Tiruneelanakka Nayanar was a Nayanar
saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. The life of Tiruneelanakka
Nayanar is described in the Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar (12th century), which is the Tamil account of the 63 Nayanars. Tiruneelanakka Nayanar is the
twenty-eighth in the list of 63 Nayanars.
image courtesy :google images
Tiruneelanakka Nayanar was born in Sattamangai
(Thirusathamangai/Satthamangkai), currently called Seeyathamangai, is in Nagapattinam
district in Tamil Nadu. The Ayavantheeswarar temple dedicated to the
god Shiva, stands in this town. Tiruneelanakkar was born in a family of Brahmins whose
duty was to recite the vedas and perform the rituals as per the text. As an
expert in the Vedas, he was a staunch devotee of Shiva and served his devotees,
by washing their feet and welcoming them to his home.
Once on the day of Poornima (the
full moon day), Tiruneelanakka and his wife went to Ayavantheeswarar temple.
While Tiruneelanakka was performing his daily ritual worship of the lingam (the
aniconic form of Shiva worshipped as the central icon in temples), a spider
fell from his web on the lingam. The wife blew away the spider, wherein some
saliva could have fallen on the lingam. In some versions, she goes a step
further and spits on the spot where the spider falls. This action was in
accordance with the tradition of spitting on a part of a child where the spider
fell so as the poison of the spider does not spread in the body.
image courtesy: Google images
Tiruneelanakka considered
her action as an insult and asked the wife what she had done. She replied she
just blew away the spider as per tradition. The infuriated Brahmin said that
she had contaminated the lingam by her saliva, as per Agamic scriptures and she
should have removed the spider by some other means. The Brahmin offered rituals
to purify the lingam and apologized to the god. Further, he abandoned his wife
in fury.
While the wife spent her night in the temple, Tiruneelanakka
went home and slept. Shiva appeared in Tiruneelanakka's dream. While a part of
the body was normal, rest of it was swollen by the spider's poison. Shiva
remarked that his normal area was where Tiruneelanakka's wife had blown/spat.
Tiruneelanakka realized that devotion (love) was superior to rituals. In the
dawn, he went dancing to the temple and worshipped Ayavantheeswarar. He
returned with his wife. Tiruneelanakka continued to serve Shiva and his
devotees with love.
Having
heard of the child saint Sambandar's glories, Tiruneelanakka visited to meet
him in person. Tiruneelanakka heard that the Nayanar Sambandar accompanied by
another Nayanar Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar and an entourage of devotees were
coming to Sattamangai. Tiruneelanakka decorated Sattamangai for welcoming
Sambandar and hosted him at his home. He honoured Sambandar with due respect.
Tiruneelanakka made numerous arrangements for Sambandar to spend the night at
his house.
Sambandar
also suggested that Yazhpanar and his wife - who were travelling minstrels and
composed music to Sambandar's hymns - be given accommodation. The
caste-conscious host was uneasy inviting the Shudra (low-caste) couple of Tiru
Nilakanta Yazhpanar and his wife home. After insistence by Sambanar, the host
gave them a place to sleep near the homa kunda, the fire altar used for
sacrifices. The fire of homa kunda shone brightly in the night, giving
testimony to the couple's devotion. Tiruneelanakka discerned that devotion is
superior to caste barriers too.
Sambandar
image courtesy: google images
Sambandar
accompanied Tiruneelanakka to the Ayavantheeswarar temple and composed a hymn
in honour of the god and his host Tiruneelanakka Nayanar. Tiruneelanakka wanted
to accompany Sambanar on his travels, but the child saint instructed
Tiruneelanakka to stay in Sattamangai and serve Ayavantheeswarar and his
devotees.
After few
years, Sambandar invited Tiruneelanakka Nayanar to his wedding in Thirumana
Nallur (presently known as Achalpuram). Tiruneelanakka officiated as the
presiding priest of the wedding ceremony. After the wedding, Sambandar, his
bride and the wedding party went the Shivaloka Thyagar temple of Shiva, in
Thirumana Nallur. Sambandar prayed to Shiva, seeking salvation. Shiva appeared
as a blazing flame and granted his wish. Then Sambandar, his bride and all the
wedding guests, including Tiruneelanakka Nayanar merged in the Light of Shiva.
OM
NAMAH SHIVAYA
THIRUCHITRAMBALAM
