Story of Nayanmars

Sundarar belonged to a royal family, and his wedding was soon fixed. When Sundarar was to be married, it is said that Shiva, disguised as an old man, interrupted the process and claimed that he was pledged to serve him. Disbelief was rife and Sundarar called him a madman, or a “Pitthan”, denying he belongs to him. The ascetic proved his claim by a written manuscript and whisked Sundarar away from his own wedding. That man was Shiva himself. Upon realizing Shiva’s true form, Sundarar composed this Thevaram, lamenting continuously to Him, “How can I not be yours?”

Thiru Neelakanda and his wife were blessed with eternal youth after taking the oath of remaining celibate despite remaining married.

Iyarpahai who, by oath, was known never to say no to anyone seeking his help. Here, he gladly gave his wife away on a devotee's request.

Ilayankudi's devotion to his fellow devotees was such, that even if he was hungry himself, he never refused food to a hungry fellow devotee. In this story, he goes to extreme lengths to feed a devotee seeking food.

Maiporul is known to keep even the mere symbol of Shiva above his own life. In this story, even on his death bed, he refuses to strike down an assailant, who attacked him, because he was disguised as a Shiva devotee.

Viralminda was a devotee of Shiva, who held the worship of devotees of Shiva above anything else. Here, he curses Sundarar for not having paid respects to his fellow Shiva devotees.

Amaraneedi, though a wealthy merchant, was devoted to Shiva. In this story, he goes to the extent of physically offering himself to a Shiva devotee, when all his wealth was not enough.

Eripatha was a fierce devotee who was known to protect Shiva devotees from harm. Always wielding an axe, here he fiercely protects a devotee from an elephant, and eventually the King's wrath as well - willing to offer his own life if need be, at the same time.

Yenathinathar was famous as a skilled swordsman. Though crafty and fierce with the sword, Yenathinathar is willing to offer his own life when confronted by an enemy who is a Shiva devotee as well, though he is pretending to be one.

Kannappa's name is etched in the history of devotees of Shiva from Southern India. In this story, out of a childlike emotion, he is willing to offer both his eyes for Shiva, and live without sight, when he sees a bleeding Shiva Linga.

Kungiliya Kalaya is known for expressing his devotion to Shiva through always offering incense sticks or Kungiliya to Him. In this story, he gives away everything that he has in order to make sure he makes this daily offering to Shiva, even if it affects the lives of those closest and dearest to him.

Manakanchara in this story, is willing to cut his daughter's hair at the whimsical request of a Shiva devotee, even on the day of her marriage!

This devotee of Shiva was ready to take his own life with a sickle or an Arival, because he couldn't make his daily offering of food to Him on a certain day, hence the name Arrivattaya.

A cowherd, Anaya Nayanar, it is said, could calm the birds, animals, the breeze, and even the seas when he played the Panchakshara mantra on his flute under the Konrai tree.

Murthi from Madurai expressed his devotion by applying the sacred sandalwood on the Shiva linga every day. Once when he couldnt find the sandalwood, he rubbed his elbow till it bled to make paste from his own flesh and blood.

His daily sadhana was to to pluck flowers every morning while chanting the name of Shiva, and offer them to Him. This simple act of devotion has given him a place of prominence in the history of Shiva devotees.

It is said that Rudra Pasupati, as shown in this image here, used to immerse himself neck deep in water each morning and chant the Rudram Chamakam, or a hymn in praise of Shiva.

Nandanar was considered an untouchable in the rigid caste system that existed at the time. This meant that he could not enter the Indian temples taken care of by conservative guardians. However, it so happened that once he was trying to get the darshan of the deity at a Shiva temple. His desire was so strong that the statue of Nandi, or the bull, physically moved so he was able to have the darshan he yearned for.

This Nayanar was known to serve his fellow devotees to his best abilities, willing to do anything to make sure their wishes were fulfilled. In this story, he was so upset he couldn't wash the clothes of a fellow devotee, that he almost killed himself in anguish.

Chandeshvara is known to be so lost in his devotion to Shiva, that he forgets his surroundings completely. Once he was so lost in his daily offering of milk to the Shiva linga, that even when his father came to call him, he saw it as a disturbance. It is said he cut off his father's leg when he tried to interrupt him.

Appar was one of the most famous Nayanmars, and is considered one of the Moovar. His hymns are also considered as the famous Thevarams. This image is a story from his life when he made the journey to Kailash on foot to have the darshan of Shiva. He even crawled when he could not walk, willing to give up his life in order to get his Darshan.

