Kirupanandha Variyar

His Birth

Thiru Muruga Kirupanandha Variyar, popularly known and reverently called as Variyar Swamigal was born at Kangeyanallur, a small village on the northern bank of 'Palar' river. This village lies at a distance of 5 km between Vellore and Katpadi in Vellore District. This province is referred to as Thondai Nadu in Sangam literature.

He was born on 25 August 1906. According to Indian Astrology, it was Saturday 4.37 AM, Sukla Patcham, Sasti thithi, Swathi Nakshatram, Subranama Yogam, Gowlawa Karanam, Thula Rasi Kadaga Lagnam.

His Parents

His father Siva Thiru Mallayadasa Bhagavathar was well known for his discourses on ancient Purana & Ethics. He was a great scholar, his knowledge and wisdom in Purana, Ethics and literature were unlimited. Hence, he was conferred with the title "Puranethikasa Paarangathar". He established 'Thirupugazh Sabhas' in each and every place to propagate "Thirupugazh" , the songs which spell the glory of god Muruga.

Madhu Shri Kanagavalli Ammaiyar, his mother was a noble, highly discipline calm, affectionate holy woman. She was always align with the thoughts of her husband. Her kindness and helping tendency towards mankind particularly towards poor was endless. His parents belong to Veera Saiva Dynasty (Primarily followers of Lord Siva) got 11 children, and he was the fourth child.

The grand mother of Swamigal lived in Kurnool. There was a great saint known as 'Gurubalam' who possessed many talents (Ashtama Siddies). Out of his power he could turn camphor cubes into golden cubes. One day that grand mother(mother of Swamigal's mother) took her son-in-law Mallayadasar (Variyar Swamigal's father) to the said saint Gurubalam to get a golden cube for the her son in law. Saint Gurubalam knew this matter through his spiritual thought. He asked "whether the golden cube which I give last forever? "Further he told "A child is conceived and being grown in the stomach of your daughter Kanagavalli and by the child your entire home will be spread with golden cubes". According to the saints words so born was Variyar Swamigal.

Education

Variyar Swamigal never stepped into any school. But his father Mallayadasar taught him education, Literature, grammar, music and instrumental music, particularly Veena, Swamigal started reading and learning texts at Third year of his age. Swamigal was capable of authoring Venbas (a sort of Tamil lyric) at his eighth year of age. At his 12th year he memorized ten thousand poems and authored texts like 'Ashta Naga Bandham', 'Mayil','Vel', and 'Sivalinga Bandams' which were too hard and a challenge for even highly learned scholars.

According to the Veera Saiva customs Swamigal wore Sivalingam(Sivalinga Tharanam) at his fifth year in Pana Patrar Mutt in Thiruvannamalai. Swamigal received upadesam 'Satakshra Mantram' from his father and received upadesam 'Sutchuma Satakshra Mantram' from Thirupugazh Swamigal. Palani Easana Sivachariya Swamigal graced Variyar Swamigal 'Nirvana Dhiksha' and named him as 'Vama Deva Sivam' (Dhikshanamam). Swamigal learnt 'Veena' from Bhramma Sri Then Madam Varadhachariyar.

In his early days Swamigal had Dharshan of 'Srimath Pamban Swamigal' . Later once swamigal received Satakshra Upadesam from Pamban Swamigal in dream. Bhramma Sri Loganatha Iyer known as Madurai Thirupugazh Swamigal established Thirupugazh Saba at Adi Street Madurai in 1919 to teach and propagate 'Thirupugazh.'

Thirupugazh Swamigal had the divine power of Vakku Siddhi (meaning that whatever he tells will happen certainly). Variyar Swamigal learnt Thiruppugazh for some days. Thiruppugazh Swamigal graced and told Variyar Swamigal "Your can learn everything by yourself and everything will be known to you without anybody's induction".

To attribute his gratitude towards his Guru Thiruppugazh Swamigal for having heard lessons of Thiruppugazh for few days from his Guru, Variyar Swamigal look after the family of the Guru for about 25 years.

Marriage Life

Variyar Swamigal married Amirtha Lakshmi, daughter of his maternal uncle at his 19th age.

It is said that saints like Thiruvalluvar had no children since no sacred life was available to call them as 'father'. So was the case in Variyar Swamigal also.

His works as an editor

Variyar Swamigal started publishing Thiruppugazh Amirtham, the monthly magazine in the year 1936 and continued the edition for 37 years. The contents of this magazine were a comprehensive elaborate detailed description on one song in 'Thiruppugazh' and other verses of ARUNAGIRINATHAR like Kandar Alangaram, stories emphasizing morality and chastity, and short literary composition of other scholars etc.

