Manikka Vasagar

Ezhutharu maraikkal theraa iraivanai ellit kangkula
pozhutharu kaalaththendrum poosanai vidaathu seithu
thozhuthakai thalaimeetherath thulumpukan neerulmoozhki
azhuthadi adaintha anban adiyavarkku adimai seivom
– Thiruvilaiyaadal puraanam
meaning
By worshipping day and night,

hands in prayer, rising over the head in adoration,
soaking in tears of intense devotion
to the God who is beyond comprehension even through the Vedas
inordinately complex,
he attained the lotus feet of the Lord,
the loving one, none other than the devout devotee (Manivaasakar),
let us be servants to those who are his devotees.
The sweet scent of Tamil and divine fragrance of Shivam intermingle in the
holy and fertile land of South Paandi. Ornamenting this land is the river
Vaigai, described as ‘purely beautiful' by poets. This river is given historical
importance having been featured in Puranas and Ithikaasas.
Appearance
Seven Kilometres from the city of Madurai, situated by the banks of the Vaigai is
the town Thiruvaathavoor. The Lord resides in this holy town as
Vaathapureeswarar. This town is known as Vaathapuram since Vaayu (wind god)
worshipped this shrine. In this town there lived a Brahmin belonging to the
amaathiya kulam who never wavered from the Saiva path. His name was
Sambupaatha siruthar and his wife was Sivajnaanavathi. They adhered to the
righteous path in their married life. In that period, south India was engulfed by the
Buddist religion which is an external religion. Saiva religion was on the decline. For
Saivaism to prosper and path of Veda siva aagamas to thrive, a divine son was
born to them, by the grace of God. The parents were overjoyed and called him by
holy name Thiruvaathavoorar.
Ministership
As the boy grew up, he was filled with the wisdom of the arts. By the time he
reached sixteen, he was filled with knowledge. One and all were amazed by his
scholarly aptitude, discipline, ability to explain the meaning of text and the great
wisdom beyond his age. In those times the Paandiya kingdom was ruled by the
king Arimarththana Paandiyan. When he heard about the exceedingly intelligent
young man, he had him brought to his royal court and conversed with him and, in
appreciation of his great knowledge, gave him the title Thennavan Brammaraayan
and made him his chief minister. Thiruvaathavoorar treated this as the wish of the
Almighty and discharged his ministerial duties conscientiously. The citizens were
overjoyed with his ministership. Vaathavoorar was the eye and armour of
Arimarththana Paandiyan.
Disinterest in position
Strangely Vaathavoorar did not find happiness in the experiences and status
afforded to him on being the chief minister. He knew that the world and worldly
pleasures were of a transient nature and ministership started turning sour. There
seemed to be a complete disconnect between him and the post of chief minister as
though it was a costume donned by the dancer which was not real. The need for a
Guru became a desperate need. His mind started whirling on achieving the
ultimate goal of life.
Purchase of Horses
Vaathavoorar was seated in court as the Chief Minister. Stuarts arrived in court to
describe the pitiful state of the horse battalion which was full old and sickly horses.
They pointed out the need for superior stallions to rebuild the horse regiment. They
respectfully reminded the King of the need to strengthen the horse battalion. The
messengers in the court immediately advised the King of the arrival of stallions in
the eastern port. The king looked at his Minister Brammaraayan and asked him to
obtain money from the treasury and purchase some good horses.
Vaathavoorar complied with the king’s command and took a pile of wealth from the
gold store and had it loaded on to camels and set off with a big contingency, paid
obeisance at the Chokkesan Temple and left Madurai. As they travelled a long way,
they approached a holy place called Thirup perunthurai. As he came closer and
closer, he felt a sense of his burden lessening. He felt that this maybe the town he
might have divine intervention.
The spiritual instruction of the Guru
Vaathavoorar heard the name of Shiva resonating from the deep distance. He
hastened towards that direction. Under a kuruntha tree, none other than Lord
Shiva himself, had manifested as a Guru with his disciples. The ganas(attendants)
of Lord Shiva, learned in vedas, sivaagamas, ithigaasa religious literature sat as
sishyas to that Guru. He sat as the mighty Guru who breaks the bondage of
attachment. His left hand showed the symbol of release(chin muthirai). His face
emanated divine radiance. His eyes delivered divine knowledge. On espying the
Guru thus seated, Vaathavoorar gathered that this was the Guru he was waiting
for. His heart went out to the Guru, like the iron attracted by the magnet. In this
frame of mind, he hastened to his side and prostrated at His feet like a felled tree.
He pleaded with Him to accept this humble being, take charge and bless him.
Looking at the matured soul, the Guru showered him with grace showing approval
using His eyes, hand and feet and delivered the spiritual instruction of the holy five
letters of Namasivaaya. Vaathavoorar was overwhelmed by the infinite compassion
shown by the Guru and prostrated at his feet again. Due to the Guru’s gaze of
immense grace, Vaathavoorar became a divine form of wisdom. He made garlands
of praise for the grace of God who came as a guru, winning him over to the spiritual
path.
Maanikkavaasakar
The hymns he sang for the Guru who gave him wisdom were poetically sweet and
melted the heart of the listener with the meaning and hence the Guru said ‘I shall
name you Maanikka vaasakar’ * and conferred that as his name of
benediction(theetchai) on him. From that day along with the name Vaathavoorar,
he was also called by the divine name Maanikkavaasakar.
*Maanikkam – gem Vaasakar-one whose utterances are

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Ezhutharu maraikkal theraa iraivanai ellit kangkula

pozhutharu kaalaththendrum poosanai vidaathu seithu

thozhuthakai thalaimeetherath thulumpukan neerulmoozhki

azhuthadi adaintha anban adiyavarkku adimai seivom

By worshipping day and night,

The spiritual instruction of the Guru

*Maanikkam – gem Vaasakar-one whose utterances are

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