Thread by @mrpaluvets

Dear Sanghis. Tamils are proud of the temples in the Tamil Nation, not just because of their religious relevance, but also for their architectural value and heritage.

Tamils don't study Bakthi literature just for devotional purposes but also for its literary value.

Tamils don't go to temples with red carpets, nor do they take cameras into meditation caves, our spiritualism isnt just about individualism but also about reform, resistance and community. We are not part of the Vedic landscape, we are part of the Sangam landscape.

Our spiritualism isn't about hierarchies, it isn't about atmas or paramatmas, it is about principles, values and justice. We don't worship an all knowing universal god, we worship our ancestors, and our environment.

Our statues started as hero stones,
Our temples started as Trees,
We don't worship fire
We worship water,
We don't destroy wealth in Yaagams
We distribute wealth through padaiyals and மடம்s

We don't preach Vedas,
We don't blindly follow rules.
We teach Morals,
We challenge them and progress with time.
We don't Dharma, We Aram.

We are not enslaved by Gods,
They are not our masters!
Our Gods manifest as our lovers, enemies and friends in our Bakthi poetry. They are one of us.

Our Shiva eats Pittu and builds dams,
Our Murugan guards the mountains,
Our Aiyanar guards the village,
Our Kannagi demands justice,
Our Maayon is the dark blue sky,

Our gods don't curse us, we dance Veriyaatam and curse them.
Our Gods are an expression of a living world, they dont promise us a dead after life.

Therefore, We Tamils cannot be defined by the Hindu label of a white man. You can't categorise, label and appropriate us!
We are not your Hindus, We are Tamils. Firstly and Lastly.
நாங்கள் இந்துக்கள் அல்ல!
நாம் தமிழர்!