His Life

Variyar Swamigal known as Deiva Thiru Muruga Kirupanantha Variyar Swamigal came to this world at the beginning of 20th century. Life of Swamigal spread over the devotional activities, Religious rites, particularly Swamigal made Saint Arunagirinathar's 'Thiruppugazh' known to the entire world. Swamigal established Thiruvarul Dhavaneri Manram' with his own cost and appointed Preachers for propagating the religious and devotional rites and ideals. Swamigal set himself as a legend for self discipline; above all his life made men to live as men.

Variyar Swamigal had enormous, deep knowledge and practice of literature and music. He conquered, discipline, extraordinary memory power, kindness and vast knowledge of texts.

He never gave up performing pooja not even for a day. Never thought of taking food without performing pooja. There was not even a single day in his life without taking bath and performing pooja.

Swamigal's Participation in Film Industry

Swamigal played eminent roles to emphasis the faith in trusting God in the following pictures produced by Devar films :Thunaivan ,Thiruvarul , Deivamand also in other pictures like Miruthanga Chakravarthi , Navagraha Nayagi and Kandhar Alangaram Swamigal also written screenplay for the picture ' Sivakavi' in which the glorious actor Thyagaraja Bagavathar was the hero

Eternal life

The motto of being a human in this world is to serve others before self. The people love other live for other, even the bone of kind people belongs to all other. So is a statement in Thirukkural and according to that, Variyar Swamigal toiled for others, for the people, for the world throughout his life span.

It is said that one who sees a thousand crescents in his life has lived for a full span with entire fulfilment in all aspects of life.

Thus Variyar Swamigal lived as a pearl representing the Pancha Boodhas. That is why he was born in this earth and attained eternal life in the space on 07.11.1993.

His services for the society

Helping the poor, abounding compassion towards the helpless people, endowing to the best possible extend to eradicate poverty, providing food, clothing and shelter for the aged people who are in the autumn season of their last days of life, irrespective of their caste, creed and race were the services rendered to the society by Swamigal as his day to day duties.

Above all, the embedded crown like service is the contribution to the Ramakrishna Kudil, Thirupparai Thurai (by collecting donation). Swamigal devoted most of his days for the lively hood of the 'Kudil', an asylum for 365 orphan children.

Swamigal contributed a formidable sum of Rs.27.0 Lakhs to the Ramakrishna Kudil by collecting donation, touring around Tamil Nadu to meet the expenditure for the children at Rs.5000/- per child.

Out of many services rendered by Swamigal, Swamigal thought that the services rendered to the Ramakrishna Kudil was his pride. Swamigal had told that he wanted to stay in the Kudil during his last days of life. Swamigal was much happy on the occasion of every annual day celebration of the Kudil conducted on first Sunday of January by performing bajans with the children of the Kudil.

His service for education

Variyar Swamigal observed as one of his important principles was to help for any one who sought monetory help for the medical, educational and or the wedding expenditure without any hesitation.

Swamigal contributed enormous amount for many poor pupils for their educational expenditure every month.

For instance , a student sought help for his S.S.L.C and got the Scholarship continued up to his collegiate education. Then Swamigal helped in getting him a job, conducted his marriage and helped considerably to build his home, even though the person who received help from swamigal was unknown and not a relation to him. Thus many people have become beneficiary out of his help, and came up in their lives.

Every year, Swamigal received (during the months of May and June) a lot of letters from all parts of Tamil Nadu seeking help for buying books, paying tuition fee, Stitching uniforms etc. Swamigal honoured their needs by sending them thousands of Rupees.

In the place of his manifestation Kangeyanallur, he established a primary school, a middle school, a girls high school and a higher secondary school for boys.

Swamigal had been a root cause for the establishment of many educational institution in many places like the High School in at Kumarasamy Pettai, Dharmapurai.

