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A Synopsis of the Sdiva Sidddntam. By M. CoOMARASAMY, 

 Esq., Advocate. 



Of the various systems of Philosophy in which Hindu 

 literature abounds, one of the most important is Sdiva Sid- 

 ddntam. Although the doctrines which it propounds are 

 strictly esoteric,, and calculated for the comprehension and 

 enlightenment only of those who have been initiated into its 

 mysteries, yet it is this system which forms the groundwork 

 whereon the huge fabric of Hindu popular theology is based. 

 It thus becomes the fountain head, whence the religious creed 

 of millions of Hindus in India and Ceylon is derived. As 

 such, it is worthy the attention of the public. The subject 

 however, is too extensive to be dealt with, in all its ramifi- 

 cations, within the limits of this contribution, and this crude 

 attempt will therefore be confined to a rough pencilling out 

 of the most prominent features of this vast panorama of 

 literary and metaphysical grandeur. 



It aspires to a divine origin, and assumes the authority of a 

 direct revelation from God, it being asserted that " Sivan 

 (God), through his chamberlain Nanti } revealed to Sanat- 

 kumaran, in consequence of his high devotion, the system of 

 sacred science, called Raurava Agamam" This Agamam is 

 the principal authority on this subject, but the matter con- 

 tained in it has likewise formed the theses of innumerable 

 treatises of extensive learning and research, written by some 

 of the most highly gifted men of genius of both ancient and 

 modern Hindustan. The Tamil literati of Southern India 

 have been particularly active in this department of human 



