Thirunavukkarasar (Appar)
திருநாவுக்கரசர் (அப்பர்)Temples with a write-up where Appar sang a pathigam.
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About Appar
Born Marulneekiar, a Jain monk who returned to Shiva, cleaned temples with his uzhavaram and walked to a hundred and twenty-six of them; Sambandar called him Appar, father.
- Lived
- 7th century CE, an older contemporary of Sambandar
- Born
- Thiruvamur, to Pukalanar and Mathiniyar; named Marulneekiar
- Name
- Thirunavukkarasar, “king of the tongue”, given by the Lord’s voice
- First hymn
- “Kootru Aayinavaru Vilakkagileer”கூற்றாயினவாறு விலக்ககிலீர்
- Hymns
- 313 pathigams survive, 3,120 verses: Thirumurai 4 to 6
- Temples
- 126 temples, all on foot
- Mukti
- At 81, at Thirupugalur, on Chithirai Sadhayam Thiru Pugalur →
Condensed with AI help from the write-up on Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) →
Feats and miracles
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Back to Shiva
A stomach pain no healer could cure left him when his sister Thilagavathiar gave him holy ash and the temple’s water; he sang his first hymn.
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Uzhavarapani
He carried an uzhavaram on his shoulder and cleared the corridors of every temple he visited.
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Poison, elephant, stone
Poison turned to nectar, the royal elephant walked around him, and the stone he was tied to floated him back to shore at Cuddalore. The Pallava king Mahendra Varman turned to Shiva.
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Kailash at Thiruvaiyaru
Too frail to reach Kailash, he bathed in a pond the Lord made and rose at Thiruvaiyaru, where Shiva and Parvathi gave him Kailash darshan.
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A son restored
At Thingalur his hymn brought back Apputhi Adigal’s son, who had died of a snake bite.
