Arunagiri could not believe his eyes and ears. Lord Muruga was standing before him majestically, holding the sparkling Vel (lance), His Mayil (peacock) nearby and exuding an aura of charm and splendour. It was as if all the power, beauty and knowledge of the universe had personified and descended on earth. Overwhelmed with emotion and wondering how he became worthy of such an enormous grace, Arunagiri folded his hands and bowed in reverence. Words failed him. The Lord, full of mercy, blessed him, conferred him the saintly advice and set out the sacred tasks before him. Arunagiri was delighted at being initiated to saint-hood direct by Lord. Having got the blessings of Muruga, he composed and rendered extempore, his first song “Muthai Tharu...”
Arunagiri then proceeded to Vayalur and prayed before Lord Muruga. It is believed that the Lord again appeared before him in the form of a person and ordained him: “Sing about Me, about My Vel (lance), about peacock (Mayil) about Seval (rooster) about Vayalur and about my various other abodes”. “It is indeed a rare honour to be able to sing Thy glory”, Arunagiri said and prostrated before Vayalur Muruga in total submission and dedication. After worshiping the shrine of Poyya Ganapathy nearby, he set out his historic journey. The journey, that took him to many holy places, gave him an illuminating experience.
Aiming at emancipation and salvation, many saints followed a strenuous path. They pursued their path vigorously and reached their goal. But in case of Arunagirinathar even without undergoing any struggle, he reached an ideal goal. While other saints, who led a life of virtue and devotion, realized God at the end, Arunagiri, who went after carnal pleasure, realized God at the very beginning. Strange indeed are the ways of God. It was a person as Arunagiri, the Lord had chosen to be his ideal disciple. As if to prove the choice correct, Arunagiri, came out of his world of illusion, lived up to the high demands of his new role and admirably fulfilled the divine task expected of him.
Tiruvannamalai has transformed Arunagiri into an enlightened sage and Vayalur has made him an erudite scholar. Arunagiriathar composed number of songs, in his inimitable style on Muruga. It is true that Arunagiri had the grace of Muruga. He had the knowledge and devotional bend of mind. What equally moved him was his 'temple experience'. He visited the six abodes of Muruga; Tiruchendur, Tirupparamkundram, Tiru Avinangudi, Swami Malai, Tiruthani and Pazhamudhir Solai, the places where Muruga performed various acts of bravery, marriage, renunciation, enlightenment and redemption. Like all saints, he never remained at one place and was always on the move. The temples enlightened him and inspired him to compose. He visited over 260 temples of Shiva and Vishnu and other deities in Tamil Nadu. Every temple had a unique history of its own. Impressed by the sanctity, the power and importance of the temple, Arunagiri composed songs on the Lord, bringing forth all the the unique characteristics. While referring to the history of a temple, we often find special mention being made about Arunagiri's visit there, as if his mere visit has brought sanctity and sacredness to the temple. After the visit that took him to many shrines in Tamil Nadu, neighbouring States, distant Banaras and Kadir Kamam, Arunagiri returned to Tiruvannamalai to lead a quiet life of devotion. The King Prabhuda Devaraja honoured him and granted him the privileged status of a 'Poet of the Royal Court'.
According to estimates, Arunagirinathar has composed over 16,000 songs but only 1365 songs have been traced. He did not differentiate between Shivite and Vaishnavite thoughts though the difference, in some form or degree, did exist in his time . Most of his songs ended with the term: “Perumale”, the term normally used by Vaishnavites to address Lord Maha Vishnu. He referred Muruga as “Malon Marugane” (Son-in-law of Maha Vishnu - Thirumal), as, according to legend, Muruga's consorts, Valli and Deivayanai were daughters of Thirumal in their previous births. Arunagiri conveyed messages of truth and Dharma by citing instances from Ramayana and Mahabharatha. Kandhar Anuboothi (The Divine Experience),is considered as the quintessence of Vedhas and Upanishad. He says one need not fear death if he has knowledge of what happens to soul after death. Death is not an end in itself. It is transition from a temporal world to an immortal world, from material to spiritual and from Maya (illusion) to real. These viewpoints reflect the ideals expressed in the dialogue between God of Death (Yamaraja) and Naciketas, the nine year old inquisitive boy as revealed in Kathopanishad. Arunagirinathar also composed Kandhar Alamgaram (The ornament of verses adoring Muruga), Kandhar Andhathi, Vel, Mayil and Seval Virutham, Thiru Ezhu Kootrirukkai and Thiruvakuppu. In most of his songs, Arunagiri stressed the value of Sakthi worship. There are many references in his songs which indicate that Sakthi had incarnated in different forms for the protection and upliftment of humanity.
source: http://www.geocities.com/vsk_tiruppugazh/Muruga3.html
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