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Tirumurai

''Tirumurai'' (Tamil: திருமுறை, meaning "the holy way") is a twelve-volume compendium of songs or hymns in praise of Shiva in the Tamil language from the 6th to the 11th century CE by various poets in Tamil Nadu. Nambiyandar Nambi compiled the first seven volumes by Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar as ''Tevaram'' during the 12th century. During the course of time, a strong necessity was felt by scholars to compile Shaiva literature to accommodate other works. ''Tiruvasakam'' and ''Tirukovayar'' by Manickavasagar are included as the eighth, nine parts are compiled as the ninth ''Tirumurai'' out of which most are unknown, and the tenth as ''Tirumandiram'' by Tirumular, the famous ''Siddhar''. The eleventh is compiled by Karaikal Ammaiyar, Cheraman Perumal and others. The contemporary Chola king was impressed by the work of Nambi and included Nambi's work in the eleventh ''Tirumurai''. Sekkilar's ''Periya Puranam'', composed a century later, contains the life depiction of all the 63 ''Nayanmars''. The response for the work was so tremendous among Shaiva scholars and Kulothunga Chola II that it was included as the 12th ''Tirumurai''. ''Tirumurai'' along with ''Vedas'' and ''Shaiva agamas'' form the basis of ''Shaiva Siddantha'' philosophy in South India and Sri Lanka. Provided by Wikipedia