Vayalur Murugan Temple – Literary Mention
Arunagirinathar was
a 15th-century Tamil poet born in Tiruvannamalai. He spent his early years as a rioter and seducer of
women. After ruining his health, he tried to commit suicide by throwing himself
from the northern tower of Annamalaiyar Temple, but was saved by the grace of god Murugan. He became a staunch devotee and composed Tamil hymns
glorifying Murugan, the most notable being Thirupugazh. Arunagirinathar
visited various Murugan temples and on his way back to Tiruvannamalai, visited
Vayalur and sung praises about Murugan.
Vayalur
is the holy place where Lord Muruga blessed sage Arunagiri with the gift of
pouring countless hymns in praise of him, Thirupugazh, Kandar Anubhuthi, Kandar
Alangaram etc. in chaste Tamil of highest poetic and spiritual standards. Every
word in the hymns of Arunagiri is an outpouring of his God Realization
experience which cannot be thought of or attempted even by the best poet
laureate of the language. They are spontaneous in nature.
Kirupananda
Variyar, great scholar and devotee of Lord Muruga, deserves to be regarded as
the Arunagiriar of the 20th Century. He brought Vayalur great fame through his
speeches and writings on Thirupugazh, Skanda Maha Puranam etc. He would begin
his lectures only after offering his prayers to Lord Muruga of
Vayalur. The two Vs Sri Variyar and Vayalur are inseparable.
Literary
works related to this temple are;
Thiruppugazh Arunagirinathar
18 verses (910 - 927)
·
Vayalur Patthu by R.
Ramanathan
·
Kumara Vayalur by S. Kothandapani
·
Kumaran Kumara Venpa
·
Shetra Kovai Pillai
(author not known) Tamil (72th verse)