शिवज्ञानबोध (मेय्कण्डार - शैव सिद्धान्त का आधारभूत दार्शनिक सूत्र ग्रन्थ)

xviii SIVAGNANA BOTHAM.
work contains an explanation of many a profound truth in Hindu
Philosophy. Two works, Thiru Unthiar (திருவுந்தியார்) and
Thiru Kalitrupadiar (திருக்களிற்றுப்படியார்) are ascribed to a
Sage Uyavantha Daver, who is said to have come from the
north; and eight works were composed by Umapathi Siva-
chariar, the principal of which Sivaprakasam has been also
translated by Rev. H. R. Hoisington. The authors of these
treatises together with Maraignana Sambanthar are regard-
ed by Saivas as their Santhana Acharyas, expounders of their
Philosophy and Fathers of the Church as distinguished from their
Samaya Acharyas, Thirugnana Sambanthar, Vakisar, Sundarar,
and Manickavachakar who were authors of devotional works, and
maintained the supremacy of their Vedic faith and Religion against
Buddhism and Jainism, and but for whom the modern Hindus
would be reading the Thripitaka and Jataka tales instead of
our Vedas and Upanishads and works founded on them, and
would be one with the Atheistical Siamese or the highly idolatrous
and superstitious Chinee. And here I might take the liberty of
addressing a few words to my Hindu countrymen, at least to those
whose mother tongue is Tamil and who are born in the Tamil
country and are able to read the Tamil language. It is not every
body who has the desire to study Philosophy or can become a
Philosopher. To these, I would recommend the devotional works
of our Saints, whether Saiva or Vaishnava. Unlike the
Hindus of other parts of this vast Peninsula, it is the peculiar
pride of the Tamilian, that he possesses a Tamil Veda, which
consist of his Thevaram, Thiruvachakam and Thiruvaimozhi,
and this is not an empty boast. As Swami Vivekananda observes,
Vedas are eternal, as truths are eternal, and truths are not confined
to the Sanskrit language alone. The authors of the Tamil Veda
are regarded as avatars and even if not so, they were at any rate
Jivan Muktas or Gnanis. And as I have explained in my notes to
the Eleventh Sutra, these Jivan Muktas are true Bhaktas and
they are all Love. And the Tamil Veda is the outpouring of their