Thirunavukkarasar
Thirunavukkarasar, also spelt as
Tirunvakarasar, and popularly known as
Appar, meaning father-figure, or a high one in
Tamil is a Shaivite saint who lived in Tamil Nadu. He is one of the 63 saints known as
Nayanmars. He is treated as one among the four most prominent or leading Nayanmars and refered as 'kuravar' (குரவர்), which means a leader or Guru. He lived in the
7th century and composed and sang several devotional songs, dedicated to
Shiva. He is known to have travelled to about 125 temples in different cities or villages in Tamil Nadu and singing in each place mystical songs set to melodic patterns known as
Pann (equivalent to
Raga) and some 3066 of his songs are available today
[Thirunavukkaruc cuvaamikal theevaara (thalamurai)(திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் தேவாரம் (தலமுறை)), Thirupanandaal madam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 612 404, 1995]. His songs are compiled, along with the songs of two other saints, in a work called
Tevaram, which means Sacred songs. A junior contempeory of Thirunavukkarasar is saint
Thirugnana Sambanthar and together they are known to have visited many temples singing melodic songs set to Pann (Raga).
The legend states that in his early adulthood, he converted from
Shaivism to
Jainism, and then back to Shaivism. The reason stated for the final conversion, according to the legend, is that he had become afflicted with a serious illness, and his prayers to
Shiva, as advised by his sister, resulted in Shiva curing him of the illness. This conversion was not taken lightly by the-then establishment, controlled by the Jains. The
Pallava king,
Mahendravarman I, was also a Jain. Appar was called to the court of the king. Having been warned to reconsider and rescind his conversion, Appar did not change. He continued to sing the devotional songs dedicated to Shiva and explained the basic tenets of Shaivism through his hymns. Ultimately the king himself was converted to Shaivism.
Thirunavukkarasar's image and iconography shows him as completed shaven head, and his palms are shown joined in
Anjalimudra. A weed is shown on his shoulder. The weed is said to symbolize his determination to remove all grass and weeds from the vicinity of temples.
Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0500510881) by Anna Dallapiccola
