User:Paul Raj/Ayyavazhi
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Ayyavazhi (IPA: [aia:vərɪ])(Tamil:அய்யாவழி Ayyavali -"Path of the father") is a dharmic belief system which originated in South India in the 19th century. It is conceived as an independent monistic religion by several academic research, although in Indian censuses the majority of its followers declare themselves as Hindus. So it is also considered to be a Hindu sect.
Ayyavazhi is centered on Ayya Vaikundar's life and preachings, and its ideas and philosophy are based on the holy texts Akilattirattu Ammanai and Arul Nool. Accordingly, Vaikundar was the Manu avatar of Narayana. Ayyavazhi shares many ideas with Hinduism in its mythology and practice, while regenerates several others. It differs considerably from Hinduism, especially while conceptualizing "Good vs Evil", dharma etc. Those who consider Ayyavazhi a separate religion classify it as a dharmic religion because of its centrality on dharma, though the ultimate aim of Ayyavazhi dharma lies on an ideal Dharma Yukam which has been compared to Abrahamic ideas on heaven.
Ayyavazhi first came to public attention in the 19th century as a Hindu sect. Vaikundar's activities, as well as the growing number of followers, created a reformation and revolution in 19th century Travancore and Tamil society, surprising the feudal social system then in place in South India.
Though Ayyavazhi followers are spread across India, they are primarily present in South India and highly concentrated in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The number of practitioners is estimated to be between 700,000 and 8 million, although the exact number is unknown, since Ayyavazhis are reported as Hindus during censuses. Ayyavazhi's fast growth in its first century was noted by Christian missionaries of the mid-19th century too.