Interesting piece, but it stereotypes the interaction of "brahminical thought" with the traditions of the hoi polloi
The paternalist attitude of the brAhmaNas is less evident in Southern India, where the give-and-take was more even
brownpundits.com/2020/10/19/hin…
The paternalist attitude of the brAhmaNas is less evident in Southern India, where the give-and-take was more even
brownpundits.com/2020/10/19/hin…
This is most evident when one studies the history of the Alvar and Nayanar saints of Tamil country
Where the cultural interaction of the brAhmaNas with local vellAlars was definitely not characterized by a supercilious attitude of the brahmin towards local traditions
Where the cultural interaction of the brAhmaNas with local vellAlars was definitely not characterized by a supercilious attitude of the brahmin towards local traditions
Two good examples are -
1. The relationship between Appar and Sambandhar in Nayanar lore
2. The very high status accorded to Nammalvar in Sri-Vaishnava lore
1. The relationship between Appar and Sambandhar in Nayanar lore
2. The very high status accorded to Nammalvar in Sri-Vaishnava lore
Appar was a vellAlar, while Sambandar was a Shaiva brahmin
Appar is actually a title bestowed on Navukkarasar by the great Sambandar, who was a younger contemporary of Appar
Both engaged heavily in the promotion of Shiva-bhakti, with no sign of brahmin-tamil rivalry
Appar is actually a title bestowed on Navukkarasar by the great Sambandar, who was a younger contemporary of Appar
Both engaged heavily in the promotion of Shiva-bhakti, with no sign of brahmin-tamil rivalry
Same is true in the case of Nammalvar
Widely regarded as the greatest of Sri-Vaishnava Alvars. He was born in a Vellalar family. And his compositions were retrieved and preserved for posterity through the efforts of two brAhmaNas - madhurakavi Alvar and nAthamuni
Widely regarded as the greatest of Sri-Vaishnava Alvars. He was born in a Vellalar family. And his compositions were retrieved and preserved for posterity through the efforts of two brAhmaNas - madhurakavi Alvar and nAthamuni
Even to this day, nobody views Nammalvar as inferior to brahmin Alvars like Perialvar or Vipra Narayana (thondaradi podi Alvar)
The conflict between Tamil bhakti and the Sanskritic traditions is not stated at all. Rather later commentators (mostly brahmin) went to great lengths to legitimize the Tamil works by bestowing the status of "marai" (veda-like) on them
My view is-
There definitely was brahmin contempt for local traditions in regions where those traditions were base and vulgar
But that contempt was missing in other regions (like say TN) where the traditions could be more easily integrated with the brahminical mainstream
There definitely was brahmin contempt for local traditions in regions where those traditions were base and vulgar
But that contempt was missing in other regions (like say TN) where the traditions could be more easily integrated with the brahminical mainstream
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