Tirumurai

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The word Tirumurai literally means the sacred book. It is a compendium of songs or hymns in the praise of Shiva in the Tamil language. In South India, Shaivites have the Tirumurai as their religious text while Vaishnavas have the Nalayira Divyaprabandham as their sacred work.

[edit] History and background

The Pallava period in the history of the Tamil land is a period of religious revival of Hinduism by the Shaivite Nayanars who by their Bhakti hymns captured the hearts of the people. They made a tremendous impression on the people by singing the praise of Lord Shiva in soul-stirring devotional hymns.

[edit] Brief Overview

The Shaiva Tirumurais are twelve in number. The first seven Tirumurais are the hymns of the three great Shaivite saints, Sambanthar, Appar and Sundarar. These hymns were the best musical compositions of their age.

• The first three Tirumurais are the extempore compositions of Campantar

• The fourth, the fifth and the sixth Tirumurais are those of Appar

• The seventh Tirumurai consists of saint suntarar's hymns

• The eighth Tirumurai consists of saint Manikkavasagar's hymns

• The ninth Tirumurai has been composed by Tirumalikaittever, Centanar, Karuvurttevar, Nampikatava Nampi, Kantaratittar, Venattatikal, Tiruvaliyamutanar, Purutottama Nampi and Cetirayar

• The tenth Tirumurai has been composed by Tirumular

• The eleventh Tirumurai has been composed by Karaikkal Ammaiyar, Ceraman Perumal, Pattinattu p-pillaiyar, Nakkiratevar, Kapilateva, Tiruvalavaiyudaiyar, Nampiyantarnampi, Iyyadigal katavarkon, Kalladateva, Paranateva, Ellamperuman Adigal and Athirava Adigal

• The twelfth Tirumurai has been composed by Sekkizhar