Tirumurai

Tirumurai is the canonical collection of Tamil Saiva devotional poetry and the central scripture of Tamil Shaivism. It comprises twelve books that preserve the Tamil hymnody dedicated to Shiva and serve as a fundamental reference for temple worship, doctrine, and devotional practice.

The core of the Tirumurai is the Tevaram, a set of devotional hymns attributed to the Nayanar saints Sambandar, Appar (Tirunavukkarar), and Sundarar. The Tevaram is traditionally considered the first seven books of the Tirumurai and represents the oldest surviving body of Tamil Shaiva poetry, still widely sung at temples across Tamil Nadu. The remaining five books contain later Tamil Saiva literature, including works such as Manikkavasagar’s Tiruvachagam and other poets’ compositions, expanding the range of devotional expression within the tradition.

History and compilation: The Tirumurai developed over several centuries from early Nayanar hymns and bhakti poets. In the 11th century, the Shaiva scholar Nambi (Nambiyandar) is traditionally credited with organizing and compiling the texts into the present twelve-book form, a codification supported by temple authorities and royal patronage. This consolidation helped standardize Tamil Saiva liturgy and theology.

Content and influence: The Tirumurai functions as the principal doctrinal and liturgical source for Tamil Shaivism, shaping temple rites, pilgrimage, and ritual poetry. It has profoundly influenced Tamil religious culture, literature, and art, and remains a living tradition in modern Tamil Saiva communities, with many of its hymns still recited and sung in temples today.