CHENNAI: After a gap of 120 long years, the commentary on Meikanda Saathiram, one of the two pillars of Saivite philosophy in Tamil, is being republished by Dharmapuram Adheenam, one of the key Saivite Mutts in the State.
The commentary was authored by Nagalinga Mudaliyar, an exponent in the subject, and was originally published in 1896. This is only the second edition.
The 2,000-page single volume commentary will be released by the Adheenam head Shanmuga Desika Gnanasambanda Paramacharya Swamigal at a function organised to mark the 60th year of its branch in the city Wednesday, said Kumaraswamy Thambiran, one of the senior monks.
Along with this, Panniru Thirumurai, a collection of 12 holy scriptures in Tamil, written by Saivite saints, will also be released on the occasion. The collection forms the other pillar of Saivite philosophy. The entire set has 16 volumes running into around 19,000 pages. But with a view to taking these invaluable works to the present generation, it will be sold at `6,000 per complete set, said Kumaraswamy.
Writing commentary on the holy Saivite scriptures was considered a sin among the religious leaders before 1950, he said, pointing out that it was the 25th head of the Adheenam who encouraged writing commentary. The seer believed that only when people understood the message of the invaluable works would they try to practise them in their lives.
The seer had engaged scholars of Saivite philosophy in the work, which is complete and set to release.
The Adheenam is also republishing the commentary on Tirukkural that was published in 1953. It is a collection of commentaries of 10 commentators including Parimezh Azhagar. A seminar on these Tamil classics will also be held on April 9 and 10, where scholars will deliver special addresses.
Dharmapuram Adheenam is one of the 18 Saivite mutts in the State, and was founded over 500 years ago by Sri Gurugnana Sambandar who hailed from Srivilliputhur.
The Adheenam maintains 27 famous Shiva temples including those at Vaitheeswarankoil, Thiruvaiyaru, Tirunallar, Achaalpuram, Sirkazhi, Thiruvidaimarudur and Thirukozhili. Besides, it has been running many educational institutions and publishing Saivites scriptures for a long time. The Adheenam also runs a centre to train people in Thirumurais (holy scriptures).
Minister for Food, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) R Kamaraj, Justice V Ramasubramanian of the Madras High Court, M Veerashanmuga Moni, Commissioner, HR and CE Department, and many Tamil scholars will be addressing the three day events from Wednesday.