The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram)
by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy | 1958 | 410,072 words
This page describes “nayanar 58-64: [pattharai panivar]” 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 58-64: [Pattharai Panivar]
The tenth verse in Thiruthondathogai begins with the phrase “Pattarayppanivar” (Pattharai Panivar) which has become the name of a Charukkam or canto in Periyapuranam describing groups of saints—the 58th to the 64th in the list from the beginning—mentioned in this verse. After the generalization into groups in this 10th verse, the 11th verse begins to continue the list of individual saints. This may suggest that this 10th verse was an interpolation into the hymn of 10 verses sung in accordance with his usual scheme of singing every hymn with ten verses. But as already pointed out this verse summarizes, as it were, the message of the whole hymn and is too significant to be an interpolation. Even if it is, it must be by one who had understood the message of this hymn. Therefore, it ought to be studied after our study of all the individual saints.