Thread by @chittukuruvi4

#Thiruvempavai #திருவெம்பாவை Tamil Nadu has given India a lot by way of Bhakti movements from time immemorial.
A short thread based on my understanding. Today also is the day of #ArudraDarshan #Thiruvadhirai - a big festival and celebration in Kerala and TN
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Above image is of Brihadeeswara Temple, Tamil Nadu. It is said, having a darshan of Gopuram itself is a blessing.

Paavai Genre: Paavai songs are part of an ancient tradition amongst unmarried young girls, where they would light lamps in the early mornings of Margazhi and sing songs in praise of Bhagawan Shiva or Bhagawan Krishna (or may be both).

Thiruvempavai - 20 stanzas are sung, one on every day and then followed by the 10 songs of the Thiruppalliyezhucchi.

1st verse of Thiruvempavai starts with
"ஆதியும் அந்தமும் இல்லா அரும்பெரும் சோதியை யாம் பாடக் கேட்டேயும் வாள் தடங்கள் மாதே! வளருதியோ?".
Translated, it means, "We are singing about the great flame that has neither the beginning nor the end" referring to Bhagawan #Shiva.

What a beautiful piece - No beginning, no end - Manikka Vasagar who wrote this must have been so devoted in his prayers that he was able to visualize what #Mahadeva is!!

I wish I could tell as to when these beautiful verses were created but it appears that there are different references. I need to study and understand more on this.

It is a collection of songs composed by the poet and saint, Manikkavacakar dedicated to #Mahadev . It forms part of the collection called Thiruvasagam, and the 8th book of the Thirumurai, part of Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta.

The sages of Bhakti movement who worshipped Bhagawan Shiva are called Nayanmars and those worshipping Bhagawan Vishnu are called Azhwars. History records the story of 63 Nayanmars and their story is chronicled in a book called “Periya puranam(Big epic)” written by Chekizhar.

Among those 63 Nayanmars, 4 Nayanmars were the most important and they were Appar, Thirugnana Sambandar, Thirunavukkarsar and Manika Vasagar, each of them a great poet.

They traveled through out Tamil Nadu visiting the shiva temples and composing poems on the deities in each Temple. The work of Manika Vasagar is called as Thiru vasagam (Holy script).

It appears that Thiruvempavai was composed at Thirvuvannamalai and to the Chola King. King Raja Raja Chola, is credited with the efforts in recovering the scripts - that he embarked upon after hearing Thevaram in his court.

This led to the creation and consecration of 63 Nayanmaars after some opposition. Rajaraja came to be known as Tirumurai Kanda Cholan meaning one who saved the Tirumurai.

This is a small effort, based on my limited understanding, to understand the devotion to Bhagawan Shiva in Tamil Nadu and other states in South. Yes, by no means it is perfect but will write on it further, time permitting.

Tagging people, who have more knowledge than me and request them to provide more references: @RajeAiyer @ArunKrishnan_ @krithikasivasw @raaga31280 @sharmajyots