TEVARAM

'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, ''Te'' means God, so the ''Varam'' sung in praise of ''Te'', 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.

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Notes

External links

Notes

1. Glossary
2. Abodes of Shive
3. Classical Notes: Musical people
4. Social and Cultural History of Tamilnad (to AD 1336), N.Subramaniam, , , Ennes Publication Udumalpet 642 128, ,

External links

★

★ 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

★ [1]