Hymns of the Tamil Saivite saints

158 Pages·2008·4.48 MB·English

^NS OF
TAMIL
i
SAINTS
THE HERITAGE OF INDIA
SERIES
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES

THE HERITAGE OF INDIA SERIES
, . , ( The Right Reverend V. S. Azariah,
p.,.. Bishop of Dornakal.
, j
I J. N. Farquhar, M.A., D.Litt. (Oxon.)
Already published.
The Heart of Buddhism. K. J. Saunders, M.A.
Asoka, Rev. J. M. Macphail, M.A., M.D.
Indian Painting. Principal Percy Brown, Calcutta.
Kanarese Literature. Rev. E. P. Rice, B.A.
The Saiiikhya System. A. Berriedale Keith, D.C.L.,
D.Litt.
PsalmsofMaratha Saints. Nicol Macnicol, M.A., D.Litt.
A Historyof HindiLiterature. Rev. F. E. Keay, M.A.
The Karma Mimamsa. A. Berriedale Keith, D.C.L.,
D.Litt.
Subjects proposed and volumes under preparation.
SANSKRIT AND PALI LITERATURE.
Hymns from the Vedas. Prof. A. A. Macdonell, Oxford.
AnthologyofMahayana Literature. Prof. L. de la Vallee
PoussiN, Ghent.
Selections from the Upanishads. F. J. Western, M.A.,
Delhi.
Scenes from the Ramayana.
Selections from theMahabharata.
THE PHILOSOPHIES.
An Introduction to Hindu Philosophy. J. N. Farquhar and
John McKenzie, M.A., Bombay.
The Philosophy of theUpanishads.
Sankara's Vedanta. A. K. Sharma, M.A., Patiala.
Ramanuja's Vedanta.
The Buddhist System.
FINE ART AND MUSIC.
Indian Architecture. R, L. Ewing, B.A., Madras.
Indian Sculpture.
The Minor Arts. Principal Percy Brown, Calcutta.
Indian Coins. C, J. Brown, M.A. (Oxon.)
BIOGRAPHIES OF EMINENT INDIANS.
Gautama Buddha. K. J. Saunders, M.A., Rangoon.
Ramanuja.
Akbar. F. V. Slack, M.A., Calcutta.
Tulsi Das.
Rabindranath Tagore. E. J. Thompson, M.A., Bankura.
VERNACULAR LITERATURE.
The KurraL H. A. Popley, B.A., Erode.
Hymnsof the Alvars. J. S. M. Hooper, M.A., Madras.
Tulsi Das's Ramayana in Miniature. G. J. Dann, M.A.,
Patna.
Hymns of Bengali Singers. E.J. Thompson,M.A., Bankura.
Gujarat! Hymns.
Siifi Hymns. Prof. R. SiRAj UD Din, Lahore, and W. R.
Wilson, I.C.S., Dera Ghazi Khan.
Kanarese Religious Lyrics.
HISTORIES OF VERNACULAR LITERATURE.
Bengali. C. S. Paterson, M.A., Calcutta.
Gujarat!.
Marathl. NicoL Macnicol, M.A., D.Litt., Poona.
Urdu. B. Ghoshal, M.A., Bhopal.
Tamil. Francis Kingsbury, B.A., Bangalore.
Telugu. P.Chenchiah, M.A., Madras, and RajaBhujanga
Rao, Ellore.
Malayalam. T. K. Joseph, B.A., L.T., Trivandruin.
Sinhalese.
NOTABLE INDIAN PEOPLES.
The Rajputs.
The Syrian Christians. K. C. Mammen Mapillai, Aileppey.
TheSikhs.
VARIOUS.
Modern Folk Tales. W. Norman Brown, M.A., Ph.D.,
Philadelphia.
Indian VillageGovernment.
Poems by Indian Women. Mrs. N. Macnicol, Poona.
Classical Sanskrit Literature.
Indian Temple Legttids. K. T. Paul, B.A., L.T., Calcutta.
EDITORIAL PREFACE
" Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are
true, whatsoeverthings are honourable, whatso-
ever thingsare just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever thingsare lovely, whatsoever things
are ofgood report ; if there be any virtue, and
ifthere be any praise, think on these things."
No section of the population of India can afford to
neglect her ancient heritage. In her literature, philo-
sophy, art, and regulated life there is much that is
worthless, much also that is distinctly unhealthy yet
;
the treasures of knowledge, wisdom, and beauty which
they contain are too precious to be lost. Every citizen
of India needs to use them, if he is to be a cul-
tured modern Indian. This is as true of the Christian,
the Muslim, the Zoroastrian as of the Hindu. But,
while the heritage of India has been largely explored
by scholars, and the results of their toil are laid out for
us in their books, they cannot be said to be really
available for the ordinary man. The volumes are in
most cases expensive, and are often technical and
difficult. Hence this series of cheap books has been
planned by a group of Christian men, in order that
every educated Indian, whether rich or poor, may be
able to find his way into the treasures of India's past.
Many Europeans, both in India and elsewhere, will
doubtless be glad to use the series.
The utmost care is being taken by the General
Editors in selecting writers, and in passingmanuscripts
for the press. To every book two tests are rigidly
applied everything must be scholarly, and everything
:
must be sympathetic. The purpose is to bring the
best out of the ancient treasuries, so that it may be
known, enjoyed, and used.
PRINTED AT
THE WESLEYAN MISSION PRESS,
MYSORE CITY.

(By Peniu.ssinu „i the Ducch;. Cnh.nilu, Mn..',nn)
SIVA NATAKA.TA