Manonmaniyam Sundaram Pillai also called Manonmaniyam P. Sundaranar (4 April 1855 – 26 April 1897) was an Indian scholar, noted for the famous Tamil drama “Manonmaniyam” as well as the State song of Tamil Nadu “Tamil Thai Vazhthu”. This song which starts with the words “Niraarum Kadal Udutha” from “Manonmaniyam” was adapted as “Invocation to Goddess Tamil (The sacred language Tamil is worshipped as a Goddess” and approved by the Government of Tamil Nadu as the official Tamil anthem in June 1970. The Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu, South India, spanning 50 acres, was named after him. Sundaranar became a Member of Fellow of Royal Historical Society (FRHS). To honor his accomplishments, South Indian historical research, the Madras Government gave him the title of ‘Rao Bahadur’ in 1896. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by a German university as well.
He authored the book “The age of Tiru Jnanasambandha” In 1895, he stayed for one week in the Madurai Aadheenam, engaged in extended conversations with the 290th Pontiff of the Adheenam Sri La Sri Swaminatha Sri Jnanasambandha Desika Paramacharya Swamigal and published the book. Manonmaniam Sundaranar records in a letter that the 290th Pontiff as per the tradition of respecting scholars, showered him with the appropriate comforts, bestowed on him the “Shiva deeksha” – formal spiritual initiation into Shaivism, felicitated him with a grand silk shawl, and conferred upon him the title “Tamil Samaya Karuvoolam”.