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Home > Devotees > 63 Nayanmar Stories
thirunIlanakka nAyanAr
In the chOza kingdom is the town thiruch chAththa maN^gai.
In that town hailing from the tradition of singing vEdhAs, born the lover of the
shri nIlakaNTha by name n^Ila n^akkanAr. Knowing the vEdhAs he
derived that the wisdom is to serve the River crowned Lord and His devotees and
he followed it with a loving heart. He would do everyday with deep humbleness
the worship of Lord shiva. Then he would host feast for the devotees and do all
the needful for them. Catching strong this discipline he went in the way of the
Perfect Lord.
One auspicious Adhirai(1) day after performing the prayers as said
in the worship scriptures at home, he went along with his loving wife, with all
the substances for the worship in abundance to the temple of the Lord of
ayavan^thi. He offered the Lord the flowers and other holy substances
and prostrated in front of Him. Completing the pUja with an unsaturated love he
circumambulated the abode and was meditating with the Holy Five Letters. At that
time a spider slipped on the Sound bodied Lord. n^AyanAr's companian in life who
was standing nearby, like a mother who blows off the spider on a young child,
blew to drive away the insect. She was loving so much the Lord that she did it
quite instantly. n^AyanAr appalled by his wife's deed, asked her in a shivering
voice, what she did. She replied that as the spider fell on the Lord she had to
blow the spider off. n^Ilan^akkar said it was against the Agamic teachings, she
should have used some other means than blowing from mouth as saliva could fall
on the Lord. He made consecretion worships to plead for forgivence for her deed.
He left his wife there in anger.
The Sun went down in the West horizon. n^AyanAr went asleep in his house.
His wife who did the act of love on Lord, unable to refute n^AyanAr's order
stayed back in the temple. In that night the Lord who is pleased more with love
than with rituals, appeared in his dream. That Painless Lord showed His body and
said, " Look ! This is where she blew and this part is quite alright whereas the
other side is swelling because of the spider". Who knows the act of God who is
beyond body or form shows up a swelling in order to help His loving devotee !!
trirun^Ilan^akkar shocked by what the Lord told, praised Him, danced and yelled.
The next dawn he rushed to the abode of the Lord of ayavan^thi fell
down on His rescuing feet, adored Him and brought his loving wife back home. He
continued his service to the Lord and the devotees with complete love.
Hearing the marvelous songs of thiunyAnachampan^dhar(2) and his marvels,
n^Ilan^akkar developed a great wish to see him and serve him. He got the
information that champan^dhar along with thirun^IlakaNda yAzpANar(3)
and a group of devotees coming towards thiruch chAththa maN^gai worshiping many
abodes. Hearing that boon like message he decorated the way with flowers and
leaves. He went forward dancing and singing His praise to welcome the young
saint. He hosted the devotees in his house. In the Sunset thirunyAnachampan^dhar
requested thirun^Ilan^akkar to give a place of yAzpANar and his wife. Our great
n^AyanAr gave the place where the sacred fire is grown in vEdhic worship, to
that devotional music couple. The falseness of birth dependent humiliation of
people was thwarted off. When people have dedicated themselves to that Raceless
Lord , what is there in between them to consider high or low ? The ritual fire
at that central hall where yAzpANar along with his wife resided glowed very
bright.
thirunyAnachampan^dhar sang in his hymn mentioning the great devotee
thirun^Ilan^akkar. Later when champan^dhar left the town, unable to break his
order n^AyanAr stayed back. But he lived praising His grace and the marvel of
champan^dhar. At the time of champan^dhar's wedding he played major role in the
rituals (pouring the rice that is fried in the ritual fire). He saluting the
Lord's perumaNam merged in the shiva jyOti that appeared in the wedding
celebration to reside under the Feet that is praised by holy scriptures. Let the
service and equality in the vision of this great thirun^Ilan^akka n^AyanAr stay
in mind.
gurupUjai : vaikAci mUlam
See also:
1. thiruvAdhirai
2. thirunyAnachampan^dhar
3. thirun^IlakaNda yAzpANar
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