Kulachirai, the Prime Minister to the King of Madurai at the time, was instrumental in overthrowing the influence of Jains that were prevalent, and allowing Shaivism to gain prominence. In this story, in response to a challenge by the Jains, he is shown as helping Gnana sambandar in the Punal Vatham process, where he laid down manuscripts with his poems on Shiva on them, and they reached opposite bank miraculously, without sinking.

Kurumba Nayanar was an ardent devotee of Sundarar. He led a simple and austere life of devotion.

Karaikkal Ammaiyar meaning "the revered mother from Karaikkal", was one of the three women Nayanmars. She was a devotee known for her devotion to fellow devotees and her husband. There is an interesting incident from her life, shown in this image, where it is said that she was serving a mango to her husband, and when he asked for more when there were none, her pleas to Shiva compelled him to miraculously produce another, so her husband could savor it.

Apputhi Adigal worshipped Appar as his Guru. His devotion was such that he named his sons, the cows in his family, dug ponds for fellow Shiva devotees, erected rest houses, and named them all as "Thirunavukkarasar", his Guru. Once it happened that he invited Appar to dine with his family at his home. It so happened that even when his son died after being bitten by a cobra during the time they ate food, Apputhi Adigal went to lengths to ensure Appar's meal was not disturbed.

Thiru neelanakka was another significant Nayanar and Shaiva devotee. His single pointed attention to Shiva was such that, in a fit of rage, he left his wife alone in the temple for a whole night, after she blew upon a Shiva linga only to remove a spider, an act which was sacrilegious for Thiru neelanakka. It is said that Shiva then came in his dream to assure him that his wife had only done the right thing, hence reuniting the two of them.

Nami Nandi Adigal, it is said inspired many to embrace Shaivism by displaying simple miracles, a result of his devotion to Shiva, during a time when Jainism was prevalent in the society. In one such story, he is said to have lit lamps to Shiva using water alone instead of ghee.

Sambandar, a bala yogi was a shining light amongst the Nayanmars to have walked southern India. At a very young age, he is said to have traveled to significant villages on his father's shoulders singing hymns to Shiva. In one significant story from his life, it is said that he made it possible for 3000 people to shed their bodies and attain to the ultimate during his marriage.

Kalikkama was a Nayanar, the commander in chief to the reigning Chola empire, and a contemporary of Sundarar, a significant sage of the time. He had heard of Sundarar's feats and was in disbelief of his abilities, and questioned his devotion as well. In one particular incident, he killed himself, when given a choice to be treated of an illness. He was then miraculously brought back to life by Sundarar and the grace of Shiva.

Thirumoolar was a Tamil Shaivite mystic, writer and one of the 18 Siddhars. In a particular incident, he is said to have taken the body of a cowherd, and due to unfortunate circumstances, he had to retain it. But this was a blessing in disguise, since he was easily able to propagate the essence of Shaivism to the simple folk of the nearby villages and towns.

Dandi Adigal Nayanar was a blind devotee of Shiva. In a temple town mostly under the influence of Jains, he was able to initiate the renovation of a sacred temple pond. A process that he started alone, was soon completed by the ruling king of the time.

Murkha or "wicked ", "fierce" and "violent" Nayanar, was one of the more notorious of the 63 Nayanars. It is said that he gambled with the rich, and used that wealth to feed his fellow Shiva devotees. At times he held gamblers who didn't pay back on time at knife point, and even physically assaulted them to make sure they paid their debts.

Somasi Mara was a Brahmin, and a temple priest. He was a practitioner of soma-yagnas (sacrifices), which earned him the name Somasi. He never bothered much about the existing caste rules. He not only intermingled with non-Brahmins, which was a taboo in that era, but also served them, and took care of them.

Sakkiya was a buddhist turned shaivite. His devotion was such that he felt he could offer anything to Shiva. Hence, he pelted stones everyday at the linga, symbolic of his offering, and his commitment was such that he would not eat without making this daily offering.

Sirappuli is a brahmin famous for having been a generous saint. He welcomed the devotees of Shiva to his home, fed them and always made sure they never went back empty-handed.

Siruthonda was a former commander-in-chief of the chola army. At the orders of the king, he left this violence and took to spirituality. In one particular incident, it is said that Siruthonda and his wife gave up the life of their only son to feed a hungry fellow Shiva devotee. In a heart rending act, it is said that the child willingly gave up his life, and the parents offered the child's life, simply to satisfy the devotee's hunger.

