The temple is praised in the hymns of Saint Sundarar. It is noteworthy that Tiruvanjaikalam in Kerala was the last spot from where Sundarar left the world for Kailash on the white elephant as graced by Lord Shiva. It is also noteworthy that the story of Epic Periya Puranam by inspired poet Sekkizhar begins at Kailash and ends at Kailash with Sundarar as the main character of the epic. The epic is a poetic biography of Saivite Saints who lived in Tamilnadu spreading Shiva philosophy at a time when Saivism faced the onslaught of other religions. Reaching Tiru Anjaikalam, his last day on Earth and readying to reach Lord Shiva, Sundarar’s excitement was high. In his last song, he recalls the handsome appearance of Lord Shiva wearing garlands, the Ganga on His head, the tiger skin dress, serpents on His shoulders as ornaments and the scenic beauty of Tiru Anjaikalam where Lord Graces in the name of Mahadeva.
Saint Sundarar was 18 when he came to Tiru Anjaikalam with his King Friend Cheraman Perumal who also enjoys his due place in the hierarchy of Nayanmars. He prayed to Lord Shiva to relieve him from the bonds of earthly life. The hymn “Thalaiku Thalai was his last song. Responding to the appeal of His devotee, Lord ordered the Devas to receive Sundarar and bring him on the white elephant called Ayiravanam it has one thousand tusk on each side. Sundarar thought of his bosom friend Cheraman Perumal. Cheraman took on his horse, flew, went round Sundarar thrice and reached Kailas before him, probably ready to accord a reception to Sundarar. Sundarar, even during his journey, continued to sing the praise of Lord gracing him with an elephant to reach Kailash. Sooner he completed this song, he reached the Lord. As directed by Lord Shiva, Varuna the God of Rain took the song and delivered at the Mahadevar temple at Tiru Anjaikalam.Saint Sundarar was 18 when he came to Tiru Anjaikalam with his King Friend Cheraman Perumal who also enjoys his due place in the hierarchy of Nayanmars. He prayed to Lord Shiva to relieve him from the bonds of earthly life. The hymn “Thalaiku Thalai was his last song. Responding to the appeal of His devotee, Lord ordered the Devas to receive Sundarar and bring him on the white elephant. Sundarar thought of his bosom friend Cheraman Perumal. Cheraman took on his horse, flew, went round Sundarar thrice and reached Kailas before him, probably ready to accord a reception to Sundarar. Sundarar, even during his journey, continued to sing the praise of Lord gracing him with an elephant to reach Kailash. Sooner he completed this song, he reached the Lord. As directed by Lord Shiva, Varuna the God of Rain took the song and delivered at the Mahadevar temple at Tiru Anjaikalam.
Thirumurai 7.4
1. தலைக்குத்தலை மாலை அணிந்ததென்னே
சடைமேற்கங்கை வெள்ளந் தரித்ததென்னே
அலைக்கும்புலித் தோல்கொண் டசைத்ததென்னே
அதன்மேற்கத நாகங்கச் சார்த்ததென்னே
மலைக்குந்நிக ரொப்பன வன்றிரைகள்
வலித்தெற்றி முழங்கி வலம்புரிகொண்
டலைக்குங்கட லங்கரை மேல்மகோதை
அணியார்பொழில் அஞ்சைக் களத்தப்பனே.
2. பிடித்தாட்டிஓர் நாகத்தைப் பூண்டதென்னே
பிறங்குஞ்சடை மேற்பிறை சூடிற்றென்னே
பொடித்தான்கொண்டு மெய்ம்முற்றும் பூசிற்றென்னே
புகர்ஏறுகந் தேறல் புரிந்ததென்னே
மடித்தோட்டந்து வன்றிரை யெற்றியிட
வளர்சங்கம்அங் காந்துமுத் தஞ்சொரிய
அடித்தார்கட லங்கரை மேல்மகோதை
அணியார்பொழில் அஞ்சைக் களத்தப்பனே.
3. சிந்தித்தெழு வார்க்குநெல் லிக்கனியே
சிறியார்பெரி யார்மனத் தேறலுற்றால்
முந்தித்தொழு வார்இற வார்பிறவார்
முனிகள்முனி யேஅம ரர்க்கமரா
சந்தித்தட மால்வரை போற்றிரைகள்
தணியாதிட றுங்கட லங்கரைமேல்
அந்தித்தலைச் செக்கர்வா னேஒத்தியால்
அணியார் பொழில் அஞ்சைக் களத்தப்பனே.
