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{{Short description|9th century Tamil Shaiva saint}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| name = Manikkavacakar
| image = Manikkavacakar, India, Tamil Nadu, Chola period, 11th-12th century AD, bronze - Linden-Museum - Stuttgart, Germany - DSC03795.jpg
| caption = Manikkavacakar, [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] bronze, 12th century India, at the [[Linden Museum]], [[Stuttgart]]
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| birth_place = Tiruvadhavoor
| birth_name = Vaadhavoor Adigal
| philosophy = [[Shaivism]] [[Bhakti]]
| honors = [[Nalvar]] saint
| literary_works = ''[[Thiruvasagam]]'', ''[[Thirukkovaiyar]]'', ''[[Tiruvempavai]]''
| footnotes =
}}
'''Manikkavacakar''' was a 3rd-century Tamil saint and poet who wrote ''[[Thiruvasagam]] and [[Tirukkovaiyar|Thirukkovaiyar]]'', books of [[Shaiva]] hymns. Tamil scholars and researchers share that he was a minister to the [[Pandya]] king [[Nedunjeliyan II]] (3rd Century CE) and lived in [[Madurai]] (or) he was a minister to the Pandya king [[Arikesari Maravarman|Arikesari]] (6th Century CE).

He is revered as one of the [[Nalvar]] (''"group of four"'' in Tamil), a set of four prominent Tamil saints alongside [[Appar]], [[Sundarar]] and [[Sambandar]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Verma |first1=Rajeev |title=Faith & philosophy of Hinduism |date=2009 |publisher=Kalpaz Publications |location=Delhi, India |isbn=9788178357188 |page=153 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S7eo6vsvkEkC&dq=nalvar+appar+sundarar&pg=PA153}}</ref> The other three contributed to the first seven volumes ([[Tevaram]]) of the twelve-volume Saivite work [[Tirumurai]], the key devotional text of [[Shaiva Siddhanta]]. Manikkavacakar's ''Thiruvasagam'' and [[Thirukkovaiyar]] form the eighth volume. These eight volumes are considered to be the ''Tamil Vedas'' by the Shaivites, and the four saints are revered as ''Samaya Kuravar'' (''religious preceptors'')<ref name="Ponnaiah">{{cite book |last1=Ponnaiah |first1=V. Dr |title=The Saiva Siddhanta - Theory of Knowledge |date=1952 |publisher=Annamalai University |location=Annamalainagar |page=43 |url=https://archive.org/details/TheSaivaSiddhanta-TheoryOfKnowledgeByV.ponniah/page/n19/mode/2up |access-date=4 June 2022}}</ref>

His works are celebrated for their poetic expression of the anguish of being separated from God, and the joy of God-experience,<ref name ="Ponnaiah"/>{{rp|48}} with ecstatic religious fervour.<ref name ="101mystics">{{cite book |last1=Subramanian |first1=V. K. |title=101 mystics of India |date=2006 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |location=New Delhi |isbn=9788170174714 |page=57 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KPPWvkKXwCwC}}</ref> In his expression of intimacy to God, Manikkavacakar mirrors the sentiments expressed by his fellow [[Bhakti movement|Bhakti period]] saints referring to the Lord as the "Divine Bridegroom"<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Upinder |title=A history of ancient and early medieval India : from the Stone Age to the 12th century |date=2008 |publisher=Pearson Education |location=New Delhi |isbn=9788131711200 |page=617}}</ref> or the ''Nityamanavaalar'' ("Eternal Bridegroom"),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Vanmikanathan |first1=G |title=Periya Puranam - A Tamil classic of the great Saiva saints of South India |date=1985 |publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math |location=Chennai |isbn=9788171205196 |page=50 |url=https://archive.org/details/periya-puranam-english-translation-vanmikanathan-g.-r.-k.-mutt-ocred/page/n3/mode/2up |access-date=4 June 2022}}</ref> with whom he longed to be united in "divine nuptials".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sadarangani |first1=Neeti M. |title=Bhakti Poetry in Medieval India: Its Inception, Cultural Encounter and Impact |date=2004 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=978-81-7625-436-6 |page=17 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WVQrKJbJ2JIC |language=en}}</ref>

== Period ==
'''3rd Century CE'''

We get historical details about Manikkavacakar from '''[https://shaivam.org/scripture/Tamil/2309/thiruvilaiyadal-puranam-padalam-58-to-61/#nariyai_pari&gsc.tab=0 Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam]''' written by Paranjothiyar. In this book, the song [https://shaivam.org/scripture/Tamil/2309/thiruvilaiyadal-puranam-padalam-58-to-61/#nariyai_pari&gsc.tab=0 2799] "arikanai thoduthu vezham attavan '''chezhiyan''' vayil theri kalai amaichar", and the song [https://shaivam.org/scripture/Tamil/2309/thiruvilaiyadal-puranam-padalam-58-to-61/#nariyai_pari&gsc.tab=0 3044] "pandiyan muthukil pattathu chezhiyan panniyar (wife) udambinil pattathu" clearly states that the king's name is '''Chezhiyan'''.

