Adhipattha Nayanar - One who was selfless and a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva

Adipatthar or Adhipattha Nayanar was a fisherman born in Nulaipadi near Nagapattinam. He is one of the 63 Nayanmars. He was a sincere devotee of Lord Shiva and lived in the Chola kingdom - present day Naagapattinam (referred in sangam literature as Naagai) by the seashore.

Adipatha Nayanar was the head of his group of people called Baradhavar. The main source of income and food for them was fish gotten from the sea. As a way of expressing love to God Siva, Adipatthar would toss the very first fish he earned every day back into the sea, dedicating the fish to Lord Shiva. He would practice this ritual even if he got just one fish on a day, thereby deciding to stay hungry the entire night. Lord Shiva decided to show his greatness to the world.

       image courtesy: google images

The dancing God of golden court decided to test his love and patience. Therefore, Adipatthar was able to catch only one fish for many consecutive days. Even then, the ardent devotee left them back to sea happily saying, "Let this be to Lord Shiva who is our father and Mother". In course of time, due to this act, he  became very poor and was starving to death.

Days passed in the same way and one day his clan saw a miracle. They got a big golden fish filled with nine different types of gems in their net. Adipatthar admired the fish and told "This wonderful fish shines like the Sun. It is the first one we got today, and we are blessed to give it back to Shiva". He then left it back to the sea. Having felt his sincere love, Lord Shiva blessed Adipatthar and his people saying "Let you and your people be with me forever". Adipatthar thus attained the glorious place near God Himself. This story is given by Sundarar and also recorded  in Periyapuram, the history of 63 Nayanmars written by Sekkizhar.

                               Adhipatha Nayanar, image source: google images

Adhipatha Nayanar was a great Nayanar who never thinks about himself and his family, but only thought about Lord Shiva and praised his glories.

Birth Star: Aayilayam

Birth Month: Aavani

Birth Place: Thiru Naagai [Nagapattinam]

Thiru Adhipatha Nayanar story in Naagai Kaayarogana Swami temple. 

image source: google images

            Honoring Adipatha Nayanar, residents of Nambiyar Village, every year, celebrate the age old “Golden Fish Festival” with great zest and pride. Processions are held by carrying the silver and gold coloured fish throughout the village. As a part of celebrations, on a packed motorised boat, temple priests, fishermen and village representatives dipped the fish idols into the sea off the coast of Nagapattinam. Adipatha Nayanar idol is also held high on the boat [depicting the scene of Adipatha Nayanar giving away the rich fish to lord shiva].

    Festival celebration: Adhipatha Nayanar held high on the both and the precious gem studded fish thrown into the sea.

                     Precious fish dedicated to lord shiva and Godess Parvathi

புனையும் விரிகொன்றைக் கடவுள் புனல்பாய

நனையும் சடைமேலோர் நகுவெண் தலைசூடி

வினையில் லடியார்கள் விதியால் வழிபட்டுக்

கனையும் கடல்நாகைக் காரோ ணத்தானே.

                                               - Thiruganasambandhar

Read more about Nayanmars here...

Nayanmars - An Introduction

Stories of all Nayanmars

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தென்னாடுடைய சிவனே போற்றி!

எந்நாட்டவர்க்கும் இறைவா போற்றி!

நற்றவா உன்னை நான் மறக்கினும், சொல்லும் நா நமச்சிவாயவே.

Even if I were to forget you, my tongue would always utter your name, Namashivaaya.

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

THIRUCHITRAMBALAM

Have a great day and keep reading…

until then I am signing off...

 

 

Maiporul Nayanar – The one who adorned Shivan Adiyaars as Shivan himself...

Maiporul Nayanar stands 5th in the list of 63 Nayanmars. Maiporul Nayanar was a pious king ruled over the kingdom of Chedi in Thirukovilur near Thiruvannamalai. He was brave and a righteous king. He fought many battles and was always victorious. There was peace and plenty in his kingdom. People worshipped him as the living God. 

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Nayanmars - An Introduction

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Maiporul Nayanar was well versed in the Agamas. He was an ardent devotee of the Lord Shiva. He adorned the Shiva devotees [Shivan Adiyaars] with matted locks, Rudraksham and sacred ashes with great devotion. According to the king serving the Shivan Adiyaars is equal to serving Lord Shiva and he preached the same to his people.

    image courtesy: Google images

Meiporul Nayanar saw everything as Sivamayam. Siva Bhaktas enjoyed absolute freedom in his country, they were honoured by the king and the people alike. Though he ruled the kingdom as the king, his mind was always at the Lord’s Feet. Daily, special prayers and festivals were conducted in the temples in his realm.

