From The Editor’s Pen My beloved father, the late Dr. C. Srinivasan has given expression lucidly and with an all-pervading sense of humility and devotion all that he had tored up in his mind about the great Saint Maanickavaahagar and the Saint's ndomitable composition the Thiruvaachakam and there is nothing I have to add to it in my capacity as the Editor of this translation-cum-exposition. Without bringing in the subjective father-daughter relationship 1 can assert with all the confidence at my command that he was indeed a realised soul who practised what he felt and thought with the deepest conviction and humility. It was the burning passion of the evening of his life, to leave behind for posterity a satisfitng and meaningful translation of this great work, along with his own interpretation of some of the most caprivating aspect of the Saint's songs, trials, tribulations and triump; and he engrossed himself filltime, and whole-hearted in his task after his retirement as Professor of Botany, Annamalai University. The deep "terest of the Annamalai University in encouraging works in the Tamil language 1d their translation, was a distinct factor which spurred him into the peak of :tivity. Unfortunately, while the book was still in the press, my father attained ... le Lorius Feet of the Lord. - With all my limitations, I have attempted to edit this work and arrange it in accordance with my father's last instructions and wishes and I can only hope that I have measured up to his expectations in a small way The Editor and the Publisher would like to place on record their deep sense of gratitude for the financial assistance granted by the Tirumalai and Tirupathi Devasthanam, but for which this work would not have been brought out. Our special thanks are due to them for the understanding and forbearance with which they readily put up with the delay in the completion of printing occasioned by my father's demise. Messrs. Sarina's Sanatorium Press, Pudukkottai have done a commandble job in handling the composing and printing of this work and my thanks to them for their co-operation and understanding I do hope and pray that the generous reading public will bear with is in regard to any mistakes ornission or commission which night have crept in despite careful editing and proof-reading. 1 offer this book to the enlightened reading public as n act of homage to my departed father. Juober 1991. S. Sivmani Editor
