Ayyavazhi is mentioned in a number of reports by Christian missionaries in the 19th century, in some of them as an anti-Christian religious phenomenon. This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, etc. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Reports of the London Mission Society

1838

One part of the report states that Ayya Vaikundar's devotees believe they were "cured by him of different diseases." Regarding the Ayyavazhi religion, the report says, "multitudes of people flocked to him from all parts of Travancore and Tinnevelly." About the Thuvayal Thavasu the report goes on to say, "About seventy families of this sect, having subsequently established a community of goods, removed under the guidance of a man of some influence to a part of the sea-shore in Tinnevelly, where they erected huts, performed frequent ablutions, and often assembled to hear the dreams and vision of their leader and to witness the miracles he was said to perform." (page-71) Apart from this it mentions the practice of vegetarianism in Ayyavazhi, saying, "[they] abstained from all kinds of animal food, and observed the most simple and abstentious habits".(page-71) This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, etc. ... Travancore (originally called Thiruvithaamcoore or Thiruvitankur in Malayalam) was a princely state in India. ... Tirunelveli is a city in Tamil Nadu state of southern India. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, etc. ...

1843

In one part of these reports, the missionaries view Ayyavazhi as an anti-Christian religious phenomenon, using such phrases as an "agent of Satan" (page- 78,79) when referring to Ayya Vaikundar, and further that, "numbers of the low classes have joined him (Vaikundar)." The same report notes the "rapid and extraordinary career" Vaikundacami (Vaikundar) (page-75) , mentioning that his religious phenomenon had "spread to an astonishing degree, showing by its progress." (page-75) In another report it mentions that Vaikundacami "asserts that one of the principle Hindoo deities has taken up his abode within him," and that because of this "he is enabled to perform the cure of all diseases, and to confer innumerable blessings on his followers". (page-75) This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, etc. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

1847

This report provides information that around 10,000 people had joined the practice of Christianity, principally of the "Shanar tribe," an area near Patnam (Thengapattnam), and that, "an equal, if not greater, number had taken to Ayyavazhi." (page-88,89) Another report speaks of Vaikundar treating diseases with only earth and water, stating, "They take no medicine; but rub ashes on the forehead and drink cold water as the cure for all diseases." (page-88,89) It also says that the followers of Ayyavazhi "have instituted a new mode of worship" in the place of the "pagan rites." This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Thiru(word representing sacredness) + Namam(name) represents (The Sacred name). ...

1858

Again, as in the 1838 report, this report mentions the practice of vegetarianism in a disciple of Vaikundacami who, "abstained from flesh and ate only vegetables." And it refers to an active female follower of Ayyavazhi who "Abstained from fish on Tuesdays and Fridays." This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, etc. ...

1872

In this report Vaikundar had been viewed as a "False Prophet".

1892

In this report, reference is made to those engaged in the practice of Thuvayal Thavasu. Specifically a comparison appears to be made the report that the devotees of Ayya Vaikundar especially the Thuvayal Thavasu participants, keep their bodies and their houses cleaner than the other people of chanar tribe. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Reports of the Nagercoil Mission District

1864

This speaking of it as "a modern sect, greatly on the increase", says that, "day after day numbers flocked to him (Vaikundar)" (in ARTDC for the year 1864,page-4).

1866

This is also a part which tells about the spread of Ayyavazhi. It says that "he (Vaikundar) drew after him a great many people" (in ARTDC for the year 1866,page-15).

Reports of Kottaram Mission District

1871

This report records the anguish of Mr Nathaneil, evangelist of Jamestown, who 'deplored' the increase of the followers of Ayyavazhi in "several places around him." (in ARTDC for the year 1871,page-7).

Reports of the Santhapooram District

1858

This report also views Ayyavazhi as an anti-Christian religion, speaking about a female shaman of Ayyavazhi, "a widow living at this place who was a follower of Muthukutti. She was also a fortune-teller and pretended to cure diseases by incantations. She allowed her hair to grow matted like that of Pantaram, abstained from fish on Tuesdays and Fridays, performed her ablutions in the sea, sang for four or five hours together in honour of her swami and was occationally under the influence of the devil." (in ARTDC for the year 1858,page-4,5). This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, etc. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

See also

• List of Ayyavazhi-related articles