History
Saivism is one of the major traditions within Hinduism that reveres Siva as the Supreme Being. The followers of Saivism are called "Saivities". Saivisim has ancient roots, traceable in the Vedic literature of the second millennium BCE. Saivisim theology ranges from Shiva being the creator, preserver, destroyer to being the Shakthi as the Atman( self, soul) within oneself and every living being.
St Santhalinga Adigalar
St. Santhalinga Swami lived in the second half of the 17th century, A.D. He is believed to have been born in Thondai Nadu in Tamilnadu. He was the disciple of the famous Swami Sivaprakasa. Shantalinga Swami had Guru Diksha from this Aadi Sivaprakasa and came to Perur called Melai Chidambaram on the bank of Noyyal river in Kongunadu for his divine mission and set up a mutt there and taught a number of disciples and practiced Nisthai.
After Shanthalinga Adigalar
After Santhalinger left this world, his works were widely read by scholars and quoted liberally in other works. The Mutt after some years had a historically dark period but it regained its importance about a hundred years ago. The work of regeneration was done by the pontiff Ramalinga Swami about 75 years ago.
Manicka Adigalar & Arumuga Swamy
Manicka Adigalar
Arumuga Swami
Ramalinga Swami, was followed by Satchidananda Swami and Mouna Swami. Then came Manicka Swami, who was a disciple of Ramananda Swami of Siravanapuram Kowmaara Mutt (near Coimbatore). He developed the buildings of the Mutt and started the Sadvidya Sanmarga Sangam which attracted many learned men. Manicka Swami was followed by Arumuga Swami.
St Shanthalinga Ramaswamy Adigalar
In the order of the Pontiff of the Mutt the next head of the mutt is St. Ramasami Adigalaar. He was born in Mudalipalayam village near Annur, in Coimbatore district on 16-09-1925 to the parents Siva Ramasamy Adigalar and Katpini Ammal. In 1950, Ramasamy Adigalar became the junior pontiff and in 1967 he took charge of head pontiff. He toiled and developed the Mutt and established educational institutions. He was also the Principal of the ”Thavatthiru Santhalinga Adigalaar Tamil Kalloori” founded in 1953.
Thavatthiru Santhalinga Adigalaar Tamil Kalloori
The Tamil College imparts instructions to students for the Vidwan Course in Tamil (Tamil Pandit) and also imparts religious instruction. The Kalloori and Sadvidya Sanmarga Sangam are the important institutions attached to the Mutt. Training in agriculture and in devotional music and social work is also offered to the trainees.
Kumbabhisekam of the Mutt
The Kumbabhisekam of the Mutt was celebrated in 1973 in a grand manner. St Ramasamy Adigalar has conceived the noble idea of bringing out an English translation with commentary of AVIRODHA UNTHIYAR, which is the crest jewel of St Santhalingar’s four sastras.
St Maruthasala Adigalar
The son of Velusamy and Subbathal and his mother is the daughter of Maruthakutty of Maniakarampalayam. His nativity is Mudalipalayam near Annur of Coimbatore district which has a strong historical heritage. Mudalipalayam is a small rural village where the holy Ramanantha Mutt is situated and it is founded by Sivaramasamy Adigalar.
In 1989, he started his spiritual work in Perur Aadheenam under the guidance of his holy Mentor. He obtained his Ittalinga Theeksai in 1991 made Ilaya Pattam in 1994 and attained hermithood in 1996. After the demise of St. Ramasamy Adigalar on 31 August 2018, he was incarnated as the Head of Perur Mutt on 10-9-2018 and continues his religious service relentlessly and takes a keen interest in the administration of the Mutt.
Other Educational Institutions
The following institutions are run by the mutt.
- Gnanambigai Matriculation School
- Thavathiru Santhalinga Adigalar Arts and Science Tamil College
- Thavathiru Santhalinga Adigalar Higher Secondary School
- Arumuga Adigalar ThaiTamil Nursery and Primary School
The Santhalinga Adigalar Hospital Trust
The Santhalinga Adigalar Hospital Trust was inaugurated by His Excellancy Justice P Sadasivam, Governor of Kerala on 10-10-2015. The hospital foundation stone was laid by Honorable Thiru K.Palanisamy, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 6-2-2019.