Manikkavacakar
Manikkavacakar | |
|---|---|
Nalvar saint |
Manikkavacakar (
.He is revered as one of the
His works are celebrated for their poetic expression of the anguish of being separated from God, and the joy of God-experience,[3]: 48 with ecstatic religious fervour.[4] In his expression of intimacy to God, Manikkavacakar mirrored the sentiments expressed by his fellow Bhakti period saints referring to the Lord as the "Divine Bridegroom" [5] or the Nityamanavaalar ("Eternal Bridegroom"),[6] with whom he longed to be united in "divine nuptials"[7]
Life
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|---|---|---|
| The twelve volumes of Tamil Śaiva hymns of the sixty-three Nayanars | ||
| Parts | Name | Author |
| 1,2,3 | Thirukadaikkappu | Sambandar |
| 4,5,6 | Thevaram | Thirunavukkarasar
|
| 7 | Thirupaatu | Sundarar |
| 8 | Thirukkovaiyar |
Manickavasagar
|
| 9 | Thiruvisaippa &Tiruppallaandu |
Various |
| 10 | Thirumandhiram |
Thirumular
|
| 11 | Various | |
| 12 | Periya Puranam | Sekkizhar
|
| Paadal Petra Sthalam | ||
| Paadal Petra Sthalam | ||
| Rajaraja I | ||
| Nambiyandar Nambi | ||
Manikkavacakar is said to have born in Vadhavoor (known today as Thiruvathavur, near Melur seven miles from Madurai in modern day Tamilnadu state in South India).[4]
He belonged to the Pandithar Shaiva temple priest guild. His father was a temple priest. The group wore a top tilted knot "Purva Sikha" to denote servitorship to the god Shiva. A mural and statuette of Manikkavacakar with Purva Sikha head knot is seen in Tirupperunturai near Pudukkottai. A poetic and elaborate hagiography of Manikkavacakar and his works was written in the 16th century and is called Tiruvilayadal puranam, meaning "An account of divine deeds". Another called Vadhavoorar puranam and yet another Sanskrit work of the 12th century CE on the same saint is now missing.
According to accounts, the king of Pandyan dynasty had selected Manikkavacakar as a part of his legion after seeing his military acumen. He was conferred the title "Thennavan bhramarayan" by the Pandyan king[8] and had once entrusted him with a large amount of money to purchase horses for his cavalry. On his way he met an ascetic devotee of Shiva, who in fact was the god himself. Manikkavacakar received enlightenment, realised that material things are transitory and built the temple of Shiva in Tirupperunturai with the money.[9] King Varaguna also was preached with knowledge of reality and blessed with salvation after Shiva made him realize his small worldly mistake.
Manikkavacakar is said to have been a "sorcerer", in the eyes of the local
Manikkavacakar's birth name is unclear, but he was known as Vadhavoorar after his birthplace. Manikkavacakar means 'man with words as precious as Manikkam'.
According to Ramana Maharshi, Manikkavacakar attained salvation by merging in a blinding light.[11]
Literary work
Thereafter Manikkavacakar moved from one place to other, singing and composing devotional songs. Finally, he settled in
Manikkavacakar's work has several parts. The
Manikkavacakar is believed to have won intellectual arguments with
In 1921, an English translation of Manikkavacakar's hymns was done by Francis Kingsbury and GE Phillips, both of United Theological College, Bangalore (Edited by Fred Goodwill) and published in a book as Hymns of the Tamil Śaivite Saints, by the Oxford University Press [13]
Associated temples
Manikkavacakar visited various temples in Thanjavur, North Arcot, Chengalpattu, Madras, Tirunelveli and Madurai districts and revered the deities.[14]
- Sculptures illustrating his life are found in the Minakshi-Sundaresvara temple at Madurai.[15]
- Manikkavacakar is said to have built the temple of Siva in Tirupperunturai.
- He is said to have lived at Chidambaram Tamil Nadu.
- He is closely associated with Tiru Uthirakosamangai.
Tiruvempavai is sung along with Andal's Tiruppavai widely across the temples in Tamil Nadu during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December - January).[16]
Manikkavacakar's stone image is worshiped in almost all Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu. A
Notes
- ^ ISBN 9788125014539. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- ISBN 9788178357188.
- ^ a b Ponnaiah, V. Dr (1952). The Saiva Siddhanta - Theory of Knowledge. Annamalainagar: Annamalai University. p. 43. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- ^ ISBN 9788170174714.
- ISBN 9788131711200.
- ISBN 9788171205196. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
- ISBN 978-81-7625-436-6.
- ISBN 978-81-7017-373-1.
- ^ B.S. 2011, p. 77
- ^ Keay, F. E. (1938). A History Of The Syrian Church In India. S.P.C.K. India. p. 16.
- ^ Talks with Ramana Maharshi- chapter 215
- ^ B.S. 2011, p. 162
- ^ Kingsbury, F (1921). Hymns of the Tamil Saivite Saints (1921) (PDF). Oxford University Press. pp. 84–127. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ^ B.S. 2011, p. 36
- ^ R.K.K., Rajarajan (2006). Art of the Vijayanagara-Nayakas: Architecture and Iconography. Delhi: Sharada Publications.
- ^ B.S. 2011, p. 74
- ^ T.S., Dr. Sridhar, ed. (2011). An exhibition on Chola bronzes - 1000th anniversary of Thanjavur Big temple celebration (PDF) (Report). Chennai: Department of Archaeology & Government Museum. p. 45.
References
- B.S., Chandrababu; S., Ganeshram; C., Bhavani (2011). History of People and Their Environs. Bharathi Puthakalayam. ISBN 9789380325910.
- Dallapiccola, Anna (2002). Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend. ISBN 0-500-51088-1.
External links
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| National | |
| Other | |
