Indian Philosophy v2.c27.s2.27

v2.c27.s2.27

The ethical virtues are insisted on. Siddhiyar says: "They have no love for God who have no love for all mankind."¹ Though the law of karma is inviolable, the choice of the soul is not fettered. God is always ready to second the efforts of man. Karma and jñāna conjointly produce release.² The restrictions of caste lose their rigour in any true theism. Though Māṇikkavāśagar did not develop a defiant attitude towards the caste rules, the later Śaivas, Paṭṭaṇathu Piḷḷai, Kapilar, and the Telugu poet, Vemana, are critical of the caste restrictions. Tirumūlar held that there was only one caste, even as there was only one God.³ The reform movement of Basava (middle of the twelfth century) is marked by its revolt against the supremacy of the Brahmin, though Basava himself was a Brahmin.⁴ This sect does not accept the hypothesis of rebirth.