There are no historical records of the life of Arunagirinaathar, and what we know of the composition of the Thiruppugazh is largely derived from oral traditions and legends recorded in commentaries on the work. According to these, Arunagirinathar led a hedonistic life as a young man. His disgust at his own conduct led him to attempt suicide by jumping off the temple tower at Thiruvannamalai. He was saved by a stranger, who, according to legend, was Murugan himself. Arunagirinathar was transformed, and began a long pilgrimage, visiting the Arupadai Veedu (Six Abodes of Murugan), the six temples most sacred to Murugan, and over 200 other holy shrines in India and Sri Lanka. At each of these, he composed songs in praise of Murugan, which are collected together in the Thiruppugazh. The majority of the songs are sung to Murugan, but there are also a few songs that sing of deeds of Siva or the avatars of Vishnu, and of the power of Parvathi. Almost all songs end addressing Murugan as Perumal, a term that traditionally had strong associations with Tamil Vaishnavism.