Manikkavachakar
Historical background
One of the four most important Shaiva saints (9th cent.). He became an important figure at the Pandya court in Madurai but after a series of dramatic events he renounced the world and wandered through South India and further afield singing the praises of Shiva.
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: Top row: Manikkavachakar informs the king that the horses have been purchased; He bathes in the Potramarai tank; His followers blame him for jeopardising his careers thus compromising their livelyhood; Second row: The merchant with the horses arrives and the purchase is concluded at the presence of Arimarttana Pandya (Varagunavarman II) and of Manikkavachakar; Third row: the Vaigai floods Madurai and Shiva in the guise of a youth agrees to help an old woman by doing her share of work along the dam, in exchange fo some food. While the others work, the youth lies lazily beneath a tree.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, west face
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: Top row: Tired of waiting for the horses to arrive, Arimarttana Pandya (Varagunavarman II) instructs his henchmen to torture Manikkavachakar and to imprison him. Second row: The newly purchased horses become jackals again, kill the few remaining horses of the king and invade Madurai; Note the portrait of Queen Victoria flanked by the British Lion and the Unicorn on the arch. Third row: The king begs forgiveness and asks Manikkavachakar to resume his post; Manikkavachakar, however, refuses and dedicates himself to the worship of Shiva.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, west face
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: Top row; Tired of waiting for the horses, Arimarttana Pandya instructs his henchmen to torture and imprison Manikkavachakar; Second row: The jackals invade Madurai; Third row: Manikkavachakar and disciples; A sacred fire appears in a tank and 999 chosen devotees of Shiva jump in it to join their Lord.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, west face
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: Top row: Arimarttana Pandya (Varagunavarman II) is informed about the horses’ incident, and since he can no longer trace the merchant, orders his guards to punish Manikkavachakar and to imprison him again; Bottom row: Manikkavachakar witnesses the death of the 999 chosen devotees; He quits Madurai, relocates in a forest, the Tapovanam, near Chidambaram.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, west face
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: Third row; The Vaigai floods Madurai and Shiva in the guise of a youth agrees to help an old woman,Vanti, by doing her share of work along the dam, in exchange for some food. While the others work, the youth lies lazily beneath a tree; Fourth row Manikkavachakar visits a a number of Shaiva temples; River scene.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, west face
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: Third row; The Vaigai floods Madurai; Arimarttana Pandya (Varagunavarman II), looks for Manikkavachakar and begs forgiveness of him; Fourth row: Manikkavachakar’s travels through South India visiting temples and ascetics.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, west face
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: Third row: Having refused the invitation of Arimarttana Pandya (Varagunavarman II) to resume his post, Manikkavachakar dedicates himself to the worship of Shiva.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, west face
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: Third row: Manikkavachakar watches the 999 chosen ones jump into the fire and join Shiva.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, west face
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: Third row; After the 999 chosen ones have jumped into the fire, Manikkavachakar remains behind to spread Shaivism throughout South India and visits Shaiva holy sites.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, west face
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: Fourth row: The pilgrimage of Manikkavachakar and his followers spreading the Shaiva doctrine through South India. The individual temples are difficult to identify because of the rubbed inscriptions.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, west face
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: Fourth row: Manikkavachakar and his followers cross a river.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, west face
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: Fourth row: The pilgrimage of Manikkavachakar and his followers spreading the Shaiva doctrine through South India. The individual temples are difficult to identify because of the rubbed inscriptions.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, west face
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