Thevaram (Verses)

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Thevaram (Tamil: தேவாரம்) refers to the collection of verses sung on the primary god of the Shivite sect of Hindu religion, Lord Shiva by three Tamil poets (known as Nayanmars) - Thirugnana Sambanthar (aka Sambanthar), Thirunavukkarasar (aka Appar) and Sundaramoorthy Nayanar (aka Sundarar). The former two is believed to have lived around the 7th century AD while the latter around 8th century AD. All songs in Thevaram are belived to be in sets of 10 songs (called pathikam in Tamil).

[edit] History

During the 7th century AD, the Pallavas were ruling present day Tamil Nadu. It was during this period the revival of the Saivite sect of Hinduism started in against the more influential Buddhism and Jainism. The three Nayanmars traveled extensively around present day Tamil Nadu to make religious discourses. During those trips, they also sang songs on the primary deity at those locations which later came to be known as Thevaram.

[edit] First Songs

The first song by Thirugnana Sambanthar was sung on Sirkazhi's deity, Thoniappar. Its believed that he was just three years old at that time. The legend says that his father left the infant near the temple pond for a while. On returning, he found drops of milk near the kids mouth and asked the kid about who fed him. Thirugnanasambandhamoorthy pointed to the sky and responded with the song Thodudaya Seviyan - the first verse of Thevaram. Its also said that he got his wisdom from having been fed by the goddess Parvathi herself.

Thirunavukkarasar sang his first song at the town of Thiruvathikai Veerattanam (Kootrayinavaru vilakkilir...) while Sundaramoorthy Nayanar's first song was Pithaa Piraisoodi...

[edit] Cataloguing the works

It was in 10th Century AD, during the reign of Rajaraja Chola I that these songs were found abandoned in the Chidambaram temple along with other religious literary works. It was Nambiyandar Nambi who collected what was available and cataloged into 12 volumes (Thirumurai in Tamil). The first seven volumes of this forms Thevaram.