APPAR

Appar: translation

(Tirunavakkarasu)

(c. 570–670 C.E.)

   Tamil Shaivite poet and saint

   APPAR was one of the three most prominent Tamil Shaivite saints (see SHAIVISM, NAYANARS), whose hymns appear in the central liturgical and literary text of the the Tamil Shaivites, the TEVARAM.

   Appar was born under the name Marunaikkiyar to a Vellala (agricultural class) family in Tiruvamur. His family were Shaivite but he converted to JAIN-ISM as a youth, taking on the name Dharmasena. Afflicted by a painful abdominal disease, the young Jain monk turned to his sister, a Shaivite, for help.At her request he put his faith in Shiva, and was miraculously cured. He immediately converted back to the faith of his birth. He began to sing passionate hymns to Lord Shiva, which angered his former Jain associates. It was said that he was persecuted and even tortured by the angry Jains but by the grace of Shiva was unharmed.

   Appar is said to have led the Pallava king, who had also converted to Jainism, back to Shiva. He was recognized as a saint and spent his time travel-ing from one shrine to the next singing hymns at each sacred location. Iconographically, Appar is often showing holding a hoe, for he was known for clearing the temple grounds of weeds and grass in service to Lord Shiva. His beautiful lyrics and speech earned him the name Tirunavakkarasu, “He who is the king of eloquence.” It is said that he was first called Appar (my father) by his younger con-temporary SAMBANTHAR, who addressed him thus.

   Further reading: Appar: A Sketch of His Life and Teach-ings (Madras: G. A. Natesa, n.d.); Ratna Ma Navarat-nam, The Vision of Periyapuranam (Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1987); Indira Viswanathan Peterson, Poems to Siva: The Hymns of the Tamil Saints (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1989); J. M. Nallas-wami Pillai, trans., Periyapuranam (the Lives of the Saiva Saints) (Madras: Rajan, 1955); T. N. Ramachandran, trans., St. Sekkizhar’s Periya Puranam (Thanjavur: Tamil University, 1990); Dorai Rangaswamy, The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Madras: University of Madras, 1958–59); G. G. Vanmikanathan, Appar (New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi, 1983); ———, Periyapuranam, a Tamil Classic on the Great Saiva Saints of South India by Sekkizhar (Madras: Shri Ramakrishna Math, 1985); R. Vijayalakshmy, An Introduction to Religion and Phi-losophy—Tevaram and Tivviyappirapantam (Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies, 2001).

Appar: translation

(Tirunavukkaracar)

(seventh century)

   With CAMPATAR and the later CUNTARAR, Appar is one of the three major poet-saints of the Saivist (devotees of ´Siva) bhakti sect of the Tamil language region of southern India. The bhaktis emphasized a personal relationship with ´ Siva, one of the three chief gods of Hinduism. Appar’s poems, like those of the other two saints, are in the traditional lyrical form called patikam, which consisted generally of 10 verses, though sometimes of 11. Appar’s poems, glorifying ´Siva and the shrines sacred to him, form books IV to VI of the sacred bhakti text Tevarum (Garland of God).

   Tradition says that Appar was raised in a Saivist family, but that he lost his parents early in life and, as a young man, converted to Jainism and became an ascetic monk in that religious movement.Later in life he rejoined his Saivist faith. He says in his poetry that he was suffering from a severe illness that Jain medicine could not cure. But it is said that through the prayers and urging of his sister, Tilagavati, he turned to ´Siva for help, and his disease was cured.

   Once reconverted, Appar became an ardent bhakti activist.He is reputed to have lived well into his 80s despite suffering religious persecution under the Jainist king Mahendravarman of the Pallava dynasty (reigned 600–630). Appar is reputed to have converted the king to Saivism. He spent the rest of his life establishing monasteries and combating Jainism, Buddhism, and the ritualistic Brahmanism as well, stressing the individual spirituality of Saivism.

   Known also as Thirunavukkaracar (“Lord of divine speech”),Appar writes ecstatic poetry that expresses regret for his former Jainist life, praise of ´Siva’s temples and holy places, and a close, loving relationship with his God, whom he calls “Lord sweet as honey.”

   Bibliography

   ■ Peterson, Indira Viswanathan. Poems to ´Siva: The Hymns of the Tamil Saints. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1989.

apparatus - аппарат; аппаратура; прибор; приспособление; установка; устройство