Sridhara Venkatesa Ayyaval
Encyclopedia
Sridhara Venkatesa Dikshitar (1635-1720), popularly known as Ayyaval, was a Hindu saint and composer who lived in the village of Thiruvisanallur
in the then Thanjavur Maratha kingdom.
who settled in Thiruvisanallur
, during the reign of Shahuji I. Some accounts mention that Ayyaval's father was the Diwan of the Mysore kingdom. When Ayyaval, a staunch devotee of the Hindu god Shiva
, was offered the post of Diwan upon his father's death, he rejected the offer and instead, chose to become a sanyasi or Hindu monk and embarked on a pilgrimage of the Saivite temples of the Cauvery Delta region.
and set up his house at the neighbouring village of Thiruvisainallur.
Various events are associated with the life of Sridhara Ayyaval. Chastised for feeding a hungry Dalit by orthodox Brahmins who insisted that Ayyaval should bath in holy Ganges and thus purify himself, Ayyaval prayed to Shiva and recited the Gangashtakam sloka appealing to the goddess Ganges. According to the traditions of the Sri Sridhara Ayyaval Mutt
, when Ayyaval had finished reciting the Gangashtakam, water from the holy Ganges river flowed out of the well in his house.
Ayyaval outlived his wife and most of his contemporaries. He is believed to have died in 1720 at the age of 85. According to most accounts, he disappeared mysteriously while on a visit to the Mahalingeswarar Temple. Ayyaval's followers believe that on entering the temple, Ayyaval's soul entered the idol of the presiding deity, Mahalingeswarar, and became one with him.
Thiruvisanallur
Thiruvisanallur also called Thiruvisalur is a village in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. The village is known for the Sivayoginathar Temple, a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Siva.- History :...
in the then Thanjavur Maratha kingdom.
Ancestry and early life
Very little is known about Ayyaval's ancestry or early life. According to some accounts, Ayyaval was the son of one Sridhara Lingarayar, a BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
who settled in Thiruvisanallur
Thiruvisanallur
Thiruvisanallur also called Thiruvisalur is a village in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. The village is known for the Sivayoginathar Temple, a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Siva.- History :...
, during the reign of Shahuji I. Some accounts mention that Ayyaval's father was the Diwan of the Mysore kingdom. When Ayyaval, a staunch devotee of the Hindu god Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, was offered the post of Diwan upon his father's death, he rejected the offer and instead, chose to become a sanyasi or Hindu monk and embarked on a pilgrimage of the Saivite temples of the Cauvery Delta region.
Events
On Ayyaval's arrival in Thanjavur, he was offered all assistance and respect by Shahuji, the then ruler of the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom. Shortly afterwards, he restored a Brahmin dead of snakebite to life and thus acquired a reputation as a miracle-worker. He was attracted to the Mahalingeswarar shrine at ThiruvidaimarudurMahalingeswarar Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur
Mahalingeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the town of Thiruvidaimarudur in Tamil Nadu, India. Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a lingam in this temple...
and set up his house at the neighbouring village of Thiruvisainallur.
Various events are associated with the life of Sridhara Ayyaval. Chastised for feeding a hungry Dalit by orthodox Brahmins who insisted that Ayyaval should bath in holy Ganges and thus purify himself, Ayyaval prayed to Shiva and recited the Gangashtakam sloka appealing to the goddess Ganges. According to the traditions of the Sri Sridhara Ayyaval Mutt
Sri Sridhara Ayyaval Mutt
The Sri Sridhara Ayyaval Mutt is a Hindu mutt in the village of Thiruvisanallur. The mutt was established by a Saivite saint Sridhara Venkatesa Ayyaval who lived and preached here in the late 17th century. The main duties of the mutt are to perpetuate the memory of Sridhara Ayyaval...
, when Ayyaval had finished reciting the Gangashtakam, water from the holy Ganges river flowed out of the well in his house.
Ayyaval outlived his wife and most of his contemporaries. He is believed to have died in 1720 at the age of 85. According to most accounts, he disappeared mysteriously while on a visit to the Mahalingeswarar Temple. Ayyaval's followers believe that on entering the temple, Ayyaval's soul entered the idol of the presiding deity, Mahalingeswarar, and became one with him.