திருப்புகழ்
A Tamil poet and devotee of Murugan who lived in the 15th century, in Thiruvannamalai (அருணை). His songs are still sung every day in homes and temples.
வாழ்க்கை · His life, as told
Tradition says that as a young man Arunagirinathar lost his way, and with it his health and his peace. In despair he climbed the temple tower at Thiruvannamalai to end his life.
As he fell, the story goes, Murugan caught him, touched his tongue and gave him the first words of a song: முத்தைத்தரு. That song opens Thiruppugazh, right after the songs to Vinayagar. From then on he walked from shrine to shrine and sang of Murugan at each one.
Little is written about his life outside these stories, so they are told here as devotees tell them.
சந்தம் · The beat
His songs are known for santham: every line follows the same pattern of short and long sounds, like a drum beat. To fit the beat he joins and splits words, which is why a line can look hard at first and sound easy once you hear it.
Tradition says he sang sixteen thousand songs. About thirteen hundred have come down to us, kept on palm leaves for centuries and printed in the late 1800s.
நூல்கள் · His works
- திருப்புகழ்Thiruppugazh
- Songs of praise to Murugan, shrine by shrine.
- கந்தர் அலங்காரம்Kandhar Alangaram
- Verses on the beauty and grace of Murugan.
- கந்தர் அனுபூதிKandhar Anubhuthi
- Short verses on the experience of the divine.
- கந்தர் அந்தாதிKandhar Andhadhi
- Verses where each one begins with the last word of the one before.
- திருவகுப்புThiruvaguppu
- Long songs in a flowing rhythm.
- வேல், மயில், சேவல் விருத்தம்Vel, Mayil and Seval Viruttham
- Verses on Murugan's spear, peacock and rooster.