THIRUMOOLAR AT CHIDAMBARAM

[Sudalaimuthu Palaniappan]

In a message dated 4/11/99 9:54:35 AM Central Daylight Time,
asugu at MD3.VSNL.NET.IN writes:

>  Could any one suggest any authenticated information
>  regarding the association of  THIRUMOOLAR(auther of Thirumandiram)
>  with chidambaram temple
>      Some  people  having faith that his samathi(burried place)at
>  MOOLANATHER SHIRINE  at chidambaram NATARAJAR TEMPLE.
>   SOME  SAYS ABOUT  THIRUVADUTHURAI(where he entered the
>  body of moolan)

I do not know what you mean by authenticated information. But according to
periyapurANam tirumUlar visits tillai before he reaches AvaTutuRai.
periyapurANam also says that he lived for 3000 years and went to kailaza and
reached ziva's feet.

nal pati agku amar yOka mun2ivarkaLai nayantu pOyk
kal puricait tiruvatikai kalantu iRaijncik kaRai kaNTar
aRputak kUttu ATukin2Ra ampalam cUz tiruvItip
pon2 patiyAm perum paRRa puliyUr vantu aNaintAr         (per. 3569)

mun2n2iya ap poruL mAlait tamiz mUvAyiram cAtti
man2n2iya mUvAyirattu ANTu ippuvimEl makizntu iruntu
cen2n2i mati aNintAr tam tiru aruLAl tiruk kayilai
tan2n2il aNaintu oru kAlum piriyAmait tAL aTaintAr         (per. 3590)

There is no textual evidence that he died at Tillai.

Since cuntarar mentions tirumUlar, tirumUlar cannot be later than 8th
century. But his mention of pon2man2Ru in the following poem may be
attributed to the possibility that this section may not have been part of the
original tirumantiram. There is no critical edition of tirumantiram.

mANikkattu uLLE marakatac cOtiyAy
mANikkattu uLLE marakata mATamAy
ANip pon2 man2Rin2il ATum tiruk kUTattaip
pENit tozutu en2n2a pERu peRRArE.

Regards
S. Palaniappan