Ambalavana Navalar

Ambalavana Navalar
அம்பலவாண நாவலர்
Born	Ambalavana Arumukapillai 1855 Sithankerny, Jaffna District, British Ceylon
Died	1932 Sithankerny, Jaffna, British Ceylon
Education	Tamil Pandithar
Occupation	Author & Teacher
Title	Navalar Founder of Vaddukoddai Hindu College

Ambalavana Navalar (Tamil: அம்பலவாண நாவலர், romanized: Ampalavāṇa Nāvalar, lit. 'Ambalavana the Orator'; 1855 – 1932) ^[1] is a Sri Lankan Tamil Eelam Poet (short story writer), Spiritualist, Teacher and Author. He was born in 1855 to Arumukapillai and Sundaravalli, in Sithankerny, Vaddukoddai, Jaffna. He wrote Satgurumanimalai^[2], Brahmadarukasthavam^[3] and more.

Ambalavana Navalar established a Saiva Tamil school and served as a teacher in order to prevent Saiva children from going to the schools established by the priest in Vaddukoddai. He was also responsible for being the founder of Vaddukoddai Hindu College - Sithankerny, Jaffna.

Biography[edit]

Ambalavana Navalar (1855 - 1932) was a poet and author from Sithankerny, Vaddukoddai, Jaffna. His father was Arumukapillai; mother Sundaravalli. He learned grammar and literature from Velpillai in Madduvil, Sanskrit from Neervely Sivaprakasa Pandit, and English from Chulipuram Kanakaratna Mudaliar and became proficient in three languages.

The novels written by him are Satgurumanimalai, Thiruvadhirai Thirunal Maghimabhavam and Arunachala Manmiyam. His Periyapurana Padiyam and Ariya Dravidian Prakasikai are out of print. It is noteworthy that Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, who honored Arumuka Navalar with the title of "Navalar", also honored Ambalavana Swamy with the title of "Navalar".

Spiritual Life[edit]

He became a "Naitika Brahmacharya Madulya Maha Sannyasa" after taking the Mantra kasya from the Mahasannidan of Madurai's Thirugnana Sambandar Monastery (Madurai Adheenam). Following the path shown by the novelist, he delivered religious lectures. Singamappana Raghunatha Mudaliyar, a young man from Vaddukoddai, who was a moneymaker in Valikamam West, was encouraged by the excellence of Ambalavana Navalar's lectures.

Both Nagarathar (Nattukottai Chettiar), Periya Chokkalinga Chettiar and Chinna Chokkalinga Chettiar, who had come to Jaffna for business, took him to Tirunelveli to give lectures after seeing his erudition and lecturing skills. Ambalavana Navalar delivered a sermon at the Nellaiappar Temple. After the lecture, he was given one thousand rupees as a gift by the rich people there, stayed for a year and gave "Thiruvathavur^[4] (Manikkavacakar) Purana lecture".

Visited temples in India. On his way to Thiruvavaduthurai, he went to the monastery there and met "Tiruperumtiru" Ambalavana Desikar. The patriots who saw his academic knowledge and lecturing force called him a "Navalar" He took the title and wrapped the gold. For two years he stayed at Devakottai and gave "Periyapurana Lectures". At the end of the lecture, he was given a gift of twelve thousand rupees. Arumuka Navalar worshipped as his Guru. Placing his banners on his head, he reached the graveyard and paid his last respects. He sang “Satgurumanimalai^[5]” on Arumuka Navalar.

Monastery[edit]

Tirugnana Sambandar Monastery

Ambalavana Navalar started the monastery with the name " Tirugnana Sambandar Monastery" on Nellaiappar Temple Road. Wealthy people living in Kandanur, Karaikudi, Devakottai and Nattarasankottai supported him.

Arumuka navalar Santana Gnana Sambandha Swamy Atheenam

In Chidambaram, "Arumuka Navalar Santana Gnana Sambandha Swami Adheenam" He also established a monastery. It is believed that he spent his old age in this temple.

Bibliography[edit]

• Satgurumanimalai (சற்குருமணிமாலை)
• Brahmadarukasthavam (பிரும தருக்கஸ்தவம்)
• Thiruvadhirai Thirunal Maghimabhavam (திருவாதிரைத் திருநாள் மகிமைப் பிரபாவம்)
• Arunachala Manmiyam (அருணாசல மான்மியம்)
• Agora Sivachariya Bhattathi (Nirmalamani Vyakiyanam)
• Poushkara Sangita Bhashyam (பெளஷ்கர சங்கிதா பாஷியம்)
• Condemnation of treason
• Venuvana Lingolpavam (வேணுவன லிங்கோற்பவம்)
• Thiruchuzhiyat Purana (திருச்சுழியற் புராணம்)
• Dance Instrumental Ranjanam (நடன வாத்திய ரஞ்சனம்)
• Shanmukha Sattsara Padhikam (சண்முக சடாட்சரப் பதிகம்)

Unpublished

• Ariya Dravidian Prakasikai (ஆரிய திராவிடப் பிரகாசிகை)
• Ideological preaching (சித்தாந்தப் பிரபோதம்)
• Saiva Sannyasa Pathathi
• Daksha Darsham (தக்ஷா தர்சம்)
• Periya Puranapadiyam (Singing Prakasikai)

References[edit]