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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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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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

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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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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

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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.

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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.’

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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

 

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    Photo Credits: Google images

Cinderella

Cinderella

Once upon a time, in the countryside, there lived a man who had a pretty wife and a beautiful daughter. However, due to unavoidable circumstances his wife died, and to support his daughter, he married again. His second wife, lady Tremaine had two daughters – Anastasia and Drizella. All of them were cruel to their step sister. The made her a serveant to her own home and came to call her Cinderella.

Cinderella would wash dishes, scrub floors and clean the fireplace while Lady Tremaine and her daughters would live a lavish life. Due to this, Cinderella came to call her step sisters as ugly sisters.

image courtesy: google

Once, the King and Queen had arranged a royal ball to find the prefect bride for the price. Invitations were out and all the women and young girls of the countryside were invited. When the ugly sisters got the invitation, their happiness had no bounds. But when Cinderella offered to join, Lady Tremaine and sisters refused and instead asked her to scrub the floors.

Cinderella was heartbroken, she began to cry. Just then, Cinderalla felt golden light fall on her. When she looked up, she saw a beautiful woman standing in front of her. She introduced herself as the fairy god mother.

“Why are you crying, Cinderella?” she asked

“I wanted to go to the ball, but my step sisters didn’t want me to.” Cinderella replied, sobbing.

“You shall go to the ball” assured the fairy god mother. She asked Cinderella to get a big pumpkin, two mice and a big rat. With a wave of wand, the fairy godmother changed the pumpkin to a coach, the mice into horses and the rat into a coach man. She then changed Cinderella’s ragged dress into a ball gown and her shoes into beautiful glass slippers.

“Now Cinderealla, you may enjoy yourself. But remember, this magic will wear off at the stroke of midnight.” With this the fairy god mother disappeared. Cinderella got in the coach whisked away to the ball.

image courtesy: google

Everyone stared as Cinderella reached the ballroom. No one, including the Prince, has seen sucha beauty before. Meanwhile, the stepsisters hearts were full of jealousy as they had always wanted to be the beautiful ones. On seeing Cinderella, the Prince offered a waltz and they danced their way throughout the evening. Cinderella forgot about the godmother’s warning.

Suddenly, when Cinderella saw the clock, it was almost midnight! She tore away from the Prince’s hold and ran away from the ball. In a hurry, she tripped over castle steps and left behind her glass slipper.

The Prince too, had no clue as to why such a lovely and beautiful girl would have to run away suddenly. He ordered a search in the entire castle. In this search, he found the golden slipper. The Prince announced that he would visit every house in the land, until he found the girl whose foot fit the slipper. He would then marry that girl.

The following morning, the announcement was made. The step sisters were extremely excited that the prince was coming. They put on their best clothes, but asked Cinderella to scrub the dishes.

When the Prince arrived, both the sisters tried on the glass slipper, but in vain. Neither of their feet would fit. They were too big. Meanwhile Cinderella was done scrubbing the dishes. She was a silent spectator. When the Prince offered the slippers to Cinderella should try her luck at the slipper.

Voila! The slipper fitted ! Cinderella was the lucky girl who would marry the Prince. The prince and Cinderella got married and lived happily forever after.

The End.

Rewritten by my daughter

Harshini Anandakumar.

Saiva Saint Karaikkal Ammaiyar

 Karaikal Ammaiyar (meaning “the revered mother from Karaikkal”), one of the three women amongst the 63 Nayanmars, is one of the greatest figures of early Tamil Literature. She was born at Karaikkal, South India and lived during the 6^th Century. She was a great devotee of Lord Shiva.  A devotee, whom the Lord himself called his Mother, was Karaikkal Ammaiyaar!

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                                      image source: google images

Born in the town of Karaikkal to a rich merchant, Karaikkal Ammaiyar was originally named Punithavathi. Punithavathi was devoted to Lord Shiva right from her childhood. When she came of age, her father got her married to another merchant by name Paramadattan from Nagapattinam. But as she was his only child, her father did not want her to stay away. Hence he built a house near his place for his daughter and son-in-law and made them live close by.

Punithavthi and Paramadattan started their life in Karaikkal. One day when Paramadattan was at work, a visitor brought him two mangoes. He sent the mangoes home. Punithavathiyar was alone at home. A devotee of Lord Shiva  came for food. Punithavathiyar offered him lunch and also one of the mangoes her husband had sent.

                                image source: google images

Later, when Paramadattan came home for lunch, he asked for a mango and ate it. He found the mango very sweet and wanted to eat the other mango too. Worried that Paramadattan may be angry if she said she had given it away, Punithavathi went inside and prayed to Lord Shiva. 

