THIRUGNANA SAMBANTHAR
St. Sambandar the author of the first three Tirumurais was born in Cikali also known as Piramapuram. His father Sivapata Virutayar and mother Pakavatiyar were devote Saivities. A miracle happened when the boy was three years old. One day his father took him to the temple tank and left him on the steps of the tank and went for a bath. When he entered the water, the child missing him, cried out "O mother! O father!" Lord Siva heard the cry of the child and appeared before him with his consort Uma who consoled the child by giving milk mingled with divine wisdom. The fortunate child drank it and became an inspired child saint. Hence he is called Thirugnana Sambanthar ("The one connected with divine wisdom"). When Sivapatavirutayar saw the traces of milk on the lips of his son he asked the child as to who gave the milk to him. The child pointed in the direction of the temple tower and burst out into a sacred lyric in praise of Lord Siva. Sivapatavirutayar understood that his son had attained sainthood and had been endowed with divine wisdom by the grace of the Lord. The child saint continued to sing the glory of the Lord, and visited most of the Saivite shrines in the Tamil Country, incidentally performing many miracles. He met St.Thirunavukkaracar at Cikali and they travelled together several times to the shrines of Siva.
At the age of sixteen, that is, after his marriage ceremonies were over, the young saint entered the temple and prayed to Lord Siva that the time had come for him to reach his holy feet. His fervest prayer was granted and the saint with all the other fortunates entered into the jyoti (the divine light) and disappeared. St.Sambanthar is generally thought to have lived in the first half of the seventh century.