# Vedanayagam Sastriar

Vedanayagam Sastriar (7 September 1774 - 24 January 1864) was a Tamil poet, dramatist, scholar, theologian and hymnwriter from the Lutheran tradition. He composed a total of 133 books, including plays such as Bethlehem Kuravanji (1800) and theological texts such as Aranathintham (1837). He also composed more than 400 hymns, may of which are still used in Tamil Christian keerthanai tradition.
Vedanayagam preached Christianity at many places including Madras and Jaffna. He had knowledge in various fields like theology, astronomy, mathematics, physiology and sociology. He was conferred with several titles including Gnanadeepa Kavirayar (king among poets of the Divine Light). During 1829-32, he served as court poet of Serfoji II, the penultimate Maratha King of Thanjavur.
His descendants continue to carry his theological legacy.

## Biography
### Early life

Vedanayagam was born on 7 September 1774 into Vellalar family in Tirunelveli, then under the Carnatic Sultanate. He was the second child and only son of Gnanapoo and Devesagayam (born Arunachalam), a Catholic Catechist. Vedanayagam was initially named Vedapodagam. His elder sister was named Soosaiyammal and his younger sister was christened Bakkiammal. Starting from his fifth year, Vedanayagam studied grammar. His mother died when he was seven. In 1783, his father arranged for Vedanayagam to learn literature and mathematics under a private tutor.

### Education under Schwarz

Due to trouble with his church, Devasagayam moved to Thanjavur with his children in 1785. There, all four embraced Protestantism under the influence of the German Lutheran preacher Christian Friedrich Schwarz. After four months in Thanjavur, they returned to Tirunelveli. In 1786, Schwarz came to Tirunelveli and obtained Devasagayam's consent for educating Vedanayagam at Thanjavur. Among Schwarz's other students was Prince Serfoji (later King Serfoji II), son of Thuljaji, the then Maratha King of Thanjavur. Serfoji developed a lifelong friendship with Vedanayagam.

### Teaching career

During 1789-91, Vedanayagam studied at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tranquebar (now Tharangambadi) under the Professors Dr. John, Dr. Kammerer, and Rev. Johan Peter Rottler. He also acquired some proficiency in German and English. After completing his education, he returned to Thanjavur, and in his 19th year, he worked as a gospel school teacher in the towns around Thanjavur, teaching literature, mathematics and ethics. Later he became the Principal Thanjavur Bible College. During this period, composed texts like Parabaran Malai (Garland of praises to the Lord), Gnana Eththappattu (Songs of Wisdom), Gnana Vazhi (Divine Way), Adi Anandam and Parama Needhi Puranam (The story of Divine Justice). There were written in colloquial Tamil and were therefore easy for students to comprehend.
In 1795, Vedanayagam married his cousin Vyagammal as per the wishes of his father and Schwarz. But after one year, Vyagammal died during childbirth. Schwarz died on 13 February 1798. The next year, Devasagayam fell ill and died while catechising in Jaffna, British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The songs composed by Vedanayagam mourning these deaths are found in Parabaran Malai, Jebamalai etc.

### In Serfoji-II 's court

Serfoji II, who was crowned King of Thanjavur in 1798, treated Vedanayagam as his elder brother. Despite the attitude of some courtiers opposed to Christianity, Vedanayagam freely expressed his faith. During this period he also acquired knowledge in Telugu, Sanskrit and Latin.
During this period, Vedanayagam converted the librarian of Tanjore Saraswathi Mahal Library to Christianity after many rounds of argument. N. Samuel of Tranquebar, the son of that librarian, later became a noted theologian and poet. Vedanayagam, Henry Alfred Krishnapillai of Palyamkottai, and N. Samuel are known as the triumvirate of Tamil Christian poets.

