Four Saiva Saints Sambandar, Appar, Sundarar, and Manikkavacakar are specially remembered as the four teachers of the Saiva religion. They revived and re-established the religious practices, especially the Temple worship, among the common mass and were influential leaders, at a time when TamilNadu came to be gripped under the influence of the ascetic missionaries of Jainism and Buddhism. They reclaimed the people and brought them back to the Saiva fold. The first two were contemporaries and they lived the life divine during the middle of the 7th Century. Sundarar of the eighth century followed the foot-steps of these two teachers, established the religion on historical grounds by singing the unique hymn known as Tiruttonda-t-tokai and extended his services to the western parts of the Tamil land as well.
The unique work of Saint Manikkavacakar, Tiruvacakam, forms part of the 8th book of Saiva-t-Tirumuraikal. It is a classic work of international fame, well known for its depth of devotion, religious insight and spiritual experience. Another work of Saint Manikkavacakar is Tiruccirrambalakkovaiyar, which forms the latter part of the 8th book. It is a great work of inimitable poetic beauty on the topic of love in its purest form, depicting its various stages. The work consists of 400 stanzas reflecting not only the idealised secular love, but also the love of the individual self for the divine which brings out the divine mercy and coalesce with it, resulting in divine bliss. It is described by Saint Kumaraguruparar of the Dharmapuram Adheenam, 'a literary piece of divine illumination saturated with earthly love (Kamam canra Jnana-p-panuval)'.
Meykandar
Life and work of Meykandar
Meykandar is famous as the author of the Tamil Sivajnana bodham and its succinct analysis called vartikam. He is also known as the first among the four linear preceptors of Saiva Siddhanta tradition in South India. He gave the logical basis to the school of thought of Saiva Siddhanta, that prevailed in South India. He was of the early 13th Century, if not earlier. It is widely accepted that he was well known in the year 1235 from epigraphical evidence. The story of his birth and initiation is very interesting.
The stretch of land that intervened in olden days between Tondai nadu and Cozha nadu was known as Nadu nadu (the land of the midst). It is also known by the alternative name Tirumunai-p-padi nadu. It is to the South West of the present Chingleput district comprising of parts of North and South Arcots. The land was sanctified already by the birth of the two Saiva Teacher-Saints, Appar and Sundarar.
There, in Tiruppennakatam, lived a chieftain named Acchyuta Kalappalar. He was gifted with all material blessings of this world, but not a child. One day he went to Turaiyur where his religious teacher, Sakala agama panditar lived, to receive his blessings. The teacher worshipped at the feet of Lord Siva and asked the disciple to place a thread in between the palm leaves of a book which had on its pages impressed the Thevaram hymns. The purpose of the teacher was toknow the will of God from the meanings of the stanza of Tevaram that made its appearance before him.
To the welcome surprise of both, the stanza of Thirugnana Sambanthar on Tiruvenkatu commencing with the words, 'peyadaiya;piriv(u) eytum' came to be sighted. The meaning of the stanza is as follows: 'Persons who worship Lord Shiva, the partner of Uma of smooth arms like bamboos, after bathing in the three tanks at Venkatu will not be approached by evil spirits: they will leave them (even if they had been possessed). They will be blessed with child and will have their hearts desires fulfilled. They heed not entertain any doubt, for they will not be touched by the evil efforts of demerits'.
Immediately the Teacher asked his disciple to go to Tiruvenkatu with his spouse and carry out the worship. While the Kalappalar was performing the worship, the Lord of Tiruvenkatu told him in his dream that though he had not the good fortune to have a child in that birth, because of his implicit faith in the utterings of Sambandar, he would be granted a child even like the saint himself. The chieftain finished his vow of worship and returned to his native place.
In course of time a male child was born to him and it was being reared with unique care and endearment by the family, the relatives and the citizens alike.
Soon the uncle of the child took him to Tiruvennainallur along with his mother and reared him there. One day when the child was playing in the open, a certain Saint Parancoti from Mount Kailas came down and imparted the divine wisdom which he inherited from Lord Siva and named the child Meykandan after his master Satyajnana darsini and left the place.
Kannappar
His original name is Thinnanar. He comes to forest for hunting with his servants. While chasing an animal he comes to see the temple of Kalathi. On seeing this Shiva temple he forgets everything. The very sight of the temple brings him to his senses. He strongly understands the futility of worldly life. He gets himself lost in the thought of the Lord and in offering service to Him.
He renounces everything and sticks to the temple. His approach to Siva is unique. He does not know any rituals and so he follows his own mind in conducting pooja and offering service to God.
He offers even meat to the shrine. Next day the priest of the temple comes and he is disgusted to see the meat within the temple. One night Siva appears in the dream of the priest and informs him of Thinnanar and his strong devotion to Him. Siva asks him to hide in the temple after 'pooja'.
He does the same and sees Thinnanar coming with meat etc. He pays offerings to God as usual. Suddenly blood drips from one eye of the idol. Thinnanar is undone to see such a scene. He runs into the forest and brings some medicinal leaves and drops the essence on the eye of the idol. The blood does not stop.
He remembers an old saying in Tamil "Flesh for Flesh". So he plucks his eye at once and places it on the eye of the idol. Blood stopped dripping.
After a while blood comes from the other eye of the idol. Then he tries to pluck out his other also for putting on the shrine. Then God Siva blesses him with mukti.