The 9 or 18 list as Abithana Chitamani states is as follows, and the following list seems to be more correct than the one above because the siddhars like Karuvoorar, Paambatti are Siddhars of more recent times than those in the list below. Of course all the people mentioned in the list are considered as Siddhars and are unparalleled in their own respects. The 9-list of Siddhars is: Sathyanathar Sadhoganathar Aadhinathar Anadhinathar Vegulinathar Madhanganathar Machaend ...

See also:

Siddhar, Siddhar - All Siddhars in order, Siddhar - Powers of siddhars

Read more here: » Siddhar: Encyclopedia II - Siddhar - All Siddhars in order

The Alvars (pronounced 'aalvaars', and also spelt as 'azhvars' and pronounced 'aazhvaars') are Hindu saint-mystics of antiquity, followers of Lord Vishnu. There were twelve of them. They sang in praise of Lord Vishnu. While the Alvars are devotees of Vishnu, the Nayanmars, (pronounced 'naayanmaars') are devotees of Siva. Alvars - Imperishable legacy. The twelve Alvars and sixty-three Nayanmars, the last of whom lived in the 9th century AD – were all inspired and ardent devotees who transmitted their divin ...

Including:

• Alvars - Imperishable legacy
• Alvars - The Vedas in Tamil
• Alvars - Tiruppaavai
• Alvars - The remaining Azhvars
• Alvars - Renaissance of Bhakti
• Alvars - External link

Read more here: » Alvars: Encyclopedia - Alvars

The siddhars are believed to have had powers both major and other ‘minor’ powers. They are explained in detail in various yogic as well as religious texts;Thirumandiram 668: To become tiny as the atom within the atom (Anima) To become big in unshakeable proportions (Mahima) To become as light as vapour in levitation (Laghima) To become as heavy as the mountain (Garima) To enter into other bodies in transmigration (Prapti) To be in all things,omni-pervasive (Prakamya) To be lord of all creation in omnipotence (Isatvam) To b ...

See also:

Siddhar, Siddhar - All Siddhars in order, Siddhar - Powers of siddhars

Read more here: » Siddhar: Encyclopedia II - Siddhar - Powers of siddhars

Kumbakonam is a town in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. Kumbakonam is sometimes called temple town because of the large number of temples within the town and the nearby areas. The festival of Kumb Mela is celebrated every 12 years at the Mahamaham tank in Kumbakonam. Kumbakonam - History. It is said that the town was once the Capital of Cholas in the 7th century. Kumbakonam - Geography. Kumbakonam is located 273 km south of Chennai, 90 ...

Including:

• Kumbakonam - History
• Kumbakonam - Geography
• Kumbakonam - Administration
• Kumbakonam - Economy
• Kumbakonam - Temples
• Kumbakonam - Chakrapani Temple
• Kumbakonam - Somessar Temple
• Kumbakonam - Kumbeswara Temple
• Kumbakonam - Nageswaran Temple
• Kumbakonam - The temple at Thirunageswarar
• Kumbakonam - Airatesvara Temple
• Kumbakonam - Education
• Kumbakonam - People from Kumbakonam

Read more here: » Kumbakonam: Encyclopedia - Kumbakonam

Tamil literature - Caṅkam literature. See also: Sangam, Tolkāppiyam, Kumarikkandam The earliest extant Tamil literature is a collection of eight anthologies of poems (the eṭṭutokai), a collection of ten long songs (the pattupāṭṭu), and a commentary on grammar, phonetics, rhetoric and poetics (the tolkāppiyam). Tamil legends hold that these were composed in three successive poetic assemblies (caṅkam, often transliterated sangam) that were held in anci ...

See also:

Tamil literature, Tamil literature - Ancient Literature, Tamil literature - Caṅkam literature, Tamil literature - Post-Sangam Period, Tamil literature - The Dark Age, Tamil literature - Medieval literature, Tamil literature - The Bhakti Cult, Tamil literature - The Epic Period, Tamil literature - The Modern Era

Read more here: » Tamil literature: Encyclopedia II - Tamil literature - Ancient Literature

In the month of Vaikasi in the Tamil calendar, corresponding with mid-April to mid-May, the Kapaleeshwarar temple celebrates the nine day-long Aruvathimoovar festival (from the Tamil for "63"). This festival involves a therotsavam (Tamil: "ther" - "chariot" and "utsavam" - "festival"). In the festival, the idols of Kapaleeshwarar and Karpagambal are decorated with clothes and jewels, mounted on a vahanam (Sanskrit for "vehicle"), and then taken around the temple and its water tank in a pradakshinam (a clockwise orbit when seen from above). This is repeated wi ...

