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The Lord of sacrifices sits and blesses in the sea surrounded splendid town thiruvoRRiyUr. The sea roars like the relentless devotee chanting praNavam. The tides trying to touch the feet of the Lord and the wind like a good friend taking those waterlets to the ultimate feet of the Lord in His abode, the batal nut trees moving their heads enjoying this - the land's beauty wore as crown the abode of the Lord of devotees. That land of the Lord of art was fertile for art and craft.

In that place of the Lord who enjoys the anointing by the devotees, was a street by name chakkarap pAdi street full of oil making professionals. Born there was the great devotee kaliya n^AyanAr as the boon of the austerities of those people. The great austerity of serving the Lord, who is meditated by the supreme vedas as the kindling divine light, without any self projecting in the divine work he used to illuminate the thiruvoRRiyUr abode of that three light sourcing eyed Lord who kindles thoughts of Truth in the devotees hearts. Like the way he had illuminated the temple of that Lord shiva in his heart with glorious characteristics, he lit the lamps in and out all around that temple in a splendid way. Like the bliss he had in his heart the lamps beamed the light everyday in the temple. The Lord who appeared as the pillar of flame to brahmA and vishNu resided in that temple enjoying the service that asked for nothing but delighted in beautifying the Lord's place.

Like the good and bad deeds and their effects his wealth also diminished on the earth. So what ? His pleasure and inclination in serving did not drop down even a bit! Unperturbed of his material status he kept his heart in the Glorious two feet of the Lord of greats which are the ideal wealth the devotees would yearn for. He worked for others of his profession, not bothering about the status, got the wages to continue without break his wonderful service. When even the rich refused to give him work and wages, not at all shaken in his determination to enjoy in Its service, the great devotee who was affluent once, worked in oil churning wheel and using the oil and oil-taken-seed he got for the work, he bought oil for the Lord and did his brilliant service, becoming a beacon beaming the sincere love for the Lord. With the number of people who do that job also grown he did not get enough work. Sold all his properties to persist in serving. With nothing else left in the extremity of devotion went to sell his beloved wife. Nobody was ready to buy.

The devotee who never allowed anything to interrupt his illuminating service was highly concerned about that days situation of not getting oil for worship. The Lord for Himself does not require any lighting or food, but the devotee with a love that is more than that of a mother who feed and take care of the child, feels for it when the service gets disturbed by external situations. This is this great selfless love that makes the Lord enjoy the offerings. The devotion that was pure made the n^AyanAr decide that come whatever be the lamps should be lit that day. He went inside the temple of thiruvoRRiyUr with a decision. In place of oil he wanted to out his own blood ! He started cutting his throat. The Blue throated Lord seeing his extremeness in the determination to serve without break, caught his hands and stopped him. The Lord appeared with His consort on the Holy Bull in the horizon amidst the praise by the great people whose heart is nothing but He Himself. The devotee free from the wound flooded his eyes with tears of love. The Lord freed him from the bond of birth too and gave him the place in His abode - the place of brightness. Let the glorious service of kaliya n^Ayanar stay in the mind.

gurupUjai : ADi kETTai