20 THIRUGNANA SAMBANDAR Thirugnana Sambandar (605(syster &lbuášff) was born in (gif&mps) in Thanjavur (A565&mgost) District in South India. His parents, Sivapada Hirudayar (Goueurs @(5,5 uuri) and Bhagavathiyar (useugustif) were ardent devotees of Lord Siva. It was only after a long period of penance that Sambandar was born. A miracle happened when the boy was but three years old, and with that his career as a saint commenced. One day, the boy was taken to the tank near the temple by his father. His father left him sitting on the steps and went for his ceremonial bath. When he failed to get a glimpse of his father after a shortwhile, he began to cry, gazing at the temple tower. He called out, “Amma, Appa.” with flowing tears and quivering lips. Just then Lord Thoniappar (Siva), responding to the request of the divine child, appeared with his consort Sakthi and asked her to feed the child, with the the gracious milk of wisdom in a golden cup. Sakthi immediately filled the golden cup with the milk of grace. From that moment he was known as Thirugnana Sambandar, as he had attained Divine Wisdom through the grace of Lord Siva and Sakthi. Presently, the father came out of the tank and saw the child with the golden cup and milk trickling from its lips. Brandishing a stick, he was about to punish the child for he had feared that it had accepted milk from strangers. Surprisingly, the child pointed to the sky in the direction of the temple and burst into the wonderful song, “Thoduciaiya Seviyan" (GámGeel-lu Ges?usir) proclaiming that hehad been served by the Lord. Sivapada Hirudayar could not see the Lord, but he was convinced from the child’s behaviour that he must have had a
