Bartolomäus Ziegenbalg about the Tamil Gods

Abstract

The publication offers a translation of an excerpt from the work of the early 18th-century Lutheran missionary Bartolomäus Ziegenbalg (1682–1719). Since 1706, Ziegenbalg lived in the South of India, in Tamil Nadu (the city of Tranquebar), where he headed the Christian community of the Danish Royal Mission. While performing the usual work for a missionary, the pastor also carefully studied the traditions and beliefs of the local people. The results of his research are reflected in numerous letters and reports regularly sent from Tranquebar to Europe. Most of them have never been republished since the first publication. However, in addition to letters and reports, Bartolomäus Ziegenbalg created two fundamental works: “Genealogy of the Malabar Gods” (“Genealogie der Malabarischen Götter”) and “Malabar paganism” (“Malabarisches Heidentum”). Both of these books were published many years after the author’s death. “Malabar paganism” is a lesser – known work by the pastor. Mean­while, it is an authentic encyclopedia of Tamil Nadu life in the 18th century. A significant part of the book is devoted to religious nature. The proposed chapter contains basic informa­tion about the Tamil pantheon. The translation is accompanied by an introductory article and comments that allow us to better understand the specifics of the South Indian modification of Hinduism.