Tiruvasakam

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Thiruvasakam (Tamil: திருவாசகம் lit. "sacred utterance") was sung as poems by Sage Manikkavasagar in various Saivite temples in Tamil Nadu, India. There are 51 pathigams in total. Legend has it that Manickavasagar was appointed as minister in Pandya kingdom by the then king Arimarttanar in the 7th or 8th century AD and was sent to purchase horses from a foreign trader stationed at the nearby port. But he spent all the money towards promoting saivite by building a temple. Lord Siva bestowed grace upon him and saved him from the punishment of the king by converting all foxes in to horses.

The main preachings from Thiruvasagam is that "This body which we have is only temporary and we should not spend much time and money in providing it all worldly comforts. Human, trying to give his body all comforts is the root cause for all the pains and sorrow he goes through. One should not attach any importance to this temporary body and instead always pray the divine to leave this body and attain moksha. Soul should have control over the body and not vice versa. The ultimate highness in one's life is to reach Lord Siva's "porpaadham"."

There is a popular saying in Tamil திருவாசகத்துக்கு உருகாதார் ஒரு வாசகத்துக்கும் உருகார்

This means that one who does not get moved by pious emotion emanating from the "Sacred Utterances" does not get moved by any utterances with pious emotions.

The following is the invocation poem from Tiruvasakam:

நமச்சிவாய வாஅழ்க நாதன் தாள் வாழ்க
இமைப்பொழுதும் என் நெஞ்சில் நீங்காதான் தாள் வாழ்க
கோகழி ஆண்ட குருமணிதன் தாள் வாழ்க
ஆகமம் ஆகிநின்று அண்ணிப்பான் தாள் வாழ்க
ஏகன் அநேகன் இறைவன் அடிவாழ்க

The HYMNS sung by Saint Manickavasagar constitute the eighth canon of the Saiva Thirumurais. In tamil, most of the famous literature comes in tens. For example, pathu paattu (which has 10 kinds of song like mullai paattu, malai padukadaam etc). Similarly Thiruvasagam which starts with sivapuranam, has 51 pathigams with 19 pathu (tens) like Pidithapathu, acha pathu, kuzhaitha pathu, annai pathu etc.