CULTURE & RELIGION—NAGARATHARNAYANMARS T
he Nayanars or Nayanmars
are
Saivite devotional poets from Tamil Nadu who lived between the 5th and 10th century of the Common
Era.
Periyapuranam, the great Tamil work for Saivites, narrates the history of 63 Nayanmars in greater depth.
Nayanmars were from varied backgrounds and castes and amongst them were Nagarathars as well. It was not fully recorded in the history of our literature how many of these were actually Nagarathars, but it is said that there are at least four of them are from our community. On this edition of NANAL, we will briefly touch the lives of the three Nayanars: Iyarpahai Nayanar, Murthi Nayanmar, and Karaikkal Ammaiyar.
Iyarpahai Nayanar was a native of Kaveri Poompattinam. To him, Shiva Bakthas were the
living manifestations of Lord Shiva himself. ‘Men of
இலதனன்னும் எவ்ேம் உடரயாடே ஈதல், குலனுடையான் கண்மண யுள.
good birth graciously give, Never uttering the wretched excuse, "I have nothing."’
He had taken a vow never to say no to what a Shiva Bhakta wanted. Lord Shiva was pleased with His devotee. He wanted to reveal his devotee’s true greatness to the world. So, the Lord, in the disguise of a Brahmin, with sacred ashes smeared all over his body, came to Nayanar’s house and asked as gift his wife. Nayanar had no difficulty at all in granting this! Nayanar did not hesitate to fulfill the Bhakta’s wish, on the plea that it involved unrighteousness: for, to him worship of the guest (Athithi Devo Bhava – Guest as God) was greater Law than all the moral codes.
His chaste wife agreed to follow the Brahmin-guest as his wife. The Brahmin, however, feared the wrath of the wife’s relatives and asked Nayanar to accompany them till they were safely out of the town and out of danger. In the meantime the relatives of
30
Nayanar’s wife came to know of the whole story and were furious. Nayanar fought with them and chopped off their heads. When they reached the temple of Tiruchaikadu, the Brahmin asked Nayanar to leave them and return. Nayanar prostrated to the Brahmin and turned his steps homeward. As he had hardly proceeded a few yards on his homeward journey, the Brahmin again called Nayanar aloud. Thinking that there might have been another attack on the party, Nayanar hastened to where the Brahmin was: but, to his amazement, found that he had disappeared and that his wife was standing alone there. He searched here and there for the Brahmin, and was worried when he could not be found. Lo and behold, Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathy appeared in the sky and blessed Nayanar and his wife: ‘Oh noble souls, I am immensely pleased with your devotion to My Bhaktas. Both of you will very soon reach My Abode.’ With these words, the Lord disappeared. The Nayanar and his wife reached His Abode and rejoiced there. Nayanar’s relatives who died at his hands also attained the lotus feet of the Lord.
Murthi Nayanar was born in Madura in Pandya kingdom. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Daily he used to adore Lord Shiva with sandalwood paste, smearing it all over the Lingam as this was regarded as a great form of worship. At that time, the city was invaded and captured by a Karnataka king, follower of Jainism. He wanted to exterminate Saivism and to spread his religion. He began to persecute Saivas. Murthi Nayanar also had to bear a lot of sufferings. But, he was undaunted. He continued his worship of the Lord, with sandalwood.
The king, with a view to convert Murthi Nayanar forcibly to Jainism, made it impossible for anyone in Madura to obtain sandalwood. This
ram sundaram, nj
greatly upset the Nayanar. He searched throughout the day for a little sandalwood to offer his worship. He could not get any. With a broken heart, he went to the temple: and he had a wonderful idea. He began to rub his own elbow (in the place of sandalwood!). The hand was bleeding profusely. Lord Shiva was highly pleased with his devotion. A heavenly voice said: ‘Oh noble soul, I am immensely pleased with your devotion. Kindly stop rubbing your elbow. All your grievances will be redressed. Kindly take up the reins of the kingdom. After ruling the country justly and wisely for a long time, you will come to My Abode.’ Nayanar was amazed to hear this and to see that his elbow regained its original shape.
Murthi Nayanar did not aspire for kingship, but it was the Lord’s will. That night the cruel king died. The next day, the Ministers sent the palace elephant to choose their king, in accordance with an ancient custom. The elephant bowed at Murthy Nayanar and placed him on his back and returned to the palace.
Nayanar ruled the country justly and wisely for a long time, and eventually attained Shiva’s Abode.
Karaikkal Ammaiyar was born to Danadathan, a wealthy merchant. Danadathan and his dutiful wife, who were virtuous as well, prayed to the Lord for a child, and they were blessed with a girl child named Punithavathy. From her childhood, Punithavathy had an intense love for Lord Shiva and His Bhaktas. She was married to Paramadattan, a wealthy Vaisya. Both of them were leading an ideal married life.
One day, Paramadattan sent two mangoes to his house. Punithavathy kept them safely so that she could serve her husband with them at meal-
March 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60