What is "ayyavazhi"

n. A religion, originated in South India in the mid-ninteenth century.

Ayyavazhi (, Ayyāvaḻi , "Path of the Master") is an henotheistic belief that originated in South India. It is cited as an independent monistic religion by several newspapers,The following morning and evening dailies refer to Ayyavazhi as a religion:

• Malai Malar (leading evening Tamil daily), Nagercoil Edition, 4 March 2007, p. 5, "சுவாமி ஊர்வலத்தை அய்யாவழி பக்தர்கள் சமய தலைவர் பால பிரஜாபதி அடிக..." (this report calls Ayyavazhi ('அய்யாவழி சமயம்') "a separate religion");
• Dinakaran (Tamil Daily), Nagercoil Edition, 1 March 2007, p. 3: "அய்யாவழி சமய தலைவர் பால பிரஜாபதி அடிகளார் அடிக்கல் நாட்டினார் ("Bala Prajapathi Adikalar the head of Ayyavazhi religion laid foundation stone for the ...");
• Dinakaran (Tamil Daily), Nagercoil Edition, 14 February 2011, p. 2: "...தலைமை பதிக்கு வந்த ரவிசங்கர்ஜியை அய்யாவழி சமய தலைவர் பால பிரஜாபதி அடிகளார் வரவேற்றார். ("Bala Prajapathi Adikalar the head of Ayyavazhi religion welcomed Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who arrived here in Swamithope pathi...");
• Dina Thanthi, Nagercoil Edition, 2/3/2007, p. 5. "மாநாட்டுக்கு அய்யாவழி சமய தலைவர் பால பிரஜாபதி அடிகளார் தலைமை தாங்குகிறார்." Translation – "The religious conference is led by Bala Prajapathi Adikalar, the head of Ayyavazhi religion." This news from a leading news paper in India, on reporting the 175th Ayya Vaikunda Avataram, calls Ayyavazhi a religion, and Bala Prajapathi Adikalar the head of Ayyavazhi religion;
• Tamil Murasu (4/3/2006), p. 3:"இதையொட்டி குமரி மாவட்டம் சாமி தோப்பில் 'அய்யா வழி சமய' மாநாடு (the conference of 'Ayyavazhi religion') உள்பட..." government reports and academic researchers. In Indian censuses, however, the majority of its followers declare themselves as Hindus. Therefore, Ayyavazhi is also considered a Hindu denomination.

Ayyavazhi is centered on the life and preachings of Ayya Vaikundar; its ideas and philosophy are based on the holy texts Akilathirattu Ammanai and Arul Nool. Accordingly, Vaikundar was the Purna avatar of Narayana. Ayyavazhi shares many ideas with Hinduism in its mythology and practice, but differs considerably in its concepts of good and evil and dharma. Ayyavazhi is classified as a dharmic belief because of its central focus on dharma.

Ayyavazhi first came to public attention in the 19th century as a Hindu sect. Vaikundar's activities and the growing number of followers caused a reformation and revolution in 19th century Travancorean and Tamil society, surprising the feudal social system of South India. It also triggers a number of reform movements including those of Narayana Guru and Ramalinga Swamigal etc.

Though Ayyavazhi followers are spread across India, they are primarily present in South India, especially concentrated in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The number of practitioners is estimated to be between 8,000,000 and 10,000,000 although the exact number is unknown, since Ayyavazhis are reported as Hindus during censuses.The university paper cited says Ayyavazhi as a Hindu sect; so on this account Ayyavazhi is considered as a Hindu sect and since data on sub-sects are not pinned-up with census reports, exact estimation for the number of Ayyavazhis are not there.

Ayyavazhi is a Tamil language film directed by Nanjil P. C. Anbazhagan; it was released on 27 June 2008. The film was based on the life of saint Ayya Vaikundar.