Appar: The Nayanar Saint of Tamil Shaivism

Appar, also called Tirunavukkarasar and known affectionately as Appar, meaning father, is one of the four principal Nayanar saints of Tamil Shaivism and one of the three poets whose hymns form the Tevaram. Traditionally placed in about the seventh century, he is remembered as a devotee who turned from an earlier faith to the worship of Shiva and who spent his life singing the praise of the Lord at temples across the Tamil land. His hymns, full of love, humility and service, hold a central place in the worship of Shiva and in the wider world of Shaivism. Many events of his life are known through tradition, yet his standing among the Nayanars is secure.

Key Takeaways

• Appar, also called Tirunavukkarasar, is one of the four principal Nayanar saints of Tamil Shaivism.
• He is generally placed in about the seventh century according to tradition.
• His hymns form one part of the Tevaram, the sacred Tamil hymns of the Nayanars.
• Tradition says he turned from an earlier faith to the devoted worship of Shiva.
• The name Appar means father, an affectionate title given to him by the younger saint Sambandar.
• He is remembered for a life of humble service, including cleaning the grounds of Shiva temples.

The sections below explain his life as told by tradition, his conversion, his Tevaram hymns and his continuing place in Tamil Shaiva worship.

Quick Facts

Who Was Appar?

Appar was one of the great Nayanar saints of Tamil Shaivism, a poet and devotee who sang the praise of Shiva in Tamil and who is honoured among the four principal teachers of the tradition. His hymns form a major part of the sacred Shaiva canon of the Tamil land.

He is remembered as a man of deep humility who, after a period in another faith, gave himself wholly to the worship of Shiva and to the service of the Lord’s temples. His affectionate name, Appar, meaning father, reflects the love in which he was held by other saints and by the community. Although many episodes of his life come from sacred biography rather than documented record, his hymns survive and reveal a devoted and gentle soul.

What Do the Names Appar and Tirunavukkarasar Mean?

The saint is known by two chief names that help readers recognise him across texts and temples. Tirunavukkarasar is an honorific meaning the king of the tongue or lord of speech, a title that honours the power and sweetness of his Tamil hymns.

The name Appar, meaning father, is said to have been given to him in affection by the younger saint Sambandar, who held him in high regard. Together the names express both the beauty of his poetry and the warmth of his character. In Tamil Shaiva writing and in temple tradition he appears under both names, and keeping them in mind helps a reader follow his story and distinguish him from the other Nayanar poets of the Tevaram.

When and Where Did Appar Live?

Appar is generally placed in about the seventh century, though the exact dates are given differently in various accounts, so it is wise to describe his era in general terms. He lived and travelled in the Tamil country, a region rich in Shiva temples and devotional life.

Tradition links him with places such as Tiruvamur and Tingalur and, above all, with the great temple town of Tiruvarur, a famous centre of Shaiva worship. He is said to have journeyed widely, visiting shrines and composing hymns in their praise. Because his life is handed down chiefly through tradition, careful writers speak of his region and the places he sang of with confidence while leaving precise chronology open to question.

Who Were the Nayanars?

The Nayanars were a group of saints of Tamil Shaivism, traditionally numbered as sixty-three, who expressed devotion to Shiva and helped shape the bhakti movement of southern India. The word nayanar is often understood to mean a leader or a hound of the Lord, in the sense of a devoted servant.

Their lives and legends were later gathered into a famous collection that tells the story of each saint, and the hymns of the three chief poets among them form the Tevaram. The Nayanars came from many walks of life, showing that devotion to Shiva was open to all. Appar stands among the four most honoured of them, together with Sambandar, Sundarar and the teacher Manikkavacakar, who is counted in a related group.

Why Is Appar One of the Four Chief Nayanars?

Appar is counted among the four chief Nayanars, sometimes called the Samayacharyas or teachers of the tradition, because of the greatness of his hymns and the depth of his devotion. These four are honoured above the rest as the principal guides of Tamil Shaivism.