See also:

Kapaleeshwarar temple, Kapaleeshwarar temple - History, Kapaleeshwarar temple - Therotsavam, Kapaleeshwarar temple - The legend of the temple

Read more here: » Kapaleeshwarar temple: Encyclopedia II - Kapaleeshwarar temple - Therotsavam

The Pallavas are believed to be hereditary Hindu rulers who dominated southeastern India between the 4th and 9th centuries. Presently the Palav is one of 96 Maratha clans. One view is that they belonged to Kuruba(Kurumbar) Clan. But recent historical, anthropological, and linguistic evidence indicates that the Pallavas were of Parthian origin and the name Pallava is just a variant of a well known Sanskrit Pahlava. According to Dr Carnegy, the Pahluvas were the peoples who spoke Pehlvi, a language of Persia. And according ...

See also:

Pallava, Pallava - Persian Origins, Pallava - Pallava Kingdom, Pallava - List of Pallava Kings, Pallava - Notes

Read more here: » Pallava: Encyclopedia II - Pallava - Persian Origins

Although many rituals that were practiced in ancient times are no longer followed, some traditions are continued to this day. Iyers are initiated into rituals at the time of Birth itself. In ancient times Iyers performed rituals when the baby was being separated from mother's umbilical cord. However, this practice is not followed in modern times. At the time of birth, a horoscope is made for the child based on the position of the stars. Then Iyers undergo the naming ceremony. This affair is important as the name given during this cere ...

See also:

Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals

Tamil literature - Caṅkam literature. See also: Sangam, Tolkāppiyam, Kumarikkandam The earliest extant Tamil literature is a collection of eight anthologies of poems (the eṭṭutokai), a collection of ten long songs (the pattupāṭṭu), and a commentary on grammar, phonetics, rhetoric and poetics (the tolkāppiyam). Tamil legends hold that these were composed in three successive poetic assemblies (caṅkam, often transliterated sangam) that were held in anci ...

See also:

Tamil literature, Tamil literature - Ancient Literature, Tamil literature - Caṅkam literature, Tamil literature - Post-Sangam Period, Tamil literature - The Dark Age, Tamil literature - Medieval literature, Tamil literature - The Bhakti Cult, Tamil literature - The Epic Period, Tamil literature - The Modern Era, Tamil literature - Famous contemporary writers, Tamil literature - Commercial writers, Tamil literature - Major poets of recent times, Tamil literature - Modern Tamil women poets, Tamil literature - Literary Magazines or Siru Pathirikaigal

Read more here: » Tamil literature: Encyclopedia II - Tamil literature - Ancient Literature

Of the many temples in Kumbakonam, the most striking is the Lord Sarangapani Temple, a Vaishnavite temple. This twelve storied 147 feet high temple was built by the Nayak Kings during 15th Century. The Ramaswamy Temple which depicts the paintings of Ramayanam is another important Vaishanavite temple in Kumbakonam. The greatness of Ramasamy Temple is said to be the only temple where Rama, Sita are in the same platform and also that Hanumar instead of Reading the Ramayana is playing the Veena. The entire deity is said to be made from Saligrama ...

See also:

Kumbakonam, Kumbakonam - History, Kumbakonam - Geography, Kumbakonam - Administration, Kumbakonam - Economy, Kumbakonam - Temples, Kumbakonam - Chakrapani Temple, Kumbakonam - Somessar Temple, Kumbakonam - Kumbeswara Temple, Kumbakonam - Nageswaran Temple, Kumbakonam - The temple at Thirunageswarar, Kumbakonam - Airatesvara Temple, Kumbakonam - Education, Kumbakonam - People from Kumbakonam

Read more here: » Kumbakonam: Encyclopedia II - Kumbakonam - Temples

Tamil literature - The Bhakti Cult. The spread of religions like Jainism and Buddhism resulted in a new religious movement that saw the revival of Shaivism and Vaishnavism. It is therefore known as the Bhakti movement. This also resulted in the creation of huge number of literary works,primarily by the Alvars and the Nayanmars, who sung the praise of Vishnu and Shiva respectively. Periya puranaam, Divya Prabhandham,Thiruppavai, Thiruvempaavai and Dhevaaram were all written during the Bhakti cult. See also South India's 75 Apostles of Bhakti. < ...

See also:

Tamil literature, Tamil literature - Ancient Literature, Tamil literature - Caṅkam literature, Tamil literature - Post-Sangam Period, Tamil literature - The Dark Age, Tamil literature - Medieval literature, Tamil literature - The Bhakti Cult, Tamil literature - The Epic Period, Tamil literature - The Modern Era

Read more here: » Tamil literature: Encyclopedia II - Tamil literature - Medieval literature

Tamil literature - The Bhakti Cult. The spread of religions like Jainism and Buddhism resulted in a new religious movement that saw the revival of Shaivism and Vaishnavism. It is therefore known as the Bhakti movement. This also resulted in the creation of huge number of literary works,primarily by the Alvars and the Nayanmars, who sung the praise of Vishnu and Shiva respectively. Periya puranaam, Divya Prabhandham,Thiruppavai, Thiruvempaavai and Dhevaaram were all written during the Bhakti cult. See also South India's 75 Apostles of Bhakti. < ...

