The chapter included Appar, Sundaramurti, Thiru Jnana Sambandhar, Manickavasagar. I have covered Appar, Sundaramurti and Manickavasagar.

Appar is one of the four Samaya Acharyas. He was a contemporary of Sambandhar. He was a Vellala of Thiru Amur in the district of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. He was born of Pugazhanar and Maathiniar. The parents gave the name "Marulneekkiar" (dispeller of darkness or ignorance) to appar. Appar means ‘father’. Sambandhar gave Marulneekkiar this name. The name Appar was first used by Sambandhar in addressing him in one of several meetings between them. Appar’s soul-stirring and sublime odes earned him the title "Thirunavukkarasar" or "the Lord of Speech". Appar was a God-inspired soul. He sang devotional odes or Padigams during his pilgrimage to various shrines. He flourished in the middle of the seventh century A.D. He was a mystic and a poet. Appar became a Jain and read all its scriptures till one day under the influence of his sister he became a devotee of Lord Shiva.

By means of his poems, Appar laid the foundation of the Saiva Siddhanta School of philosophy Appar’s poems are full of imagination, spiritual insight, religious emotion and high spiritual realization.

Appar was more learned than Sambandhar. He had a very powerful personality. He led an exemplary life as a Siva bhakta. He put an end to the influence of Jainism. He always praises the five letters or panchakshara. He says, "The rare jewel of the Brahmins is the Veda with its six Angas. The rare jewel for the Saivites is the Panchakshara". Appar’s exemplary life, mellifluous poetry, vast erudition and profound religious fervor attracted countless people. He had countless admirers and disciples. He had great influence. Appar’s works consist of three hundred poems that form three books out of twelve in the Tamil collection of Saivite poetry known as Thirumurat.

Appar says: "Everything is the manifestation of Lord Siva. Siva is Narayana, Brahma, the four Vedas, the holiest, the oldest, perfect. Though Siva is all these, He is none of these. He is without name, without birth, death or disease. He is at once the transcendent and the immanent.

"Love of lord Siva must be felt and manifested. Pray. Worship. Weep. Dance. Lord Siva is the music or melody in the song, the sweetness in the fruit, the thought in the mind, the luster in the eyes. He is neither male nor female. He is without dimensions.

"Subdue the senses. Practice regular meditation. Practice Sariyai, Kiriyai, Yogam and Jnanam. Develop dispassion. Transcend the three bodies. Unite the individual soul with the Supreme Soul or lord Siva. You will attain eternal bliss and immortality. You can behold Lord Siva if you look for him with the light of wisdom issuing forth from the wick of life, fed with the Ghee of meditation in the lamp of mind, within the house of your body.

"Plough with truth. Plant the seed of desire for knowledge. Weed out falsehood. Irrigate the mind with the water of patience. Supervise your work by looking within or introspection or self-analysis. Build the fence of Yama-Niyama or right conduct or right rules. You will soon attain Sivanandam or the eternal bliss of Siva.

Regard your body as the temple of lord Siva, your mind as the worshipper, Truth as purity that is necessary for worship, the jewel of the mind as the Linga, love as Ghee and milk. Perform Puja to Lord Siva thus. Lord Siva cannot be obtained without meditation on the Panchakshara and without making the mind one-pointed."

May you all follow the precepts and teachings of Appar and attain the Siva-Pada, the immortal abode of eternal bliss!