 The first three volumes of the "Tirumurai" contain 384 poems, composed of 4,181 stanzas, attributed to Sambandar, which are all that survive out of a reputed totalling more than 10,000 hymns.His verses were set to tune by Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar, who is said to have accompanied Sambandar on his "yal" or lute.Appar was born during the 7th century in Tiruvamur, and his childhood name was Marulneekiar.