Manikkavachakar
Topic: Bhakti and Sufi Traditions · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 2 "Bhakti-Sufi Traditions"
Meaning
Manikkavachakar was a Tamil devotee of Shiva, c. 9th century. His name means "he whose words are rubies". He wrote the Tiruvachakam ("sacred utterance"), a set of deeply emotional songs to Shiva. It is one of the best-loved works of Tamil Shaiva devotion and became part of the Tamil Shaiva sacred canon. His poems show the personal, emotional style of bhakti in south India.
Example
The Tiruvachakam is linked closely with the great Shiva temple at Chidambaram, where it is still sung. A Chola bronze image of Manikkavachakar from about the 12th century shows how the Tamil saints themselves became objects of worship in temples.
Don't confuse with
- The Tevaram poets (Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar): their hymns make up the Tevaram. Manikkavachakar's songs form the separate Tiruvachakam, and he is traditionally not counted among the 63 Nayanars.
Related concepts
- Alvars
- Nayanars
- Nalayira Divya Prabandham
- Tevaram
- Appar
- Sambandar
- Sundarar
- Nammalvar
- Tondaradippodi
- Andal