- Tirumurai
The word Tirumurai literally means the "sacred book". It is a compendium of songs or hymns in the praise of
Shiva in theTamil language . InSouth India ,Shaiva s have the Tirumurai as their religious text whileVaishnava s have the Nalayira Divyaprabandham as their sacred work.History and background
The
Pallava period in the history of the Tamil land is a period of religious revival ofHinduism by the SaivaNayanar s who by theirbhakti -cult captured the minds of people. They made a tremendous impression on the people by singing the praise of LordSiva in soul-stirring devotional hymns.Brief Overview
The Saiva Tirumurais are twelve in number. The first seven Tirumurais are the hymns of the three great Saivite saints, Sambanthar, Appar and Sundarar. These hymns were the best musical compositions of their age.
*The first three Tirumurais are the extempore compositions of
Campantar *The fourth, the fifth and the sixth Tirumurais are those of
Appar *The seventh Tirumurai consists of saint
Cuntarar 's hymns*The eighth Tirumurai consists of saint
Manikkavasagar 's hymns*The ninth Tirumurai has been composed by Tirumalikaittever, Centanar, Karuvurttevar, Nampikatava Nampi, Kantaratittar, Venattatikal, Tiruvaliyamutanar, Purutottama Nampi and Cetirayar
*The tenth Tirumurai has been composed by Tirumular
*The eleventh Tirumurai has been composed by Karaikkal Ammaiyar, Ceraman Perumal, Pattinattu p-pillaiyar, Nakkiratevar, Kapilateva, Tiruvalavaiyudaiyar, Nampiyantarnampi, Iyyadigal katavarkon, Kalladateva, Paranateva, Ellamperuman Adigal and Athirava Adigal
*The twelfth Tirumurai has been composed by Sekkizhar
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