ST. THIRUNAVAUKKARACAR
Naamaarkkum Kudiyallom namanai anchom
Narakaththil idarpadom nadalai illom
Emaappom piniyariyom Panivom allom
Inpame ennalum thunpam illai
Thaamarkum kudiyallaath thanmaiyaana
Sankaranat sangaven kulaior kaadhil
Komaarked naamenrum meela aalaik
Koimalarchche vadiyinaiye Kurukinome.We are not subject to (or control of) any one, and do not fear death. We experience no torment in hell, and entertain no falsehood. We live with self respect (not to be deceived to loose our individuality), know no sickness, and bow to no one. We are ever happy and have no sorrow.(This is because) We are the eternal servants of Sankara(Siva) who, by his very nature, is not subject to anyone. He is the king who wears white conch ear rings. We have reached (received) his beautiful freshly plucked flower like pair of feet (which is His grace).
St. Thirunavukkaracar, the contemporary of St. Sambandar belonged to a village by name Tiruvamur. He was born in a pious Vellala family. His father was Pukalanar and mother Matiniyar. They were blessed with a daughter and a son named Marulnikkiyar later known as Tirunavukkaracar or Appar. After the death of the parents this boy was brought up by his dear sister as a pious devotee of Siva. But it was in that period that Jainism was popular in the Tamil country. Marulnikkiyar was attracted by the doctrines of this religion. He became a convert and took the name 'Tarumacenar' because of his zeal in spreading Jainism. His sister was greatly disappointed and she prayed to Lord shiva that her brother should be reclaimed. In response to her prayer the Lord decided to bring him back from Jainism. Marulnikkiyar began to suffer from severe pain called sulai noy (colic pain). The remedies given to him at the monastery were of no use. When his pain was found incurable by the Jains, he went to his sister who initiated him into the Siva Pancaksara (sacred five letters), and smeared his body with sacred ash. They entered a temple of Siva and Marulnikkiyar prayed and asked the Lord to forgive and rescue him from the sins he had committed. At that time he was blessed with a divine gift of singing extempore hymns. When he finished singing his first decade of verses, the affliction disappeared, and a voice was heard giving him a new name "Thirunavukkaracu" meaning 'the sovereign of divine speech'. Then he became an ardent devotee of Siva and led his life in His service along with other devotees. The Jains were angry and persecuted him but he escaped from their deeds miraculously. Tirunavukkaracar visited shrine after shrine singing hymns in praise of Lord Shiva.
When he was about eighty-one years old, on an auspicious day in the month of Cittirai, his glorious life came to an end.