Nayanmar 8 - Enathinatha Nayanar

Enathinatha Nayanar (ஏனாதிநாத  நாயனார்)

Birthplace : Einanoor (Yenaanallur)

Star           : Purattasi Uthiradam

In the Chozha kingdom, Enathinatha Nayanar was an expert in swordfight. He ran a school where he taught the martial arts. Enathinatha Nayanar was a great Shiva bhaktha and helped the devotees of the Lord with his income. Due to Lord Shiva’s grace, the popularity of his teachings grew and students thronged his school.

Another sword fighter by name Athisooran was jealous of Enathinatha Nayanar. He challenged Enathinatha Nayanar to a sword fight and declared that the winner will continue to run Enathinathar’s school. Enathinathar accepted the challenge. There was a terrible fight and Enathinathar defeated Athisooran.

Even more resentful, Athisooran planned another attack on Enathinathar.

This time, knowing fully well that Enathinathar respected Shiva bhakthas, Athisooran smeared himself with the holy ash and stood in front of Enathinathar for the battle. Looking at Athisooran in the form of a Shiva bhaktha, Enathinatha Nayanar’s only thought was that a devotee of his Lord should not be attacked and he was about to throw his sword and shield away. But he also knew that Athisooran will definitely kill him and he did not want a Shiva bhaktha, though it was only a disguise, to commit the sin of killing an unarmed man. Hence he held his sword and shield as though in defense but let Athisooran attack and kill him.

Lord Shiva appeared in front of Enathinatha Nayanar and took him to heaven.

Nayanmar 7 - Eripatha Nayanar

Eripatha Nayanar (எறிபத்த நாயனார்)

Birthplace  : Karur
Star           : Maasi Hastham

In the town of Karur, Eripatha Nayanar walked around carrying an axe to give protection to the Shiva bhakthas. In this town there was also an old Brahmin by name Sivakamiaandar who had the habit of getting up early morning, plucking flowers from the garden personally and take it to the local Shiva temple.

One day, when Sivakamiaandar was on his way to the temple with a basket full of fresh flowers, the king’s elephant pushed him down and the flowers fell on the ground. Seeing this, Eripatha Nayanar angrily took out his axe and killed the elephant. He also killed the mahout who tried to stop him. He then helped Sivakamiaandar up.

The news that the elephant and mahout been killed spread like wildfire as it was the king’s elephant and the king Pughazhchozha mannan came to the scene. The moment he saw Eripatha Nayanar, the King said “this man is a Shiva bhaktha. How could he have killed the elephant and the mahout?” When he understood what had happened, the king stood humbly before Eripatha Nayanar giving his sword to the Nayanar stating that the elephant belonged to him and hence he also has to be killed. Understanding the king’s humility and bhakthi towards his Lord, Eripatha Nayanar apologized to the king for his hasty action and asked the King to kill him.

All present heard a divine voice saying that all the above happened for the world to know Eripatha Nayanar’s bhakthi and the elephant as well as the mahout got up alive! The flowers strewn on the ground were back in the basket fresh as newly plucked ones!

Eripatha Nayanar requested the king to mount the elephant to go to his palace and Sivakaamiaandar to the temple with the fresh flowers.

Eripatha Nayanar continued his job of protecting the Shiva bhakthas for many years and later reached Shiva Loka!

Nayanmar 2 - Iyarpagai Nayanar

Iyarpagai Nayanar (இயற்பகை நாயனார்)

Birthplace: Kaviripoompatinam

Star: Margazhi Uthiram

Iyarpagai Nayanar – Iyar + pagai (opposed to nature) - this Nayanar’s name itself suggests his devotion to the Lord, that he did unnatural, abnormal things out of his devotion to the Lord.

Iyarpagai Nayanar lived with his wife in Kaviripoompatinam. He was well known for giving away anything the devotees of Lord Shiva asked for.

One day Lord Shiva took the form of a Brahmin and came to Iyarpagai Nayanar. Very happy to receive him, Iyarpagai wanted to know what the Brahmin wanted. The Brahmin asked Iyarpagai to give his wife. Without blinking an eye, Iyarpagai called his wife and asked her to go with the Brahmin. Though taken aback for a moment, Iyarpagai’s wife got ready to leave with the Brahmin.

