INTRODUCTION
Appar also known as Tirunavukkarasar Nayanar was one among the 63 nayanmars. His birth name was Marulneekkiyar. Appar had contributed a portion of his writings in the famous writing Thiruthondar Thogai. All the contributions of Appar, Sundarar and Thirugnana Sambandar are collectively called as Thevaram
LIFE
Appar was born in 7th century AD in Tiruvamur, Tamil Nadu. His sister Thilagavathiyar lived a saintly life and took care of him properly. He is regarded as an avatar of the holy “SIVA GANAM VAGEESAR” in KAILASA.
At his younger age, Appar was very much attracted to Jainism and stayed in the Jain Temple and was known as Darmasena.
Once he suffered severe stomach pain, after praying to Lord Shiva, he got cured. Then he was back to Shaivism from Jainism. He also converted the Pallava king, Mahendravarman to Shaivaism. He was called as Tirunavukkarasu, due to his divine speech.
Navukkarasar met Thirugnana Sambandar at Sirkali and both of them traveled together by singing devotional songs on Lord Shiva. Appar is believed to have travelled to most of the shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, and preached the importance of shaivism among the people. He attained SALVATION at TiruPukalur Siva temple at the age of 81.
One of his famous songs verses are as follows:-
Lord Shiva’s divine lotus feet are like
- The Veena,
- The Full Moon,
- The Cold breeze,
- The Early Morning Sunshine,
- The refreshing pond,
- The Holy Mountain,
- The blossomed flower
The great shaivite saint Sri Nambi Andar Nambi,recovered some of the divine scripts of tevaram through the blessings of Lord Shiva in 10 century AD.
IMPORTANCE
Appar was a great saint who removed the sins of the devotees by chanting the shiva mantra “OM NAMASHIVAYA”. He was praised for his kindness, wisdom, courage, knowledge and devotion to Lord Shiva. He was a humble and a soft spoken saint, who cured the dreaded diseases of the devotees by applying the holy ash (VIBUTHI) of Lord Shiva on their body.
Even still in most of the shiva temples, his famous work “TEVARAM” is recited every day, and especially on Mondays. It is believed that by singing the verses of Thevaram, one will get relieved from their past and present birth sins and will be merged with Lord Shiva. Along with Sambandar and Sundarar, Appar is also praised for his great contribution in the shaivite siddantha . We must cultivate the habit of chanting the verses of Tevaram on a daily basis in order to live a peaceful life.
Let us the chant the holy name of the great saint “SRI APPAR” and be blessed.
“OM SREE APPAR SWAMIGALE NAMAHA”
“OM NAMAH SHIVAYA”
WRITTEN BY R.HARISHANKAR
