Kripananda Variyar

Tiru Muruga Kripananda Variyar (1906–1993) was a self-taught Tamil scholar, saint, and orator from Tamil Nadu who devoted his life to the devotional poetry of Arunagirinathar's Tiruppukazh, having memorized approximately 10,000 of its verses. Revered as Pravachana Samrat (King among Orators) and honoured with the Kalai Mamani award, he gave discourses on Shaivite texts — including Tirunavukarasar, Sundarar, and Kanda Puranam — drawing vast popular audiences even during the height of the Dravidian rationalist movement. His publisher, Guhashri Vaariyaar Pathippagam of Chennai, continues to preserve his body of work in Tamil.