Note on V.12

[Guest guest]

This the note for ref to Sri Kumaraguruparar in the V.12

 

Sri Kumarakuruparar was a saint-poet from Tirunelveli dist.,who spread the light

of Tamil and saivism from the banks of Tamiraparani thru Cauveri upto Ganges at

Benares. He was a genius in Tamil in his times and also a great saint of

Sidhantha school of saivism. He lived in the 17th century but travelled to

Benares ordained by his guru and there he established Kumaraswamy (Lord Muruga)

madam.

 

His works include Meenatci pillai tamizh, kasi kalambagam and madurai kalambagam

(on Lord shiva). His life and deeds are a living example of native Tamil

fervour, that helped to spread saivism in one of the tumultuous period of our

history. Not only from Vaishnavism, he had to face the brunt of opposition from

then-spreading Christian evangelism and dominant Islamic Monarchy!

 

The story on the incidence mentioned here goes like this, as written in two of

authentic biographies published by his sishya lineage: When he had composed

beautiful "Meenatchi pillai tamizh" - collection of poems on the Divine child

Meenakshi, King Tirumalail Naicken heard of him. He requested him to recite the

work in his court. As the saint obliged,the poetry was staged much to awe and

admiration of

religious and literary benches of the royal court. Mother Meenakshi was so moved

by his poems, that she came in the form of the young daughter of the temple

priest and sat in the lap of the king Naicken. At one point, by the verse

starting as 'Thodutha..' she grabbed the pearl necklace of the king and

presented to the saint and disappeared. This incident is mentioned in

Angayarkanni antati as " kumara kuruparanukku anRu vin-thaimika muththAram

than-thAy!" meaning

"You had blessed Sri Kumarakurupara with a wonderful pearl necklace".

 

Sri Kumarakurupara left Madurai after that and went to Benares. There he stayed

till his last days, worshipping Sri Vishwanatha and Vishalakshi. In between he

travelled few times to Tamil Nadu. Even now, there is the Kumaraswamy Matam at

Benares though its headquarters had been shifted to Tirupananthal in Tamil Nadu

in18th century.

 

Lord Shiva, as Sri Chokkanatha (the Lord Handsome!) of Madurai,was presented a

garland of tender Neem blossoms by Meenakshi. It is a characteristic of Him as

the Native of Madurai! For all the obvious reasons, He is lovingly called Crazy

by His devotees, in many of their poems.

 

I apologize if this mail has been stretched too long..

 

Sincerely,

Gopal