The Brahmin was worried that Iyarpagai’s relatives may object to him taking the latter’s wife and asked Iyarpagai to escort them for some distance. Iyarpagai armed himself with some weapons and accompanied them. Many relatives gathered around, objecting to Iyarpagai’s wife being sent with the Brahmin. The Brahmin appeared to be frightened by this but Iyarpagai’s wife assured him saying that “Iyarpagai will take care of them”. A woman mentioning the names of her husband was unheard of in those days. Iyarpagai’s wife mentioned his name thereby proving that she belonged to the Brahmin and did not consider Iyarpagai her husband anymore.

photo courtesy : shaivam.org

When the relatives tried to attack the Brahmin, Iyarpagai killed the relatives without hesitation making way for the Brahmin and his wife to move forward. After some distance, the Brahmin asked Iyarpagai to go back and he did so promptly. As he turned around and walked back, he heard the Brahmin calling him “Iyarpagai, come back” He turned back again and saw that the Brahmin had vanished.

Lord Shiva along with Goddess Parvathi gave darshan to Iyarpagai Nayanar and his wife and blessed them with mukti. The relatives killed by Iyarpagai Nayanar were also given mukti.

The temple where Iyarpagai Nayanar, his wife and relatives attained mukti is Thiru Sayakkadu close to Kaviripoompatinam.

Nayanmar 1 - Thiru Neelakanta Nayanar

Thiru Neelakanta Nayanar (திருநீலகண்ட நாயனார்)



photo courtesy : vikatan prasuram



Birth place: Chidambaram

Star: Thai Visakam

A very pious potter, who was fascinated by the episode of Lord Shiva drinking the Alahala visham (poison) which came out while the Devas and Asuras churned the Paarkadal, used to always chant “Thiruneelakantam, Thiruneelakantam” that his original name was forgotten and he came to be called Thiruneelakantar.

A staunch devotee of the Lord, he lived a peaceful life with his wife making pottery and giving away at least one clay bowl (thiruvodu திருவோடு) everyday to the devotees of Lord Shiva.

One day, due to his past life karma, he went to a prostitute and when he came back, his wife was furious and swore in the name of the Lord that Thiruneelakantar should not touch her anymore. Ashamed by his action, he accepted his wife’s condition and they stayed together not leading a life of man and wife but continued the service of giving away a clay bowl a day to the devotees.

This went on for many years and Lord Shiva wanted the world to know their devotion. He came in the form of a Shiva devotee and gave a bowl to Thiruneelakantar stating that the bowl is capable of purifying anything put in it and Thiruneelakantar is to keep it safe until the devotee came back. Thiruneelakantar kept it very safe in his house and when the devotee came many years later and asked for the bowl, it was not to be found anywhere.

Very upset with this, Thiruneelakantar offered to make a new bowl for the devotee, but the devotee insisted that he wanted his own bowl back. He said he did not believe that the bowl was missing and accused Thiruneelakantar of cheating him. When Thiruneelakantar pleaded with him that he is saying the truth, the devotee asked Thiruneelakantar to prove that he is not lying by taking a dip in the temple pond nearby holding his son’s hand.

When Thiruneelakantar said that he did not have a son, the devotee asked him to hold his wife’s hand and take a dip. Baffled by this, (as he had not touched his wife after the promise) he kept quiet. The devotee insisted that the case be heard by the village head and Thiruneelakantar agreed to take a dip with his wife with both of them holding either end a bamboo stick. The devotee did not accept this either and Thiruneelakantar was forced to admit in front of the village about his life with his wife.

The village head gave judgement that Thiruneelakantar has to take a dip in the pond holding his wife’s hand and he had no other choice. After a dip, the two of them came up. Lo and behold, both Thiruneelakantar and wife had become young!

Lord Shiva gave darshan along with Goddess Parvathi and explained that He wanted the world to know the devotion of Thiruneelakanta Nayanar!

photo courtesy : shaivam.org

The temple where this happened is Thiruppuliswarar Temple (திருப்புலிச்வரர் கோயில்) aka Ilamai Thirumbinar Koil (இளமை திரும்பினார் கோயில்), very close to Chidambaram.

Nayanmars (நாயன்மார்கள்)– an introduction

Nayanmars (நாயன்மார்கள்)– an introduction

 

To start with Nayanmars are very different from Azhwars. Azhwars, devotees of Lord Vishnu, sang his praise. The compositions of all the Azhwars are well recorded.

Nayanmars, a huge number compared to Azhwars, were from all walks of life and their simple devotion to Lord Shiva gained them this status. Only some of them were well versed in singing on the Lord. The collection of hymns by many devotees is called Panniru Thirumuraigal.(பன்னிரு திருமுறைகள்) 

These Thirumurais were composed over a number of years by devotees who lived during different periods and there was no information about any palm scriptures of the same. Many hymns were sung in temples regularly and on hearing one, Raja Raja Chozhan was in ecstasy.

