Historical Vaikundar

Historical Vaikundar (1809–1851) refers to the life and teachings of Ayya Vaikundar, as known in Akilathirattu Ammanai, being reconstructed from a historical perspective in contrast to the mythological Akilamic views. Though few events referred to in the mythology have yet to be validated historically, many key events mentioned in Akilam were acknowledged by other contemporary sources.

Ayya Vaikundar was the first[1] to succeed as a social reformer[2][3] in launching political struggle,[4] social renaissance[5][6][7] as well as religious reformation[8] in the country.[9] Vaikundar was the pioneer of the social revolutionaries of south India[10] and Kerala.[11] Research scholars regard Vaikundar as a teacher, healer and also a miracle worker.[12] He was also said to be the forerunner of all social reformers of India.[13] He was in the forefront of movements for Human Rights and Social Equality.[13] His teachings also effected many social changes in southern India,[14] resulting in the emergence of a series of social and self-respect movements such as Upper cloth agitation,[11][15] Temple entry agitation and other movements including those of Narayana Guru,[16] Chattampi Swamikal, Vallalar[17] and Ayyankali.

  1. ^ "The Hindu" (The Sree Narayana effect). Credit to reformers: "The first of the social revolutionaries was Vaikunta Swami (1809–1851).". Chennai, India. 29 August 2004. Archived from the original on 5 March 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2007.
  2. ^ "The Hindu" (`Communalism an important factor in politics'). Great reformers. Chennai, India. 19 March 2006. Archived from the original on 11 January 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2007.
  3. ^ "The Hindu – India's National Newspaper". AIR programme. Chennai, India. 6 July 2004. Archived from the original (Around the City) on 10 July 2004. Retrieved 16 September 2007. This link about a programme by 'All India Radio' includes Ayya Vaikundar as a Social reformer.
  4. ^ "The Hindu – India's National Newspaper" (Stargazing). Ayya's story. Chennai, India. 28 September 2007. Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2008.
  5. ^ "www.education.kerala.gov.in" (PDF). 10th Standard Text Book, Chapter 9, p. 101. Archived from the original (Towards Modern Kerala) on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2008.
  6. ^ "Dinamalar" (Silently spreading Love-flag). Dinamalar (Leading Tamil Daily), 3 March 2008. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  7. ^ "www.tnuniv.ac.in" (PDF). Reform Movements and National Movement, p. 27. Archived from the original (Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education, Social and Cultural History of Tamil Nadu from 1529 to Present day) on 29 November 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
  8. ^ "History of Tamil Nadu from 1800 AD to the Present Day" (PDF). B.A. History – Course Structure under CBCS, Core Course – V, p. 9. Archived from the original (Bharathidasan University) on 29 November 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2008.
  9. ^ "www.bdu.ac.in" (PDF). Unit IV. Archived from the original (SOCIAL REFORMERS OF MODERN INDIA) on 28 November 2005. Retrieved 7 February 2007.
  10. ^ M. Ilanchezhiyan, Pandiyarkula Nadrakal Kulamurai Kilathal, p. 197.
  11. ^ a b A. Sreedhara Menon, A Survey of Kerala History, p. 314
  12. ^ George D. Chryssides, Historical dictionary of new religious movements, (Publisher: Lanham, Md., Scarecrow Press) 2012, Page 48, Ayyavazhi.
  13. ^ a b Immanuel, Kanniyakumari: Aspects and Architects, Chapter 11, pp. 115–116.
  14. ^ R. Ponnu, Vaikunda Swamigal Ore Avataram, p. 152
  15. ^ "The Hindu" (Jayalalithaa to visit Kanyakumari tomorrow). ' "He (Vaikundar) spearheaded the thol seelai struggle..." ' 3 March 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  16. ^ Selvister Ponnumuthan, (1996), The spirituality of basic ecclesial communities in the socio-religious context of Trivandrum/Kerala, India, ISBN 88-7652-721-4, Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana, pp. 77–78
  17. ^ R. Ponnu, Vaikunda swamigal Ore Avataram, p. 178.