Thirunavukkarasar, also spelt as Tirunvakarasar, and popularly known as Appar, is one of the Nayanmars. He is treated as one among the four most prominent Nayanmars. He lived in the 7th century and composed and sang several devotional songs dedicated to Shiva.

The legend

The legend states that in his early adulthood, he converted from Hinduism to Jainism, and then to Shaivism. The reason stated for the conversion, according to the legend, is that he had become afflicated with a serious illness, and his prayers to Shiva resulted into Shiva curing him of the illness. This conversion was not taken lightly by the-then establishment controlled by the Jains. The Pallava king, Mahendravarman I, was also a Jain. Appar was called to the court of the king. Having been warned to reconsider and rescind his conversion, Appar did not change. He continued to sing the devotional songs dedicated to Shiva and explained the basic tenets of Shaivism through his hymns. The king too converted to Shaivism.

His image

Thirunavukkarasar’s image and iconography shows him as completed shaven head, and his palms are shown joined in Anjalimudra. A weed is shown on his shoulder. The weed is said to symbolize his determination to remove all grass and weeds from the vicinity of temples.

Reference

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0500510881) by Anna Dallapiccola

Bhakti movement | Hindu religious figures | Shaivism