THIRUVASAGAM - Spiritual {Tamil} 5/12

Manikkavasagar's Tiruvacakam and Tirukovayar are compiled as the eighth Tirumurai and is full of visionary experience, divine love and urgent striving for truth.[2] He is believed to be in the 10th or 11th century, but Dr. Pope places him in 7th or 8th century. Manickavasgar was the king's prime minister and renounced his post in search of divinity.[2] The king bestowed his minister to buy horses, but he was taken to divinity by the vision of Siva with his saints.[3] The minister spent his entire sum of money in building the temple at Tiruperunturai, considered an architectural marvel among Hindu temples. From the time, the saint poet wandered to various temples and devoted hymns on Siva. His conversion is attributed to Sivagnana bodham, an saivite work by Meykandar.[3] He was an orthodox saivite and represents bhakti at its highest form in his age.[4]
Tirupperunturai (Tamil: திருபெருந்துறை), known as Avudayar Koil), a Shiva temple where Tiruvacakam is believed to have been originated. Manikkavacakar is said to have converted the king to the cult of Shiva and built the temple with money that had been intended for war-horses.[5]