நாயன்மார்களின் தேவாரப் பாடல்களில் அகப்பொருள் மரபுகளும் பேரின்பக் காதல் தத்துவமும்: ஓர் ஆய்வு

Akam Traditions and the Philosophy of Divine Love in the Tevaram Hymns of Nayanmars: A Study

Abstract

In the history of Tamil literature, the Bhakti movement is considered a significant turning point. Specifically, the sixty-three Saivite saints known as the Nayanmars created a new literary genre by merging the classical Tamil Akam (interior/love) tradition with the path of devotion. The principles of Akathinai, which originally depicted human love in Sangam literature, were transformed during the Bhakti era into a supreme, blissful love between the individual soul and the Divine, known as Nayaka-Nayaki Bhava (the sentiment of the Lover and the Beloved).

This study explores the Akam techniques, the hero-heroine sentiment, the pangs of separation, and the tradition of sending messengers (Thoodu) found in the hymns (Pathigams) of the Tevaram Trinity (Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, and Sundaramurthi Nayanar) within the framework of Saiva Siddhanta. Furthermore, it provides a detailed analysis of how the Nayanmars visualized themselves as women (adopting feminine sensibilities) to express their love for the Divine as the Supreme Beauty. It also examines how this shift served as an alternative to the ascetic doctrines of Jainism and Buddhism by celebrating the virtues of a life intertwined with devotion.