Liturgical Traditions in Sangam Literature

Abstract

Tamil language is called the language of devotion. Worship is a part of devotion. From the verb 'worship’, the noun 'worship' is derived. Worship is the act of kindness that everyone carries out with the remembrance of God, companionship of the learned, and benevolence for the well-being of all living beings. In prehistoric time’s water, fire, wind, thunder, lightning etc. were worshiped as God because it has some kind of power. There is much evidence of the presence of Shiva lingam and Shiva worship in the Indus Valley Civilization, which is believed to have existed between 2500 BC and 1500 BC. The clay figures, god forms of Lingam and Durga found at Mohanjataro and Arappa bear witness to the antiquity of Shiva worship. Evidence of the antiquity of Muruga worship has been found in excavations at Adichanallur, believed to date back to the twelfth century BC. Tolkappiyam describes well about the Kotravai worship and Muruga worship. This article examines the liturgical traditions found in Sangam Literature.