Maiporul Nayanar’s fame soon spread far and wide. This evoked the jealousy of Muthanathan, the king of the neighbouring state. He collected a big army and attacked Nayanar several times, but he was repeatedly defeated. So, Muthanathan resorted to foul play.

One day, he disguised himself as a Siva Yogi (for he knew that Nayanar had supreme devotion to Siva Bhaktas) and entered the palace at night. The gatekeepers did not question him but allowed him to proceed. Dathan, the faithful and intelligent servant of Nayanar, was guarding the bedroom in which the king was sleeping. When the Siva Yogi approached the bedroom, Dathan tried to stop him from disturbing the king’s sleep; but the Yogi refused to listen, saying: ‘I have some important and special message for the king in the Olaichuvadi [Palm Leaf Manuscript] so I cannot wait.’ So, Dathan had to allow the Yogi to enter the bedroom of the king, though he was a little suspicious.

Nayanar’s wife got up fast, finding a Siva Yogi in the room, quickly awakened her husband. The Siva Yogi told the king that the message in the olaichuvadi is a great secret, revealed by the Lord Shiva, and that only the king was entitled to hear it. At once the king sent even the queen away and prostrated before the Yogi, ready to receive the secret. At that moment, the Siva Yogi, who was none other than the jealous king Muthanathan, quickly stabbed Nayanar on his back, with a knife he had kept hidden.

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Nayanmars - An Introduction

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Hearing the scream of the King, Dathan entered the room, found the king on the floor in a pool of blood and Muthanathan with a knife in his hand. He was ready to strike down Muthanathan, when the dying Meiporul Nayanar said: ‘Datha, he is our man. He has the appearance of a Siva Yogi and so must be honoured as one. Do not harm him. Kindly escort him to the borders of our kingdom and see that he is unharmed.’ Dathan obeyed the commands of his master. As he was escorting Muthanathan, the people tried to attack Muthanathan, but, as soon as Dathan told them of the king’s commands, they withdrew, admiring the supreme devotion of their king. Thus, Muthanathan was safely escorted out of the kingdom. Dathan hastened back to the palace to convey this news to the dying king who was eagerly waiting for it.

                               Statue of  Maiporul Nayanar img courtesy: google images

As soon as Dathan conveyed the news to the king, the Nayanar called all his Ministers and relatives to his bedside and spoke to them as follows: ‘It is our duty to serve the Bhaktas. They must be honored and worshipped at all times and under all circumstances. Let our people walk in the footsteps of the Siva Bhaktas. Let the country be flooded with Siva Bhaktas. By their blessings, let peace and prosperity reign in our land.’ With these words, he closed his eyes and meditated on Lord Siva.

 Lord Siva at once appeared before him and blessed him as follows: ‘I am immensely pleased with your devotion to Sivan Adiyaars. I am immensely pleased with your cosmic love and your unquestioning devotion to my devotees. Even in a murderer you saw Me. You are, therefore, fit to reach the Highest Abode which even the Devas cannot hope to reach. You will soon come to My Abode.’ With these words the Lord disappeared: and Maiporul Nayanar (whose very name meant ‘one for whom God was the sole reality’) also attained His Abode.

Birth Month: Karthigai

Star: Uthiram

Mukthi Sthalam/Place: Veerateshwarar Temple, Thirukovilur

Read more about Nayanmars here...

Nayanmars - An Introduction

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தென்னாடுடைய சிவனே போற்றி!

எந்நாட்டவர்க்கும் இறைவா போற்றி!

நற்றவா உன்னை நான் மறக்கினும், சொல்லும் நா நமச்சிவாயவே.

Even if I were to forget you, my tongue would always utter your name, Namashivaaya.

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

THIRUCHITRAMBALAM

Have a great day and keep reading

until then I am signing off...

 

 

 

Thirukurippu Thondar Nayanar – Service to Shivan Adiyaars was the only motive in his life.

Thirukurippu Thondars service to the devotees of the Lord Shiva was so great that he would serve them as they pleased even at the slightest indication without the need to explicitly ask for something. So, he came to be known as Tirukkurippu Thondar.

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Photo credit: aalayam kanden

Muthheswara Temple (not to be confused with Muktheswara Temple) is located in the busy Gandhi road of Kanchipuram. This is place where Thirukurippu Thondar Nayanar got mukthi.

The Nineteenth Nayanar, Thirukurippu Thondar was born in Kanchipuram and was part of the Vannar Caste, the launderers [one who washes clothes]. He was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva and derived joy from helping others, especially the Shivan adiyaargal (yogis, or mendicants who occasionally roam around singing praises of Shiva). Thirukurippu Thondar used to wash the clothes of the devotees as a service to them.