Cheraman Perumal was a king from Kerala. Once, he went to a temple, after his daily offerings to Shiva, and was returning to the palace. On the way back, he saw a washerman smeared with white sand and mud. Cheraman was always in such a state of devotion that he thought this was a Shiva devotee smeared with Vibhuti or sacred ash. He immediately jumped down from his elephant and offered his homage to this simple washerman.

Gananatha was a simple, pious Brahmin of Sirkazhi, Tamil Nadu and a great bhakta (devotee) of Lord Shiva. People admired his virtue and devotion and came to him for advice. He invariably gave them some simple activity work in the temple, according to their ability. They would clean the temple, make garlands, work in the gardens and light lamps in the temples. Hence he was known for being a medium for self-transformation in others.

This saint was a powerful chieftain and extremely devoted to Lord Shiva. Kutruva captured many places in the Chola and Pandyan kingdoms, but many refused to accept him as king. His single pointed devotion to Shiva was such, that seeing his intensity, it is said that Shiva himself crowned him as king by placing His feet upon Kutruva's head.

Pugal Chola was a king and a Shiva bhakta, loved by everyone in his kingdom. Once it so happened that his soldiers had mistakenly killed a Shiva devotee in a raid. Seeing this, sensing that a sin had been committed in this act of killing a bhakta (devotee), Pugal Chola gave up his own life by walking into fire.

Narasinga Muniyaraiyar was a chieftain of a region in Tamil Nadu and a great devotee of Shiva . He was known to welcome any devotee who came to his abode, and he made sure that they never went back empty handed. Once it so happened that a naked saint came to a puja or a process organized by him in honor of Shiva. With utmost reverence, he received this fellow devotee, and made sure he also received some gold as alms.

Adipaththar was a simple fisherman born in Nagapattinam. He had taken a vow to let go one fish from his catch daily, as an offering to Shiva. Once it so happened that for many consecutive days he could catch only one fish. He let it go, in the name of Shiva, and went without food. One day he caught a golden fish, again, the only one for the day, but his commitment to his vow was such that he let that off too.

One day, his former help came to his house in the guise of a bhakta (devotee). Kalikamba, as usual, welcomed him, washed his feet, as part of an Indian ritual. But, his wife who recognized the former house help did not join because of her ego. Kalikamba sensed her lack of devotion, and simply cut off her hand for refusing to partake in this sacred process. It is said that practicing this form of Sadhana, he attained to his ultimate.

Kaliya was an oil-monger from the present Chennai region of Tamil Nadu, famous for its Thyagaraja temple. He is said to have been willing to cut his throat to fill the lamps with his blood, when they ran out of oil.

Satti Nayanar was a staunch and fierce devotee of Shiva. He is said to have cut off the tongue of whoever talked ill of Shiva or his devotees. He would forcibly pull out their tongues with tongs and cut them off with a sharp knife called satti, which gave him his name - Satti Nayanar.

Aiyadigal Kadavarkon was a king who renounced his wealth and kingdom to pursue the spiritual path. He crowned his son, and left on a pilgrimage to Shiva temples. Wherever he went, he composed Tamil hymns on Shiva. After worshiping many Shiva temples, he reached the Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram and spent most of his time there.

Kanampulla was a grass-cutter, selling the special Kanampul grass used for lamp wicks in Shiva temples. It is said that once, when he didn't have enough ghee to light lamps to Shiva, he lit his own hair to make sure he made his daily offering.

The poet-saint Kari was not only a Shiva devotee but also an accomplished scholar. He wrote many anthologies on Shiva. In appreciation of his literary offerings, Kari was rewarded handsomely, which the saint utilized to build temples, and serve his fellow Shiva devotees.

Nindraseer was the ruling king of Madurai at the time, and husband to another Nayanar, Mangayarkkarasiyar. A jain turned shaivite, he once suffered from an incurable illness, and became a hunchback, both of which were miraculously treated by Sambandar. After that he lived a life of devotion to Shiva.

It is said that Valiyar, because of his disbelief in idol worship, built a temple within himself by sheer mental focus and imagination. It is said that he built a magnificent temple of 5 walls of different metals, with many towers of gold and spacious halls with silver walls, gold pillars studded with precious jewels like diamonds and rubies. Mango-sized diamonds that shone like the Sun replaced ordinary lamps to flood the temple with light.