The three who composed the Tevaram, Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar, are joined by Manikkavacakar, whose separate hymns are equally treasured. Appar’s place among them rests on the large body of hymns attributed to him and on the example of his humble, service-filled life. His standing is not only literary but devotional, for the tradition sees in him a model of surrender to Shiva, and his verses are recited in temple worship to this day.

What Is the Story of Appar's Conversion?

One of the central traditions about Appar concerns his conversion to the worship of Shiva. The story, told as devotional tradition rather than documented history, relates that he spent an early part of his life within another religious community before turning to Shiva through a deep inner experience.

Tradition says that a painful illness and the prayers of his devoted sister led him back to the Shaiva faith, after which he gave himself entirely to the Lord. The episode is cherished as an image of the soul finding its true home, and Appar’s own hymns are said to reflect the gratitude and relief of one who has returned to God. The story is held by devotees as a lesson in the power of grace and sincere devotion.

What Is the Tevaram?

The Tevaram is the great body of Tamil Shaiva devotional hymns composed by three of the Nayanar saints, Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar, and it holds a central place in the worship of Shiva in the Tamil land. The hymns praise Shiva at the many temples the saints visited.

Arranged into several books, the Tevaram forms part of a larger Shaiva canon of sacred Tamil texts. Its verses are sung in temples by trained singers and are learned by devotees across generations. Appar’s portion of the Tevaram is distinguished by its humility and its tender, personal tone. The collection as a whole is both a treasury of Tamil poetry and a living part of worship, linking the saints of long ago with the devotion of the present day.

What Are the Themes of Appar's Hymns?

Appar’s hymns are marked above all by humility, love and the sense of the devotee as a humble servant of Shiva, and they often express both the joy of the Lord’s presence and the sorrow of feeling far from him. The tone is gentle, personal and sincere.

He sings of Shiva in his many forms and at his many shrines, calling on the Lord with tender names and seeking refuge in his grace. His verses frequently reflect on the weakness and faults of the self and the mercy of God, themes that give his poetry a warm and human quality. For devotees these hymns are not only beautiful but also a guide to the attitude of surrender and service that lies at the heart of Shaiva devotion.

Why Is Appar Associated With Temple Service?

Appar is especially associated with humble temple service, and tradition remembers him for the task of cleaning the grounds and precincts of Shiva temples with a small implement, which became a symbol of his devotion. He is often pictured carrying this tool.

The act of sweeping and tending the temple, performed with love, expressed his belief that no service to the Lord was beneath him. This image of the saint as a humble servant has made a deep impression on the tradition and is recalled in his iconography. It teaches that devotion is shown not only in song but also in simple, selfless work. Appar’s example of service remains one of the most honoured features of his memory in Tamil Shaivism.

How Was Appar Linked to the Saint Sambandar?

Appar was closely linked with the younger Nayanar saint Sambandar, and tradition tells of a warm friendship between the two poets, who are said to have travelled and sung together on pilgrimages to Shiva temples. It was Sambandar who gave him the loving name Appar, meaning father.

Their companionship is a cherished part of Nayanar tradition, showing the unity and affection among the saints. Though they are remembered as distinct voices, with Sambandar known for his prodigious gifts and Appar for his humility, their friendship symbolises the shared devotion of the Shaiva community. The stories of their journeys together bring colour and warmth to the sacred biography and underline the bonds of fellowship within the tradition.

What Role Does Tiruvarur Play in Appar's Story?

Tiruvarur, a famous Shiva temple town, plays an important part in the tradition of Appar and the Nayanars, for it is one of the great centres of Tamil Shaiva worship and is sung of in the Tevaram hymns. The saint is associated with devotion at this and many other shrines.

The temple at Tiruvarur, dedicated to a form of Shiva, is counted among the most sacred sites of the tradition and is connected with several of the Nayanar saints. Appar’s hymns, like those of his companions, celebrate the Lord present in such temples and encourage pilgrims to seek his grace there. The town remains a living centre of Shaiva devotion, keeping alive the memory of the saints who sang its praise.