### Missionary life

In his 27th year, Vedanayagam married Muthamma (another of his relatives), in the presence of Rev. Kohloff. In 1811 the couple adopted Gnanadeepam, the daughter of Vedanayagam's sister. Vedanayagam employed his family and a choir (in kalakshepam style) to preach the gospel to distant towns and villages.
In 1808, the Thanjavur congregation awarded him the title of Veda Siromany (Gem among Evangelical Poets). In the same year, the Tranquebar congregation asked them to stage the Gnana Nondi Nadagam in their town. After that, they honoured him with the title of Suvisesha Kavirayar (King among Evangelical Poets) and a palanquin.
In 1809, the Christians of Vepery area of Madras (now Chennai) invited Vedanayagam to stage his play Bethlehem Kuravanji (1800). Later, they honored him with the title of Gnanadeepa Kavirayar (king among poets of the Divine Light) and a palanquin.
From 1810 to 1855, he composed and enhanced his Jebamalai. This work was influenced by eminent Tamil poets. Reginald Heber, the then Bishop of Calcutta, who came to Thanjavur in 1826, bought a copy of Jebamalai and another collection of Vedanayagam's hymns and sent them to the British Museum, London).
Vedanayagam revisited Jaffna with his family in 1811 and stayed there for a while under the patronage of Rev. Christian David to preach in the surrounding towns and villages. Later, he was called and felicitated by the royals of Travancore and Mysore.
In 1815, the Christians of Tiruchirappalli, in unison with the Europeans, requested Vedanayagam to stage the drama Perinbakkadhal for 45 days. On June 18 of that year, under the leadership of Pohle, they conferred the title of Veda Sastriar, equivalent to the Doctor of Divinity. It was only after this event that he was called Vedanayagam Sastriar, a title that still continues in his lineage.

### Later years

Colin Mackenzie, who served as the first Surveyor General of India (1815-21), assigned Vedanayagam the task of collecting historical data on the Thanjavur region.
In 1827, Rev. L.P. Haubroe took charge of the Thanjavur SPG Mission. Haubroe and Vedanayagam had a difference of opinion on resolving caste conflicts in the congregation. As a result, Haubroe excommunicated Vedanayagam and some members of his community from the congregation. As a result, Vedanayagam suffered financially but was helped by Serfoji II.
When Vedanayagam was 55, Muthamma died. He then married Varodayammal, daughter of Santhappa Pillai of Thanjavur. Rev. Brotherto solemnized the marriage.
Vedanayagam taught Tamil to Christian workers including George Spergneider, and hence was given the title Munshi. In 1829 he was appointed court poet of Serfoji II. The next year, he left the school where he worked since Schwarz's time.
In 1832, Serfoji II died. As per his wish, his body was transported only after Vedanayagam had composed and sung a hymn by his bier. Serfoji's son and successor, Shivaji of Thanjavur did not emulate his father in supporting Vedanayagam. Hence, Vedanayagam's disciples dispersed and continued the ministry on their own. Vedanayagam was suffering from a lack of money. However, nobles and wealthy people who appreciated his songs sent him gifts. Some Germans under the British officer David Ochterlony also gave him cash gifts.
In 1841 Bishop George Spencer and Rev. Robert Caldwell met Vedanayagam in Thanjavur and conversed with him.
In January 1845, the Thanjavur congregation entered into an agreement with Vedanayagam, according to which they promised to send a contribution every month, and announced that this arrangement would continue in the future. Even in present times, the Christians of Thanjavur extend the same respect and support to the descendants of Vedanayagam.
Vedanayagam earned a certain amount of income through the publication of his books by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge (SPCK). During Lent and Christmas he held special services called Sadhur at which he expounded the Bible, especially the passion of Christ.
In 1850, when Vedanayagam was 75, Rev. Guest and Rev. Henry Bower commissioned an artist to paint his portrait.
From 1850 to 1858 there was a period of struggle between Vedanayagam and the church leaders. G. U. Pope, after taking over as head of the congregation, imposed certain restrictions on Vedanayagam and his three children. However, they reconciled later. In 1856, Vedanayagam participated in the jubilee of the Tranquebar congregation.