See also:

Tamil literature, Tamil literature - Ancient Literature, Tamil literature - Caṅkam literature, Tamil literature - Post-Sangam Period, Tamil literature - The Dark Age, Tamil literature - Medieval literature, Tamil literature - The Bhakti Cult, Tamil literature - The Epic Period, Tamil literature - The Modern Era, Tamil literature - Famous contemporary writers, Tamil literature - Commercial writers, Tamil literature - Major poets of recent times, Tamil literature - Modern Tamil women poets, Tamil literature - Literary Magazines or Siru Pathirikaigal

Read more here: » Tamil literature: Encyclopedia II - Tamil literature - Medieval literature

Iyers were extremely orthodox a century ago. They followed Dharma shastra texts of Manusmriti Apastamba and Baudhayana. 1.A traditional Iyer is not expected to eat rajasic and tamasic food such as that was derived from meat, or from unclean plants such as onion, garlic and mushroom and it is avoided by the orthodox people even to this day. It must however be added that for the young generation, only "non-vegetarian" foods are taboo. Milk or milk products are considered acceptable. Onions and Garlic are sometimes acceptable to many Iye ...

See also:

Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics

The Iyers claim a top position in the caste hierarchy of the Tamil-speaking region in India. They are Smartha brahmins, and are distinct from other Smartha brahmin communities mainly in having Tamil for their mother-tongue. In other words: Iyers are Smartha Brahmins whose mother tongue is Tamil. Iyers in the very remote past migrated to Tamil region from the north and differentiated themselves from other Brahmin communities, including the closest smartha Bra ...

See also:

Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Origins

Strictly speaking, all Iyers define themselves as "Srauta-Smarta", ie. followers of the Sruti text (mostly Yajur Veda and Sama Veda), and Smriti texts like Aapasthamba Dharma Sutra. For at least a millennium, a vast majority of Iyers have followed Sri Adi Sankara's advaita philosophy, a branch of Hinduism that believes that the human soul is liberated from the cycle of rebirths through the acquisition of knowledge of its true nature (See external links). Important in the advaitic philosophy is the tenet that Brahman, the Supreme Reality is < ...

See also:

Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs

Iyer women are noted for their culture and tradition. Proud of their culture, they are uncompromising in their stand. If the Iyers have been able to retain many aspects of their culture, and if they are indeed among the most disciplined yet progressive brahmins, the credit must indeed go to Iyer women. Iyer women have played a major role in propagating Carnatic music and the classical dance form called Bharatanatyam. The Iyer woman is often portrayed as fair skinned woman draped in a nine yard saree, also known as madisaror[Kosha] in ...

See also:

Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Iyer Women

In addition to their earlier occupations, Iyers today have diversified into a variety of fields—their strengths particularly evident in the fields of mass media, science, mathematics and computer science. It is a minuscule percentage of Iyers who choose, in this era, to pursue the traditional vocation of priesthood, though nearly all Hindu Temple priests are Brahmins. Iyers have been active in the cultural field also. Music has always been integral to the Iyer community; Carnatic music forms an ancient classical tradition, and includes, ap ...

See also:

Iyer, Iyer - Spiritual and philosophical beliefs, Iyer - Rituals Ceremonies and Festivals, Iyer - Origins, Iyer - Social and political issues, Iyer - Iyer Women, Iyer - Traditional Iyer Ethics, Iyer - Iyers today, Iyer - Some notable Iyers in the Modern Era

Read more here: » Iyer: Encyclopedia II - Iyer - Iyers today

The Pallava dynasty’s greatest kings were Simhavisnu (ruled 575-600) and Narasimhavarman I (ruled 630-668). Their main capital was Kanchipuram, a town southwest of Madras. It is believed that they had two other working capitals in Bhavathri, in Andhra, and in Palakkad, in eastern Kerala. At its peak the Pallava Empire stretched over most of south India, bounded by the Cholas on the south and Cheras on the west and the Chalukyas on the north. At its height it covered an area larger than France, England and Germany combined. It encomp ...

See also:

Pallava, Pallava - Persian Origins, Pallava - Pallava Kingdom, Pallava - List of Pallava Kings, Pallava - Notes

Read more here: » Pallava: Encyclopedia II - Pallava - Pallava Kingdom

 6th century BCE  5th century BCE  4th century BCE  3rd century BCE  2nd century BCE  1st century BCE  1st century CE  2nd century CE  3rd century CE  4th century CE  5th century CE  6th century CE  7th century CE  8th century CE  9th century CE 10th century CE 11th century CE

See also:

Pallava, Pallava - Persian Origins, Pallava - Pallava Kingdom, Pallava - List of Pallava Kings, Pallava - Notes

Read more here: » Pallava: Encyclopedia II - Pallava - List of Pallava Kings