Veerama Munivar was born on 8th November, 1680 A.D. in Castiglione Delle Stiviere, Mantova, Italy. Earlier known as Constanzo Joseph Beschi, an Italian missionary, he wrote the book “Thembavani” (the unfading garland) on the life of Joseph, father of Jesus Christ. He came to Tamilnadu with the initial idea of spreading Catholicism in the year 1709, but instead became a great Tamil scholar of Shaiva Siddhanta.
He became a master of Tamil literature and he has been immortalized by the Tamil community reverentially as Veerama Munivar and his statue stands at the famous Marina Beach at Chennai as one of the 20 Tamil savants. His contributions to Tamil are multifold.
He visited Madurai Aadheenam in the year 1710 and prostrated at the feet of the 279th Pontiff Sri La Sri Sri Sivajnana Sri Jnanasambandha Desika Paramacharya Swamigal. He had not only felt the richness of the Tamil language and greatness of the Tamil people but also the greatness of Saiva Siddhanta. He learnt the Tamil language with great interest. He also wished that people all over the world should come to know the greatness of Tamil language.
He gained deep knowledge of Saiva Siddhanta. When he was asked to bring it before the world, he wrote ‘Chathuragaradi’ in Tamil, as a substitute to the Sanskrit language. He also wrote a book “Thonnool Vilakkam” detailing the five parts of Tamil grammar namely ‘letter’, the ‘word’, ‘subject’, ‘prosody’ and ‘figures of speech’. He also translated into the Latin language, the sections of “aram” – virtues and “porul” – polity, of the famous Tamil work “Tirukkural”.
He wrote Prose books such as:
- Veda Vilakkam
- Vediyar Ozhukkam
- Jnana Kannadi
- Sentamizh Ilakkanam
- Stories of Paramartha Guru – a humorous literature
All his above works, Veera Munivar placed at the feet of 279th Guru Mahasannidhanam Sri La Sri Sivajnana Swamigal, who placed them before Paramasiva, saying with great happiness that it is for Him, Lord Paramasiva to go through the writings and bless them.