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Krupananda Variyar, the Saint who defined Devotion
by V.S. Krishnan
 Mallaya, an eloquent speaker, rendered discourses at many places in Tamil Nadu. People flocked in large number to hear him. He used to render discourse at a place called Valaikulam regularly on the occasion of Vaikunda Ekadasi. But that year Mallaya had an unavoidable engagement at Kancheepuram. After some initial hesitation he assigned the task of discourse to his son and gave him some broad guidelines.
On his return, he was eager to know how his son had fared. Rather than asking his son he decided to find out from his friends. Then the surprise came. All those he met were unanimous in their opinion that from next year onwards he should excuse himself and depute his son instead for the discourse! The son who inherited his father’s qualities and made him proud by excelling in his art of religious discourse was Tiru Muruga Krupananda Variyar, a house-hold name in Tamil Nadu, who highlighted the glory of Muruga in his own inimitable style.
 Born to Mallayya-Kanakavalli couple in 1906 at Kangeyanallur, Krupananda Vari received his education in different fields first from his father and later in music and scriptures from Brahmasri Thenmadam Varadachari at Madras. Though the education and training he received were formal, he was a unique personality in whom devotion, skill and knowledge were already inbuilt. The knowledge and devotion were inborn and came out in flying colours by the grace of Lord Muruga.
Once, the great saint, Madurai Tiruppugazh Swamigal, the guru and teacher of Mallaya, happened to visit Kangeyanallur and he was invited to attend the same Valaikulam that launched Tiru Krupananda Vari as a full time exponent. The saint readily agreed to come to Valaikulam and speak a few words. When the function started, the saint felt uneasy and he begged to be excused from delivering the keynote address. The authorities then requested Mallayya to speak on behalf of the saint.
Mallayya was reluctant to take the stage earmarked for his Guru and ultimately the mantle of giving lecture fell on Tiru Krupananda Variyar. Coming to the stage, Sri Variyar delivered an excellent extempore discourse on Tiruppugazh. All those assembled including his father and the saint were aghast at hearing such thought provoking and delightful speech. As Sri Krupananda Vari concluded his brief address, the sage remarked: “I was overcome with anxiety how the tradition of Tiruppugazh would be carried forward after my death. My fears have now been proved ill-founded.”
 Wherever Variyar Swamigal spoke, devotees came in large number to hear his music, seek his guidance and get his blessings. Apart from discourses, Sri Variyar Swamigal engaged himself in various welfare activities. Renovation of temples, raising raja gopurams and propagating Tiruppugazh tradition were his passions. He mobilized resources through his musical discourses for the construction of the raja gopuram tower at Vayalur, at Kandaswamy temple near Puraswakkam at Chennai, a hall at Mohanur, Sathya Gnana Sabha of Vallalar at Vadalur and at many other places. The consecration ceremonies (kumbhabhishekam) were held at these temples with great religious fervour. With the initiative taken by him, the tower of many temples leaped high in elegant colours.
Whatever the commands of Variyar Swamigal, there were devotees ready to carry them out. His father nourished an earnest wish to perform the Kumbabhishekam of Kangeyanallur Muruga temple. Though this temple, situated in an interior place, was not well known, the moment Sri Variyar Swamigal made his intention known, donations started pouring in. His Trichy friend Sri Somasundara Reddiyar called on him and left behind a cover that contained a blank cheque. Needless to say, the Kumbabhishekam ceremony was conducted in the year 1957 in a grand manner and the blank cheque was filled with just Rs. 1500/-, the amount needed to be paid to Sivaswamy Iyer, the cook.
There was a function at Kancheepuram presided by His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Swamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt. Sri Krupananda Variyar who happened to be in Kancheepuram also attended the function. On seeing Variyar, Maha Swamigal sent a word through someone and invited Variyar to come to the stage and speak few words.
Variyar Swamigal, the most eloquent speaker, had never paused for a moment for want of a proper word. Words emanated from him like Ganga that flowed from Himalayas freely and forcefully. But for the first time in his life, Variyar Swamigal felt at loss for word. In presence of Acharya, the words that came very naturally from him just did not come out.
