Introduction to Thirumurai

Shaivism The Biggest Faculty of Hinduism

Shaivism is the biggest faculty in Hindu advaithic constitution and the Lord Shiva is the prima God. The ideology of the Shaivism faculty directs the human beings to praise god in two ways which is by Saashtra (rituals) and Thothra (hymns of praises). The utmost important hymn of praises in Tamil Shaivism are divided into 12 chapters and known as Thirumurai.

Those hymns were unknown for more than a century until a wise scholar known as Nambiyaandaar Nambi, who was blessed by grace Lord Ganesha took initiative to gather and scriptures it. The great Tamil Emperor, Udaiyaar Shree RajaRajaCholzha was the one end his helping hand by all means towards Nambiyaandar Nambi’s noble cause. The Thirumurai, especially those was sung by the three highest scholars of Tamil Shaivism was penned in palm leaves and locked in a secret room in Chidambaram temple by the Brahmin clan known as ThillaiMovaayiravar (the 3000 of Chidambaram) under a decree which declares that those hymns only can be revealed if the those three who sung it came and demand for it. Nearly a century those hymns was been locked and slowly getting destroyed by the time. Those hymns were brought out by the huge effort of the King RajaRaja Chozha and wise move by Nambiyaandaar Nambi.

Apart from that, Saint Karuvooraar, one of the 18 Siddhas who also directed kingRajaRaja Chozha to assist and provide all the aids to Nambiyaandar Nambi to retainback all the Thirumurai songs. With the king’s help Nambi’s movement managed to retain the remaining hymns from Upper Chalukya kingdom (current Maharaashtrastate) until seashore of Kumari Sea and also the Eaazham province (current Sri Lanka). Collected hymn had been documented again and divided into 11 chapters. In later days of 13th century, the prime minister of the Chozha King Kulothunga II, Chekkizhaar had written a book known Periyapuraanam as the 12th Thirumurai. Thus the compilation of the Thirumurai completed.

These are the 12 Thirumurai as per order with their authors’ names: first 3 by Thirunyaanasambanthar known as Thirukadaikkaappu. 4th, 5th, 6th are Thevaaram by Thirunaavukkarasar. 7th is Thiruppaattu by Sunthara. 8th Thirumurai is Thiruvaasagam and Thirukkovai, by Lord Maanikkavasagar. 9th is Thiruvisaippaa and Thiruppallaandu by nine authors; those are Thirumaaligaithevar, Senthanaar, Karuvooraar, Poonthurtthi Kaadanambi, Kandaraathitthar, Naattadigal, Thiruvaaliyamuthanaar, Purudotthama Nambi and Ethiraayar. 10th is Thirumanthiram by Thirumoolar. 11th Thirumurai sung by 12 authors is Prabantham. The authors of Prabantham are Kaaraikkaal Ammai, Aiyadikal Kaadavarkon, Seramaan Perumaal, Pattinatthaar, Nakkeerar, Kabilar, Iraivanar (Thiruvaalavaayudaiyaar), Baranar, Kallaadar, Nambiyaandar Nambi, Murugan (Ilamperumaan Adikal) and Athiraavadikal. The last was Periya Puraanam.

Hence we will see about these Thirumurai in further days.

Hail to Lord Namashivaya, Hail to his Holy Feet, Hail to the one who never leave my thoughts!