Vel Maaral - Paperback

Tiruvannamalai, Arunagirinathar: - Poet-saint Arunagirinathar lived in 14th century during the period of vijayanagara empire. He is a native of Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu India. Legend states that upon realizing his sinful deeds, he attempted suicide by jumping from the temple tower. Lord Muruga saved him and commanded him to sing prayer songs. He is renowned for the prayer songs on Lord Murugan called Tiruppugal.Vallimalai, Satchidananda Swamigal: - Satchidananda Swamigal of Vallimalai was born on 25th November 1870. His parents are Chidambaram and Lakshmi Ammal. His given name was Arthanaari. He worked as an assistant head cook in Mysore Maharaja's palace. His first marriage was at age nine. He married second time when he was twenty-two years old. Unfortunately, he lost both his wife and children. Saddened and alone He visited Palani temple. There at age forty two he heard Tiruppugal first time. Attracted by the melody and sweetness of the song he travelled to abodes of Lord Muruga in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. With the blessings of Seshadri Swamigal he finally settled in Vallimalai and taught Tiruppugal to Lord Murugan's devotees. Because of his devotion people called him Satchidananda Swamigal of Vallimalai He used to visit The Thiruthani Murugan often. He is the saint instrumental to the Thiru Thanigai Thirupadi Thiru vizha, where devotees light lamps on the stone steps of the Thiruthani Murugan Temple every New Year's Day.He compiled vel vagguppu written by poet-saint Arunagirinathar into much larger version, by systematically repeating the sixteen verses of Vel Vaguppu one hundred and eight times. This compilation is titled "Vel Maaral Maha Manthram".Swamigal, Pamban Gurudasa: - Pamban Gurudasa Swamigal was a poet-saint devoted to Lord Muruga. He was born in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, in the 1850s. The exact date of his birth is not known. His original name was Appavu. From the early age of thirteen, he began writing poems dedicated to Lord Muruga. In 1891, Pamban Swami composed Shanmuga Kavacham. The divine cure of his broken leg in 1923 at a Chennai hospital is legendary, and his picture can be found in the Chennai Government Hospital. Swamigal attained samadhi on 30 May 1929 at 7:15 AM.