The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram)
by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy | 1958 | 410,072 words
This page describes “nayanar 16: muruga (muruka)” from the religion of the Thevaram: a comparative study of the Shaivite saints the Thiruthondathogai. The 7th-century Thevaram (or Tevaram) contains devotional poems sung in praise of Shiva. These hymns form an important part of the Tamil tradition of Shaivism
Nayanar 16: Muruga (Muruka)
The 16th saint is Muruka Nayanar [Muruga]. Arurar simply states, “Muritkanukkum (Uruttira Pacupatikkum) atiyen I am the servant of Murukan (Murugan) (and Uruttira Pacupati).’ Nanacampantar, in his hymn on Pukalur Varttamaneccuram refers to this Murukan (Murugan). He adorns the Lord of this temple and people seeing it become full of joy. Shiva is the Lord of those sweet smelling flowers which Muruka has placed on his crown adorning the Lord thrice a day.
According to Periyapuranam he disappeared with Nanacampantar to attain salvation at the marriage of the latter being his friend and contemporary. Nampiyantar Nampi refers to this friendship and to his adorning the God with flowers in addition to his uttering the Pancaksara. He was a Brahmin. He must have been an archaka in the Varttamaneccuram temple at Pukalur. The Sanskrit and Kannada traditions, in spite of the clear references in Campantar’s hymns make him a Sudra Shaivite,