THE RED LITMUS

Tamil in LaTeX

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{a4wide}

\usepackage{fontspec}

\setmainfont[Script=Tamil]{SUNDARAM-0830} % replace with your fav tamil font

%\setmainfont[Script=Tamil]{Lohit Tamil} % replace with your fav tamil font

%\setsansfont[Script=Tamil,Scale=0.8]{Lohit Tamil} % replace with your fav tamil font

\newfontfamily{\eng}{Cantarell} % to type in english in between tamil

%\newfontfamily{\qut}[Script=Tamil]{SUNDARAM-0830} % replace with your fav tamil font

\begin{document}

சரசர\
சாரக்காத்து வீசும்போதும்\
{\eng Sir}அப் பாத்துப் பேசும்போதும்\
சாரப்பாம்புபோல நெஞ்சு சத்தம்போடுதே\

\end{document}

Compile with xelatex file.tex

கவிபை (1)

வானம் நீ, காற்றும் நீ, சிறகுள்ள ஹம்மிங்பறவையும் நீயே, செந்தனலும் தண்ணீரும் சேரும் அலகில்லா துருவமாகின்றாய் #கவி’பை’

What is the definition of religion? Religion may mean principles of God; it should contain concrete foundation model and clearly defined codes and practices. Most religions we see today are like that. But this definition won’t fit into all religions. Only if we understand the entity of religion with broad and tender definitions, we could understand the history of India.

There are two types of religions with a clear fulcrum and a structure based on that. One is an ethnic religion, like Jew. Jew is a race. Beliefs of the race itself is the Jew religion. Others cannot change those beliefs.  Same applies to several small religions of Africa. These religions have clear definitions. The boundary of an ethnic religion is the race itself. Others are others. Those religions do not change others’ religions.

Secondly there are prophetical religions. The prophet who formed the religion would have defined the beliefs and structure of the religion. Christianity and Islam are the examples. These religions demand full justice to the prophet and his preachings from its followers. Those who do not follow those are the others. Religion will try to lure those others to join the religion by letting their own beliefs out. One cannot retain their previous beliefs after accepting these religions.

There are two more kinds too. One is philosophical religions. Buddhism and Jainism. These are formed by prophets too. But these do not preach beliefs but philosophy. Their God is nothing but a philosophical image. They do not ask to believe and accept those philosophies, but to discuss and confront them. Confucianism and Tao come in this category too.  One can still retain their old beliefs and Gods, and be a Jain and follow its philosophy. These religions do not spread their religiousness; only their philosophy.

Another type is integrated religion. Hinduism is one. It neither contains a central belief nor a mainframe philosophy. It seeds and nurtures along with historical environment.

These religions unlike others do not have a predetermined centre of gravity. One cannot specifically tell their source texts or place of birth; they are ‘that-old. They form by the union of tribes living in a specific landmass. A trade of belief systems happening among many small tribes or groups for a long time, form these religions, if at all they can be said so. There is no central entity in these religions.

Citing an example, Rig Veda is a combination of various beliefs and philosophies. All of them discuss with each other, and perhaps, try to come to a common centre called Brahmam at the end. Then, we have Upanishads arising to challenge and discuss with the Rig Vedic Brahmam. These kinds of discussions keep happening till today.

Every belief which confronts and talks with Hinduism comes and merges with it, but not losing its originality. 

Source: jeyamohan.in