Religion in the Sangam age

India is a vast and substantial nation that has been governed by one of the most magnanimous dynasties of the world. Either these dynasties had Indian origin or got their birth from areas of west or north around the world. Instead of becoming a temporary dynasty in the country, these dynasties decided to loot India to its fullest and settled here for their whole lifetime. 

One such period of the enormous ruling was in the Sangam period which was inhabited by the three most liberal regimes of Indian History i.e., Cheras, Pandyas, and Cholas. These monarchies thrived in almost all the characteristics of belief and faith, society, economy and administration of their kingdoms. One of the most significant of this was their religion where the primary deity of the Sangam period was Murugan, who was worshipped by the Tamils as their God. 

About Sangam Period

The Sangam period was inhabited by the three most magnanimous regimes of Indian History, Cheras, Pandyas, and Cholas. The period of the Sangam dynasty went on from 300 BCE to 300 AD in the areas of South India which lie to the south of rivers Tungabhadra and Krishna. This eternity was designated after the Sangam academies (Academy formed by Tamil poets) that prospered during the Pandya regime. A total of three Sangams were held in the ancient period of South India from the 3rd century BCE to AD. 

The first one is speculated to have been held at Madurai which was given attention to by the Legendary sages and Gods. However, no such literary work is available from the Sangam held at Madurai. The second one was the one held at Kapadapuram from which the only survivor was the Tolkappiyam. The last one was held at Madurai and this is the only Sangam from where we got some of the useful sources that provide us information regarding this Dynasty. 

Religion practices in the Sangam period

The literary works from the Sangams provide a very elaborated and defining religious development in the Sangam Period. The most fascinating part is the existence of the three most important faiths of those times namely, Jainism, Buddhism and Brahmanism. They had their origin from the initial centuries of the Christian era and soon gained a lot of popularity in the Sangam period. 

Brahmanical rituals and observances

The literary works also give a reflection of the inception of the Vedic people and the further interaction of the Tamil people with these Vedic people. Further, the scholarly work that got saved from the second Sangam at Kapadapuram, gives a detailed description of the six Brahmanic duties and the observances and ceremonies that were practised by the Brahmins. Various Sangam poems also feature how the Pandya Kings had various sacrificial halls in their kingdoms to perform various practices. 

As illustrated by the Tolkappiyam, the four Brahmanical duties are Tirumala, Murugan, Varunan and Vendan. 

1)Vendan (Indra)

Vendan or Indra was respected and loved as the rain God, for whom, even a festival was organised every year in the appreciation and admiration of Indra. 

2) Murugan

One of the most significant of this was their religion where the primary deity of the Sangam period was Murugan, who was worshipped by the Tamils as their God. This was mentioned in the literary works of Pattinappalai, which details a lot about Murugan as the son of Shiva and how people used to worship him as their God. In respect of their God, Murugan was honoured with six abodes known by the name of Arupadai Veedu.  

3) Other Brahmanical duties 

The other Brahmanical duties included worshipping Lakshmi as their goddess of prosperity, Kaman as their God of love, Mayon as the guardian of forest region, Baladeva, sea-god, moon-god and other divinities. 

Apart from the above-mentioned gods and goddesses, the people of the Sangam period also considered the Hero Stone or Nadu Kal worship as a crucial part of their understanding in the aspect of bravery. The reason behind the erection of the Hero stone was in the memory of the warriors who showed enormous bravery on one battlefield. 

Belief in Animism and Ghosts

The people during the Sangam period also acknowledged the existence of spirits and ghosts. Most of them also believed that there existed a demon who used to drink the blood of the people and used that blood to comb his hair. To satisfy the fierce and harsh divinities, the people also made certain kinds of bloody sacrifices, so that this fierce one was made happy. Apart from that, they also had an attitude in the practice of Animism where the people believed that the trees, hilltops and streams had divine divinities in them. 

Influence of planets on humans

According to the people of the Sangam period, the planets and dreams had a major impact on the lives of the people. There were certain startling signs which were popularly experimental by the people of their age. For them, if there was a cawing by the cow, then that signalled the coming of a guest in the house, who was eagerly awaited by the people of the family. Apart from the signs by the cow, the crow was considered a good forerunner and was nourished with ghee and rice. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Sangam dynasty was inhabited by the three most magnanimous regimes of Indian History, Cheras, Pandyas, and Cholas. The period of the Sangam dynasty went on from 300 BCE to 300 AD in the areas of South India which lie to the south of rivers Tungabhadra and Krishna. The literary works from the Sangams provide a very elaborated and defining religious development in the Sangam Period. The most fascinating part is the existence of the three most important faiths of those times namely, Jainism, Buddhism and Brahmanism. The religious practices of the Sangam people revolved around animism, sacrifices, worshipping varied deities, both decent and dreadful.