Civappirakacar

Civappirakacar was a well known Tamil poet who lived during the 17th century. He was also a hermit like the popular poet Kumarakuruparar, and belonged to the Turaimangalam Mutt. He was a follower of the Virasaiva sect of Hinduism who acquired popularity at a very young age through his various poetic compositions. The most prominent work among those was Niwttakayamaka Antati. The work has three special features. In nirdttakam poems like this, vowel consonants like ma, pa and va were not used. In the absence of such letters, the verse was recited without the convergence of lips. The other poetic features like yamakam and antati are also in this poem. Hence the work is called the Nirottakayamaka Antati. During the period of his stay at a mutt in the city of Venkai, Civappirakacar composed poetic works on kovai and kalampakam, praising and eulogizing the city.

Civappirakacar wrote various other works in the Tamil literary genres of tutu, tiruppalliyelucci, pillaittamil, talattu and kalampakam type of works. These were created in honour of his venerated teacher. He also composed an ethical work of didactic nature titled Nanneri. Along with his two brothers, Civappirakacar composed a puranam based on the shrine of Tirukkalatti. His brothers, Karunaippirakacar and Velaiyacuvamikal wrote the first and third portions of the work respectively. Civappirakacar wrote the middle part of the literary devotional work. The well known Tamil poet composed a total of twenty three works. Pirapulinkalilai and Nalvarnanmanimalai are the most popular poetical works among them. Nalvarnanmanimalai comprises of 40 verses, 10 verses each for the four Shaiva saints namely, Manikkavacakar (Manickavasagar), Cuntarar, Tirunavukkaracar and Tirunanacampantar (Campantar). The exciting work of Nalvarnanmanimalai exposes the admiration, love and reverence of Civappirakacar for the saints. All of the 40 poems in the literary work are rich in creativity and are deep in thought.

Prapulinkalilai, one of the major works composed by him, is an epic which exalts the prominence of Vira Shaivism. The protagonist of the epic is Allamappirapu. Prapulinkalilai is a composition of unique creativity and is famous for comprising beautiful similes. The work is the epitome of every noble and beautiful element in literature and enthrals its readers.

Civappirakacar was highly impressed by Tiruvacakam composed by Manikkavacakar. The poet narrated the significance and magnitude of the work in one of the poems in the Nal Varnanmanimalai.