For every Shivan adiyaar he came across, he would offer to wash their clothes and get rid it of dirt, a small selfless act of service that contributed to his devotion. Offering his prayers to Lord Shiva and uttering the golden words “OM NAMAH SHIVAYA”, he would wash the adiyaar’s clothing and return them with great love.

 The Lord who saw the peak of devotion, wanted to show the sincereness in the Nayanar's service, his care, his true devotion and bless him. The Lord disguised himself as a poor man, with Rudraksham on his neck and sacred ashes over the body and appeared before Tiruthondar wearing a dirty rag. The very sight of the Siva adiyaar put Nayanar in a trance. He worshipped him. Thondar then asked him: ‘You have purified my house by your visit. You look very tired and weak, and your rag needs washing. Kindly allow me to do this service of washing the clothes for you.

photo credit: aalayam kanden

    

It was the winter season. The Lord who came in disguise told that though the clothes needed to be washed, he could not tolerate the chillness of the night and hence wanted the washed clothes returned by the evening.

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Nayanmars - An Introduction

Stories of all Nayanmars

List of all Nayanmars

Tirukkurippu Thondar assured him of washing it immediately and returning it to him on time. Thondar washed the clothes and went to dry them. At that time by the play of the Lord, there was a sudden heavy shower of rain. He was hoping for the rain to stop at some point of time. The day settled and darkness creeped in, but it didn't stop raining.

Thirukurippu Thondar was totally dismayed as his service to the devotee was disrupted. “How will the adiyaar who was already tired, and lean be able to tolerate the cold winter night that too when it is raining”, Thondar was worried. “I am the cause of this great harm to the devotee of the Lord '', he thought. Thirukurippu Thondar decided to end his life, so went to the rock on which he used to wash the clothes. He started banging his head against the rock.

Lord Siva appeared before him, held his hand, and said: ‘Oh noble soul, I am highly pleased with your sincere devotion. You will soon come to My Abode and live happily there forever.’

The showers of rain now gave place to showers of celestial flowers and the Lord with His consort mounted on the mighty Bull and gave darshan from on high. When the Thirukurippu Thondar's hands folded in adoration, the Lord said: “We have now shown to all the worlds the nature of your unique service. Come and abide with me for ever in Sivaloka.” With this, the Lord returned to His own shrine!

                                     photo credit: wikipedia

நற்றவா உன்னை நான் மறக்கினும், சொல்லும் நா நமச்சிவாயவே.

Even if I were to forget you, my tongue would always utter your name, Namashivaaya.

Birth Month: Chithirai

Star: Swathi

Also read...

Nayanmars - An Introduction

Stories of all Nayanmars

List of all Nayanmars

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

THIRUCHITRAMBALAM

 

 

 

 

Thiru Amaraneedi Nayanar/Thiru Amarneedhi Nayanar

THIRU AMARANEEDI NAYANAR - NAYANAR WHO GIVES HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY TO LORD SHIVA

Amaraneethi Nayanar was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva belonging to the Shaivite sect of the Hinduism. He stands seventh in the list of 63 Nayanmars.

Amaraneedi Nayanar was a Vaisya by caste. He belonged to Pazhaiyaarai in the Chola Kingdom. Pazhaiyaarai was a very fertile place, surrounded on all sides by gardens and green fields. In those days this place was very famous.

Amaraneedi Nayanar was a trader in gold, diamonds, silk, and cotton goods. He used to import these goods from foreign countries and was selling them at reasonable prices. He earned money honestly and became rich. Though he was engaged in worldly activities, his mind was fixed on Lord Siva. He was an ardent Siva Bhakta.

Nayanmars - An Introduction

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HIS SERVICE TO LORD SHIVA

He would invite Siva Bhaktas to his house and worship them. He would give the Kowpeenam-special cloth, etc., and feed them nicely and send them away happily, with other gifts. [The Kowpeenam,kaupinam, kaupina, langot, or lungooty (langoṭī) is a loincloth worn by men in the Indian subcontinent as underclothing. Even now it is still commonly worn by small boys and men in villages].

He used to visit the sacred temple of Tirunallur during festivals and worship Lord Siva with intense faith and repeat Panchakshara Mantra[OHM NAMAH SHIVAYA] daily with great devotion.

