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The pallava kingdom was famous for the scholors. Its capiatal kAnychi was very famous for its institutions which attracted students from throughout bhAratham . In that kingdom on the north bank of the river pAli is the town thiruvERkAdu situated. In that town which is sung in the thEvAram born the mUrgga n^AyanAr. He came in an agricultural family which found its heart and service in the feet of the divine with three eyes.

In his childhood, In his youth, from the day he could think he had the firm faith on the Father of this universe and limitless love for His devotees. The love generally manifests as service. He had the priciple of having his food only after giving feast to the devotees who depend only on the Oldest young God. In the rice that is brighter than the stars, the ghee will flow like the glacier over the mountains. The best vegetables of the town will get added taste when n^AyanAr serves them with care to the devotees. Whatever be the need of the devotees that will be fulfilled once it is noted by the n^AyanAr.

His courtious service with wholehearted love brought a lot of devotees to his house. He continued to offer flawless service to them and spent his entire wealth in that. He was not left with a piece of property. A person renounces the principles he has been following when he is pushed to a situation of continuing trounbles. It is the quality of great persons to stand for their discipline and principle and stands in the history as beacons to save the ships that requires direction. mUrgga n^AyanAr was not worried about loosing the property. For him the property achieved its goal, serving the servants of shiva. But he was very much bothered about the lack of resources for the continuation of his holy job of hosting the devotees. He could not find any other alternative to earn in that town.

He had learnt the techniques of gambling long time before that. In the absence of any other alternative he decided that it is better than not serving the devotees. He started travelling to many towns, anointed the Lord shankara in those towns with the scented water of his heartful love. He stood by his service using the money he got from gambling. He saluted the Lord in thiruvArUr on his way to thirukudan^dhai (kumbakONam) . He considered his victories in the casino of thirukkudan^dhai as the blessings of the Lord and used that money for providing feast to the devotees. He used to loose the first game to encourage the opponent and would win the games that follow and get more money. He was quite strict in following the rules of the game. He won't cheat but if somebody cheats and refuses to pay then he will stab him with a knife. So he was called n^aRchUdhar mUrggar (principled gambler fierce person).

The service for devotees continued with the money from gambling. He won't touch the material till the devotees eat to their satisfaction. He will eat in the last round after all the devotees had their food. This happened then on throughout his life in this world like the relentless tides of the sea. The Artist for whose dance the dhEvAs, gaNAs sing and play, that Lord greeted him in His abode. Let the strong stand of the mUrgga n^AyanAr on his service even in the troubled circumstances stay in the mind.

gurupUjai : kArthikai kEttai