Shivanagam Tamilyogi · Popular & Validated

At its core, Shivanagam Tamilyogi is a spiritual tradition that aims to attain self-realization and union with the divine. The philosophy of this tradition is rooted in the concept of Advaita Vedanta, which posits that the ultimate reality is a unified, all-encompassing consciousness. The practitioners of Shivanagam Tamilyogi believe that the individual self (jiva) is identical with the ultimate reality (Brahman), and that the goal of life is to realize this oneness.

Shivanagam Tamilyogi is believed to have originated in the southern region of India, specifically in the state of Tamil Nadu. The tradition is said to have been founded by Lord Shiva himself, who is revered as the supreme deity in Hinduism. According to legend, Lord Shiva imparted his yogic knowledge to his consort, Parvati, who then shared it with the sages and yogis of that era. Over time, this knowledge was passed down through generations, eventually giving rise to the Shivanagam Tamilyogi tradition. shivanagam tamilyogi

Despite its rich history and profound philosophy, Shivanagam Tamilyogi has faced several challenges and controversies over the years. One of the main challenges has been the scarcity of qualified gurus and the lack of authentic teachings. Additionally, the tradition's emphasis on secrecy and the guru-shishya parampara has led to concerns about exclusivity and the potential for exploitation. At its core, Shivanagam Tamilyogi is a spiritual

In today's fast-paced world, the relevance of Shivanagam Tamilyogi cannot be overstated. As people seek to reconnect with their spiritual roots and find inner peace, this ancient tradition offers a wealth of wisdom and practices to guide them on their journey. Shivanagam Tamilyogi is believed to have originated in

The tradition emphasizes the importance of the guru-shishya parampara, or the teacher-disciple lineage, which is considered essential for the transmission of spiritual knowledge. The guru is revered as a living embodiment of the divine, and the disciple is expected to surrender to the guru's guidance and wisdom.

The tradition's emphasis on the guru-shishya parampara and the importance of a qualified guru is particularly significant in the modern era, where the proliferation of spiritual teachers and gurus has led to confusion and skepticism. Shivanagam Tamilyogi reminds us that true spiritual guidance can only be imparted by a genuine guru who has walked the path and attained a high level of spiritual realization.

The term "Shivanagam" is derived from two Sanskrit words: "Shiva" and "anagam," meaning "the path of Shiva" or "the way of Shiva." "Tamilyogi" refers to the Tamil yogic tradition, which is an integral part of this lineage. Therefore, Shivanagam Tamilyogi can be translated to "the Tamil yogic tradition of Shiva's path."


A picture of a student bidding on a sign language textbook. A mother (christy124) writes:

Dr. Vicars,
I have a perfectly healthy 2 year old that refuses to talk. We have a vocabulary of 124 signs (most of what are on the 100 signs page). We constantly go through the "What's the sign for ..." and pull up the bookmark of your web page. If you actually have time to read this email can you answer a question...We need a bigger list of signs, would you recommend me going through the lessons or are you working on a "more signs" page of maybe 100 to 200 of the most commonly used signs? ...
-- Christy


Christy,
Hello :)
The main series of lessons in the ASL University Curriculum are based on research I did into what are the most common concepts used in everyday communication.   I compiled lists of concepts from concordance research based on a language database (corpus) of hundreds of thousands of language samples.  Then I took the concepts that appeared the most frequently and translated those concepts into their equivalent ASL counterparts and included them in the lessons moving from most frequently used to less frequently used.
Thus, going through the lessons sequentially starting with lesson 1 allows you to reach communicative competence in sign language very quickly--and it is based on second language acquisition research (mixed with a couple decades of real world ASL teaching experience).
Cordially,
- Dr. Bill

p.s. Another very real and important part of the Lifeprint ASL curriculum project is that of being able to use the "magic" of the internet to provide a high quality sign language curriculum to those who need it the most but are often least able to afford it.

p.p.s. This cartoon (adapted with permission from the artist) sums up my philosophy regarding curriculum. Students shouldn't have to pay outrageous amounts of money just to learn sign language. 
-Dr. Bill


Image of how to subscribe to the ASL training center. Hello ASL Heroes!
I'm glad you are here! You can learn ASL! You've picked a great topic to be studying. Signing is a useful skill that can open up for you a new world of relationships and understanding. I've been teaching American Sign Language for over 20 years and I am passionate about it. I'm Deaf/hh, my wife is d/Deaf, I hold a doctorate in Deaf Education / Deaf Studies. My day job is being a full-time tenured ASL Instructor at California State University (Sacramento).

What you are learning here is important. Knowing sign language will enable you to meet and interact with a whole new group of people. It will also allow you to communicate with your baby many months earlier than the typical non-signing parent! Learning to sign even improves your brain! (Acquiring a second language is linked to neurological development and helps keep your mind alert and strong as you age.)

It is my goal to deliver a convenient, enjoyable, learning experience that goes beyond the basics and empowers you via a scientifically engineered approach and modern methodologies that save you time & effort while providing maximum results.

I designed this communication-focused curriculum for my own in-person college ASL classes and put it online to make it easy for my students to access. I decided to open the material up to the world for free since there are many parents of Deaf children who NEED to learn how to sign but may live too far from a traditional classroom. Now people have the opportunity to study from almost anywhere via mobile learning, but I started this approach many years ago -- way before it became the new normal.

You can self-study for free (or take it as an actual course for $483. Many college students use this site as an easy way to support what they are learning in their local ASL classes. ASL is a visual gestural language. That means it is a language that is expressed through the hands and face and is perceived through the eyes. It isn't just waving your hands in the air. If you furrow your eyebrows, tilt your head, glance in a certain direction, lean your body a certain way, puff your cheek, or any number of other "inflections" --you are adding or changing meaning in ASL. A "visual gestural" language carries just as much information as any spoken language.

There is much more to learning American Sign Language than just memorizing signs. ASL has its own grammar, culture, history, terminology and other unique characteristics. It takes time and effort to become a "skilled signer." But you have to start somewhere if you are going to get anywhere--so dive in and enjoy. Cordially.
- Dr. Bill