Thiruvempavai – Starts 18-Dec-2023

Thiruvempavai is a Tamil devotional poem composed by Manickavacakar, also known as Manickavasagar. Manickavacakar was a 9th-century Tamil poet and saint, and he is considered one of the 63 Nayanars, who were devotees of the Hindu god Shiva.

Thiruvempavai is part of the Tiruvicaippa and is recited as a part of the early morning prayers in Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, India, during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December-January). It consists of 20 poems or pasurams, and it is a significant work in Tamil literature and Saiva Siddhanta philosophy.

The poems of Thiruvempavai are known for their devotional fervor and are sung with the aim of obtaining the grace of Lord Shiva. They express the longing and devotion of the poet towards Shiva and are rich in literary and poetic qualities. Thiruvempavai is also considered a form of worship and is recited by devotees during the Margazhi month as a part of the ritual known as “Margazhi Thingal,” which involves waking up early in the morning, singing the hymns, and offering prayers to Lord Shiva.

It’s worth noting that the pronunciation and spelling of Tamil words can vary, and Thiruvempavai may be referred to by different names or spellings in different contexts.