Thirumuruga Kirubananda Variyar Swamigal

India Indian Religion Religious Reformer Scholar

February 18, 2006

A commemorative postage stamp on the Birth Centenary of T.K. Variyar, a Shaivite spiritual teacher :

Issued by India

Issued on Feb 18, 2006

Issued for : The Department of Posts is proud to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Thirumuruga Kirubananda Variyar.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Sankha Samanta (Based on the photograph provided by the proponent)
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : Thiru Muruga Kirubanandha Variyar

Born on Aug 25, 1906 at Kangeyanallur, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

Died on Nov 7, 1993

About :

A legendary thinker and a scholar, who gave a new orientation to the story telling art and rejuvenated Bhakti Movement, bringing it to new heights, was Thirumuruga Kirubananda Variyar, popularly known as ‘Variyar Swamigal‘. He was born at Kangeyanallur in Tamilnadu on 25^th August 1906. At the age of five, he started composing poems in Tamil and started giving discourse at the age of nine. Though he received no formal education, he showed his deep understanding of savaite literature. A disciple of Sri Eesana Sivacharya, he mastered the Tiruppugazh, a collection of poems on Lord Muruga. He also had in depth knowledge of Tirukkural and other classics.
Quoting extensively from Tamil literature, he would hold his audience spellbound during his discourses.
Kirubananda Variyar had special interest in the teaching of Vallalar and founded the journal Tiruppugasha–mirtham. He was honoured with many titles for his selfless service to the society.
He gave a new direction to the Tamil Bhakti Movement and was revered by Saivites all over world. His musical discourses brought out the best philosophical truths in a lucid style, laced with interesting parables, short stories and personal anecdotes. He was known as a walking encyclopaedia of Saivite Sidhanta and was revered by his followers as another Nayannar of this age.
He passed away on 7^th November 1993.
Text: Material provided by the proponent.