The Tirumantiram is divided into nine chapters, 9 tantras (tantirams); 1. Philosophical views and divine experience, impermanency of the physical body, love, education etc. 2. Shiva's glory, His divine acts, classification of souls etc. 3. Yoga practices according to the eight-angled way of Patanjali. Also refers to Vaasi Yoga 4. Mantra, tantra, etc. 5. Various branches of Saiva religion; the four elements of Shaiva Siddhanta. 6. Shiva as guru bestowing grace and the devotee's responsibility. 7. Shiva linga, Shiva worship, self-control. 8. The stages of soul experience . 9. Panchadsara manthiram, Shiva's dance, the state of samadhi, etc. The poems have a unique metrical structure, each line consisting of 11 or 12 syllables depending on the initial syllable. Tirumular discusses the four steps of spiritual progress; Charya, Kriya, Yoga and Gnana, the Shaiva Siddhanta concept of Pati, Pasu and Pasa where Pati stands for Lord shiva, Pasu stands for the human kind and Pasa stands for Maya (