In Sangam literature, [http://www.sangathamizh.com/10paddu/10paddu-mathuraikaanchi-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9E%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF.html Pathupattu] describes [[Nedunjeliyan II]]'s wars in detail, including his ''kadumpakattu yaanai'' – a type of elephant known for its swift movements on the battlefield – while engaging combatants seated on horses. [[Nedunjeliyan II]] was adorned with many titles in Sangam literature, mostly after the chariots and elephants he possessed. So, the same king is referenced with the title '''Arimarthanan''' in the songs [https://shaivam.org/scripture/Tamil/2309/thiruvilaiyadal-puranam-padalam-58-to-61/#nariyai_pari&gsc.tab=0 2718], [https://shaivam.org/scripture/Tamil/2309/thiruvilaiyadal-puranam-padalam-58-to-61/#nariyai_pari&gsc.tab=0 2721] and [https://shaivam.org/scripture/Tamil/2309/thiruvilaiyadal-puranam-padalam-58-to-61/#nariyai_pari&gsc.tab=0 3081] found in Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam book.

Another reference describes that Manikkavacakar's period is [[Appar]]'s (6th Century CE)[https://shaivam.org/thirumurai/fourth-thirumurai/thirunavukkarasar-thevaram-thiruvarur-paadilam-puthaththi/ Tevaram 4.004 Thiruvaroor, Song 2] "Nariyai kuthirai seivanum" as this refers to the incident described by Manikkavacakar himself in his Thiruvasagam, [https://shaivam.org/thirumurai/eighth-thirumurai-thiruvasagam/anandhamalai/#gsc.tab=0 Section 50 ஆனந்தமாலை, song 7] "Nariyai Kuthirai pariyaki gnala mellam nihalvithuperiya mathuraiyellam picha thetrum perunthuraiyai".

In [[Pandyan art and architecture|Pandya Dynastry]], there is [[Pandya dynasty|no Pandiya king]] with the name as '''Arimarthanan,''' because it is a Title only. People mistakenly consider Manickkavacakar's period with that of the King [[Varaguna II]] (8th Century CE). Varaguna II is the king's name and people say his title as '''Arimarthanan.''' If Varaguna was the actual king, the Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam should have mentioned his name and the title. Instead, the songs refer him with the name, [[Nedunjeliyan II]] and his wife in the songs [https://shaivam.org/scripture/Tamil/2309/thiruvilaiyadal-puranam-padalam-58-to-61/#nariyai_pari&gsc.tab=0 2799] and [https://shaivam.org/scripture/Tamil/2309/thiruvilaiyadal-puranam-padalam-58-to-61/#nariyai_pari&gsc.tab=0 3044] and the title, '''Arimarthanan''' in [https://shaivam.org/scripture/Tamil/2309/thiruvilaiyadal-puranam-padalam-58-to-61/#nariyai_pari&gsc.tab=0 2718], [https://shaivam.org/scripture/Tamil/2309/thiruvilaiyadal-puranam-padalam-58-to-61/#nariyai_pari&gsc.tab=0 2721], [https://shaivam.org/scripture/Tamil/2309/thiruvilaiyadal-puranam-padalam-58-to-61/#nariyai_pari&gsc.tab=0 3081]. It negates that Manickkavacakar and Varaguna || are contemporaries. Meanwhile, the Thiruvilaiyadal puranam songs line, "Arikanai thoduthu vezham attavan chezhiyan vayil theri kalai amaichar" states that '''Chezhiyan''' the King is known for his bravery of killing Elephants. In Madurai Kanchi poem, Mangudi Maruthanar describes the wars of [[Nedunjeliyan II]] ('''Chezhiyan''') and that thousands of Elephants were killed in it.

'''6th Century CE'''

Narayana Ayyar, C. V. wrote the book ''[https://archive.org/details/OriginAndEarlyHistoryOfShaivismInSouthIndia/page/n9/mode/2up?view=theater Origin and Early History of Śaivism] in South India''. Madras University of Madras, 1974. In that book he has detailed about Manikkavacakar's period from page 398 to page 443 and concludes that his period is 6th Century CE.

