Ayyavazhi
Vaishnava Hindu sect / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ayyavazhi (Tamil: அய்யாவழி, Malayalam: അയ്യാവഴി Ayyāvaḻi[1] [əjːaːvəɻi] ⓘ, lit. 'Path of the Master') is a Hindu denomination that originated in South India during the 19th century.[2][3]
Ayyavazhi is centered on the life and preachings of Ayya Vaikundar; its ideas and philosophy are based on the holy texts Akilathirattu Ammanai and Arul Nool. Accordingly, Ayya Vaikundar was the Purna avatar of Narayana.[4] Ayyavazhi shares many ideas with Hinduism in its beliefs and practice, but differs considerably in its concepts of good and evil and dharma.[5] Ayyavazhi is classified as a dharmic belief because of its central focus on dharma.[6]
Ayyavazhi first came to public attention in the 19th century as a Hindu sect.[7] Vaikundar's activities and the growing number of followers caused a reformation and revolution in 19th-century Travancorean[8] and Tamil society,[9] surprising the feudal social system of South India.[10] It also triggered a number of reform movements including those of Narayana Guru[11] and Ramalinga Swamigal.[12]
Though Ayyavazhi followers are spread across India,[13][14] they are primarily present in South India,[15] especially concentrated in Tamil Nadu[16] and Kerala.[17] The number of practitioners is estimated to be between 8,000,000[18] and 10,000,000[19] although the exact number is unknown, since Ayyavazhis are reported as Hindus during censuses.[20][21]