Varthamalai – A Treatise on Tamil Vaishnava Doctrine
வார்த்தா மாலை - தமிழ் வைணவக் கோட்பாட்டுப் பனுவல்
Abstract
This article examines the philosophical and social ideas reflected in Varthamalai, an important text in the Tamil Vaishnava tradition. The work compiles the teachings and sayings of Vaishnava Acharyas from the period of Nathamuni to Nampillai. It highlights the fundamental principles of Vaishnavism, including devotion, the significance of Acharya lineage, the spiritual status of devotees (Adiyars), and the path of surrender (Prapatti). The text also reflects broader social and ethical values such as humility, service to devotees, and the relationship between teacher and disciple within the Vaishnava tradition. By analysing the themes and ideas presented in Varthamalai, this study explains how the work contributed to shaping Tamil Vaishnava philosophy and its religious and social perspectives. The article thus provides insight into the doctrinal foundations and cultural significance of Tamil Vaishnavism.
References
Narayanan, V. (1994). The Way and the Goal: Expressions of Devotion in the Early Śrīvaiṣṇava Tradition. Washington, DC: Institute for Vaishnava Studies.
Carman, J. B., & Narayanan, V. (1989). The Tamil Veda: Piḷḷān’s Interpretation of the Tiruvāymoḻi. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Vasudha Narayanan. (2007). “Sri Vaishnavism.” In The Encyclopedia of Hinduism. New York: Routledge.
Dehejia, V. (1990). Slaves of the Lord: The Path of the Tamil Saints. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers.
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