Temple renovations

# Vayalur Renovation -1936, 19.06.1969 & 1988
# Moganoor Arunagirinathar Arachalai -1939
# Chennai Kuyapettai Raja Gopuram Renovation -1940
# Chennai Kuyappettai temple Tank Renovation
# Vadalur Renovation 24.04.1950 commenced in 1941 & completed in 1950 - Nine years of Hardwork and achievements of Swamigal as a single man in the midst of several impediments and obstructions.
# Kanchipuram Egambaranathar Temple, Compound Wall Renovation -1955 (seven Years)
# Kangeyanallur Murugan Temple Renovation - 1958
# Vallimalai Raja Gopuram Renovation - 20.08.1962
# Thirunelveli Nellaiyappar Renovation - 03.08.1974
# Vallimalai Saravana Poigai Renovation - 12.04.1978
# Samayapuram Renovation
# Kovai Thadagam Road Bala Dhandayuthapani Renovation - 26.01.1972
# Kovai Venkateswar Temple Renovation
# Kovai Kamatchi Amman Temple Renovation
# Nellikuppam Veera Badra Swamy Temple Renovation - 23.05.1973
# Kovai Ayyapaswamy Temple Renovation
# Sheshadri Swamigal Adhistana Thiruppani
# Kovai Kamakoti Vidhya Mandir Renovation - 28.02.1975
# Thiruvanaikka Temple Renovation
# Madurai Ayyappaswamy Temple Renovation
# Madurai Koodal Azhagar Temple Renovation
# Thirumogoor Kalamega Swamy Temple Renovation
# Chennai Thenampettai Murugan Temple Renovation
# Chennai Madhava Perumal Temple Renovation
# Sri Rangam Temple Renovation
# Kumbakonam Kottaiyur Koteeswara Nathar Temple Renovation
# Kangeyanallur Sundara Raja Perumal Temple Renovation
# Kangeyanallur Shiva Temple Renovation
# Kangeyanallur Sundra Vinayagar Temple Renovation
# Chennai Saidapet Karaneeswarar Temple Tank Renovation
# Avinasi Temple Car Renovation
# Avinasi Temple Renovation
# Thencheri Giri Murugan Temple Renovation
# Venchamaakkoodal Temple Renovation
# Bhavani Sangameshwarar Temple Renovation
# Thirukolakkh Thalapureeswarar Temple renovation
# Sirkazhi Satta Nathar Temple Renovation
# Vellore Fort Jalagandeswarar Temple Renovation
# New Delhi Uthira Swamynatha Swamy Temple Renovation
# Thirupatur Jalagamparai Velmurugan Temple Renovation
# Thirupathur Dhandayuthapani Temple Renovation
# Paramathi Vellore Thirunaga Sambandar Madalayam Renovation
# Namakkal Kandagiri Raja Gopuram Renovation - 09.08.1985
# Namakkal Kandagiri Vinayagar & Saneeswarar Temple Renovation 02.02.1990
# Erode Temple Renovation

Variyar Swamigal memorial home

A home at KangeyaNallur has the pride of being a place in which Variyar Swamigal was grown and played around with figurine, toys like temple cars from his childhood. This home has been renovated and remodelled as a Memorial hall.

An array of texts, books and literary works which swamigal read and wrote, Awards and Monumental articles presented to him, Things and articles which were in his possession and use , are being kept as an exhibition in this memorial hall.

Awards conferred on Variyar Swamigal

#'Thiruppugazh Jothi' - Rishikesh 'Sivanandar' (1955)
#'Pravachana Samrat' - Rishikesh 'Sivanandar' (Second time)
#'Arul Mozhi Arasu' - Madurai Thirugnana Sambandar Thirumadam
#'Saraswathi Kadakshamrutham' - Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Maha Periyaval Chandra Sekarendira Saraswathi Swamigal.
#'Shatpadanandha' - Akobila Madam
#'Esai Peraringnar' - Chennai Tamilzhisai Mandram ,by Anna durai in presence of Rajaji in 12.12.1967.

#'Amutha Mozhi Kondal' - Dharmapura Aadhinam
#'Thiruppani chakravarthi - Thirumurai Kazhagam - Bhavani
#'Thiruppani charabam' - Thirumurai Kazhagam - Bhavani (Second time)
#'Sorpozhivu Vallal' - Shanmugam Adiyar Sangam - Vellore
#'Sagala Desa sath Prasanga Chakravarthi' - Thiru Neriya Tamizh vazhippattu Sabai- Kumara Swamy kottai 23.12.1985

#'Fellowship' - Sangeetha Nataka Academy 23.12.1985
#'Kalaimamani' -Tamizhisai Nataka Mandram
#Honoured with Golden flower - By Ponmana chemmal M.G.R in 14.4.1986 during the inaugural function of 'Madurai Ulagath Tamizh Sangam'.
#'International Award' - Integral Yoga 19.07.1986
#'Doctorate' -Annamalai University 01.12.1986
#'Padaippilakiya Parisu' - In memory of Rajah sir Annamalai Chettiyar 30.09.1991
#'Illakiya Mudu Munaivar' -Tanjore university.
#'64th Thiruppani Thonda Nayanar'- Madurai paandi Mandala Muruga Bakthargal Peravai (30.01.1993)
#'Esai Narkalaingar' - Chennai Sankaradas Ninaivu Mandram 27.04.1993
#'Tamizh Peravai Chemmal' - Madurai Kamarasar University 17.04.1993.

And on many other occasions, Swamigal has been honoured with Titles 1ike, 'Gnana Kathiravan', 'Narthondu vari', 'Amutha Perungadal', 'Mudivurai Muthu' etc.,

External links

* [http://variyarswamigal.com/ Official site]