What is the religion of Siththars?

Author: தோழி / Labels: , ,

We people used to have a thought of that, sithars were all Tamils and belong to Hindu religion that too precisely we can say as Saivites. Might it be be true? Can we conceal them within these small credentials?

This post is just the curiousitical outcome of my thinking concerning, what will be the possible outcome when we approached in this path? That’s it.  However, I will not say it as an accurate answer for the above question. But, we may take it as the starting point of the search. I would be grateful to readers to notify me if there is anything wrong about my opinion in this regard.

Most of us believed Siththars are one who has gained wisdom clearing their mind and has realized their oneself. But, actually, this may be the outline explanation for defining Siththars. According to my knowledge, each and every Siththars are unique and are highly well beyond these types of boundarial restrictions. 

The only thing which is common among them is the balanced vision on material world and they are apart from the common beliefs like, caste, tribe, religion, language, rituals. Hence, how can we restrict them to a single language, religion or community?

Sithalogy is one of the highly developed independent culture which has no bounds. Siththars are not only from the background of Hindu religion, there are lots of those highly cultured Siththars identified in various religions too and still believed to be living in this world. Definitely, they are not paranormal persons. However, they are people leading a very simple life. We will come to know them, only when we approach them through open mind without any preoccupancy.

The simple and common mistakes in this path may lead to the identifications like a person against religion and god and get into the just opposite path of atheism. It is to be clarified that, neither Siththars nor similar people from other religion distrusted or rebuffed the belief in god. However, we can say searching the true supremacy in their path might be correct phrase.

The path of searching usually includes understanding of self and surroundings along with realization of their natural existence through which the one can attain the stabilized higher knowledge. This path is structured with the guidance of guru. With the attainment of that higher level, Siththars were representatives of none and they never wanted to prioritize themselves primarily. This state is termed as the divinity.

Siththars used to ignore the religious organization but  will not deny the existence or nature of god. According to Siththar Pattinathaar, those who were not aware of the supremity hidden in oneself are poor.

ஒன்றென்றிரு தெய்வம் உண்டென்றிரு
onrenriru theivam undenriru
ஒன்றாய் உயிராய் உடல்தோறும் நீஇருந்தும்
onraai uyiraai udalthoarum neeirunthum
என்றும் அறியார்கள் ஏழைகள்தாம் பூரணமே
enrum ariyaarkal aezhaikalthaam pooranamae.

Similarly, Siththar Thirumoolar says as below:

அகம் புகுந்தான் அடியேற்கு அருளாலே
akam pukunthaan adiyaerkku arulaalae
அகம் புகுந்தும் தெரியான் அருள் இல்லோர்க்கு
akam pukunthum theriyaan arul illoarkku.

However, Siththar Sivavaakkiyar further noted his intense thought as follows:

கோயில் பள்ளி ஏதடா குறித்துநின்று தேதடா
koayil palli aethadaa kuriththuninru thaethadaa
வாயினால் தொழுதுநின்ற மந்திரங்க ளேதடா
vaayinaal thozhuthuninra manthiranga laethadaa
ஞானமான பள்ளியில் நன்மையாய் வணங்கினால்
jnanamaana palliyil nanmaiyaai vananginaal
காயமான பள்ளியில் காணலா மிறையையே
kaayamaana palliyil kaanalaa miraiyaiyae.

The following poem of Siththar Thirumoolar also abides the same:

உடம்பினை முன்னம் இழுக்கென் றிருந்தேன்
udampinai munnam izukken rirunthaen
உடம்பினுக் குள்ளே யுறுபொருள் கண்டேன்
udampinuk kullae yuruporul kandaen
உடம்புளே உத்தமன் கோயில்கொண் டானென்று
udampullae uththaman koayilkon daanenru
உடம்பினை யானிருந் தோம்புகின்றேனே
udampinai yaanirun thoampukinranae.

All the searches, clarification are the real treasures that we got in the search of survival of man in all part. Saving and eulogize those treasures is the perfect way of honoring them. Accepting love as their prime god and divinity, it will be perfect to call Siththars as people’s representatives rather than religion’s representative who devoted their life to welfare of the people.

Be proud in follow their path of humanitarian and love rather than in path of religion.

Stay tuned!!!

Original – www.siththarkal.com
Translated by Lalithambika Rajasekaran