- Source: Tiruvicaippa
Tiruvicaippa (Tamil: திருவிசைப்பா, romanized: Tiruvicaippā) denotes the ninth volumes of the Tirumurai, the twelve-volume collection of Tamil Shaiva devotional poetry. The works of eight authors belonging to the 10th century, namely Thirumaligai Thevar, Senthanar, Karuvur Thevar, Ponnthuruthi Nambi Kata Nambi, Kandarathithar, Venattadigal, Thiruvaliyamuthanar, Purshottama Nambi, Sethiyar, and Senthanar. Out of the eight, Kandarathithar, was a Chola king, who an ardent devotee of Shiva. He wanted to compile Tevaram, but the mission was completed by his grandson Rajaraja I.
Content
The ninth volume of Tirumurai is composed by Tamil poets (known as Nayanars) - Thirumaligai Thevar, Senthanar, Karuvur Thevar, Ponnthuruthi Nambi Kata Nambi, Kandarathithar, Venattadigal, Thiruvaliyamuthanar, Purshottama Nambi, Sethiyar and Senthanar Among the eight, Kandarathithar, was a prince descended from Chola king, Parantaka I. He and his wife Sembian Mahadevi were ardent devotees of Shiva and wanted to compile Tevaram during his lifetime, but could not complete the mission. During the reign of Rajaraja Chola I in the 10th century, a collection of these songs was found abandoned in the Chidambaram temple, along with other religious literary works, and collated by Nambiyandar Nambi.
List of temples associated with the Tiruvicaippa
There are 14 temples revered by the hymns of Tiruvicaippa and are in turn referred as "Tiruvisaipa Talangal".