His name literally means "he who fights in war". Munaiyaduvar is described as a mercenary soldier, who worked commercially as a soldier and using that fee, he used to feed the devotees, and needy. Munaiyaduvar would assist people in winning battles for them and would return with gold and gifts which he would then use to welcome and feed the devotees of Shiva.

Kazharsinga Nayanar, a Pallava King was an ardent devotee of Shiva. He was such an intense devotee of Shiva, that it is said that once, in a temple, he cut off the hand of his own wife, when she tried to smell a flower that had been kept as an offering to the deity of that temple.

Idangazhi, a wealthy South Indian king, is said to have been a descendant of the Yadavas of Dwarka. There was a particular incident when a Shiva devotee wanting to serve food to his fellow devotees, was caught stealing from the king's granary. The compassionate king let him go, and realizing that nothing really belongs to him, subsequently also allowed devotees to freely take anything from his granary, as well as his palace.

Seruthunai was a saint who volunteered to perform various services in the Thyagaraja temple. Once, the reigning king Kazharsinga and his queen arrived to pay their respects to Shiva. She arrived in the temple hall where various flowers were gathered to use as floral offerings to Shiva. The queen picked up a flower and smelled it, ignorant of the Hindu tradition of not smelling any flower kept as an offering to the deity of a temple. Ignoring her royal status, Seruthunai caught the queen's nose and severed it to punish her.

Pugazh Thunai was a significant Nayanar and a devotee of Shiva. He is known to have made daily offering of water to the Shiva linga despite all odds. It is said that even when a famine struck his town and he could not offer water to the linga, Shiva miraculously offered him a gold coin each day so he could sustain himself in order to offer water to the linga.

Kotpuli Nayanar was the commander-in-chief of a Chola king. He was known for his generosity, and for the way he served and took care of everyone in his town, and made sure no one went hungry. He however is known to have killed the members of his own family - close ones and extended, sparing not even the new born child, when he learnt that due to a particular famine in his town, his family had consumed all the food stock, without sharing with anyone - grains that he had kept in the storage to serve the poor and needy.

Poosalar was a great Shiva devotee. He had an intense desire to create a temple for Shiva, but didn't have the money to do so. Hence he created a grand temple for Shiva in his mind. At the same time, there was another one being built by the king of Kanchipuram at the time. Shiva, it is said, chose to attend the consecration of Poosalar's temple instead of the one made by the king.

Mangayarkkarasiyar was born as a Chola princess, and is considered a Nayanar. She was a devotee of Shiva, commanded immense respect in her kingdom amongst her subjects, and was wife to Nindraseer Nedumara Nayanar, the king of Madurai at the time.

Nesa Nayanar is said to have been a weaver, who was always engrossed in meditation and gifted clothes that he wove to devotees of Shiva.

Kochengat Chola Nayanar built the Jambukeswarar Temple in Thiruvanaikaval, the water temple which is a famous Shiva temple in Tiruchirapalli (Trichy). It is said he built it under a Jamun tree.

Thiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar belonged to the Tamil Panar community of wandering musicians, and is famous for playing the ancient Indian harp called the Yazh. Since he was of a lower caste, he could not enter temples. Yazhpanar once went to Thiruvarur and played the yazh outside the Thyagaraja temple there. Thyagaraja, the presiding form of Shiva at Thiruvarur invited him in through the northern entrance, which the god opened for him. The Nayanar entered and played the yazh for Shiva.

Sadaiya Nayanar was the father of one of the most significant Nayanmars, Sundarar. Narasinga Munaiyar, a king of the times, expressed his desire to adopt the child. The king approached the parents and they, without a moment’s hesitation, handed the child over to him.

Isaignaniyar is the mother of Sundarar. She attained fame for having mothered the great Nayanar Sundarar. Her significance stems from how she brought up and nurtured such a prominent being.

Sundarar belonged to a royal family, and his wedding was soon fixed. When Sundarar was to be married, it is said that Shiva, disguised as an old man, interrupted the process and claimed that he was pledged to serve him. Disbelief was rife and Sundarar called him a madman, or a “Pitthan”, denying he belongs to him. The ascetic proved his claim by a written manuscript and whisked Sundarar away from his own wedding. That man was Shiva himself. Upon realizing Shiva’s true form, Sundarar composed this Thevaram, lamenting continuously to Him, “How can I not be yours?”