He was an orthodox saivite and represents bhakti at its highest form in his age. His conversion is attributed to Sivagnana bodham, an saivite work by Meykandar. From the time, the saint poet wandered to various temples and devoted hymns on Siva. The minister spent his entire sum of money in building the temple at Thiruperunturai, considered an architectural marvel among Hindu temples. The king bestowed his minister to buy horses, but he was taken to divinity by the vision of Siva with his saints. Manickavasgar was the king's prime minister and renounced his post in search of divinity.
He is believed to be in the 10th or 11th century, but Dr.
His father was an adivsor to the Pandya king and he followed his father's footsteps in becoming the king's minister. He was born in an orthodox brahmin family in Tiruvatavur near Madurai.
Though he is not counted as one of the 63 Saiva nayanars, he is counted as one of the Nalvars ('The Four') consisting of himself and the first three nayanars namely Appar, Sambandhar and Sundarar. Manikkavasagar's Thiruvasagam and Thirukovayar are compiled as the eighth Thirumurai and is full of visionary experience, divine love and urgent striving for truth.
