Thirugnana Sambandhar Thevaaram

thirunyAna champan^dha n^ayanAr's padhikams (hymns) are very rich and renowned for the beauty and play of thamiz in them. This great prodigy who started composing rhyming, sweet, rich in content hymns since when he was three years old gave thousands of hymns (16,000) on the Lord shiva of thousand names. But only a very small portion is available now to the world. These are 383(+3) (about 4,000 hymns) in number and are set in 21 (22) paN (melodies - rAgas). They are arranged as the first three thirumuRais grouped according to their melody. These have been sung on 219 (+2) abodes.

It is marvelous to see that his compositions range from simple and sweet to sophisticated and splendid. He wrote songs that dwell over the various special poetic constructs of thamiz like thiruvezukURRirukkai, n^Aladi, Iradi, thirumukkAl, thiruvirAgam, thiruvirukkuk kuRaL, yAzmUri, thiruththALachchadhi, thiruviyamakam. If one wants to feel the splendors of thamiz language constructs the suggestion would be thirunyAna champan^dhar thEvAram; if one wants to feel the splendors of music the suggestion would be thirunyAna champan^dhar thEvAram; if one wants to feel the splendor of devotion the suggestion would be thirunyAna champan^dhar thEvAram !!!

thirunyAna champan^dhar's thEvAram generally follows a pattern. The eighth hymn in the compositions pities the ignorance of the valorous rAvaNa who tried to lift the mount kailAsham and notes the boon rAvaNa received when he worshiped in humbleness. The ninth hymn adores the Lord who stood beyond the reach of vishNu the protector and braHma the creator. The tenth hymn cautions against false propagandas. The eleventh one completes the padhikam with his signatural salutations to the Lord and indicates the benefits one gets by praising the Lord shiva with those hymns.

champan^dhar's thEvArams are highly revered not just because of their sweetness and constructs but mainly due to the depth of its contents. It makes the people wonder how deep knowledge of vEdhas and purANas this young three year old child had which is very obvious from his compositions ! It certainly could not have been possible without the Supreme's blessing. Some of these hymns were sung creating marvels (making male palms to female, resurrecting girl pUmpAvai and so on) while all of them bring the Marvel mahEshwara to the heart of one who involves in them. Even today some of these padhikams are sung for accomplishing specific needs(2). It would be concise and correct if it is said that these hymns are the simple sweet easy way to spiritual enlightenment.