How Is Appar Depicted in Art?

Appar is depicted in Tamil art, especially in bronze and stone images, as a devotee with hands folded in worship and often holding the small implement used for cleaning temple grounds, a mark of his humble service. These images are found in many Shiva temples.

The figure of Appar, together with the other Nayanar saints, is honoured in temple shrines where devotees pay their respects. The art expresses his character of humility and devotion rather than any worldly rank. Such representations help worshippers remember the saints as living models of the devotional life. The careful attention given to Appar in sacred art is a sign of the deep reverence in which he is held across the tradition of Tamil Shaivism.

How Do Appar and the Nayanars Compare With the Alvars?

The Nayanars, including Appar, are the Shaiva counterparts of the Alvars, who were the poet-saints of Tamil Vaishnavism, and the two groups together shaped the great bhakti movement of the Tamil land. Both sang in Tamil and expressed intense personal love for God.

Where the Nayanars sang the praise of Shiva, the Alvars sang the praise of Vishnu, yet the two movements shared a common devotional spirit and a common language of feeling. Comparing them helps readers see how the bhakti path flowered across different traditions in the same region and age. Appar stands within this wider flowering as one of the leading voices of Shaiva devotion, whose hymns continue to move worshippers today.

Why Does Appar Still Matter Today?

Appar still matters today because his hymns remain central to Tamil Shaiva worship and because his life offers a lasting model of humility and service. His verses are sung in temples and treasured as both poetry and prayer.

His example of returning to God through grace, and of serving the Lord in the humblest of tasks, speaks to devotees across the centuries. Scholars value his hymns as landmarks of Tamil literature, while worshippers find in them a guide to the attitude of surrender. Careful readers honour the context of his tradition and treat the sacred stories of his life as devotional belief, while recognising the enduring beauty and devotion of the hymns that bear his name.

Appar Today

Appar today is remembered as one of the four principal Nayanar saints of Tamil Shaivism, honoured in temples across the Tamil country and in the daily singing of the Tevaram. His hymns continue to form part of the living worship of Shiva.

Through his poetry he gave the tradition a voice of gentle humility, and through his life of service he offered an example that devotees still cherish. Many details of his story are tradition, yet the survival and use of his hymns give a clear and constant portrait of a devoted and humble saint. His legacy endures as a reminder that love, humility and selfless service lie at the heart of the Shaiva devotional path.

Sources & Further Reading

• Ministry of Culture, Government of India (indiaculture.gov.in).
• Sahitya Akademi general references on Tamil devotional literature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Appar?

Appar, also called Tirunavukkarasar, was one of the four principal Nayanar saints of Tamil Shaivism, traditionally dated to about the seventh century. He is remembered as a poet of devotion to Shiva and for a life of humble temple service.

What does the name Appar mean?

The name Appar means father in Tamil, and tradition says it was given to him in affection by the younger saint Sambandar. His other name, Tirunavukkarasar, means the king of the tongue, honouring his hymns.

What is the Tevaram?

The Tevaram is the great body of Tamil Shaiva devotional hymns composed by three Nayanar saints, Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar. It holds a central place in the worship of Shiva and is sung in temples to this day.

Why is Appar associated with temple service?

Appar is associated with temple service because tradition remembers him for humbly cleaning the grounds of Shiva temples with a small implement. This act of selfless service became a symbol of his devotion and appears in his images.

How is Appar linked to Sambandar?

Appar is linked to the younger saint Sambandar through a warm friendship, and the two are said to have travelled and sung together on pilgrimages. It was Sambandar who gave Appar his affectionate name, meaning father.

Who were the Nayanars?

The Nayanars were the saints of Tamil Shaivism, traditionally numbered as sixty-three, who expressed devotion to Shiva and helped shape the bhakti movement. Appar is counted among the four most honoured of them.