Tirunelveli district saw the birth of many scholars and saints. It was also the birth place of Kumaraguruparar, a great 17th century poet. Shanmukha Sikhamani Kavirayar and Sivagama Sundari Ammaiyar had no children, and the devout couple prayed for a child. They were then blessed with a son, whom they named Kumaraguruparar, who was born near Sri Vaikuntam. Unfortunately, the child could not speak, even after it attained the age of five. The parents visited Tiruchendur and prayed that their child be blessed with the power of speech. And with the blessings of Lord Muruga, the child immediately broke into verse, and sang 'Kandar Kalivenba,' Kumaraguruparar, in the course of his travels, came to Dharumapuram. Masilamani Desikar presided over the mutt there. Kumaragurparar wanted Masilamani Desikar to become his spiritual guru Kumaraguruparar studied Tamil from his scholar father and became a minister in the court of the Madurai Nayak King. He composed the Sakalakalavalli Maalai , in praise of Goddess Saraswathi in Kasi/ Varanasi. By the grace of the Goddess, he acquired knowledge of the local language and was thus able to spread the message of Saivism. It is said that while at Kasi, he also gave discourses on the Kamba Ramayanam , and that Tulsidas, who wrote the Ram Charit Manas , was greatly inspired by these Ramayana discourses. Kumaraguruparar breathed his last in Kasi. In Chidambaram, he composed 'Chidhambara Mummanik Kovai,' 'Chidhambara Cheyyul Kovai' and 'Sivakami Ammai Irattai Mani Malai' in praise of the God and Goddess of Chidambaram. Kumaraguruparar was the author of many religious works, including 'Muththu kkumaraswami Pillai Tamil,' 'Tiruvarur Nanmani Malai,' 'Maduraik Kalambakam,' and 'Meenakshi Pillai Tamil,' which was listened to by Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai in person