Commemorating the services of saint-scholar Yazhpanam Arumuga Navalar, who lived mostly in Sri Lanka, an air-conditioned auditorium built by a school in Mannivakkam was named after him. Inaugurating the auditorium at Shri Natesan Vidyasala in suburban Mudichur, near Tambaram recently, K. Swaminathan, retired headmaster of the 150-year-old Arumuga Navalar HSS, Chidambaram, recalled the services of Arumuga Navalar who established a school in Chidambaram in 1864. N. Ramasubramanian, founder of Shri Natesan Vidyasala, said his book Baalapaadam for students and many other works were legendary. V. Venkatesan, Inspector of Matriculation Schools, Kancheepuram, took part. Navalar (1822-1879), was an exponent in Saiva Siddhantha and had written a number of books on Thiruvilayadal Puranam, Kanda Puranam, Koil Puranam and published many religious books.
