The Life
Born Marulneekiar at Thiruvamur in a Vellala family and orphaned young, he was raised by his devout sister Thilakavathiar. Drawn to Jainism, he became a monk named Dharmasena, until an agonizing, incurable colic drove him back to his sister and to Shiva at Thiruvadhigai Veerattanam, where his very first Thevaram hymn cured him. The enraged Jains incited the Pallava Mahendravarman to torment him: he survived a lime-kiln, poisoned food, and being cast into the sea bound to a stone, singing Namachivaya as he floated safely ashore. The king converted to Shaivism. Taking the name Thirunavukkarasar, 'king of speech,' Appar wandered the holy shrines performing uzhavarai, clearing weeds and cleansing temple grounds with a small hoe, and poured out the Thevaram in praise of Shiva.