### Death

After completing the daily prayers with his family on 24 January 1864, Vedanayagam died at the age of 89 in Thanjavur, around 4 pm. After that, the bells tolled in the local churches, and the streets of Thanjavur were illuminated with candles. A whole night of biblical readings and speeches were performed near the bier where his body was laid. Three of the lyrics he composed were written on a sheet of paper and placed in his hand.
After that, his body was taken in a procession with solemn music. People had set up arches in the path and strewn flowers all along. Rev. Naylor and Rev. Albert conducted the funeral service. The body was laid to rest in the cemetery of present-day CSI St. Peter's Church, Thanjavur with full honours.

## Partial bibliography

| Year | Title | Title | Type |
| Year | Tamil original | Transliteration | Type |
| 1800 | பெத்தலகேம் குறவஞ்சி | Bethlehem Kuravanji | Play |
| 1800 | ஞான நொண்டி நாடகம் | Gnana Nondi Nadagam | Play |
| 1809 | சென்னப் பட்டணப் பிரவேசம் | Chenna Pattana Pravesam | Play |
| 1813-34 | பேரின்பக் காதல் | Perinbakkadhal | Theological treatise |
| 1821 | தியானப் புலம்பல் | Dhyana Pulambal | Theological treatise |
| 1830 | ஞானத்தச்ச நாடகம் | Gnanathacha Nadagam | Play |
| 1837; Pub.1885 | ஆரணாதிந்தம் | Aranathintham | Theological treatise |
| | அறிவானந்தம் | Arivanandham | Theological treatise |
| | ஆதியானந்தம் | Adi Anandam | Theological treatise |
| | ஞான அந்தாதி | Gnana Andhadhi | Theological treatise |
| | ஞான ஏற்றப்பாட்டு | Gnana Eththappattu | Theological treatise |
| | ஞானக் கும்மி | Gnana Kummi | Theological treatise |
| | ஞான வழி | Gnana Vazhi | Theological treatise |
| | ஞானவுலா | Gnana Ula | Theological treatise |
| | செபமாலை | Jebamalai | Theological treatise |
| | பராபரன் மாலை | Parabaran Malai | Theological treatise |
| | பரம நீதி புராணம் | Parama Needhi Puranam | Theological treatise |
| | வண்ண சமுத்திரம் | Vanna Samudram | Theological treatise |

## Titles

| Year | Title | Conferred by | Note |
| 1808 | Veda Siromany | Thanjavur congregation | |
| 1808 | Suvisesha Kavirayar | Tranquebar congregation | For Gnana Nondi Nadagam |
| 1809 | Gnanadeepa Kavirayar | Vepery congregation | For Bethlehem Kuravanji |
| 1815 | Veda Sastriar | Tiruchirappalli congregation | For Perinbakkadhal |
| | Vithaga Kavignar | | |
| | Viviliya Arignar | | |
| | Gnana Kavichakravarthi | | |

## Descendants

Gnanadeepam (1811-1870), the adopted daughter of Vedanayakam and Muthamma, was literate in English. She supported Vedanayagam in his works, such as translating one of his works into English. At 32, she married her cousin Daniel Mangalam Pillai and gave birth to a daughter named Gnanagaram.
Gnanasigamani (1813-1877), the son of Vedanayagam through Muthamma, taught Tamil to European priests at a theological seminary. He authored the works Messiah Magathuvam (The Glory of the Messiah) and A Dialogue between two Religions. He traveled widely and held kalakshepams.
With his third wife Varodayammal, Vedanayagam had three children: two sons named Noah Gnanadickam (1830-1902), Elia Devasigamani (1834-1908) and a daughter named Manonmani. Elijah helped in his father's kalakshepams by composing songs and delivering religious sermons. Noah Gnanadickam married Arulammal and gave birth to a son named Vedanatham and several daughters. Manonmani used to sing songs and read the Bible during her father's lectures. At the age of 24, she married Masilamani and had a daughter named Vedasastram. She died in 1861 while teaching English and Tamil in Nagapattinam.
The descendants of Vedanayagam continue his works even today as the seventh generation.