The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram)
by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy | 1958 | 410,072 words
This page describes “nayanar 32: murkha (murkka)” 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 32: Murkha (Murkka)
The 32nd saint is Murkka Nayanar (Murkha). Arurar, as already mentioned does not give any particulars about the saint except his name.
Nampiyantar makes him the king of Tiruverkatu, who gambled at Kutantai or Kumpakonam and gave away all the proceeds to Shaivites.
Cekkilar makes him a member of the Velan community and we know that the members of the Velan community became important as chiefs. According to Cekkilar this saint lost all his wealth in feeding Shaivites and, therefore, had to proceed to the Ampalam in Kumpakonam for gambling. Because he used his sword freely against those who opposed him perhaps by playing false, he earned the name of Murkka. Cekkilar adds that he did not take a pie of this gambling money for himself.
The Sanskrit and Kannada traditions know nothing except his gambling and feeding the Shaivites. Apart from showing the extent to which the Shaivites of Arurar’s age could go to forgive a Bhakta and praise him, this story gives a picture of a confused state of the Tamil country from Tiruverkatu in the north to Kumpakonam in the south.