 | This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(February 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Part ofa series on |
| Ayyavazhi |
|---|
 |
Related systems |
Inter-faith |
Ekam is theSanskrit for "one, single, solitary" (neuter gender), as a noun meaning "unity".InHinduism, it refers to a concept ofmonism akin to that ofBrahman inAdvaita philosophy andSmarta theology.
A well-known statement is "Truth is one, sages call it by various names." It is derived fromRig Veda Samhita1.164.46: "They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, and he is heavenly nobly-wingedGarutman. To what is One, sages give many a title. They call it Agni, Yama, Matarisvan.".[1] According to William A. Graham, "the one" in verse 1.164.46 refers toVāc, goddess of speech, appearing as "the creative force and absolute force in the universe." In later Vedic literature, "Speech or utterance is also identified with the supreme power or transcendent reality," and "equated with Brahman in this sense."[2] Frauwallner states that "many gods are traced back to the oneGodhead. The one (ekam) is not meant adjectively as a quality but as a substantive, as the upholding centre of reality."[3]
Ekam (Tamil: ஏகம், "the supreme oneness") is the term used inAkilathirattu Ammanai, the holy book of the religion ofAyyavazhi,[4] to representThe UltimateOneness. InThiruvasakam-2 it was stated that it was from thisEkam that all objects, including the separateGodheads,Devas andasuras, of theuniverse formed. As perAkilam, this state ofekam is beyond the consciousness and derived to beyond the state of changing and is the extreme state in which the whole universe exists.
InSaivism,Ekam is used commonly to refer to the oneness ofGod, but in Ayyavazhi the basic oneness is separately symbolized to be supreme and ultimate beyond all God-heads and powers. The derivations ofEkam in Ayyavazhi scriptures are sometimes close to thepantheistic form of theology. In the mythology of Ayyavazhi God-heads such asSiva,Vishnu are said to be the godheads who have power to rule this Ekam, varying from time to time, Siva untilKali Yuga and Vishnu from the starting ofKali Yuga. There are separate quotes inAkilam for focusing Siva as well as Vishnu in charge of this position. But, still theEkam is addressed beyond these god-heads.
But whenVaikundar, is jailed inSingarathoppe, he says "I am the one who created the Ekam and the one who is omnipresent everywhere". By this, the theology reveals Vaikundar (God) as beyond the attributes of Ekam, which moves the theology of Ayyavazhi more towardspantheism.
| Religiosity |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Ayyavazhi rituals | ||
| Main teachings | ||
| Mythology | ||
| Mythical events | ||
| Mythical figures | ||
| Yukams | ||
| Festivals and celebrations | ||
| Scripture | ||
| Akilathirattu | ||
| Arul Nool | ||
