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17. SAIVISM
(i) Sin "Avan aval athu yenum avai moovinaimaimayin Thotria thithiye odungi malaththulathaam anthan aathi yenmanaar pulavar" In the beginning god created man (avan), woman (aval) and the world (athu) in three different actions and they were holy. . But later they fell into sin (malam) which end the life of holiness and was the beginning of sin say the scholars. (Sivagnanapothan-1)
"Muththi mutharkodikkae mogk kodi padarnthu aththi paluththathu yenru vunthee para appalhan vunnaathaw vunthee para" Among the creatures which were holy, on the first creeper, the creeper of sin crept over it and bore the fruit of evil. Speak this forth. Do not partake of that fruit. Speak this forth.
(ii) Avatar 'The hitherto unknown God came down as one of us and gave up Himself to save us from evil'.
(iii) Salvation through His sufferings 'He who has accomplished the works of salvation through His sufferings will not come again in His body, He has no birth or death again'.
(iv) Eternal life 'If you join Him who shared His home with the thieves you will attain the heavenly abode which is light'
Songs from other literature are also quoted. In defining the Trinity as three persons in one God head:
(v) Trinity and Avatar "The eternal God Siva) and the Ornamented one (Vitnu). And the eternal one on the Lotus (Brahma). If examined are one and the same But the ignored are confused".
In Saivism God is visualized in three forms as 'Aruvam' (God without form), 'Uruvam' (God with a form) and 'Aruvuruvam' (God with semiform).
'The Triune Prime God'
sings Thirugnana sampanthar in Tevaram.
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