Arunagirinathar and lord muruga

Arunagirinathar was born in 15th century at Thiruvannamalai. As his father expired soon after his birth, his mother, Muthamma and sister, Adhi, nursed him and brought him up in the rich cultural and religious tradition. Unfortunately, his interest centered around momentary pleasures and outward beauty of women. Affected by disease and dejected, he decided to end his life and leaped from the tower of Thiruvannamalai temple. But rather than falling in the ground, he found himself in the hands of a savior. It is believed that the savior was none other than Lord Muruga. “You are not born to die. You are born to give sustenance to lives. You are born to fulfill certain tasks assigned to you. You are born to sing the glory of Lord Muruga..” Having said that, Lord graced him and conferred him the saintly advice.

Many saints have dedicated their life to know God and reach Him. They all reached their goal after following a hard and strenuous path. They all reached their goal at the end. But Arunagirinathar was unique. He was graced by the God even at the beginning. He did not have to undergo penance or struggle like other saints. Rather, he was leading a life of pleasure. Strange are the ways of God and it was such a person God had selected to sing His glory.

Arunagiri, who has been transformed into an enlightened saint and a poet of excellence, rendered his first song “Muthai Tharu...”. That marked the advent of a saint who described Muruga in all His splendour, glory and magnificence. That marked the beginning of a glorious chapter of a saint who showed the path towards knowledge and devotion, the path that leads to the Lotus Feet of Muruga, the path of Thiruppugazh.

Arunagiri visited temples all over South India and composed over 60000 songs in his inimitable style, the songs that remain as the perennial source of inspiration and an outstanding works of devotion, the songs that show the way to the life of virtue and righteousness, the songs which set the tone for a new form of worship, the musical worship.

Unfortunately, the Thiruppugazh songs, which remained in manuscript form were lying in some dark corners. They remained unsung and unheard till Sri Subramaniam Pillai of Tiruthani and his son, Son Sri Sengalvarayan realized their value, retrived them and publicized them. Sri Sachidhananda Swamigal took up Thiruppugazh as his “Mantra” , the goal of life and revived its glory.