==Life==
[[File:Manikkavachakar.jpg|thumb|Manikkavacakar statue in tribhanga holding Palm leaf written "Om Namah Shivaya" in Tamizh script on it. Statue is in AP State Archeological Museum|left]]
{{Tirumurai}}
Manikkavacakar is said to have been born in Vadhavoor (known today as Thiruvathavur, near [[Melur]] seven miles from [[Madurai]] in modern day [[Tamil Nadu|Tamilnadu]] state in South India).<ref name = "101mystics"/>

He belonged to the ''Pandithar'' Shaiva temple priest guild. His father was a temple priest. The guild wore a top tilted head knot "Purva Sikha" to denote servitorship to the God [[Shiva]]. A mural and statuette of Manikkavacakar with Purva Sikha head knot is seen in [[Tirupperunturai]] near Pudukkottai. A poetic and elaborate hagiography of Manikkavacakar and his works were written in the 16th Century CE and is called ''Tiruvilayadal puranam'', meaning "An account of divine deeds". Another one called ''Vadhavoorar puranam'' and yet another [[Sanskrit]] work of the 12th Century CE on the same saint are now missing.

According to accounts, the king of [[Pandya dynasty|Pandyan dynasty]] had selected Manikkavacakar as one among his legion after seeing his military acumen. He was conferred with the title, ''"Thennavan bhramarayan"'' by the Pandyan king.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Iraianban |first1=Swamiji |title=Om Namashivaya |date=1999 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-7017-373-1 |page=24 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rUT3i-bvcsYC |language=en}}</ref> The king had once entrusted him with a large amount of money to purchase horses for his cavalry. On his way he met an ascetic devotee of Shiva, who in fact was the God Himself. Manikkavacakar received enlightenment, realising that material things are transitory in nature and built a temple for Shiva in [[Tirupperunturai]] with the money given for purchasing horses.<ref>[[#B.S.|B.S.]] 2011, p. 77</ref> King Varaguna was also preached about the knowledge of reality and was blessed with salvation after Shiva made him realize about his worldly mistake.

Manikkavacakar's birth name is unclear, but he was known as Vadhavoorar after his birthplace. ''Manikkavacakar'' means 'man with words as precious as [[Ruby|Manikkam]]'.

According to [[Ramana Maharishi]], Manikkavacakar attained salvation by merging with a blinding bright light.<ref>Talks with Ramana Maharshi- chapter 215</ref>

==Literary works==
[[File:Manickavasagar.jpg|240px|thumb|Manikkavacakar (Wooden Image), [[Archaeological Survey of India|ASI]] Museum, Vellore]]
Thereafter Manikkavacakar moved from one place to other, singing and composing devotional songs. Finally, he settled in [[Chidambaram]]. His [[Tiruvasakam]] is placed near the Murti of God Shiva there. Several verses of Tiruvasagam including the ''Accho Patikam,'' after singing which he attained [[Moksha|Mukti]] at Thillai Natarajar's feet, are also engraved on the walls of the [[Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram|Chidambaram temple]]. The ''[https://ta.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B4%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D Tiruchazhal]'' hymn, after singing which the communal Buddhists were exposed, is also engraved in one of the prakarams of the temple. The work, ''[[:ta:%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D|Thiruchitrambalakkovaiyar]]'' was sung entirely in [[Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram|Thillai Chidambaram]]. Throughout his work he discusses how important it is to forego attachments of life and to cultivate dispassionate, devoted, sincere and simple hearted love towards the Lord Shiva in order to attain his beatitude and also that the Five Tamil Letters of ''Na Ma Si Va Ya'' alone give one ''Mukti''.

Manikkavacakar's works have several parts. The ''[[Tiruvempavai|Thiruvempaavai]]'', a collection of twenty hymns in which he has imagined himself as a woman following the '' [[:ta:%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B4%E0%AE%BF %E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%81|Paavai Nonbu]] '' and praising the God Shiva. The twenty songs of ''[[Tiruvempavai|Thiruvempaavai]]'' and ten songs of '' [https://ta.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B4%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D Tiruppalliezhuchi] '' on the Tirupperunturai Lord are sung all over Tamil Nadu in the holy month of '' [[Margazhi]] '' (The 9th month of the [[Tamil calendar]], December and January).

He wrote ''[[Tirukkovaiyar|Thirukkovaiyar]]'' before he attained Mukti in which he follows the tradition of having Lord Shiva as Thalaivan and considering himself as Thalaivi. It has a deeper meaning of ''Aanmah'' trying to reach ''Shivam''.

