The Life
Born Marulneekkiyar to a Vellala family at Thiruvamur, Appar lost his parents young and, in grief, joined a Jain monastery, becoming the learned monk Dharmasena. When a severe, incurable stomach ailment seized him, his devout sister Tilakavati prayed to Shiva; smearing sacred ash and singing, he was healed and returned to Shaivism, receiving the name Thirunavukkarasar, "king of speech." The enraged Jains incited the Pallava king Mahendravarman to torment him: he was thrown into a lime-kiln, given poisoned food, and cast into the sea bound to a stone, yet emerged unharmed each time, singing hymns. The king himself returned to Shaivism. With his uzhavarap-padai (hoe) Appar cleaned temple precincts and poured out the Tevaram hymns. He attained mukti at Thiruppugalur. His guru puja is in Chithirai under Chathayam (Sadhayam).