The Tamil Veda And Tangled Tales

This book explores the concept of the Tamil Veda as canon for Srivaisnavas, a South Indian Hindu community. It argues that the commonly accepted historical narrative surrounding the loss of the Tamil Veda and its subsequent recovery by Nathamuni in the 9th or 10th century is a story that appears in texts in the 17th century. Additionally, this book asserts that there have been two distinct canons: the first one, consisting of Nammalvar’s Tiruvaymoli or of the four works attributed to him, was prevalent until the early 17th century, after which the 4000 verses of the Alvars became the new canon. In the process of untangling many narratives through examination of texts, contexts, and inscriptions, novel perspectives arise that constitute a paradigm shift in our understanding of the identity of the Alvars and the historical trajectory of the sampradaya. This new understanding encompasses not only the dating of key Acaryas and the hagiographies, but also sheds light on the broader historical framework of this tradition.