Arunagirinathar

Saint Arunagirinathar
Arunagirinathar Statue at Venjamakoodalur Temple, near Karur.
Born	15th Century A.D. Thiruvannamalai Tamil Nadu India
Titles/honours	Tamil Poet
Philosophy	Saivism
Literary works	Tiruppugazh

Arunagirinaadhar (Aruna-giri-naadhar, Tamil: அருணகிரிநாதர், Aruṇakirinātar, IPA for Tamil: [aɾ̪uɳəɡɨɾɨn̪aːd̪ər̪] ) was a Tamil great saint-poet who lived during the 15th century in Tamil Nadu, India. He was the creator of Thiruppugazh (Tamil: திருப்புகழ், Tiruppukaḻ, [t̪iɾ̪upːʉɡəɻ], meaning "Holy Praise" or "Divine Glory"), a book of poems in Tamil in praise of the Hindu God Murugan.

His poems are known for their lyricism coupled with complex rhymes and rhythmic structures. In Thiruppugazh, the literature and devotion has been blended harmoniously.

Thiruppugazh is one of the major works of medieval Tamil literature, known for its poetical and musical qualities, as well as for its religious, moral and philosophical content.

Arunagiri was born during the15th century in Thiruvannamalai, a town in Tamil Nadu. His father died soon after his birth and his pious mother and sister instilled in him, their cultural and religious traditions. Legends claim that Arunagiri was attracted to the pleasures of the flesh and spent his youth in pursuing a life of debauchery. His sister always gave whatever she earned to make her brother happy, and he frequently visited the devadasis. It was said that since he was enjoying his life in dissipation, he started to suffer from leprosy and because of it people started to avoid him.

There came a time when his sister had no money to meet his demands for dissipation. Arunagiri said he was going to kill himself because of this. To prevent Arunagiri from committing suicide, his sister said that he should sell her in order to have money, upon hearing which Arunagiri realised how selfish he had been. He decided to end his life, went to a temple and hit his head against the pillars and steps, begging for forgiveness. He considered jumping to his death from the temple tower but according to legends, the God Murugan himself prevented him from committing suicide, cured his leprosy, showed him a path of reform and piety, initiated him to create devotional songs for the benefit of mankind.