Is Tamil a religion or language?

 Tamil is a language.

Various religions patronised by politics, used it for their benefit or try to destroy it with alternatives in different points of history.

Over centuries, many languages disappear(including Sanskrit due to emergence of Prakrit/ Pali/ Ardhmagadh/Bengali or Persian/ Urdu/Hindi) but Tamil withstood.

I will describe a typical chronology of Religions in Tamil countries for better understanding:

1.The Tamil area had an independent existence outside the control of northern empires. The Tamil kings and chiefs were always in conflict with each other mostly over property. The royal courts were mostly places of social gathering rather than places of dispensation of authority; they were centres for distribution of resources.

2.Tholkappiam between the 5th century BCE and the 3rd century CE:

In Sangam poems, there is relatively meager reference given to religion in general.

In the akam songs, Tholkappiar has made reference to deities in the different land divisions:

Thirumal (Vishnu) for mullai (Forest)

Murugan (Karthik) for kurinji (Mountains)

Indhiran (Indra) for marutham (Plains or Agri Lands)

Varunan, for neithal (Sea Shores) and

Kotravai (Sakthi or Kali) for palai (Desert)

Tholkappiar is a disciple of Agasthiyar. We can always find an interaction of South with North, and the influence of one over the other in language, religion or culture.

3.Early Religions after Sangam Period: Gradually the rulers came under the influence of vedic beliefs. Kashmir Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism come into existance like in other parts of subcontinent.

4.Ritual based Shaktism turned into ugly state of Kula tantric worship of animal and human sacrifices. In Kashmir it is Chamundi, in Bengal/Gujarat Kali, in South it is Angali. Tamils worshipped Kuladevi as a mother / son relationship like Angala Parameswari / Irulappaswami and guardian deities like Karuppaswami, Ayyanar, Pechiyamman etc. The typical temples found outside the villages with festivals worship done during night.

5. This has lead to the revolt across the sub continent. New rulers captured power. The Priests (Brahmins) performing rituals were executed, peoples were converted to Shramanic religions and forced new languages. In Tamil Country, Budhdhism, Jainism and Ajvika introduced by rulers and languages Pali, Prakriti and Sanskrit become court languages. Jain Munis ensured the animal and human sacrifices are stopped completely in Temples through monitoring from nearby hillock beds.

6.First Five Centuries: Buddhism, Jainism and Ajvika co-existed with early Shaivite, Vaishnavism and Shaktism.

7.6th to 13th Centuries: The revival of Saivism and Sri Vaisnavism in the sub continent was lead by Bhakti Movement of Azhwars and Nayanmars of Tamil country. With their efforts, the Prakrit, Sanskrit as court languages were replaced by Tamil and Saivism and Sri Vaisnavism replaced Buddhism and Jainism. In a new found avatar, Sri Vaishnavism ensured that there is no animal sacrifice and the Azhwars are from all communities.

Some of the earliest temples that are still standing were built during this period by the Pallavas. Rock cut temples were the order of the day.

8.13th to 17th Century: The turkish invasion and destruction of Temples in Madurai, Sri Rangam and Kanchi lead to the formation of a Hindu empire at Hampi.

15th century saw the emergence Murugan Worship with the effort of Prauda Devaraya of Samgama Vira Shaivs and Arunagirinathar in Tamil Country as well as spreading it in South East Asian countries to replace Budhdhism.

After the Sangama Dynasty of Vijayanagara, the other dynasties are Sri Vaisnavites and are secular towards Saivite Agamic and Murugan worship. They also encouraged forgotten Kula Deivam worship, but now the Priests were from other communities.

During Vijayanagara Rule, Saivism and Vaisnavism dominated. It is one of the Golden periods of Temple Architect. Damaged temples of invaders were rebuilt and new structures built and existing structures were expanded by Vijayanagara Kingdom, Madurai and Tanjavur Naickers.

9.18th to 19th Century: It is a chaos in Tamil Land - full of conflicts among Local Polygars of Madurai, Chenji, Marathas, Nawabs, British, French.

Christianity and Islam co-existed with majority Saivism and Vaisnavism (together were over 88%). Christians are mainly concentrated in Southern districts - Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin.

10.Post Independence: The trauma of the partition did not impact Tamil Nadu when India was granted Independence in 1947. There was no sectarian violence against various religions. There had always been an atmosphere of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence between all religions in Tamil Nadu.

Believe me Tamil is only a language and its prosperity today is mainly due to rulers who patronised it in Tamil Country and ventured to spread it in overseas in various points in time.