- September 28, 2025
Last updated on September 28, 2025
There are many differing views about the exact period in which Manickavasagar lived. However, Saivite scholars firmly state that he lived before the three great saints – Appar, Sundarar, and Gnanasambandhar.
Manickavasagar was born in Thiruvathavur, a village in the Pandya kingdom, and was therefore also called Vadavurar. He was born into a noble Brahmin family of ministers (the word Amathya means “minister” in Sanskrit), and by his youth, he had mastered all arts and scriptures, becoming highly learned. Following the tradition of his lineage, he served as the Prime Minister in the court of King Arimarthana Pandiyan, who bestowed on him the title “Thennavan Brahmarayan.”
Yet, the luxuries of palace life never attracted Vadavurar’s heart. His thoughts were constantly drawn to Lord Nataraja of Chidambaram, the Cosmic Dancer. While fulfilling his ministerial duties with wisdom and sincerity, he regarded service to the people as service to Lord Shiva himself.
One day, the king heard that a fine herd of horses had arrived on the shores of the Chola country. He entrusted Vadavurar with the funds to purchase them and sent him on the mission. Offering his prayers to Lord Sokkalingam (Shiva), Vadavurar set out on the royal task.
On the way, he had to pass through a village called Thirupperunturai. As he neared the place, he heard the sound of Shiva’s name being chanted, “Hara Hara!” Coming closer, he saw a serene forest grove. There, under a Kurunthu tree, he beheld a divine figure seated like a guru, surrounded by disciples. This was none other than Lord Shiva himself.
Vadavurar’s heart melted. Tears welled up as he fell at Shiva’s feet, surrendering himself completely. Moved by his devotion, Shiva revealed the ultimate truth to him. Immersed in bliss, Vadavurar forgot himself and began singing beautiful Tamil hymns in praise of the Lord.
Shiva was delighted by these songs and said, “Each of these verses shines like a flawless ruby!” From that day, he named Vadavurar Manickavasagar, meaning The One Whose Words Are Like Precious Gems. The Lord then instructed him to remain there for a while and perform service.
Manickavasagar, who once lived as a minister clad in royal garments, now renounced everything. He smeared sacred ash on his body, chanted Shiva’s name as his very breath, and spent all the funds given by the king for the construction of temples and spiritual works – not for buying horses.
When news reached the king that no horses were purchased, he was furious and sent a royal order demanding Manickavasagar to return immediately. Manickavasagar was worried, but he prayed to Lord Shiva, who comforted him and gave him a precious ruby as a token to be given to the king. Shiva also promised that horses would reach Madurai on the auspicious day of the Moola Nakshatra in the Tamil month of Aavani.
Hearing this divine assurance, Manickavasagar returned to Madurai and presented the ruby to the king. The king’s anger subsided temporarily. But when the promised horses did not arrive on time, suspicion returned. The king had Manickavasagar arrested and tortured in prison, demanding the money back.
The merciful Lord could not bear to see his devotee suffer any longer. Taking the guise of a horse trader, Shiva transformed all the foxes in the forest into beautiful horses and brought them to the king. The delighted king immediately released Manickavasagar and honored him again.
But at night, the “horses” turned back into foxes and caused havoc in the royal stables. The king was enraged once more and subjected Manickavasagar to further torture, making him stand in the middle of the river Vaigai with stones on his back.
At that moment, the river unexpectedly flooded. To protect the city, the king ordered every household to send one person to build embankments. Among them was an old woman named Vandi, who sold porridge to make a living. Unable to do the work herself, she prayed to Lord Shiva.
The Lord came to her in the form of a laborer, agreed to work for porridge as payment, but insisted on eating and sleeping before working. After much difficulty, Vandi managed to wake him and send him to work, but he labored so slowly that the embankment remained incomplete.
When the king inspected the site, he was enraged at the lazy worker and struck him on the back with a cane. To everyone’s astonishment, the pain of the blow was felt not only by the laborer but also by the king himself and all the people present — except Manickavasagar! This divine play revealed the saint’s greatness and the king’s arrogance.
Realizing his mistake, the king begged forgiveness. Manickavasagar, full of compassion, prayed for the king and the people, and Lord Shiva blessed them all.
After this event, Manickavasagar renounced his ministerial post permanently. He went on a pilgrimage to many sacred temples including Thirupperunturai and Uthirakosamangai, before reaching Chidambaram. There, he debated and defeated a Buddhist monk and made a mute woman speak.
At Chidambaram, Lord Nataraja himself wrote down the Tiruvachakam and Tirukovaiyar as Manickavasagar dictated them. In the end, Manickavasagar offered these sacred texts at the Kanakasabha (Golden Hall) of Chidambaram, inscribing, “These are the words of Thiruvathavurar, written by the Lord of Chidambaram Himself.” After this, he merged with Lord Nataraja, attaining eternal union.
Manickavasagar is revered alongside the three great Saivite saints in many Shiva temples. In a few places, he has a separate shrine where devotees can worship him. Some of the important places connected to him are:
Avudaiyarkoil Aathmanathar Temple (Pudukkottai District): The place where Lord Shiva appeared as a guru and imparted divine wisdom to Manickavasagar.
Thiruvathavur Temple (Madurai District): Birthplace of Manickavasagar.
Chinnamanur Temple (Theni District): Here, Manickavasagar himself is the main deity, with Shiva and Parvati as accompanying deities.
Uthirakosamangai Mangalanathar Temple (Ramanathapuram District): The place where Shiva taught him the Agamas (sacred scriptures).
Thillai Nataraja Temple (Chidambaram, Cuddalore District): The sacred place where Lord Nataraja wrote the Tiruvachakam, and where Manickavasagar attained final union with Shiva. There is also a separate shrine near the Thillai Kali temple dedicated to him.
