मधुर कविके गुरुका नाम नम्माळवार- शठकोप था। वे तिरुक्कुरुकूर – श्रीनगरीमें उत्पन्न हुए थे। इनके जन्म लेते ही माता-पिताने इन्हें भगवान्के मन्दिरमें भेंट चढ़ा दिया, और कहते हैं मन्दिरमें प्रवेश करते ही ये चलने लगे थे और मन्दिरके समीप इमलीके पेड़के कोटरमें जाकर आँखें मूँदकर ध्यानस्थ हो गये। इन्हें शरीरका ज्ञान बिलकुल नहीं था, इसीलिये इन्हें ‘शठकोप’ भी कहा जाता है। इन्होंने बहुतसे पद बनाये थे, उनका दक्षिणमें बहुत प्रचार है और ‘सामवेदका सार’ के नामसे उनकी ख्याति है।तमिळ भाषाके अत्युत्कृष्ट कवि कंबन्ने जब तमिळ रामायणकी रचना की तब सर्वप्रथम उन्होंने अपनी कृति भगवान् श्रीरङ्गनाथके चरणोंमें ले जाकर रख दी। इसपर मूर्तिसे उत्तर मिला- ‘क्या तुमने शठकोपका चरित्र भी गाया है ?’ कंबन्ने उत्तर दिया, ‘नहीं, प्रभो ! क्षमा करें। अब मैं आपकी आज्ञाका पालन करूँगा।’ इसके बाद उन्होंने अपनी रामायणके आदिमें नम्माळवारकी स्तुति जोड़ दी। जब शठकोपने भगवान् श्रीरङ्गनाथके सामने अपने पदोंको गाकर सुनाया, तब मूर्ति बोल उठी——ये हमारे आळवार (नम् आळवार) हैं।’ – शि0 दु0
The name of the Guru of Madhur Kavi was Nammalvar-Sathakop. He was born in Tirukkurukur – Srinagari. As soon as he was born, his parents presented him in the temple of God, and it is said that he started walking as soon as he entered the temple and went to the tamarind tree near the temple and closed his eyes and meditated. He had no knowledge of the body at all, that is why he is also called ‘Shathkop’. He had made many posts, he has a lot of publicity in the south and he is famous by the name of ‘Essence of Samaveda’. When Kambanne, the excellent poet of Tamil language, composed the Tamil Ramayana, he first took his work at the feet of Lord Sriranganath. On this Murthy replied- ‘Have you sung the character of Shathkop as well?’ Kambanne replied, ‘No, Lord! Pardon. Now I will obey your orders.’ After this he added the praise of Nammalvar in the beginning of his Ramayana. When Shathkop recited his verses in front of Lord Sriranganatha, the idol spoke out – This is our AzhwAr (nam AzhwAr).’ – Shi0 Du0