4. இழைக்கும்மெழுத் துக்குயி ரேஒத்தியால்
இலையேஒத்தி யால்உளை யேஒத்தியால்
குழைக்கும்பயிர்க் கோர்புய லேஒத்தியால்
அடியார்தமக் கோர்குடி யேஒத்தியால்
மழைக்குந்நிக ரொப்பன வன்றிரைகள்
வலித்தெற்றி முழங்கி வலம்புரிகொண்
டழைக்குங்கட லங்கரை மேல்மகோதை
அணியார்பொழில் அஞ்சைக் களத்தப்பனே.
5. வீடின்பய னென்பிறப் பின்பயனென்
விடையேறுவ தென்மத யானை நிற்கக்
கூடும்மலை மங்கை யொருத்தியுடன்
சடைமேற்கங்கை யாளைநீ சூடிற்றென்னே
பாடும்புல வர்க்கரு ளும்பொருளென்
நெதியம்பல செய்த கலச்செலவின்
ஆடுங்கட லங்கரை மேல்மகோதை
அணியார்பொழில் அஞ்சைக் களத்தப்பனே.
6. இரவத்திடு காட்டெரி யாடிற்றென்னே
இறந்தார்தலை யிற்பலி கோடலென்னே
பரவித்தொழு வார்பெறு பண்டமென்னே
பரமாபர மேட்டி பணித்தருளாய்
உரவத்தொடு சங்கமொ டிப்பிமுத்தங்
கொணர்ந்தெற்றி முழங்கி வலம்புரிகொண்
டரவக்கட லங்கரை மேல்மகோதை
அணியார்பொழில் அஞ்சைக் களத்தப்பனே.
7. ஆக்கும்மழி வும்மைய நீயென்பன்நான்
சொல்லுவார்சொற் பொருளவை நீயென்பன்நான்
நாக்கும்செவி யும்கண்ணும் நீயென்பன்நான்
நலனேஇனி நான்உனை நன்குணர்ந்தேன்
நோக்குந்நெதி யம்பல எத்தனையும்
கலத்திற்புகப் பெய்துகொண் டேறநுந்தி
ஆர்க்குங்கட லங்கரை மேல்மகோதை
அணியார்பொழில் அஞ்சைக் களத்தப்பனே.
8. வெறுத்தேன்மனை வாழ்க்கையை விட்டொழிந்தேன்
விளங்குங்குழைக் காதுடை வேதியனே
இறுத்தாய்இலங் கைக்கிறை யாயவனைத்
தலைபத்தொடு தோள்பல இற்றுவிழக்
கறுத்தாய்கடல் நஞ்சமு துண்டுகண்டங்
கடுகப்பிர மன்தலை யைந்திலும்ஒன்
றறுத்தாய்கட லங்கரை மேல்மகோதை
அணியார்பொழில் அஞ்சைக் களத்தப்பனே.
9. பிடிக்குக்களி றேஒத்தி யால்எம்பிரான்
பிரமற்கும் பிரான்மற்றை மாற்கும்பிரான்
நொடிக்கும்மள விற்புரம் மூன்றெரியச்
சிலைதொட்டவ னேஉனை நான்மறவேன்
வடிக்கின்றன போற்சில வன்றிரைகள்
வலித்தெற்றி முழங்கி வலம்புரிகொண்
டடிக்குங்கட லங்கரை மேல்மகோதை
அணியார்பொழில் அஞ்சைக் களத்தப்பனே.
10. எந்தம்மடி களிமை யோர்பெருமான்
எனக்கென்றும் அளிக்கும் மணிமிடற்றன்
அந்தண்கட லங்கரை மேல்மகோதை
அணியார்பொழில் அஞ்சைக் களத்தப்பனை
மந்தம்முழ வுங்குழ லும்மியம்பும்
வளர்நாவலர் கோன்நம்பி ஊரன்சொன்ன
சந்தம்மிகு தண்தமிழ் மாலைகள்கொண்
டடிவீழவல் லார்தடு மாற்றிலரே.
1. the father at ancaikkalam which has gardens full of beauty situated in makōtai which is on the shore on which the strong waves that are similar to one another and are as high as the mountain, seize the conches whose spirals turn to the right, dash, roar and drive them hither and thither!
what is the reason for wearing like a jewel a garland of skulls on the head?
what is the reason for carrying the flood of Kankai on the catai?
what is the reason for tying the skin of a tiger which can kill?
what is the reason for tying as a belt an angry cobra on that skin?
