1. Sambandar, referred to as Tirujnana Sambandar, was a Shaiva poet-saint of Tamil Nadu who lived sometime in the 7th century CE.
16 Facts About Sambandar
1. 2.
Sambandar is one of the most prominent of the sixty-three Nayanars, Tamil Shaiva bhakti saints who lived between the sixth and the tenth centuries CE.
3.
Information about Sambandar comes mainly from the Periya Puranam, the eleventh-century Tamil book on the Nayanars that forms the last volume of the Tirumurai, along with the earlier Tiruttondartokai, poetry by Sundarar and Nambiyandar Nambi's Tiru Tondar Tiruvandadi.
4.
When Sambandar was three years old, his parents took him to the Shiva temple, where Shiva and his consort Parvati appeared before the child.
5.
Sambandar's father saw drops of milk on the child's mouth and asked who had fed him, whereupon the boy pointed to the sky and responded with the song Todudaya Seviyan, the first verse of the Tevaram.
6.
Sambandar died in the Tamil month of Vaikasi at the age of sixteen at his wedding.
7.
Sambandar's image is found in almost all Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu.
8.
Sambandar is depicted as a dancing child or a young teen with his right forefinger pointing upwards, reflecting the legend where he credits Parvati-Shiva for what he has.
9.
Sambandar is sported with catura posture with his feat on Padmasana and he is sported with jewels around his neck.
10.
Sambandar is the first poet-saint featured in the Tirumurai, the canonical works of Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta.
11.
Sambandar is lucid in explaining the link between the Vedic tradition and the temple tradition.
12.
The pilgrimage to temples, associated devotional singing with music, and other rituals started by Sambandar have thrived over the centuries.
13.
The hymns of Sambandar include criticism and allegations of persecution of the Shaiva community by Jain monks, along with a "bitter anti-Jain polemic".
14.
Sambandar wore an earring in his ear, and rode a bull, adorning a white crescent moon; Smeared with ash from the cremation ground, he is the thief who stole my heart.
15.
Sambandar is the one worshipped in ancient times by the lotus-seated Brahma, who received his grace;.
16.
Sambandar is the exalted Lord who dwells in the glorious Piramapuram.