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Sundarar (Tamil ''Cundarar''), also known affectionately as Tampiran Tōḻan (''Comrade of the Master'', meaning Shiva) was an eighth-century poet who was one of the most prominent Nayanars, the Shaiva bhakti (devotional) poets of Tamil Nadu. He was a contemporary of Cheraman Perumal and Kotpuli Nayanar who also figure in the 63 Nayanmars.〔''Origin and early history of Śaivism in South India, page 179''〕〔''The guru tradition: voice of the guru, page 225''〕 The songs of praise are called Thiruthondathogai and is the original nucleus around which the Periyapuranam is based.〔''Ten saints of India, page 35''〕 The Periya Puranam, which collects the legends of the Nayanars, starts and ends with him. The hymns of seventh volume of the ''Tirumurai'', the twelve-volume compendium of the poetry of Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta, were composed by him. ==Life== Sundarar is unique among the Nayanars in that both of his parents are also recognised as Nayanars. He was born into an adi saiva, temple priest Brahmin group.His original name was Nambi aroorar. The ruler of the local kingdom (Thirumunaipadi-Nadu), Narasingamunaiarayar a chieftain, adopted him and brought up as his own son, attracted by the beauty of the child he saw playing in the street. Sundarar was a contemporary of great Pallava emperor Rajasimha who was also a nayanmar saint and also author of many devotional hymn works in tamil.A temple inscription in tiruvarur says that sundarar's father sadayan also a nayanmar saint belonged to the gotram or lineage of sage bharadwaja and his mother isaignani also a nayanmar saint belonged to the gotram or lineage of sage gautama. From epigraphs it is also inferred that a Sanskrit hagiography on sundarar namely ''sva swami mitra prabhandam'' translated as travelogues of he who became friend of lord is now not available. Legend states that while Sundarar was being married, the service was interrupted by an old ascetic who asked for Sundarar as his servant, making a name sake claim that Sundarar's "grandfather pledged him" according to an ancient palm leaf manuscript in his possession. Sundarar and those assembled at the wedding were outraged and called the old man a madman (piththaan: Tamil). But a court of Vedic scholars concluded that the palm leaf was legally valid. Crestfallen, Sundarar resigned himself to servitude in the old man's household and, following him to Thiruvennainallur village, was led to the Thiruvarutturai Shiva temple. The old man was said to be Shiva (Lord Thiagaraja) himself, who told him: " That the document shown was only a name sake reason and he wanted sundarar to be reminded of his actual form as alalasundarar a servitor in lord's kailasam, who had to be born in earth both due to moments of worldly thoughts that overcame him as well as due to the fact that the southern tamil region that had done great thavam during kali age need be blessed with an account on lives of great nayanmars called tiru thondar thokai.You will henceforth be known as Vanthondan, the argumentative devotee. Did you not call me a mad man just a short while ago? Begin your hymn addressing me 'O mad man!'".〔''A short introduction to Saivism, page 223"〕 Lord sivan had also advised vanthondar to" while on earth sing of us in words of Tamil". Subsequently, Sundarar moved around Tamil Nadu, visiting several Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu. In Tiruvarur, in the Thanjavur district, he fell in love with a girl named Paravayar, of the Rudra Kanyakayar caste of female ascetics, and married her. sundarar was held in such a high regard by his contemporary nayanmar saints like viranmindar, kalikamanar etc. that he was offered royal treatment by those rich servitors. One another nayanmar saint namely kotpuliyar a velalala, praised for some superb services also offers sundarar hand of his daughter but the saint politely declines and instantly picks up the girl and puts in his lap and dedicates a hymn to siva in the end of which he says that he considers the girl equivalent to his daughter. The same treatment is accorded by the saint to yet another girl namely singati. In many hymns sundarar makes this declaration of love filled,gracious patronage to the children that he accorded. In Thiruvottriyur, a sea-side suburb of Madras, he prayed at the Padampakkanathar/Thyagarajar/Vadivudaiamman Temple, where he saw a farmer's girl, Sangiliyar, who was preparing flower garlands and married her, promising never to leave.〔 Sundarar is also famous for declaring in many hymns that one reality of lord sivan is apprehended by selfless, dispassionate and attachment free service to him. He also declares that all beings are created equal by lord. At tirupunkoor near thillai chidambaram a famous saivite temple, the region was devoid of rains for a long time. A local chola prince requested sundarar to address the problem, thereupon the saint put up a wail for justice saying that 12 acres of land be given to the temple if it rains by his service and upon completing the song to lord sivan rains lashed incessantly. After many such days sundarar was summoned by the prince again to fix the problem of heavy rains. sundarar once again insisted that 12 more acres be given to the temple should the rains cease after his song. The same happened and the temple became richer by 24 acres more. At avinashi an ancient saiva pilgrim centre near present-day coimbatore sundarar prayed to lord sivan to give back life to an eight-year-old boy who had died untimely many years ago. On hearing his hymn lord sivan bestowed his grace and the boy who was swallowed by a crocodile was instantly returned by the same crocodile. The legend states that at Tiruvarur he recited the names of all sixty-three future Nayanars: this recitation is called ''Tiruttondar-Tokai''. In it, he refers to himself as the ''servant of servants'' of these saints.〔 His fame reached the ears of the Cheraman Perumal, who came to Tiruvarur. Both embarked on a pilgrimage. But Sundarar became tired of life and was taken up to heaven by a white elephant. The king followed him on his horse. This occurred in "Swathi Nakshtra" in the Tamil month of "Aadi". 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Sundarar」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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