Arunagirinathar

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Arunagirinathar ( 14th Century CE) is renowned for Thirupugazh,  an anthology of Murugan songs. The work constitutes songs of rhythmic movement. Arunagirinathar was the pioneer of Tamil musical culture.

Profile

Arunagirinathar was born in 1370 at Thiruvannamalai. His ancestry belonged to Kaikola Sengunthar tradition. His parents were identified as Thiruvenkattar and Muththamma. According to his biographical story Arunagirinathar puranam, he was born on a Tuesday in the month of Virgo (Purattasi) on the Uthiram lunar day. In Srilanka, the full-moon day of the month Gemini (Aunie) is celebrated as Arunagiranathar day.

Arunagirinathar lost his father soon after the birth. He was fostered by his older sister Adhi.  He became well versed in Tamil grammar and literature from his childhood. In addition, he learnt Sanskrit as well. He got married at the right age. Yet, he lost all his riches to the other women and suffered from illness due to his excessive sexual desire. It is mentioned in the history books that the deity of Murugan alleviated him from his leprosy disease and Arunagirinathar composed devotional songs on Murugan.  

The song beginning,  Manayaval Nagaikka ("Shaming-dame"), Arunagirinathar narrated the hurling invective he endured from his parents and relatives. Based on this song, researchers speculated that he was married, and his parents lived a long life. Murugan of Seyyur Vedhapureeswarar temple was speculated as his personal deity.

Researchers estimated that Arunagirinathar era belonged to 15th century from his veneration poem on the 15th century king Prabhuda Deva Maharaja.

Myth

After losing all his wealth to the other women, Arunagirinathar sought asylum from his sister. She retorted, “Am I not a woman?” Perturbed Arunagirinathar attempted to end his life by leaping off the brow. Murugan came into sight and inscribed Arunagirinathar’s tongue with the mantra Saravanabhava. Enlightened Arunagirinathar started composing the Thirupugazh, “ Muthaitharu”. (Muthu  was the name of his mother).

Literary Life

Arunagirinathar was a scholar in Tamil and Sanskrit languages. His Thirupugazh includes 16000 songs with 1088 diverse rhythms. He visited almost all the temples of Southern India and composed 16000 songs. The songs display a harmonic blend of literature and devotion. His songs are renowned for the complicated structure of rhythms and beats. Thirupugazh is one of the most important works of medieval period of Tamil literature. Arunagirinathar dispersed Ramayanam and   Krishnaleela in the entire Thirupugazh. He mentioned about the great scholars Sundarar and Thirugnanasambandar in the songs. The devotees of Murugan consider his Thirupugazh equivalent to Thevaram, and Kandharalangaram to Thiruvasakam and Kandharanubhuthi to  Thirumanthiram. (Thirupugazh)

Publication

In 1871, Judge V. T Subramania Pillai of the district court in Chidambaram got fascinated by a quotation from Thirupugazh, which was nearly forgotten. He traveled all over Southern India, collected the scattered palm leaves on which the Thirupugazh songs were written. He published the two volumes of the work of Arunagirinathar. The first edition was published by him in 1894. His son V. S. Chengalvaraya Pillai published the second edition in 1901, after the death of V. T. Subranmania Pillai.

Biographies

The biography of Arunagirinathar is available in various Tamil books.

In 1964, the Tamil biopic Arunagirinathar was released.

Compositions

  • Kandharandhadhi (102 songs)
  • Kandharalangaram (108 songs)
  • Kandharanubhuthi (52 songs)
  • Thirupugazh (1307 songs)
  • Thiruvaguppu (52 songs)
  • Seval viruththam (11 songs)
  • Mayil viruththam (11 songs)
  • Vel viruththam (11 songs)
  • Thiruvezhukootrirukkai

References

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