After the departure of Arunagirinaathar, the Thiruppugalz songs got lost. Only a few were in existance which were sung in some temples. Some devadasis used to sing Thiruppugalz songs and dance in temples. It is quite surprising that popular songs which were sung at one time could have disappeared so fast in so short a time.
There is reason to beleive that sabotage could have taken place. Individualistic devotional approach has not been supported in Hinduism. Although we talk about it, but in practice the established religion has always been against it. Individualistic approach clashes with the ritualistic religion which is rife with superstition and orthodoxy.
These weaknesses were encouraged or created, in order to make people follow the religious establishments. A sort of mind-slavery and ritualistic serfdom were installed successfully. All this was part of a grand design to up-hold the religious heirarchy that has been bogging down Hinduism. So, through commision or omission, the Thiruppugalz poems were lost.
Until the third quarter of the 19th century............
It should be noted that the real renaissance of Tamil, Tamil literature, Tamil culture, Tamilism, took place in the late quarter of the 19th century. U.Ve.Saminathaiyar went on an odyssey of search for manuscripts. The ancient literature of the Tamils was rediscovered in the same period. The Renaissance was followed up during the first half of the 20th century. But the whole movement was spearheaded in the late quarter of the 19th century.
One reason is because of the total peace and control that the British Raj brought upon the Tamil people after the turmoil of senseless suffering, slaughter, and sorrow. The British did subdue the Indians but it is an unrefutable fact that the people enjoyed the fruits of Pax Brittanica - British Peace and Lex Brittanica - British Law.
In the year 1871, a government officer - a munsiff of judge took up ther task of collecting the lost songs of Thiruppugalz. He was V.T.Subramania Pillai of Vadakkuppattu. He spent the greater par of his earnings in going around and collecting Thiruppugalz edus. It was a painstaking task. He used to send some of the songs to Thamilz Thaaththaa UVeSa for proof reading. Along with the publishing task of PuRanaanuuRu, UVeSa also performed this help. He used to go around, send emmissaries, ask around for Thiruppugalz songs. He compiled them as they were obtained. UVeSa is one of the people who gave him some of the edus of Thiruppugalz.
In a space of twenty one years, 1892, he managed to collect 1200 songs
out of the original 16000 songs that Arunagiri had sung. In 1892, he published
and released the first edition of Thiruppugalz. Thereafter, other continued
attempts were made by his sons, Shanmugam Pillai and Sengalvaraaya Pillai
to search for the songs and the grand total reached 1320 songs.
The songs were there at last.
But they had to reach the people and become popular.
And that became the sole life mission of a humble cook of the Mysore palace............
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