A person incarnated in 1253 ACE in the twenty-first lineage of Sri Shdangavi Shivacharya, father-in-law of Sri Sundaramurthy Swami, in the holy town of Thiruthurayur in the Nadunadu, in order to clarify the subject of Shivagama. According to the Adisaiva tradition, he got the samskaras of Jatakarma, Namakaran, etc. by elders versed in the Vedas and also got Upadesa of the Gayatri Mantra. Then he learned Karmakandam, Jnanakandam of the Vedas which are general scriptures and Kalpa, Shiksha etc. which are the Vedangas and after that he learned well the special scriptures namely the twenty eight Shivagamas like Kamikam etc., - their Charya, Kriya, Yoga and Jnana parts. He learned well the Tamil books as well. In this regard, he was given the title of Sakalagama Panditar by the elders for being a master of all the Agamas.

In this way, when he became a master of all arts, in order to remove the outer darkness of the false religions and the light of Saivism to shine above them, he carried all the agamas on a cart and went to many places like Chidambaram, Thiruvannamalai, Kashi, Nepal and so on. While doing this, the devotee who is willing to abide by his teachings and follow the Saiva tradition is initiated through Diksha according to the rule of Shivagama and his/her three filth are removed. One of his students was Achutha Kalappalar, a hereditary Shaiva farmer clan living in Tiruppennakadam, who pleaded to his teacher about his childlessness. On hearing that, Sagalagam Pandit put the Devaram, the Tamil Veda, on the divine seat and ordered to perform archana, offer lamp, incense prayers and then put a thread in the Devaram palmleaves. According to the order, the Achutha kalapala bowed down and worshiped. In that process he got the Thiruvenkadu (Svetaranyam) Padhikam of Thirugyana Sambandhar, “Peyadaiya Piriveydum”. (That song has the meaning "One who takes the dip in the three ponds of Thiruvenkadu and worship Lord Shiva, without any doubt they will get progeny.) Sakalagama Pandit looked at the meaning of the song and was very happy and ordered Achuthakalapala to live in Thiruvenkadu. He lived like that, immersing himself in the Soma, Surya, Agni Tirthas there and worshiped Lord Swedhavaneshwara and begot a child.

At the age of two, that child received Upadesha of Shiva Jnana Bodha by Sage Paranjyothi and received the Diksha name Meikandadevar and taught Shiv Jnana Bodha to many people at Thiruvenneynallur. On one of those days, Sakalagama Pandit heard about it and said that his disciple had not come to see him, so he wanted to go to see him and informed his disciples, the residents of Thiruvenneynallur. On hearing this, Thiruvenney Nallur devotees decorated the entire town rejoicing for the arrival of their guru. Sakalagama Pandit headed towards Thiruvenneynallur with the the Agamas, garlands and awards he received. When he came next to the town, everyone there bowed down and worshiped, Oh Gurunath, who has incarnated to preach the Shivagamas! We are blessed by your arrival!" They took him to Thiruvenneynallur, praising him in many ways. After circumambulating the temple, he went to the temple of Lord Shiva and had darshan of Swami and went to the mutt. On arrival there, all the students bowed down and provided lunch to him. Meikandadevar, who had his mind fixed on Lord Shiva's lotus, did not see his kula guru Sakalagama Pandita. Sensing the absence of Meikandadeva, Pandit Sakalagama said, "Let's go and see for ourselves" and walked towards him. Meikandadevar was teaching Shaiva wisdom to his students. AT that time Meykandar just started explaining the nature of Anava Mala in the lesson. Sakalagama pandit, who was strolling, asked Meikanda Devar about the nature of  the Anava malam. Meikandadeva pointed at Sakalagama Pandita with his index finger. Immediately Sakalaga Pandita worshiped Mei Kandadeva, realizing that it was the nature of the Anavamalam that he did not salute due to his ego. Meikandar accepted him as his disciple, gave the deeksha name of Nandi Devar, who was the predecessor of his guru, to Sakalagama Pandithar as Arul Nandi preached Shivajnanabhodham. Arunandi became the foremost disciple among his fortynine disciples including Manavasakam Kadnadhar, Sitrambala Nadikal and others.

Thus Arunandi Sivacharya, who received the grace of Meikanda deva, preached the teachings of Shiva Gnana Bhodha to Marigyanasambandhar, who was born in the Brahman clan at Tiruppennakadam. He created a wonderful treatise in Tamil called Shivajnana Sidhiyar as an elaboration to Shivajnana Bhodham, and another work called Irupa Irupatu as a discussion on the nature of the bondage. In this way, having blessed the world with two great books, he lived in the Sivananda Nishta for a long time and merged with Chinmayananda form of Shiva in the Purva Palguni star of the month of Puratasi in the month of Tiruthurayur.

Place of birth: Thiruthuraiyur
Place of Mukti: Thiruthuraiyur
Gurupuja Star: Puratasi Puram

See Also:
1. Meykandar
2. Shiva Gyana Siddhiyar
3. Irupa Irupaqtu