Queen Mangaiyarkkarasi: Guardian of the Tamil Shaivite Heritage

Born as a Chola Princess in Pazhayarai, Mani was a fierce devotee of Lord Shiva from early childhood. She is honoured as the 50th and the second female saint among the 63 Nayanars. The Periya Puranam depicts her as a great political and spiritual strategist.

After her marriage to King Ninra Seer Nedumaaran known generally as Koon Pandyan(the hunch backed Pandyan). Her elegance, intelligence and courageous leadership earned her the title Mangaiyarkkarasi, meaning Queen among women.

When she got married, the Pandyan court of Madurai had a profound presence of Jain monks. Like his predecessors of the Sangam era, King Nedumaaran too had embraced Jainism. A staunch Shaivite Mangaiyarkkarasi was deeply disturbed by this and wanted to win her husband back to Shaivism.

It so happened that once the king fell terribly ill with a raging fever and stomach disease which were beyond the scope of the Jain monks to cure. The wise queen and the minister Kulachirai Nayanar grabbed this opportunity to invite Thirugnana Sambandar, a young Shaivite saint, to Madurai. He miraculously cured the king of his illness and the hunched back by applying sacred ash (vibhuti)while singing the Mantramavadu Neeru hymn. The king was very overwhelmed and was duly prompted to re-adopt Shaivism. His subjects followed suit.

Unlike other Nayanars, she herself has no literary compositions to her credit. Her immense contribution lies in her political leadership and her patronage to the Shaivite religion. Her role in safeguarding Shaivism and reviving it in 7th century Madurai are highly extolled in Tamil texts.

Literary Context and Texts Featuring the Queen

The Tevaram (Thirugnanasambandar's Hymns): The child-saint Thirugnanasambandar composed celebrated Padigams (hymns) explicitly praising her devotion. In his verses, she is famously extolled as Mangayarkkarasi, the daughter of the Chola King. These hymns are part of the Tevaram, the core of the Saivite twelfth-century canon. [1, 2, 3] YouTube·G Gnanasambandan +2

Periyapuranam by Sekkizhar: Her life story, unwavering faith, and strategic efforts to invite Sambandar to Madurai to re-convert her husband (King Koon Pandiyan) are detailed in a dedicated chapter of the hagiographic epic. [1, 2] Facebook·Nethra Art Studio +1

Tiruthondar Thogai by Sundarar: She is commemorated by the poet-saint Sundarar, who sings of her as "Variyalal Maani" (referencing her birth name, Maani). [1, 2] Facebook·Nethra Art Studio +1

*In Sekkizhar’s epic Periya Puranam , the sacred biography dedicated to Mangaiyarkkarasiyar opens with verses that deeply praise her royal heritage, her unyielding spiritual stance, and her role as a guardian of the faith. Below is a poetic English rendering (adapted from traditional translations of the Periya Puranam) capturing her noble attributes:

The Peerless Queen of Women

"She is the peerless queen of women, our deity,
The divine shoot sprung from the noble Chola line;
In the southern Pandya realm, girt with fertile fields,
She stood firm as a beacon of grace and truth,
Keeping the worship of the Lord alive when darkness fell."

2. Praised by Sundarar (From the Thiruthondar Thogai)

"To Mangaiyarkkarasiyar, who rules the hearts of the pure,
Whose mind is anchored to the flowery feet of Him
Who wears the crescent moon;
To her loyal minister Kulachirai, and to all the devoted host—
I am a humble servant, bowing low in eternal praise."
*Gemini AI

The Third Female Nayanar

Isaignaniyar – An Immensely blessed, special mother

The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation. Sundarar Murti Nayanar’s mother Isaignaniyar is one such power that is incalculable. It is the story of a venerated mother whose father was a devout scholar and ritualist named Gnana Sivachariar. After marriage she lived in the town of Tirunavalur with her husband Sadaiyar. As devout Adi Shaiva Brahmins they strictly adhered to the Shaiva path, hospitality, and unyielding devotion to Lord Shiva.

Respected for her wealth of both artistic grace and profound spiritual wisdom, deeply immersed in the worship of Lord Shiva, she lived upto her name: Isai = music/harmony and gnani = wisdom. Isaignaniyar holds a rare distinction in the Periya Puranam: she is honored as a Nayanar in her own right, so are her husband Sadaiya Nayanar and her son Sundarar. This makes them a unique nuclear family to have achieved individual canonization in Tamil Shaivism.

The pinnacle of her life’s story and most significant contribution to Shaivism is her pious stature as the mother who brought up a very saintly devotee of Shiva, rather than of any personal merit. Abysmally little is known or written about her. She is counted as the last among the 63 Nayanars. According to Sekkizhar, Isaignaniyar attained liberation and eternal grace simply by virtue of her unblemished life of devotion, her exemplary role as a righteous homemaker and her delivery of a soul devoted entirely to the service of Lord Shiva.

In the Periya Puranam (Thiruthondar Puranam) composed by Saint Sekkizhar, the life and context of Isaignaniyar Nayanar occupy a deeply revered place. While her chapter is concise compared to some of the sprawling narratives of other Nayanmars, her significance is immense.

Sekkizhar goes on to say that through the intense spiritual austerities and pure devotion (tavam) of both Sadaiya Nayanar and Isaignaniyar, Lord Shiva Himself chose to incarnate through them as their son.

1.Thiruthondar Thiruvanthathi poem which mentions about Isaignaniyar

Nalamvilan kunthiru navalur thannil sadayennum
Kulamvilan kumpuka lonai uraippar kuvalayathil nalamvilan
Kumbadi naamvilan kumpadi natravathin palamvilan kumbadi aru
Ranaimun payanthamaiye

In the prosperous and sacred town of Thirunnavallur,
Shines Sadaiyan of great renown,
Whose noble family and fame are praised across the world.
Through supreme devotion and holy austerity,
She brought forth into this world
The glorious Lord of Arur (Sundaran).

2. From Thiruthondar Puranam / Periya Puranam (by Sekkizhar)

Navalthriu padhikor selvar saiva
Nayakaman sadayanar nayanda inbap
Poovai kulamadanthai porpar komb
Punithamiku niramanithu potri seide
Avil thikazhthalaivan valia anda
Arurar avatharitha arunthavangal purindar
Yaavakum ettatha isainda inba
Isaignani enagnanam elidam andre

"Praising the great Saivite Lord Navalthriyur Selvan (Sundarar),
The pure and golden creeper-like woman of the noble Poovai clan,
Sadayanar and Isaignaniyar, performed great austerities and worshipped with devotion.
Thus, the supreme leader of the open-spreading matted locks (Lord Shiva),
In his great grace, caused Arurar (Sundarar) to descend and incarnate.
The incomparable bliss that is beyond the reach of all worldly beings—
Behold, how easily accessible it became through Mother Isaignaniyar!"

Sourced from the Internet.