The Hermeneutic Analysis of Religious Experience as Expounded in Jnanamirta Kattalai - Intro Part 2

2.0 Jnanamirta Kattalai

The text I am referring to is 'Jnanamirta Kattalai' [2] one of the basic kattalai literature of Saiva Siddhanta held very justifiably, in high regard. 

Nothing definite is known about the author and the date. But from the internal evidences and the fact that Saiva monasteries are very favorably spoken of, the author could be taken to be one of the members of the Saiva monasteries.[3] This also allows us to infer that the text was probably written sometime in the 17th or 18th century, periods in which the monasteries were great centers of scholarship.

The first three sections are strikingly similar to another kattalai literature viz. 'Siddhanta tattuva laksanam'. It is possible to conclude that the text under study is an elaboration of this earlier text, filling in details and adding additional explanations to generate a text that is reasonably comprehensive. 

The outcome is a superb text, with an impressive sweep and depth with all the different portions hanging together with a logical coherence that is characteristic of the major texts in the Indian philosophical tradition.

Though it is termed 'Jnanamirta kattalai' it is not simply restating in prose the essentials of Jnanamirtam, a 12th century Saiva Siddhanta classic. There are many new ideas in the body of the text reflecting the advances made not only in the philosophical analysis but also in aesthetics and other fields. The reference to Jnanamirtam could be due to the prominence given by the author to Civa as the Intelligent Agent of the cosmic activities that are elaborately argued in that text (akaval 53, 54, 56 and 57) 

Or alternatively it may be named so in order to indicate that Civajnanam, absolute illumination, is really the ambrosia that ensures longevity.[4]

( to be continued )

Loganathan @ Ullaganar

[2] By 'kattalai' is meant philosophical, scientific treatises in prose that are at the same time concise. Before such treatises were written all such texts were in verses. The earliest prose text is probably Tukal Aru Potak Kattlai dated around the 14th cent. There are now in existence about 30 such texts. Some were even produced in the 19th cent.

[3] Saiva Adheenams. Madams or monasteries were in existence from very ancient times. But it appears that only after the 16th cent. they became devoted to Saiva Siddhanta as expounded by Meykander. They simultaneously became centers of higher learning attracting many brilliant scholars to its' fold.

[4] 'Jnanamirtam' literally means the Gnostic ambrosia, i.e. supreme illumination that ensures deathlessness.