                                                      image source: google images

Miraculously, she got a mango in her hand and took it to her husband. Paramadattan found this mango extremely tasty and asked his wife about it. Punithavathi came out with the truth that the Lord had given it to her. Unable to believe this, Paramadattan asked Punithavathi to request the Lord for one more mango. She did this promptly and gave him the third mango (the second miraculous one). The mango vanished from Paramadattan’s hand.

                                             images Source: google images

Now Paramadattan understood that his wife was no ordinary woman and decided that he could not continue to live with her. He said he was going out of town on business and sailed out of the country. He came back and settled down in a town in Pandyanadu.He also married again and had a daughter. He named his daughter Punithavathi out of respect for his first wife.

Coming to know that Paramadattan was living in another town nearby, Punithavathi’s relatives took her to him. When they met, Paramadattan fell at Punithavathiyar’s feet along with his family members. The relatives were surprised to see the husband falling at his wife’s feet. Paramadattan then narrated the story of the mangoes to the relatives. Understanding that her husband would never live with her any more, Punithavathi wanted to give up her youth. She prayed to the Lord to change her form to a skeletal ghost (பேய் உருவம்). Her prayer was answered and she immediately transformed into a ghost. She proceeded to Kailasam in that form.

 Reaching Kailasam, she did not want to walk on her feet and hence started walking on her head. Goddess Parvathi enquired Lord Shiva about the ghost form walking upside down towards them. The Lord said, it was his “Mother” who was on her way to meet him. Punithavathiyar became Karaikkal Ammaiyar as the Lord himself called her His mother. She reached the Lord and fell at his feet, calling Him her father. She conveyed her wish to see His cosmic dance and the Lord asked her to reside in Thiruvalangaadu and see his dance there forever. Karaikkal Ammaiyar reached Thiruvalangaadu and once there, she could see only the Lord everywhere and hence continued to walk on her head. Here she sang the Lord’s praise and attained mukti.

Karaikkal Ammaiyar has composed many hymns on the Lord like “Arpudha Thiruvandhadhi”, “Irattai Mani Malai” and “Thiruvaalankaadu Mootha Thiruppthigam”.

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About Maangani Thiruvizha celebrated in Kararikal

karaikkal ammaiyar during Maangani festival

Maangani Thiruvizha/Mango Festival is celebrated in Karaikaal every year. It is celebrated in the memory of Lord Bikshantar who will be provided food by Karaikal Ammaiyar during the Tamil month of Aani [June-July]. People from different parts of Tamil Nadu bring varieties of mangoes for this festival and offer it Lord Shiva and Karaikkal Ammaiyar. Each day the Panchamurthi or the Five divine Gods idol are taken through the streets of Karaikal. On the main day of the festival the huge idol of Lord Bikshantanr is taken through the streets. People are distributed curd and mangoes in the streets and in the temple. On that day, people throw Maangani or Mangoes from their roof tops towards the crowd. Goodness of eating the Mango caught in the festival includes blessings of Lord Shiva and those who did not have children for long years will surely give birth.

               

Kaaraikkal Ammaiyar Kovil

                

                                 images source: google images

The event of Saiva Saint Karaikkal Ammayar reaching Kailasa in her “Ghost body” is celebrated the next day.

The two hymns Rettai Mani Maali and Thiruvandadhi would be recited. After chanting, all the lights in the temple would be put off and lamp of Lord Shiva and Ammaiyar would be lit. The lamp of Ammayar would be taken to Lord Shiva and placed together signifying the reaching of Ammayar to the Lotus feet of Lord Shiva in Jyothi form.

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OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

THIRUCHITRAMBALAM

Thiru Kannappa Nayanar

Thiru Kannappa Nayanar

Thiru  Kannappa Nayanar was one of the 63 Nayanars, an ardent devotee of lord Shiva who did not hesitate to pluck his eyes and offered it to SriKaalahastheeswarar. Long ago, there lived a hunter named Nagan in a place called Uduppu near SriKalahasti. His name was Nagan and he was the chieftain of the hunting tribal group. Nagan and his wife Uduppura did not have any children. They were great devotees of Lord Murugan. After deep penances and prayers, they were blessed with a very beautiful baby boy whom they named as Thinnan.

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                                               image source: google images

Thinnan was taught archery, martial arts and other skills by his father and other elders of the tribal group. Thinnan in Tamil means strong, as the name suggest he grew into strong young boy who mastered archery in a very short period of time.

Nagan felt that he was getting old and the hunting group needed a young Chieftain. So he consulted with all the elders and appointed Thinnan the next Chieftain. Thinnan discharged his duties well and led the tribes on hunting expeditions successfully.

