Sridhara Venkatesa Dikshitar (13 August 1635–1720), popularly known as Ayyaval, was a Hindu saint and composer who lived in the village of

Thiruvisanallur Thiruvisanallur also called Thiruvisalur (formerly known as Shahajirajapuram) 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. The Tirundudevankud ...

in the then

Thanjavur Maratha kingdom The Thanjavur Maratha kingdom ruled by the Bhonsle dynasty was a principality of Tamil Nadu between the 17th and 19th centuries. Their native language was Marathi. Venkoji was the founder of the dynasty. Maratha conquest of Thanjavur Follo ...

Ancestry and early life

Sridhara Ayyaval was born in Mysore and was the son of one Sridhara Lingarayar. Ayyaval's father was the Diwan of he

Mysore kingdom The Kingdom of Mysore was a realm in southern India, traditionally believed to have been founded in 1399 in the vicinity of the modern city of Mysore. From 1799 until 1950, it was a princely state, until 1947 in a subsidiary alliance with Brit ...

. When Ayyaval, a staunch devotee of the Hindu god

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...

, was offered the post of Diwan upon his father's death, he rejected the offer and instead, chose to embark on a pilgrimage of the Saivite temples of the Cauvery Delta region.

Events

On Ayyaval's arrival in

Thanjavur Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Gr ...

, he was offered all assistance and respect by Shahuji, the then ruler of the

. 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 Thiruvidaimarudur and set up his house at the neighbouring village of Thiruvisainallur. He used to visit the nearby Karkateshwarar shiva temple daily. 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 The Ganges ( ) (in India: Ganga ( ); in Bangladesh: Padma ( )). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international river to which India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China are the riparian states." is ...

. According to the traditions of the

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 Sridhara Venkatesa Dikshitar (13 August 1635–1720), popularly known as Ayyaval, was a H ...

, when Ayyaval had finished reciting the ''Gangashtakam'', water from the holy Ganges river flowed out of the well in his house. This festival is celebrated even today in the town of Thiruvisainallur. Ayyaval outlived most of his contemporaries. He is believed to have died in 1720 at the age of 85. His wife also passed away on the same day. According to most accounts, he disappeared mysteriously while on a visit to the Mahalingeswarar Temple. On entering the temple, Ayyaval's soul entered the idol of the presiding deity, Mahalingeswarar, and became one with him. Sridhara Ayyaval was a contemporary of Sri Bodhendra Saraswathi and

Sadasiva Brahmendra Sadasiva Brahmendra was a saint, composer of Carnatic music and Advaita philosopher who lived near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, during the 18th century. Only a few of his compositions have survived, but they are recognised as great compositions o ...

. Sri Bodhendra, Sri Ayyaval and Sri Sadguru Swamikal is considered to be the trinity in Bhajana Sampradaya. There are mutt's in Govindapuram Village, Thiruvisanallur Village and Marudanallur Village accordingly for the trinity. All these three villages are situated in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. He also holds an important status in Dakshina Sampradaya Namasankirthanam and is a member of the "trinity". Several songs have been written and composed on him and are always sung in any proper Namasankirthanam. The krithis are almost always followed by the namavali "Gangadhara Gangadhara", referring to Ayyaval as the bearer and bringer of the Ganges. He is considered as the Guru of Avudai Akkal and she mentions his name in almost all her songs. He has composed a number of works and slokas http://www.sriayyaval.org/works.html (1) Akhyashashti (2) Daya shatakam (3) Matrubhtasatakam (4) Stuti paddati (5) Shivabhakthikalpalatha (6) Shivabhaktha lakshanam (7) Taravali stotram (8) Artihara stotram. (9) Kuleerashtakam (10) Jambhunathashtakam (11) Doshapariharashtakam (12) Gangashtakam (13) Krishnadwadasamanjari (14) Achyuthashtakam (15) Dola navarathnamala (16) Padamanimanjari - a Sanskrit dictionary (17) Shahajiraja charitam (18) Bhagavannama Bhushanam (19) Sohantra Vilasam (20) Namammruta rasayanam

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayyaval, Sridhara Venkatesa 1635 births 1720 deaths 17th-century Hindu religious leaders 18th-century Hindu religious leaders People from Thanjavur district Scholars from Tamil Nadu