Nambi Andar Nambi

Summary

This short article examines the historical figure Nambi Andar Nambi, a Tamil saint credited with collecting the canon of Saiva hymns known as the Tirumurai. The author first outlines the tradition that Nambi, acting on instructions received in a dream, retrieved sacred palm-leaf manuscripts from a chamber beneath the Chidambaram temple and arranged them into eleven books. He is also said to have composed an additional book, the Tiruvisaippa, and to have fixed the canon at twelve books. Scholars have debated the date of this canonisation and the identity of the king who supported Nambi. Some attribute it to Raja Raja Chola I (r. 985–1014), while others to his predecessor Aditya Karikala. The article evaluates evidence from inscriptions and hagiographies. It notes that no Chola inscription mentions Raja Raja’s involvement, whereas the Periya Puranam hints that Aditya Karikala ordered the hymns to be collected. Moreover, the earliest reference to Nambi’s collection occurs during the reign of Rajendra I, suggesting an earlier date. The author concludes that Aditya Karikala was the king responsible for the canonical settlement and that Nambi lived during the late 10th century, around 966‑970 A.D. This dating places Nambi slightly earlier than previously thought and aligns with the period when the Cholas were consolidating power. The article also emphasises that Nambi was a prolific poet and may have composed the Tiruvisaippa and other minor works. By clarifying the chronology, the paper contributes to understanding how the Saiva canon took shape and the political context that enabled its preservation.