The Ganga remained still for a moment. Variyar Swamigal felt Lord Siva was sitting just in front of him, manifested in the form of Kanchi Periyaval. Variyar, the most eloquent speaker, who removed all the causes of fear and tension from the mind of his audience, was himself feeling nervous now. It was clear Variyar could not speak anything when Maha Periyaval, the embodiment of knowledge, is present before him. The moon can shine only on the reflected light of the sun.
 Variyar Swamial looked up to the Kanchi seer and wondered “what can I speak”? Then Maha Swamigal said smilingly from his seat. “You have dedicated all your life for the tiruppani (temple renovation) so speak about that experience.” The guidance that came from Maha Swamigal was enough and Variyar spoke in all humility about the work he had carried out in renovating temples. The Ganga started flowing again. “I was only a tool. It was Lord Muruga who made everything happen,” he concluded.
He traveled extensively covering almost all important towns and pilgrim centres in India and abroad. He participated in the kumbabhishekam ceremonies of Sri Rama temple in Illinois and the Muruga temple in Virginia, USA. He believed that travelling was one of the means of acquiring knowledge.
During a rail journey in North Arcot, a young student asked him “Swamigal, why do you white wash your forehead?” Prompt came the reply from Variyar: “My dear friend, normally white-washing is done, not to an empty house where no one resides, but to a decent house where humans life or to a temple where God lives. I believe that this body of mine is a temple where Lord Muruga resides and therefore I do the white-washing to it frequently with the sacred ashes of Vibhuti that gives the mark of Muruga, the embodiment of knowledge”. Impressed by the answer, the student asked for a little ‘white-wash’ and applied it on his own forehead with reverence.
Even in his advanced age, Variyar Swamigal tirelessly worked for the principles he held high. If he was rendering a discourse at a particular place in the evening, he would be required to attend to a work connected with temple renovation at a distant place, next morning. He invariably covered the distance by night travel.
He believed in the adage “catch them young” and wanted all children right in front of him. He made them feel at ease by narrating humorous incidents and prompting them to think by asking simple questions. Though he gave price in the form of a small book on Kanda Sashti Kavacam or Kandar Anubhuti to the child who gave the correct answer, at the end of his discourse, he presented the book to every child present.
His achievements in the fields of discourse and temple reconstruction were only one side of the coin. An equally creditable achievement was in the field of devotional literature. He wrote extensive commentaries on Tiruppugazh, which were published by Vanathi Pathippakam in nine volumes. He authored over a hundred books on religion. He also brought out a monthly journal, Tiruppugazh Amrutham in 1955, which became very popular and remained at the forefront of devotional periodicals for many years.
He was conferred the title of Saraswati Kadakshamrutham by His Highness Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal of the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt. He was conferred doctorate degree by Annamalai University, Kalai Mamani award by Thamizh Isai Nataka Manram, fellowship award by Sangeeth Natak Academy, the titles of Tiruppugzh Jyoti by Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh “64th Tiruppani Thonda Nayanar” by Madurai Muruga devotees, Thamizh Peravai Semmal by Madurai Kamaraj University and a number of other titles like Pravajana Samrat, Tiruppani Chakravarty, Sorpozhivu Vallal and the list of honours extends long.
 On 7th November 1993, the heavily built body of Tiru Muruga Krupananda Variyar; the body that was always smeared with vibhuti (white ashes), the body with a voice that always rendered the songs of Muruga, the chest of the body always adorned by the chain of Rudraksha beads; body that always kept moving, the body that was always surrounded by devotees had completed its earthly duties and became still. The atma of Variyar Swamigal had immersed itself with the eternal reality, the Paramatma which Muruga symbolized. Variyar who always emphasized the need for liberation (mukti) had attained immortality at the feet of Lord Muruga. Krupananda Variyar has departed but he lives in the heart of all Muruga devotees forever.
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