Author:

Dr.B.Prabu
Assistant Professor
Sri Krishnasamy Arts and Science College
Sattur (Virudhunagar),
Tamil Nadu,India

https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-7604-0127

Email: drprabubl@gmail.com

Abstract:: Abstract: The Hindu monasteries, particularly founded by saints of Shaivaite sects, played multiple roles in Tamilnadu during the medieval period. The Tamil term matam/மடம் stands for hermitage, monastery, Choultry, rest-house etc. During the Vedic period there were hermitages (ashramas) in the forests inhabited by brahmanas, their wives and disciples. These inhabitants “fulfilled their social obligations and moved towards renunciation in the twilight of their life.” Both in the Buddhism and Jainism the sanghas were operating as the monastic orders. They had their own monastic rules for the celibates to follow. The Buddhist sangha were opened even to the young, in contrast to the ashramas. The important Buddhist monasteries were located at Mainamati, Vikramashila (Bihar), Somapuri (Paharpur), Ratnagiri (Odisha), Nalanda, Valabi (Gujarat), Nasik, Nagarjunakonda, Mathura under the patronage of Kushana etc. Jain monastic establishments spread across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamilnadu (Madurai, and Kanchipuram), and Karnataka (Shravana Belgola). One of the reasons for the decline of monasteries of Buddhism and Jainism was the revival of Hinduism. This paper makes a survey on the existence Hindu monasteries, particularly Saivaite monasteries and their contribution in regard to the development of religious and literary culture in Tamilnadu.

Key Words:: Bhakti, Hinduism, Monastery, Tamilnadu, Saivism Somapuri etc.