Manikkavacakar was a 9th century Tamil poet and devotee of Shiva. He was of a priestly family, but he had shown ability in a military campaign, and the king made him one of his ministers. It is said that the king entrusted Manikkavacakar with money to buy horses, but on his way to fulfil this task he met Shiva himself, an encounter that brought liberation. Realising the futility of the worldly life, he used the money to build a temple instead. For this he was imprisoned for a time, but he was released, and it is said that from the preaching of Manikkavacakar the king renounced his throne and also attained liberation.

Becoming sky & earth
Wind & light
Becoming flesh & spirit
All that truly is
& all that which is not
Becoming the Lord,
He makes those who say,
“I” & “mine”
Dance in the show
Becoming sky
& standing there…
How can my words
praise Him?