sample translations from the Digital Tevaram CD issued by the French Institute of Pondicherry