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Tirumurai
The Twelve Volumes of Divine Poetry — Tamil Shaiva Devotion
Overview
The Tirumurai (திருமுறை) — "the divine collection" or "sacred corpus" — is a collection of 12 volumes of devotional poetry in Tamil, representing one of the most significant works of Tamil Shaivism. It contains the Tevaram (hymns of the first seven volumes by the Nayanmars), the Tiruvachakam (the 10th volume by Saint Manickavasagar), and the Periy Puranam (the 12th volume, the biography of the 63 Nayanmars). The Tirumurai is considered the fifth Veda by Tamil Shaivas — equal in authority to the Sanskrit Vedas. The hymns are still sung in Tamil Shaiva temples today, forming the living tradition of Shaiva worship.
Origin & History
The Nayanmars (Tamil Shaiva Saints)
The Nayanmars (meaning "great lords" — referring to Shiva) were 63 Tamil Shaiva saints who lived from approximately 5th to 10th century CE. They composed devotional hymns (pathigam) to Shiva, expressing their intense love (anpu) for the divine. These hymns were collected and organized into the first seven volumes (Tevaram).
Appar (Tirumurai 1)
Appar (also called Tirumular in some accounts) was a Shaiva poet-saint who composed the first volume of Tevaram. His hymns (pathigam) express deep devotion to Shiva as the one who removes suffering (marruga).
Sambandar (Tirumurai 2-3)
Sambandar was a child saint — said to have been fed by Shiva himself (as a baby) through a divine miracle. He composed thousands of hymns and was a powerful force in establishing Shaivism in Tamil Nadu.
Sundaramurti (Tirumurai 4-6)
Sundaramurti was the third major Nayanmar. He composed hymns that emphasized ethical living and service to Shiva.
Manickavasagar (Tirumurai 10)
Manickavasagar composed the Tiruvachakam — considered the highest poetry in Tamil. The Tiruvachakam is a mystical work expressing the soul's union with Shiva. It is one of the most beautiful works in any language.
The Compilation
The 12-volume Tirumurai was compiled over centuries. The first seven volumes (Tevaram) were collected and arranged by the 12th-century scholars. The 8th, 9th, and 11th volumes contain various Shaiva works. The 10th is Manickavasagar's Tiruvachakam. The 12th is the Periy Puranam (the "Great Story") — a biography of the 63 Nayanmars by Cuntarar (the last of the 63).
Structure
| Volume | Content | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pathigam (hymns) | Appar |
| 2 | Pathigam | Sambandar |
| 3 | Pathigam | Sambandar |
| 4-6 | Pathigam | Sundaramurti |
| 7 | Tevaram (collected hymns) | All three |
| 8-9 | Various Shaiva works | Various |
| 10 | Tiruvachakam | Manickavasagar |
| 11 | Various works | Various |
| 12 | Periy Puranam (biographies) | Cuntarar |
Core Teachings
Shiva as the Supreme
The Tirumurai presents Shiva as the ultimate reality — not merely one of the Trimurti but the supreme God who is:
- The one who danced the cosmic dance (Nataraja)
- The one who married Parvati (the divine marriage)
- The one who removes all suffering (marruga)
- The one who is accessed through devotion (anpu)
Devotion as Liberation
Unlike some traditions that require complex rituals or philosophical knowledge, the Tirumurai teaches: pure devotion (bhakti) is sufficient for liberation. The soul that loves Shiva completely will be united with Shiva at death.
The Guru's Grace
Several Nayanmars received Shiva's grace through the guru's transmission. The teaching: without the guru's grace, liberation is not possible. This establishes the importance of guru-shishya parampara.
Daily Practice [BEGINNER]
Shiva Bhakti:
- Read translated hymns from the Tevaram
- Even without understanding Tamil, the devotion is palpable
- Focus on the theme: love for Shiva as the path to liberation
Understanding the Nayanmars:
- Study the lives of the 63 Nayanmars
- They represent all types of people — kings, outcasts, women, children
- This shows: devotion transcends social position
Daily Practice [INTERMEDIATE]
Tevaram Chanting:
- Learn the traditional melodies for Tevaram chanting (pathigam)
- This is done in Tamil Shaiva temples daily
- Even learning one hymn and its meaning is valuable
Tiruvachakam Study:
- Study Manickavasagar's Tiruvachakam — this is considered one of the highest works of Tamil literature
- Focus on the mystical experience described — union of soul and Shiva
Shiva Temple Worship:
- Visit a Tamil Shaiva temple and observe how Tevaram is sung
- The hymns are integrated into daily puja
Daily Practice [SCHOLAR]
Tamil Textual Study:
- Learn Tamil to read the Tirumurai directly
- Study the poetic devices (akapporul) used in the hymns
- Analyze the relationship between Tamil Shaivism and Sanskrit Shaivism
Comparative Study:
- Compare the Nayanmars with the Alvar saints (Vaishnava) — both were Tamil poet-saints, both were key to bhakti movement
- Analyze the difference between Tamil Shaivism and Kashmiri Shaivism
Philosophical Analysis:
- Study the concept of "anpu" (love/grace) in the Tirumurai vs. Sanskrit Shaiva concepts
- Analyze the relationship between devotion and liberation in Tamil Shaivism
Living Tradition
Temple Chanting
The Tevaram hymns are sung daily in Tamil Shaiva temples as part of the puja ritual. The singing (pattu) follows specific ragas (musical modes) and is considered essential to the worship.
The 63 Nayanmars
The Periy Puranam's 63 Nayanmars are honored in Shaiva tradition:
- Their life stories are told during festivals
- They represent the diversity of devotees
- They show: any person, regardless of birth, can achieve Shiva
Pilgrimage
The important Shaiva sites in Tamil Nadu include:
- Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram — where Shiva danced
- Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai — where Shiva married Parvati
- Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur — built by Raja Raja I
Known Limitations
- The Tirumurai is in Tamil — without knowledge of the language, much is lost in translation
- Tamil Shaivism is distinct from Sanskrit Shaivism — treating them as one can misrepresent both
- The Periy Puranam's 63 saints include some whose stories may be legendary rather than historical