Tamil Shaivism, Srivaishnavism, and Eco-Theology

Abstract

Abstract

This article explores the contributions of Tamil Shaivism and Srivaishnavism to eco-theology, comparing their distinct yet analogous doctrines of divine immanence. While both traditions align with a broader Hindu worldview emphasizing nature as a manifestation of the divine and a "holarchical" rather than hierarchical chain of consciousness, they express these ideas in unique ways. The paper focuses on Umapati Civacaryar's Thiruvarutpayan for Tamil Shaivism and Vedanta Deshika's Srimad Rahasya Traya Sara for Srivaishnavism. It highlights their shared emphasis on the divine as the origin, sustainer, and goal of the universe, and their similar classifications of reality into the Lord, sentient beings, and non-sentient matter, transcending human/non-human distinctions. A key divergence is noted in Umapati's layered understanding of human bondage (egoism, action, and delusion), offering a nuanced framework for diagnosing the root causes of the ecological crisis, particularly humanity's collective egoism that perceives itself as separate from nature. The comparison ultimately reinforces the value of specific explorations within Hindu traditions for enriching eco-theological discourse.