Prof. K S Iyer

Tamil totally belongs to the Sanatana Dharma

1️⃣ Tamil’s Roots in Sanatana Dharma

📜 Ancient Tamil Culture and Religion

Tamil civilization, from its earliest recorded history (Sangam Era, ~300 BCE), was deeply rooted in nature worship, ancestor worship, and Dravidian spiritual traditions.
Many of these indigenous traditions, including worship of Murugan (Karthikeya), Amman (local goddesses), and Ayyanar (guardian deities), became seamlessly integrated into Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) over time.
By the Bhakti movement (6th - 9th centuries CE), Tamil Nadu became one of the greatest centers of Sanatana Dharma with the Nayanmars (Shaivite saints) and Alwars (Vaishnavite saints) singing the glories of Shiva, Vishnu, and other deities in Tamil.

🛕 Temples and Rituals

Tamil Nadu’s ancient temples (Madurai Meenakshi, Chidambaram Nataraja, Srirangam Ranganatha) are living embodiments of Vedic and Agamic Sanatana Dharma, preserved and worshipped with traditions dating back thousands of years.
Tamil and Sanskrit coexisted, with Sanskrit for mantras and Tamil for devotional outpourings (prabandhams, tevarams).

2️⃣ Tamil and Sanatana Dharma – A Natural Fit

Tamil is one of the only languages that has been continuously used in Sanatana Dharma worship, literature, and spiritual teachings for over 2,000 years.
Tirukkural, a core Tamil text, though secular in tone, aligns deeply with dharmic principles — righteousness (dharma), wealth (artha), and love (kama).
Tamil Bhakti literature, especially works of saints like Appar, Sambandar, Andal, and Manickavasagar, stand as Tamil contributions to Sanatana Dharma.

3️⃣ What About Islam and Christianity in Tamil Nadu?

⏳ Arrival and Influence

Islam arrived in Tamil Nadu with Arab traders around the 8th century CE and spread more significantly after the Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal influence.
Christianity arrived with St. Thomas (according to tradition) in the 1st century CE and later expanded through European colonization (Portuguese, Dutch, British).

📚 Language vs Religion

Tamil, as a language, is ancient and predates both Islam and Christianity.
Tamil culture, spirituality, and society were heavily shaped by Sanatana Dharma long before these two religions arrived.
However, Islam and Christianity did adapt to Tamil cultural settings in some ways — for example, using Tamil hymns in Christian churches (like Tamil Christian Keerthanais) and Islamic Tamil literature.

🕉️ Core Identity of Tamil

Tamil, at its civilizational core, is deeply rooted in Sanatana Dharma.
Tamil’s philosophical foundations — karma, dharma, moksha — are fully aligned with Vedic and Sanatana ideals.
Even though Tamil-speaking communities include Muslims and Christians today, the language itself is intrinsically tied to dharmic values, temples, and a spiritual worldview based on Sanatana Dharma.

4️⃣ Why Tamil Supports Sanatana Dharma, Not Proselytizing Faiths

Tamil’s philosophy is inclusive, pluralistic, and non-dogmatic — just like Sanatana Dharma.
Tamil culture celebrates nature, ancestors, gods, and festivals, which are deeply dharmic.
Islam and Christianity, especially in their historical form, were proselytizing, exclusivist faiths — i.e., they often rejected native deities, customs, and traditions.
Sanatana Dharma, by contrast, embraced Tamil’s local deities and customs, enriching itself through Tamil contributions — this mutual respect and synthesis created the Tamil-Sanatana bond.

✨ Conclusion

✅ Tamil civilization, language, and spirituality are intrinsically tied to Sanatana Dharma.
✅ Tamil was not born from any Abrahamic tradition — its worldview, values, and philosophical foundations are purely Dharmic.
✅ While Tamil-speaking Muslims and Christians exist today, they do not define the soul of Tamil culture, which has always been Dharmic, rooted in Sanatana traditions.

🔥 Important Distinction

Tamil Language — An ancient linguistic and cultural heritage, independent of any single religion.
Tamil Civilization — Deeply intertwined with Sanatana Dharma in temples, literature, philosophy, and arts.
Tamil Identity Today — Includes all communities, but its foundational ethos remains Dharmic.