2. the father at añcaikkalam which has gardens full of beauty situated in makōtai which is on the shore on which the strong waves that are similar to one another and are as high as the mountain, seize the conches whose spirals turn to the right, dash, roar and drive them hither and thither!
what is the reason for wearing like a jewel a garland of skulls on the head?
what is the reason for carrying the flood of Kankai on the catai?
what is the reason for tying the skin of a tiger which can kill?
what is the reason for tying as a belt an angry cobra on that skin?
3. the father in añcaikkalam having gardens full of beauty on the shore of the sea where the waves similar to very big mountains in which bamboos grow, strike against the shore without being reduced in its force!
you who are as sweet as the ripe fruit of emblic myrobalam to those who think of you and wake up from sleep!
if small people are clear in their minds, about your greatness they will also become great.
those who worship you desiring priority, will not die and will not be born again.
you who are superior to all sages!
the immortal god superior to all so-called immortals!
you have a beautiful form like the red sky in the evening to captivate the minds of devotees!
4. the father at añcaikalam which has gardens full of beauty in makōtai on the sea-shore, where the strong waves which are like the clouds seize, dash against and made a loud noise taking conches whose spirals turn to the right!
you are like the vowel to the letters that are written, as you actuate and influence the movements of all living beings.
you appear to be non-existing;
at the same time you are like an existing things.
you are like the cloud that cause the crops to sprout;
you are like a noble lineage equal to the devotees as you are very near them.
5. the father at añcaikkalam which has gardens full of beauty in the city of makōtai on the sea-shore which is fit for bathing and which has many ships which have amassed wealth voyaging in the sea!
what is the benefit of salvation?
what is the benefit of birth?
without creating either of the two, salvation and birth what is the benefit of creating both which are quite opposite to each other?
what is the reason for riding on a bull when there is an elephant of must;
the vehicle of an elephant of Civan is called ayirāvanam;
it has one thousand tusk on each side;
what is the reason for wearing on your catai a lady Kanklaiyal, in addition to the lady who is the daughter of the mountain who is united with you?
what is the gift you give to the poets who sing your praises?
6. the father at añcaikkalam which has gardens full of beauty in the city of makōtai on the shore of the noisy sea which brings with force conches and oysters containing perals inside dashing on the shore roaring and bringing conches spiralling to the right.
what is the reason for dancing in fire at night in the cremation-ground?
what is the reason for receiving alms in the skull of those who died?
what is the thing that those who praise and worship you will joined hands get?
god who is superior to all god who is in an exalted place above all you order
7. propelling and filling as many enjoyable things as are found in the ships.
the father at añcaikkalam having gardens full of beauty in the city of mahōtai on the shore of the sea which is roaring!
I would certainly say that you are the cause for the creation and destruction of all things.
I would certainly say that you are the words and their meaning, which people say as the cause for those things.
I would say certainly that you are the tongue, the ear and eyes which are the sensory organs.
all good things!
now I understood you well.
8. the brahmin who wears a shining men`s ear-ring in the ear!
the father in añcaikkalam having gardens full of beauty in the city of makōtai on the sea-shore!
you grew angry so that the ten heads and twenty shoulders of the King of ilankai were crushed and fell your neck became black by consuming the poison that rose in the ocean as if you consumed nectar.
you cut off one of the five heads of Piraman, quickly.
I detested the house-holder`s life in my mind.
I completely renounced it physically also.
9. the father at añcaikkaḷam, which has gardens full of beauty in the city of makōtai on the shore of the sea which beats bringing conches whose spirals turn to the right, with a few of its strong waves as if filtering, pushing them dashing and roaring!
our Lord!
Lord of Piraman also!
Lord of the other Māl also!
you are the male elephant to the female elephants you are the unseen companion to all living beings, accompanying them Civan who made use of the bow to burn the three cities in an instant instant as the time measure of the snap of the thumb and middle finger!
knowing all these things I will not forget you.
10. about the father at añcaikkaḷam which has gardens full of beauty in makōtai on the sea-shore, who has a blue neck, who always grants his grace to me, the Lord of the celestials who do not wink, and our god.
those who are able to fall and prostrate at the feet of Civan with the help of the cool garlands of tamiḻ which excel in rhythmic movement composed by ārūran, nampi, the chief of the inhabitants of flourishing nāvalūr where the Muḻavu, and flute, are played in a low pitch.
will have no confusion in mind.
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