Not being satisfied with this visit during festivals only, he wanted to settle down there once for all, always enjoying the Lord’s Darshan, and feeding Siva Bhaktas. So, he left Pazhaiyaarai and migrated with his family and relatives, to Tirunallur. He built a beautiful Mutt there to accommodate Siva Bhaktas who visited the temple. Daily he used to invite Siva Bhaktas and offer Kowpeenam, food and all basic necessities.

Lord Siva was highly pleased with Amaraneedi Nayanar’s Kowpeena charity and extreme kindness to Siva Bhaktas. He wanted to show to the world His Bhakta’s greatness and shower his blessings on him.

                                          image credits: www.shaivam.org

[Thirunallur Thiru KalyanaSundareshwarar temple, near Kumbakonam. The temple in which Amaraneedhi Nayanar used to perform pooja every day]


TEST OF LORD SHIVA

So, one day Lord Siva came in disguise of a Brahmachari, with beautiful matted locks on his head, sacred ashes on his forehead, with a staff on his shoulder, appeared before Amaraneediar’s Mutt. Two Kowpeenams and a small ash-bag were tied to one end of the staff. He had a charming face. The Brahmachari’s eyes were glittering.  He walked gracefully into the Mutt.  Amaraneediar, with extreme joy, welcomed him and worshipped him. The Brahmachari said: ‘Oh friend, you are a noble soul. People are highly praising your Kowpeena charity. I have come to you for Darshan.’ Amaraneediar begged of him to take Bhiksha.

He readily agreed and said: ‘I shall go to the river and return after finishing my bath and Nitya Karmas. Rain may drench my Kowpeenams. So, please keep this dry Kowpeenam safely with you, and I shall come back for it. The Kowpeenam is very precious, as you already know. So, please keep it safe.’

The Brahmachari went away, and Amaraneediar kept the Kowpeenam safely inside the house. But the Lord willed that it should disappear! Soon after the Brahmachari came back after his bath, and asked for the dry Kowpeenam as rain had drenched the Kowpeenam he had on the staff. Amaraneediar could not find it. He prayed hard to the Lord. Yet, he could not find it. He approached the Brahmachari, trembling, with another Kowpeenam, and explained his predicament to him. But the Brahmachari was in no mood to take any explanation.

Amaraneediar offered much wealth, etc., in compensation. But, the Brahmachari said: ‘What have I to do with all this wealth? All these are of no use to me. I only need a Kowpeenam.’ And, in saying so, the Lord in the guise of the Brahmachari, uttered a very great truth.

He continued: ‘I have got another Kowpeenam: you can give me another of the same weight.’ Amaraneediar was greatly relieved when he heard this. He brought a balance. He put the Kowpeenam on one side and another piece on the other. The Brahmachari’s scale went down. Whatever Amaraneediar put on his side, the Brahmachari’s scale was heavier. Amaraneediar was amazed: and he understood that it was God’s own Leela. All his wealth could not equal the Brahmachari’s Kowpeenam! How could it be possible ? Lord Siva’s Kowpeenam represents the Vedas. The fibres of his Kowpeenam represent the Shastras.
Amaraneediar was on the horns of a dilemma.

He fell at the Brahmachari’s feet and asked him to allow himself, his wife, and his child to be weighed against the Brahmachari’s Kowpeenam. The Brahmachari agreed. Amaraneediar got on the scale with his wife and his child, saying: ‘If I have truly served the Siva Bhaktas, with faith and sincerity, let this scale be equal in weight to the other one.’


THE GREATNESS OF THE NAYANAR DEVOTION

                            Photo credits: Rajus temple visits -flickr

[Statue of Amaraneedhi Nayanar inside Thirunallur Kalyanasundareswarar Temple]

Immediately the two scales were equal. The merit of Amaraneediar’s selfless service of the Siva Bhaktas was equal to the merit of Lord Siva’s Kowpeenam. The people who witnessed this were wonderstruck. They prostrated[to lie face-downward in submission] before Amaraneediar and praised him. Devas from the heaven showered Parijatha flowers.

The Brahmachari disappeared, and Lord Parameswara and Mother Parvathi appeared on their Rishabha before Amaraneediar, his wife and child.

He blessed them: ‘I am immensely pleased with your whole-hearted and sincere service of My Bhaktas. I am immensely pleased with your Kowpeena charity. You three will come to My Abode and live there happily for ever.’

Nayanmars - An Introduction

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On account of the Lord’s grace, the balance itself turned into a celestial car[vehicle] in which Amaraneediar, his wife and his child attained Siva’s Abode.

Birth Month : Aani

Star: Pooram

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

THIRUCHITRAMBALAM

 

Nayanmars/Nayanars - List of Nayanmars

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Nayanmars - An Introduction

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    Photo Credits: Google images