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Meykandar (, Meykaṇṭār, lit. the truth seer), also known as Meykanda Devar, was a 13th-century philosopher and theologian who contributed to the Shaiva Siddhanta school of Shaivism.́Sripatipandita (2025). 9788188643011, Conjeeveram Hayavadana Rao, Akshaya Prakashan. . ISBN 9788188643011 His literary work known as Śiva Jñāna Bodham (in Tamil language) on Shaiva Siddhanta has enjoyed great vogue and prestige among Tamil people comparable to other works of Hindu philosophy from the Advaita of Adi Shankara and Vishistadvaita of Ramanuja.
Swetavana Perumal was brought to his maternal hometown Thiruvennainallur by his uncle. One day while he was playing in the street, he was attracted by Rishi Paranjyoti, who "descended from Kailash". Paranjyoti initiated Swetavana Perumal as his disciple and gave him the diksha Name, "Mey Kandār", the Tamil language equivalent of his guru's name, Satya njnana darshini. Meykandar composed Śiva Jñāna Bodham in Tamil language, the core treatise of Southern Saiva siddhanta tradition. It contains twelve aphorisms () running to a total of forty lines, and deals with the nature of the three components of Saivism (Pashupati-Pashu-Pasam), and the means of attaining oneness with Siva. Many researchers conclude that Śivajñānabodham might have been composed around 1223 CE.
There are totally fourteen texts of Santana Kuravar and others admired by Tamil Saivites as Meykanda Sathirangal (Shastras of Meykandar or Shastras that perceived the truth). Though Shaiva Siddhanta is often identified as a pluralistic philosophy, it declares itself Vaidika Shuddadvaita (Veda Pure advaita) claiming that it interprets Advaita as it is.
Santana Kuravar
Sakalāgama Panditar, the family guru of Meykandar, once visited Meykandar and surprisingly became his disciple. He, later known as Arulnandi Sivan, composed Shiva Njana Siddiyar and Irupa irupahthu, in which he seconded Meykandar's Śiva Jñāna Bodham. Arulnandi sivan's disciple Marai njana Sampandar was the guru of Umapati Sivan who composed another eight texts explaining Shaiva Siddhanta. These four personages – Meykandar, Arulnandi Sivan, Marai njana Sampandar and Umapati Sivan are revered by the Tamil Siddhantins as "Santāna Kuravars" (Lineage of Gurus).
Meykandar Siddhantism
Shaiva Siddhanta Sampradaya was spread by Santana Kuravars during 13th and 14th centuries in Tamil land is known as "Meykandar Sampradaya" in philosophical perspective. It is also considered as a branch of Nandinatha Sampradaya, which flourished from the eight direct disciples (, Kumaras, Shivayogamuni, Patanjali, Vyaghrapada, and Tirumular) of Nandinatha. Meykandar Sampradaya is associated with the teachings of first disciple of Nandinatha – . Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (2003) "Dancing with Siva: Hinduism's Contemporary Catechism" Himalayan Academy Publications
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