Manikkavasagar
Scholars say that Manikkavasagar must have lived during the latter part of the 9th century
A.D. He was born in Thiruvathavur in Pandiya Kingdom to Brahmins. His birth name was
Vadavarur. He was minister to King Arimarthana Pandoyan. Manikkavasagar was a child of
wisdom and his mind was fixed on the Lotus feet of the lord. Manikkavasagar longed to
meet his guru. One day when he was on his way to the east coast to procure quality horses
that were being traded there for the king he found in enlightenment at Thiruperunthurai. He
heard the sound of Vedic hymns. Lord Shiva, in the disguise of a Brahmin, was seated under
a tree near the temple. The brahmin’s magnetic personality attracted Manikkavasagar. With
overflowing love and devotion, he fell at the Brahmin’s feet. By his grace, Manikkavasagar
was able to recognize him as his guru and prayed: “Oh lord, kindly accept me as your slave
and bless me/” The lord gracefully glanced on Vadavurar. This at once removed all his sins and
purified his heart. THen the lord initiated him into the divine mysteries of Siva Jnana. This
very initiation entranced him. The love as the string and his nectarine words sas the gems,
he made a garland and offered it at his Guru;s feet. The lord was highly pleased with it, and
called him “Manikkavasagar” since these hymns sung by him were like gems of wisdom.
Manikkvasagar adopted the life of a mendicant, and spent all his wealth renovating the
temple Thirupperunturai dedicated to Shiva. The king, upon seeing no sign of the promised
horses and his minister, sent out emissaries in search and was enraged to hear of what
happened. Manikkavasagar was admonished and condemned to be tortured. He prayed to the
Lord. The lord willed all the jackals of the place to assume the form of horses. He also sent
his celestial servants to act as horsemen. He himself assumed the form of the trader in
horses and reached Thiruvathavur on Avani Moolam. The thought he had unnecessarily
tortured Manikkavasagar pained the king’s heart. He at once apologized to him. But days
passed into night and, in accordance with the Lord’s will, the horses assumed their original
form as jackals. The king got terribly angry with Manikkavasagar and he prayed to the Lord.
At once the Lord created a heavy flood in the river Vagai. There was panic everywhere in the
town and the soldiers who were guarding Manikvasagar also fled. He went to the temple to
worship the Lord. The king understood that it was the Lord, recognizing the greatness of
Manikkavasagar.
Manikkavasagar’s famous compositions are Thiruvasagam and Thirukkovaiyar. Thiruvasagam
is the collective name given to all his works namely Thiruvembavai, Thirupalliyezhuchi and
Kuyil Pattu. It is said that God Himself was instrumental to Manikkavasagar in writing
Thiruvasagam. The great Thayumanavar said correctly that those who are not moved either
by reading or hearing Thiruvasaagam will never be moved by any other sacred reading.
Thiruvasagam has 51 divisions consisting of 656 hymns. All these hymns express deep God
experiences of Manikkavasagar. No doubt those who read or sing these hymns will be filled
with intense love for God. It is a deeply devotional composition. Great saints like
Thayumanavar and Ramalinga Adigal were very much moved by these hymns. The great
Tamil scholar G.U. Pope has translated this devout work into English.
For a long time, the hymns of Thiruvasagam were sung only in Mullai Pann or Mohana
ragam. Today they are sung in various ragams. SOme of the soul stirring hymns are “Mutthi
Neri Ariyatha”, “Ammaiye Appa Oppila Maniye”, “Oruvane Potri”, “Kaiyal Thozhuthu” and many
more.
Manikkavasagar, unlike the Thevaram composers who sang about holy shrines and temples
and about the image of Lord siva, sang about the qualities of God, the love of God and
brotherhood of man. Further he has expressed his unquenchable love for God, considering God
as the lover and himself as the beloved.
Thiruvasagam and Thirukkoviyar are considered as the Eight Thirumurai.
