While writing on the Tiruvācakam, Pope often and again points out the coincidences and the dissensions between Christian and Tamil beliefs.¹⁵²

The note on the word “āṇavam” by Pope, in which its history, root and meaning are traced by him makes it a disputed question and requires further research.¹⁵³

Much that is celebrated in the poems of the Tiruvācakam have no historical foundation but they are beautiful compositions brimming with “poetic fancies.”¹⁵⁴

Pope asserts that the hymns of Māṇikkavācakar “are the Vedas of the South.” Twenty one out of the fifty one hymns were composed at Peruntuṟai. “Many of the hymns that he composed in reference to the God, as manifested in Tillai are exceedingly beautiful” says Pope.¹⁵⁵

He further adds, “Any one who compares the fervid piety of our sage’s very beautiful and generally very simple lyrics will feel with what force they must have struck the cord that vibrated them as it vibrates still in millions of hearts.”¹⁵⁶

Profound emotion accompanies the reading of Māṇikkavācakar’s lines. If these lines could stimulate a foreigner and missionary like Pope, small wonder that natives read it with tears of rapture. This brings forth-devoid of all doubt - the great appealing quality of this sage’s work.

The songs of Māṇikkavācakar are the “Psalms of the Tamil” and in Pope’s estimation, they are far superior to the “Vast collection of the Tēvārams.”¹⁵⁷

Some of the lyrics of Māṇikkavācakar (assigned to him) were probably written much later by other authors. This Pope believed

152. Ibid. P. XIII, LI, LXVII, LXXIII

153. Ibid. P. LXXVI

154. Ibid. Preface P.X.

155. Ibid. History of Māṇikkavācakar, P.XXX

156. Ibid. P. XXXIV

157. Ibid. P. XXXIV