On one such hunt, Thinnan was separated from his friends, and he found himself in an unknown part of the jungle. Trying to find his way out, he came across a Shiva Lingam [Kaalahastheeswarar].  Thinnan found himself mysteriously attracted to the Lingam. He was filled with a desire to make an offering to the deity and stay back with the lingam. Thinnan immediately asked his friend to make a fire and cook the boar. After the meat was cooked, he chose the perfectly cooked meat pieces  and placed it before the Lord with great love.

                                       image source: google images

Thinnan did not want to leave the Lord due to inexplicable affection he had towards Shivan. He decided to stay back, so he asked his friend to convey the same message to his parents and stayed with the Lord.

Every day, Thinnan went for hunting, catch some prey, cook the meat and offered it with great love to Lord Shiva. He did not have any utensils, so he filled up his mouth with water and pluck wild flowers and bring them in his matted hair as he would be carrying the meat in his hands. He spit the water on the Lord doing the abishekam and placed the cooked meat in front of the Lord. He would decorate the Lingam with the wild flowers and adorned the beauty of the lord, this was his daily routine.

This Shivalingam was taken care by a Brahmin who lived in a nearest town. He was a great devotee of the Lord, who did the Pooja everyday with great devotion. The Brahmin returned to the shrine the day after Thinnan had made his offerings, and was shocked to see the meat lying next to the lord! He assumed that some animals must have left the meat there, and cleaned it well with fresh water from a nearby stream before continuing with his routine. The Brahmin left that day, satisfied that he had done his duty.

The next time the Brahmin returned to the shrine, he was repulsed by the sight he saw! There was meat all over the place again, and this time, the Lingam was covered by spittle! This was not the work of an animal, but a human being! How could anyone thus defile the Lord? He patiently cleaned up the shrine before chanting the mantras and purified the Lingam before making his offerings. Again, he left, having done his duty, hoping that such sacrilege would not occur again.

Disgusted by the situation, he could not control his tears and addressed the lord aloud, “O Lord, you are the purest of all, the greatest of all Gods. How can you allow such indignities to happen to you yourself? You are the protector of the universe. Please help me solve this mystery.”

Lord Shiva was moved by the Brahmin’s plea, and spoke out to his devotee, “My dear devotee, what you consider indignities is the offering made to me by another devotee. He knows nothing of rituals and correct practices, but, like you, he loves me with all his heart. I am bound by his devotion, and have to accept all that he offers me. If you wish to see the extent of his love for me, hide somewhere and see what happens. It is time for him to come.”

The Brahmin was curious about this devotee whom the Lord himself praised and hid behind the tree. Thinnan came very soon, as usual carrying meat in his hands and water in his mouth. As he poured the water from his mouth on the lingam and made his offerings, the Brahmin was shocked.

Thinnan pleaded the Lord to accept his offerings, at that time he looked closely at the Lord. Suddenly, he noticed that there was something oozing from the Lord’s left eye! Horrified, he collected herbs and applied them to the eye, hoping to cure the problem, but it only made it worse, for blood started oozing out of Lords eyes. He tried out a few more remedies, none of which worked.

                                       image source: google images

Finally, he decided that the only way he could solve the problem was by offering the Lord his own eye. Taking one of his knives, he cut his left eye out of its socket, and placed it on the lord! At once, the blood stopped oozing, and Thinnan was relieved.

Nayanmars - An Introduction

Stories of all Nayanmars

List of all Nayanmars

Suddenly, he was shocked to notice that the right eye was now bleeding the same way! He now knew the solution and decided to offer his other eye too. But once he had taken his right eye out, how would he see where to place it? He pondered for a minute, and came up with a solution. Lifting his leg, he placed it on the place where the Lord had his right eye, and with his knife, proceeded to take out his right eye from its socket!

Even the lord could not bear to see this great sacrifice by his devotee, and appeared in front of him.  The Lord addressed, “Halt, Kannappa, Halt!”, you are Kannappa as you have offered your eye to me!”.  The Brahmin too came out from hiding, and bowed before the Lord.

                                Kannappa Nayaynar Sannidhi in Thiru Kaalahasthi
                                     image source: google images

                                           Kannnappa Nayanar Sannidhi - Thiru Kaalahasthi
                                            image source: google images

Lord Shiva blessed both of them and praised them for their devotion, in their own way. He especially lauded Thinnan, and declared him to be a saint – a Nayanar, as the greatest of Shiva’s devotees were known. Since he had given up his eyes (kann is one of the words for eye) for the Lord, he would henceforth be known as Kannappa Nayanar.

Nayanmars - An Introduction

Stories of all Nayanmars

List of all Nayanmars

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

THIRUCHITRAMBALAM