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| Founder | |
|---|---|
| Ayya Vaikundar |
Ayyavazhi (Tamil: அய்யாவழி, "path of the master"), is a Hindu denomination with one god that started in South India in the middle of the 19th century. The 'zhi' (ழி) in the word, 'Ayyavazhi', is a retroflex, ri.
Ayyavazhi is considered as a branch of Hinduism, officially. It is widespread in Tamil Nadu's southern districts of Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi district and some parts of Kerala. As one of the fastest growing faiths of southern India, its growth had been noted in the Christian missionary reports of the mid-19th century.
The ideas and philosophy of the religion are based on the teachings of Ayya Vaikundar and the religious texts Akilattirattu Ammanai and Arul Nool. Most followers of Ayyavazhi do not regard themselves as different from Hinduism.