Life and work of Meykandar

   Meykandar is famous as the author of the Tamil Sivajnana bodham and its succinct analysis called vartikam.  He is also known as the first among the four linear preceptors of Saiva Siddhanta tradition in South India.  He gave the logical basis to the school of thought of Saiva Siddhanta, that prevailed in South India.  He was of the early 13th Century, if not earlier. It is widely accepted that he was well known in the year 1235 from epigraphical evidence.  The story of his birth and initiation is very interesting.

   The stretch of land that intervened in olden days between Tondai nadu and Cozha nadu was known as Nadu nadu (the land of the midst).  It is also known by the alternative name Tirumunai-p-padi nadu.  It is to the South West of the present Chingleput district comprising of parts of North and South Arcots.  The land was sanctified already by the birth of the two Saiva Teacher-Saints, Appar and Sundarar.

   There, in Tiruppennakatam, lived a chieftain named Acchyuta Kalappalar.  He was gifted with all material blessings of this world, but not a child.  One day he went to Turaiyur where his religious teacher, Sakala agama panditar lived, to receive his blessings.  The teacher worshipped at the feet of Lord Siva and asked the disciple to place a thread in between the palm leaves of a book which had on its pages impressed the Thevaram hymns.  The purpose of the teacher was toknow the will of God from the meanings of the stanza of Tevaram that made its appearance before him.

   To the welcome surprise of both, the stanza of Thirugnana Sambanthar on Tiruvenkatu commencing with the words, 'peyadaiya;piriv(u) eytum' came to be sighted.  The meaning of the stanza is as follows: 'Persons who worship Lord Shiva, the partner of Uma of smooth arms like bamboos, after bathing in the three tanks at Venkatu will not be approached by evil spirits: they will leave them (even if they had been possessed).  They will be blessed with child and will have their hearts desires fulfilled.  They heed not entertain any doubt, for they will not be touched by the evil efforts of demerits'.

   Immediately the Teacher asked his disciple to go to Tiruvenkatu with his spouse and carry out the worship.  While the Kalappalar was performing the worship, the Lord of Tiruvenkatu told him in his dream that though he had not the good fortune to have a child in that birth, because of his implicit faith in the utterings of Sambandar, he would be granted a child even like the saint himself.  The chieftain finished his vow of worship and returned to his native place.

   In course of time a male child was born to him and it was being reared with unique care and endearment by the family, the relatives and the citizens alike.

   Soon the uncle of the child took him to Tiruvennainallur along with his mother and reared him there.  One day when the child was playing in the open, a certain Saint Parancoti from Mount Kailas came down and imparted the divine wisdom which he inherited from Lord Siva and named the child Meykandan after his master Satyajnana darsini and left the place.