He wanted to find out more about such compositions and also if any written records were available. He requested Nambi Andar Nambi (நம்பியாண்டார் நம்பி) to help him find these who in turn requested the Polla Pillayar of Thirunaraiyur to let them know the location of these scriptures. (More details about Nambi Andar Nambi in another blog).

 

On hearing from Lord Ganapathi that the original palm scripts of the hymns were kept locked in a chamber in the Chidambaram temple, The King and Nambi Andar Nambi proceeded to Chidambaram. On opening the chamber, they were shocked to see that most of the palm leaves were eaten away by white ants and they could recover only some of it.

When they were saddened about losing such a treasure, they heard a divine voice saying that the hymns they recovered were enough for the present world. The 13680 verses of the Thirumurais 1 – 11 found intact is only a small part of the total compositions by the devotees.  Nambi Andar Nambi compiled and documented the recovered hymns as Thirumurai 1 to 11 adding his own compositions to the lot.

-         Thirumurais 1, 2 and 3 are the verses sung by Thirugnana Sambandar (திருஞான சம்பந்தர்) called Thevaram.(தேவாரம்)  It is also called Thirkkadai kaapu (திருக்கடைக் காப்பு) 

-         Thirumurais 4, 5 and 6 are the hymns sung by Thirunavakarasar (திருநாவுக்கரசர்)  (Appar) called Thevaram

-         Thirumurai 7 is by Sundaramurthy Nayanar (சுந்தரமுர்த்தி நாயனார்) also called Thevaram. It is also called Thiruppaatu.(திருப்பாட்டு)

-          Thirumurai 8 is the Thiruvasagam (திருவாசகம்) and Thirukkovaiyar (திருக்கோவையார்) by Manickavasagar (மாணிக்கவாசகர்) 

-         Thirumurai 9 consists of the verses of Thiru Maligai Thevar (திருமாளிகைத் தேவர்) and eight others (Senthanar (சேந்தனார்), Karuvur Thevar (கருவூர் தேவர்) ,   Poonthuruthi Kaadanambi (பூந்துருத்தி காடநம்பி), Kandaraathithar  (கண்டராதித்தர்),   Venaatuadigal  (வேணாட்டடிகள்), Thiruvaaliamudhanaar  (திருவாலியமுதனார்), Purutothama Nambi  (புருடோத்தம நம்பி), Sethirayar  (சேதிராயர்) ) and it is called Thirvisaippa (திருவிசைப்பா) and Thiruppallaandu (திருப்பல்லாண்டு) 

-         Thirumurai 10 is the Thirumandiram (திருமந்திரம்) by Thirumoolar  (திருமூலர்)  

-         Thirumurai 11  by Lord Thiru aalavai udayar (திரு ஆலவாயுடையார்) (Lord Shiva) himself and eleven others (Karaikal Ammaiyar (காரைக்கால் அம்மையார்), Iyadigal Kadavarkon (ஐயடிகள் காடவர்கோன்), Seraman Perumal  (சேரமான் பெருமாள்), Nakeerar (நக்கீரர்), Kalladar (கல்லாடர்), Kabilar (கபிலர்), Baranar (பரணர்) ,  Ilamperuman Adigal (இளம்பெருமான் அடிகள்) , Athiraavadigal (அதிராவடிகள்) , Patinathu adigal (பட்டினத்தடிகள்). This Thirumurai also includes the hymns sung by Nambi Andar Nambi who compiled all above. This is also called Prabhandam(பிரபந்தம்) 

 

-         Thirumurai 12 is the Periya Puranam (பெரிய புராணம்) by Sekkizhar  (சேக்கிழார்) . This was written very much later compared to the compilation of the first eleven Thirumurais and documents the devotion of the 63 Nayanmars to their Lord.  This was initially called Thiruthondar Puranam (திருத்தொண்டர் புராணம்) and later came to be called as Periya Puranam and considered as the twelfth Thirumurai.

Though Sekkizhar has accounted details of 63 Nayanmars only in his Thiruthondar Puranam, the Thirumurais  9 and 11 include compositions of other devotees too.

Kindly wait for Thiru Neelakanta Nayanar Puranam  (திருநீலகண்ட நாயனார் புராணம் ) until 16^th April!