[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955) › c19.s2.8 # A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c19.s2.8 A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c19.s2.8 - **Language:** English ### [c19.s2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955.c19.s2.8) The \*Tirumandiram\* of Tirumūlar is a manual of Śaiva mysticism in 3,000 verses. It constitutes the tenth book in the canon, though it does not appear to be mentioned by name by any author before Śēkkilār. The life of Tirumūlar is wrapped in a fantastic legend: a \*siddha\* from Kailāsa, the abode of Śiva, migrated to the South to meet his friend Agastya; near Tiruvāḍutuṛai he entered the dead body of a shepherd out of pity for the herd which had just lost him; he led the herd back home in the evening, and then abandoned the shepherd’s family; then as a penance he sat under a tree for 3,000 years composing the work at the rate of one verse per year. In spite of its almost unredeemed obscurity, it is held in great veneration by Tamil Śaivas. - [Previous: c19.s2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955.c19.s2.7) - [Next: c19.s2.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955.c19.s2.9) - [Up: c19.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955.c19.s2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955.c19.s2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.sastri-1955.c19.s2.8) · Pramāṇa