Worship of God in Tamil Society

Abstract

The religious traditions found in the Tamil community are very old. Moreover, some of the worship has been taking place in the Tamil community since the Sangam age. Through these, the Tamil community excels in the traditions of worship. In Sangam age Tamil Nadu, temples were places of worship and festivals. The cities were places where the temples were established, and the tradition of being called "temples" arose. "Temple" refers to Thiruvarangam for Vaishnavas and Chidambaram for Saivas. Silapathikaram gives a detailed account of the temples and shrines taken by various deities in the town of Pukhar, which is Kaveripumpattinam. There was a "Kamavel Kottam (Temple of Cupid)" at Sangam port, where the Cauvery merges with the sea. On the cremation ground too, small deities were erected and poojas were performed. The demonic deity Idakini was worshipped in the "cremation ground." It was also named "Chakravala Kottam". The temples of the Pandiyan period have excellent architecture. They can be divided into Cave temples and Katrali (Monolithic temples). Ilango Adigal refers to a Thirumal temple on the banks of Vaigai in Madurai city. He gives the name of the God who is seated there as Neetuneer Vaigai Nedumal. The temple at Thiruparankundram, one of the six temples of God Muruga, has many specialties.