The following outline is provided as an overview and topic guide to Ayyavazhi:
Ayyavazhi – Indian belief system[1] that originated in South India.[2] It is cited as an independent monistic[3] religion by several newspapers,[4][5][6] government reports[7][8] and academic researchers.[9][10][11][12] In Indian censuses, however, the majority of its followers declare themselves as Hindus. Therefore, Ayyavazhi is also considered a Hindu denomination.[13][14][15]
Ayyavazhi is centered on the life and preachings of Lord Vaikundar; its ideas and philosophy are based on the holy texts Akilathirattu Ammanai and Arul Nool. Accordingly, Vaikundar was the Purna avatar of Lord Narayana. Ayyavazhi shares many ideas with Hinduism in its mythology and practice, but differs considerably in its concepts of good and evil and dharma.[16] Ayyavazhi is closely related to other Indian religions because of its central focus on dharma.[17]
Arisundara Mani, Akilathirattu Ammanai Parayana Urai p. 4
Tha. Krishna Nathan, Ayyaa vaikuNdarin vaazvum sinthanaiyum, p. 62: "அவர் (வைகுண்டர்) மாற்றுப் பிறப்பு பெற்ற நாளே அய்யாவழி சமய மரபு தோற்றம் பெற்ற நாள்(கி.பி.1833) எனக் கூறலாம்." (The day at which Vaikundar is given rebirth could be considered as the date of origin of 'Ayyavazhi religion'.)
N. Vivekanandan, Akilathirattu Ammanai moolamum Uraiyum, Volume 2, p. 97
The following morning and evening dailies calls Ayyavazhi as a separate religion:
- Malai Malar (leading evening Tamil daily), Nagercoil Edition, 4 March 2007, p. 5, "சுவாமி ஊர்வலத்தை அய்யாவழி பக்தர்கள் சமய தலைவர் பால பிரஜாபதி அடிகளார்..." (this report calls Ayyavazhi ('அய்யாவழி சமயம்') "a separate religion");
- Dinakaran (Tamil Daily), Nagercoil Edition, 1 March 2007, p. 3: "அய்யாவழி சமய தலைவர் பால பிரஜாபதி அடிகளார் அடிக்கல் நாட்டினார்"("Bala Prajapathi Adikalar the head of Ayyavazhi religion laid foundation stone for the ...");
- Dinakaran (Tamil Daily), Nagercoil Edition, 14 February 2011, p. 2: "...தலைமை பதிக்கு வந்த ரவிசங்கர்ஜியை அய்யாவழி சமய தலைவர் பால பிரஜாபதி அடிகளார் வரவேற்றார்."("Bala Prajapathi Adikalar the head of Ayyavazhi religion welcomed Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who arrived here in Swamithope pathi...");
- Dina Thanthi, Nagercoil Edition, 2/3/2007, p. 5. "மாநாட்டுக்கு அய்யாவழி சமய தலைவர் பால பிரஜாபதி அடிகளார் தலைமை தாங்குகிறார்." Translation – "The religious conference is led by Bala Prajapathi Adikalar, the head of Ayyavazhi religion." This news from a leading news paper in India, on reporting the 175th Ayya Vaikunda Avataram, calls Ayyavazhi a religion, and Bala Prajapathi Adikalar the head of Ayyavazhi religion;
- Tamil Murasu (4/3/2006), p. 3:"இதையொட்டி குமரி மாவட்டம் சாமி தோப்பில் 'அய்யா வழி சமய' மாநாடு (the conference of 'Ayyavazhi religion') உள்பட..."
"Nallakannu Watches Ayyavazhi" (www.kollywoodtoday.com). They follow a religion based on his principles, which is called Ayyavazhi. Retrieved 9 June 2008. "Bala Prajapathi Adikalar Manivizha" (PDF). "The Maniviza (fest) for Bala Prajapathi Adikalar, the head of Ayyavazhi religion ..."(Tamil:Press release No-45/13-01-2008.). Archived from the original (www.tn.gov.in) on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2009. "Sri Vaikunda Swamigal" (PDF). By the midnineteenth century, Ayyavazhi came to be recognized as a separate religion and spread in the regions of South Travancore and South Tirunelveli. Archived from the original (Tamilnadu Text book Corporation) on 22 November 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2010. G. Patrick, Religion and Subaltern Agency, Chapter 5, pp. 120–121. "it may be concluded that, AV emerged as a 'new and singular' religious phenomenon in that context"
Graham Harvey and Robert J. Wallis, (2007), Historical Dictionary of Shamanism, ISBN 0-8108-5798-7, Scarecrow Press, pp. 101 M.C. Raj (2001), Dalitology: The Book of the Dalit People, Ambedkar Resource Centre, Tumkūr, India, p. 422, "The Shanans also started a non-Brahminic religion called Ayya Vazhi." ISBN 81-87367-04-0 "Tamil Nadu – Nagercoil". ... which was the headquarters of Ayya Vazhi sect, had been decorated with jewels in view of the ongoing festival ... Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Dr. R. Ponnu, Sri Vaikunda Swamigal and the Struggle for Social Equality in South India, p. 98
"Madurai News Letter" (PDF). "Fr. Maria Jeyaraj arranged an inter-faith dialogue at Samithoppu, Kanyakumari, on 'Akila Thirattu Ammanai' and 'Arul Nool', the scriptures of 'Ayya Vazhi', an 'important sect of Hinduism'. The present head of Ayya Vazhi, Sri Bala Prajapathi Adigalar, guided the meeting.". Archived from the original (Thozhamai Illam, Kanyakumari) on 29 November 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2008. G. Patrick, Religion and Subaltern Agency, pp. 111–113,
G. Patrick, Religion and Subaltern Agency, pp. 160–161.
