63 Nayanmargal Stories In Tamil Pdf Download
Tommye Hope
The celebrated Nayanmars are 63 mystics and sages, who inspired many by constantly living in a state of abandon and ecstasy. Living as an offering to life around them, the Nayanmars have left behind Thevaram - an eternal treasure that gives us a taste of absolute dissolution and a profound insight into life.
Here are some select stories from the lives of the Nayanmars, that illustrate how they lived lives beyond the limitation of body and mind.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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