Vedanayagam Sastriar (7 September 1774 - 24 January 1864) was a Tamil poet, dramatist, scholar, theologian and hymnwriter from the Lutheran tradition.
He composed a total of 133 books, including plays such as Bethlehem Kuravanji (1800) and theological texts such as Aranathintham (1837).
During 1789-91, Vedanayagam studied at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tranquebar (now Tharangambadi) under the Professors Dr. John, Dr. Kammerer, and Rev.
During this period, composed texts like Parabaran Malai (Garland of praises to the Lord), Gnana Eththappattu (Songs of Wisdom), Gnana Vazhi (Divine Way), Adi Anandam and Parama Needhi Puranam (The story of Divine Justice).
The next year, Devasagayam fell ill and died while catechising in Jaffna, British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
During this period, Vedanayagam converted the librarian of Tanjore Saraswathi Mahal Library to Christianity after many rounds of argument.
Vedanayagam, Henry Alfred Krishnapillai of Palyamkottai, and N. Samuel are known as the triumvirate of Tamil Christian poets.
Vedanayagam employed his family and a choir (in kalakshepam style) to preach the gospel to distant towns and villages.
In 1809, the Christians of Vepery area of Madras (now Chennai) invited Vedanayagam to stage his play Bethlehem Kuravanji (1800).
Reginald Heber, the then Bishop of Calcutta, who came to Thanjavur in 1826, bought a copy of Jebamalai and another collection of Vedanayagam's hymns and sent them to the British Museum, London).
In 1815, the Christians of Tiruchirappalli, in unison with the Europeans, requested Vedanayagam to stage the drama Perinbakkadhal for 45 days.
On June 18 of that year, under the leadership of Pohle, they conferred the title of Veda Sastriar, equivalent to the Doctor of Divinity.
Colin Mackenzie, who served as the first Surveyor General of India (1815-21), assigned Vedanayagam the task of collecting historical data on the Thanjavur region.
Vedanayagam taught Tamil to Christian workers including George Spergneider, and hence was given the title Munshi.
In January 1845, the Thanjavur congregation entered into an agreement with Vedanayagam, according to which they promised to send a contribution every month, and announced that this arrangement would continue in the future.
Vedanayagam earned a certain amount of income through the publication of his books by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge (SPCK).
During Lent and Christmas he held special services called Sadhur at which he expounded the Bible, especially the passion of Christ.
After completing the daily prayers with his family on 24 January 1864, Vedanayagam died at the age of 89 in Thanjavur, around 4 pm.
The body was laid to rest in the cemetery of present-day CSI St. Peter's Church, Thanjavur with full honours.
At 32, she married her cousin Daniel Mangalam Pillai and gave birth to a daughter named Gnanagaram.
Gnanasigamani (1813-1877), the son of Vedanayagam through Muthamma, taught Tamil to European priests at a theological seminary.
Noah Gnanadickam married Arulammal and gave birth to a son named Vedanatham and several daughters.