Tamil mythology

Procession of the Tamil deity Perumal, identified with Vishnu

Tamil mythology refers to the folklore and traditions that are a part of the wider Dravidian pantheon, originating from the Tamil people.[1] This body of mythology is a fusion of elements from Dravidian culture and the parent Indus Valley culture, both of which have been syncretised with mainstream Hinduism.[2]

Tamil literature, in tandem with Sanskrit literature and the Sthala puranas of temples, form a major source of information regarding Tamil mythology. The ancient epics of Tamilakam detail the origin of various figures in Hindu scriptures, like Agathiyar, Iravan, and Patanjali. Ancient Tamil literature contains mentions of nature-based indigenous deities like Perumal, Murugan, and Kotravai. The Tolkappiyam hails Tirumal as Brahman, Murugan as Seyyon (the red one), and Kotravai as the goddess worshipped in the dry lands. By the eighth century BCE, Tamilakam became the springboard of the Bhakti movement, invoking devotional poetry composed by the poet-saints called the Alvars and the Nayanars,[3] propagating popular worship of Vishnu and Shiva throughout the subcontinent.[4]

  1. ^ Shulman, David Dean (1979). Tamil Mythology: An Interpretation of a Regional Hindu Tradition.
  2. ^ Leeming, David (24 May 2001). A Dictionary of Asian Mythology. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-976149-4.
  3. ^ Pillai, P. Govinda (4 October 2022). The Bhakti Movement: Renaissance or Revivalism?. Taylor & Francis. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-000-78039-0.
  4. ^ Leeming, David (24 May 2001). A Dictionary of Asian Mythology. Oxford University Press. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-19-976149-4.