Manikkavacakar is believed to have won intellectual arguments with [[Buddhist]]s of [[Ceylon]] at Chidambaram.<ref>[[#B.S.|B.S.]] 2011, p. 162</ref> His festival is celebrated in the Tamil month of '' Aani '' (June - July). Manikkavacakar's hagiography is found in the ''[[Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam|Thiruvilaiyadar Puranam]]'' (16th century CE).

In 1921, an English translation of Manikkavacakar's hymns was done by Francis Kingsbury and GE Phillips, both of [[United Theological College, Bangalore]] (Edited by [[Fred Goodwill]]) and published in a book as ''Hymns of the Tamil Śaivite Saints'', by the Oxford University Press.<ref name=Saivite>{{cite book|last1=Kingsbury|first1=F|title=Hymns of the Tamil Saivite Saints (1921)|date=1921|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=84–127|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/guruguha/MusicResearchLibrary/Books-English/BkE-KingsburyF&PhillipsGE-Hymns-of-Tamil-Saivite-Saints-1921-0103.pdf|access-date=8 July 2014}}</ref>

==Associated temples==
Manikkavacakar visited various temples in Thanjavur, North Arcot, Chengalpattu, Madras, Tirunelveli and Madurai districts of Tamil Nadu and revered the deities.<ref>[[#B.S.|B.S.]] 2011, p. 36</ref>
*Sculptures illustrating his life are found in the Meenakshi-Sundhareshwarar temple in Madurai.<ref>{{cite book|last=R.K.K. |first=Rajarajan|title= Art of the Vijayanagara-Nayakas: Architecture and Iconography|publisher= Sharada Publications|location= Delhi|year= 2006}}</ref>
* Manikkavacakar is said to have built the temple of Siva in [[Tirupperunturai]].
* He is said to have lived at [[Chidambaram]], [[Tamil Nadu]].
* He is closely associated with [[Uthirakosamangai|Thiru Uthirakosamangai]].

''Tiruvempaavai'' is sung along with Sri Andal's ''[[Tiruppavai|Tiruppaavai]]'' widely across the temples in Tamil Nadu during the Tamil month of ''[[Tamil calendar|Margazhi]]'' (December - January).<ref>[[#B.S.|B.S.]] 2011, p. 74</ref>

Manikkavacakar's stone image is worshipped in almost all the Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu. A [[Chola bronze]] idol of Manikkavacakar with {{convert|57|cm|in|abbr=on}} size in standing posture dated about 12th Century was found in [[Velankanni]] in [[Nagapattinam district]]. He is sported with his right hand in ''Upadesa'' posture and left hand holding a palm leaf manuscript. He is sported also as wearing a thin loincloth and a sacred thread over his chest. Another bronze idol of Manikkavacakar with a height of {{convert|64|cm|in|abbr=on}} in standing posture dated about 1150 CE was found in [[Thiruvilandur|Tiruindalur]] in [[Nagapattinam district]]. Unlike other idols, in this idol he is sported with locks of hair encircled with beads of [[Rudraksha]]. These bronze images are stored in the Bronze gallery in [[Government Museum, Chennai]].<ref name=arch>{{cite report|title=An exhibition on Chola bronzes - 1000th anniversary of Thanjavur Big temple celebration|editor-last=T.S.|editor-first=Dr. Sridhar|url=https://www.tnarch.gov.in/Library%20BOOk%20PDF/Chola%20Bronzes.pdf|page=45|publisher=Department of Archaeology & Government Museum|location=Chennai|year=2011}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book|title=History of People and Their Environs|publisher=Bharathi Puthakalayam|first1=Chandrababu|last1=B.S.|first2=Ganeshram|last2=S.|first3=Bhavani|last3=C.|year=2011|isbn=9789380325910|ref=B.S.}}
*{{cite book|title= Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend|isbn= 0-500-51088-1|first= Anna|last= Dallapiccola|year= 2002|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofhind0000dall}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bRYdz08jc&list=PLrDHFXR22SMFonGp1s-w6ASr2HEq3EzAF Thiruvempavai explanation meaning]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDuJ0HBFz74&list=PLrDHFXR22SMFh7srDqe7w4v2-jegOmZlT Thirupalliyezhuchi explanation meaning]
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Writers from Madurai]]
[[Category:Bhakti movement]]
[[Category:Carnatic music]]
[[Category:Tamil poets]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:9th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tamil Hindu saints]]

Manikkavacakar - Revision history

Wikialpha49 at 04:41, 28 March 2026